Washington D.C. Attractions

     In a city with dozens of attractions, you may have trouble deciding where to spend your time. The Smithsonian Institution museums are as good a beginning point as any to launch a Washington sightseeing itinerary, with 10 of them conveniently clustered along the National Mall. Everyone has their preferences, of course, but you can't go wrong stopping at the National Air and Space Museum to see its array of air and spacecraft. Items range from the vintage (the Wright Brothers' 1903 Flyer) to the barrier breaking (lunar surface exploration vehicles and all sorts of rockets).
     You might want to tackle the National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center by concentrating on an area of personal interest rather than trying to take it all in at one time. But definitely visit the collection devoted to popular entertainment, guaranteed to conjure up fond memories. Next door is the National Museum of Natural History, which presents an equally comprehensive overview of the natural world and human cultures. Be sure to say hello to the African bull elephant as you pass through the Rotunda.
     Across the Mall is the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, the Smithsonian's showcase for modern art. This drum-shaped building raised a few eyebrows when it opened in 1974. Behind the museum is a sunken sculpture garden with some interesting figure studies, especially Auguste Rodin's "The Burghers of Calais," a stirring depiction of ordinary men making a heroic sacrifice. The Smithsonian's first art museum, the Freer Gallery of Art has exquisite porcelains, jade objects, calligraphy and other Asian works of art, plus "Harmony in Blue and Gold: The Peacock Room," a London dining room painted in opulent style by American artist James McNeill Whistler.
     You'll immediately notice the undulating buff-colored walls of the National Museum of the American Indian. Inside are exhibits that recall an often tragic history but also recognize the vibrant cultures of Native groups. The focus is on people rather than events, which makes this museum particularly fascinating. Also part of the Smithsonian is the National Zoological Park and its crowd-pleasing assemblage of tigers, lions, primates, seals, birds and numerous other animal residents. The stars of the show are giant pandas Mei Xiang and Tian Tian, on extended loan from the China Wildlife Conservation Association.
     Visit the classically designed West Building of the National Gallery of Art for its outstanding collection of western European paintings and sculpture. Among the masterpieces here are Pierre Auguste Renoir's "A Girl With a Watering Can" and Vincent van Gogh's "Self Portrait." Then head over to the I.M. Pei-designed East Building, two sleek triangles (one isosceles and one right) housing 20th-century art and a really cool Alexander Calder mobile.
     Is there anyone who can't identify the Washington Monument? Honoring the nation's first president, this white marble spire rises 555 feet above the city. The view from the observation room at the 500-foot level is worth the inevitable wait in line. Just west of the Washington Monument is the National World War II Memorial, dedicated in 2004. The burbling fountains, Pacific and Atlantic pavilions and 56 pillars representing U.S. states, territories and the District of Columbia are a dignified tribute to the world's last--hopefully--global conflict.
     Follow the Reflecting Pool to the steps of the stately Lincoln Memorial. The statue of Abraham Lincoln, 19 feet tall and 19 feet wide, radiates a quiet awe, and carved wall inscriptions from Lincoln's Gettysburg Address are an eloquent reminder of his dedication to freedom for all citizens. The Vietnam Veterans Memorial speaks to another painful chapter in American history. Its stark black granite walls, etched with the names of those killed and missing, retain every bit of their symbolic power more than 3 decades later.
     The Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial has four open-air "rooms" that chronicle FDR's presidency and his greatest achievements, leading the nation through the twin challenges of the Great Depression and World War II. From this outdoor setting, it's a short walk along the Tidal Basin to the Thomas Jefferson Memorial, a classical dome supported by graceful columns. When the cherry blossoms are in full bloom (usually early April) there may be no lovelier spot in Washington than the steps of this memorial.
     The austere exterior of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum is appropriate for conveying the horrors of the Holocaust. Its depiction of millions of people killed under the auspices of Nazi Germany is emotionally wrenching. But a commitment to freedom stands at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. Although periodically rebuilt, enlarged, remodeled and redecorated over more than 2 centuries, the White House still symbolizes the power of the American presidency.
     The nucleus of a visionary city plan laid out by architect Pierre-Charles L'Enfant, the United States Capitol stands atop Capitol Hill. The seat of the federal government has about 550 rooms, but rest assured; the guided public tours don't visit all of them. Nearby, the Library of Congress houses a staggering collection of more than 100 million items. The Thomas Jefferson Building is the jewel of this three-building complex, with beautifully detailed ornamentation and a magnificent, octagonal-shaped Main Reading Room.
     The Gothic architecture of Washington National Cathedral, in upper Northwest D.C., is distinguished by thousands of decorative stone carvings (look for the gargoyles). Enormous flying buttresses accentuate a majestic interior. A different sort of majesty reigns at Arlington National Cemetery, just across the Potomac River from Washington: rows and rows of simple white headstones on more than 600 acres of rolling Virginia hills. President John F. Kennedy, Sen. Robert F. Kennedy and an unknown American soldier brought back from France following the end of World War I are among those buried here.
If you have extra time for sightseeing, don't miss attractions in Alexandria, Chantilly, Great Falls, Leesburg, Lorton, Mount Vernon and Vienna, Va., and Largo, Md., all within a 30-mile radius of Washington.