Month: November 2021

Where will you’re next vacation be? The beaches of Paris? The mountains of Thailand? What about the sun-soaked shores of California’s Bay Area—surely that sounds like just what the doctor ordered.

And how about a little culture for your vacation this year: Italy is always a favorite destination with its rich history and delicious cuisine.

But which one will it be? Venice or Rome? Florence or Milan?

Well, if you want to know the best place on Earth to go for an unforgettable vacation this year, then look no further than . . .

Washington, DC

The best place on Earth to go for an unforgettable vacation is right here at home.

North America is full of some of the most amazing sights and attractions that you can’t find anywhere else in the world, so why travel all the way across the ocean when you can have incredible experiences with your loved ones right here?

Washington, D.C., the capital city of our country, contains over 500 major monuments, memorials, museums, gardens, and historic buildings—more than any other city in America!

One fantastic spot to visit is “the National Mall” which stretches for over two miles through D.C., featuring many famous attractions including The White House, The Lincoln Memorial, and the incredible “Washington Monument” which is a tall stone pillar with a gold-gilded tip.

Many people also flock to D.C., in part because of its many free museums and galleries such as the world-famous “Smithsonian Institution” where you can see everything from giant whale skeletons to rockets to mummies.

There are so many things to do and see in our nation’s capital that a trip there could last an entire week or more!

Plus during summer vacation months all national parks in the area will be free for visitors—so not only can you take advantage of some amazing sightseeing opportunities but you can save on travel costs by avoiding pricey airline tickets too!

Things to see and do in Washington, DC

1) Washington Monument

The Washington Monument is a major tourist attraction in Washington, DC. It is the largest stone monument in the world and it took almost 40 years to complete. The monument was built in honor of George Washington, who led America’s fight for freedom against Great Britain in the American Revolution. Visitors can even take an elevator ride up to the monument’s top floor observation deck, which will give them an amazing view of our Nation’s Capital!

2) Smithsonian Institution Building

The Smithsonian Institute Building has 9 different museums that are all free for visitors to enjoy. On Fridays, admission is free to the entire museum complex! Visitors can travel through space at our National Air and Space Museum or they can walk among towering dinosaurs at our Natural History Museum! There are free museums all around DC where you can learn about history, art, science, and much more.

3) White House

The White House is the official residence of the President of the United States. It was first occupied by John Adams in 1800 after its completion. Every year on Christmas Day since 1801, a Christmas tree has been decorated inside the White House with festive ornaments for everyone to see! Visitors can take a free tour through the East Wing of the building every day except Wednesday when it is closed for security reasons.

4) National Air and Space Museum

The National Air and Space Museum is located at Independence Ave SW & 6th St SW Washington DC 20024.

The museum was founded in 1976 with one location but now it has 3 different museum locations where people can come and learn about flight, space exploration, and even satellites. This place is a huge fan favorite among those who love space travel and history.

Visitors will get to see over 10 famous aircraft as well as rockets and missiles from the golden age of flight. The first-ever airplane that flew with human passengers is wheelchair accessible on the 2nd floor of the main building.

5) National Museum of Natural History

The National Museum of Natural History was opened for visitors in 1910 and it’s located at 1000 Jefferson Dr. SW Washington DC 20013.

It contains around 126 million items on display including minerals, plants, animal specimens, fossils, rocks, meteorites, human remains like King Tutankhamen’s tomb, cultural artifacts like the Hope Diamond, and some of Neil Armstrong’s moon dust.

Visitors can see everything from butterflies to ancient ice age mammals at this amazing museum! It is open every day except December 25th!

6) National Museum of American History

The National Museum of American History was founded in 1964 and it’s located at 14th St. & Constitution Ave NW Washington DC 20013.

This museum has over 1 million exhibits on display which include documents, costumes, household objects, paintings, photographs, prints & engravings, sculptures, and more related to the history of America up until today. Visitors can even get a glimpse into presidential history with items like Abraham Lincoln’s hat or John F Kennedy’s rocking chair that he used in the Oval Office.

Every day except December 25th is a great time to visit this museum!

7) The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum

The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum was founded in 1980 and it’s located at 100 Raoul Wallenberg Pl. SW Washington DC 20024.

It remembers the atrocities that were committed by Hitler against Jews and exhibits include photographs, personal possession of victims like shoes, and lots of other items that belonged to people who suffered or died during the Holocaust. This museum preserves its memory for future generations and visitors will remember what happened after leaving its doors.

There is no suggested donation price but they always welcome addition to their donation box which goes towards making the museum better.

8) The Smithsonian National Postal Museum

The Smithsonian National Postal Museum was established in 1993.

This is the first time that postal services had their own museum but visitors can come to learn about how they began, browse through exhibits on stamps, hall of fame coaches, royal mail ships, post office clerks, and lots more. They have free admission so you can come to see their exotic collection any day of the year!

9) US Botanic Garden

The United States Botanic Garden is another fan-favorite among those who love plants and learning about them. It was founded in 1820 as a greenhouse for exchange plants before becoming its own garden.

The United States Botanic Garden is located at 100 Maryland Ave SW Washington DC 20024.

It has opened every day since 1922 and visitors can come to see more than 5000 different kinds of plants including rare, endangered species, and even Christmas ornaments! This garden can be seen during the winter months with a seasonal garden that is open from March through November. Another benefit is that they are free for military families thanks to Blue Star Museums.

10) Arthur M Sackler Gallery

The Arthur M Sackler Gallery was founded in 1987 but it hasn’t always been one building. It was split into two galleries where smaller items could be on display while some larger ones were stored off-site. The main gallery will have over 130 art exhibits on display while the other one holds its historical items. The gallery is located at 1050 Independence Ave SW Washington DC 20560 and there is free admission to check out their wide collection of art.

11) National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden

The National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden was founded in 1941 and it’s located off Constitution Ave NW between 3rd and 4th Sts NW. They also have a French garden that is enclosed by walls which visitors can come to see for free anytime except they are occasionally closed for private events.

There are over 300 sculptures on display just outside the museum that including ones from Auguste Rodin, Henry Moore, Louise Bourgeois, Claes Oldenburg & Coosje van Bruggen, and lots more! Visitors can get up close with this gallery’s exhibits so be sure to check it out before you leave Washington DC.

Final Thoughts

There are a lot of other free museums in Washington DC but these 12 offer the most interesting artifacts for guests to view.

They have been around for years and people from all over the world come to see them because you can explore America through documents, photographs, paintings, memorabilia, and lots more while you learn about their history on your vacation.

Just remember that each museum will have different opening hours so check their website before you go so you can plan accordingly.…