Welcome to Washington (DC)

Go to the Washington airports page for information if you are flying and your destination is the national capital. The airports page also has information about time zones and links for road conditions and weather in Washington.

The links below will provide you with useful information to help you discover and learn more about places of interest in Washington.  

First check the Washington DC Convention and Tourism Corporation web site, the district's official web site for tourism. 

The White House is one of the most visited sites in this city, and its official web site is an excellent place to learn more and to obtain information about visiting this historic place.

The National Park Service has properties in District of Columbia that are among the city's most popular attractions.  This site also publishes a National Register Travel Itinerary for Washington, DC which, with useful maps, is an excellent resource for travel planning.

The Smithsonian Institution appeals to a variety of historical and educational interests and to people of all ages.  The Smithsonian's web site has a collection of links to a number of museums that are part of the institution.

The National Gallery of Art has some of the most important collections of art works in the nation and hosts traveling exhibits.  The Phillips Collection is a major museum of modern art.

Cultural Tourism is a non-profit organization providing information on cultural events and places of cultural and historical interest in the area.

Arlington National Cemetery is across the Potomac River in Virginia but is one of the major sites for visitors to Washington with an interest in the nation's military history.

The Decatur House; the Woodrow Wilson House and President Lincoln and Soldiers' Home National Monument are on a list of historic sites compiled by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.   (Recommended reading:  Lincoln's Sanctuary:  Abraham Lincoln and the Soldiers' Home by Matthew Pinsker)

The National Building Museum has exhibits and programs related to architecture and construction.  The Marian Koshland Science Museum is located near the National Building Museum.

The National Guard Memorial Museum is dedicated to telling the history of this branch of military defense.

The United State Holocaust Memorial Museum is devoted to study, the history and interpretation of this great human tragedy in 20th Century Europe.

The City Museum is a new attraction for visitors maintained by the Historical Society of Washington, DC.

The United States Botanic Garden is to the west of the U.S. Capitol on Maryland Avenue.

The International Spy Museum provides an introduction to espionage with the aim of promoting an understanding of its role in and impact on current and historic events. The exhibits show the role spies and the search for human intelligence have played throughout history.

The United States Capitol Historical Society serves as an informational and education resource promoting this history of the Capitol and Congress.

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority operates a system that provides transportation to many points in and surrounding Washington, DC.  Rail and bus services are provided to and from Washington National Airport.

Interstate 495 is a major highway that forms a circle around the district.  Interstate 95 is merged with I-495 in Maryland and Virginia.

Recommended Reading:  Let's Go - Washington, DC | Washington, DC Map Guide; Lonely Planet - Washington, DC and the Capital Region; Rough Guides - Washington, DC

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