2025-11-21 11:19:41
Make Fairfax County your convenient homebase for a three-day jaunt to America’s capital city, where you can walk through history at top monuments, memorials, museums and more.
Day 1
Start at the west end of the National Mall, where the profound Vietnam Veterans Memorial pays tribute, then head south to the awe-inspiring Lincoln Memorial and gaze out over the Reflecting Pool from its steps.
Continue to the Korean War Veterans Memorial and Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial, which sits on the Tidal Basin along with the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial. Look across the water at the Thomas Jefferson Memorial, then return north to the ring-shaped World War II Memorial.
Admire the 555-foot Washington Monument from the outside or book a ticket to go to the top. Head north to Lafayette Square for the best views of the White House and check out the nearby White House Visitor Center.
To the east in Penn Quarter, find two Smithsonian museums with vast collections: the National Portrait Gallery and the American Art Museum. Ford’s Theatre, the site of President Abraham Lincoln’s assassination, is open for tours and performances.
Day 2
Begin at the U.S. Capitol Building, whether you reserve a tour in advance or simply stroll the surrounding grounds. Nearby, explore the Library of Congress, the Supreme Court building and the United States Botanic Garden.
Travel west along the north side of the National Mall and take your pick of fascinating free museums, including the National Gallery of Art and the Smithsonian museums of Natural History, American History and African American History and Culture.
Dedicate some time in the afternoon to visit more Smithsonian museums on the south side of the Mall, including the Hirshhorn, newly renovated National Air and Space Museum and the Museum of the American Indian.
If you haven’t had your fill of history, continue on to the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum or the International Spy Museum. Close out the day along the waterfront at The Wharf, a hub of restaurants, shopping, entertainment and events.
Day 3
Meander through Georgetown, a historic neighborhood with cobblestone streets, stunning architecture, boutique shops and an array of restaurants. For some outdoor fun, rent a bike and ride along the C&O Canal.
To finish up, head north or south from Georgetown. To the north you can marvel at the Washington National Cathedral, then visit the nearly 400 different species at the National Zoo. Or venture south into Virginia to Arlington National Cemetery and witness the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
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