Tour American Landmarks in Washington DC, America’s Capital City Presented by Discover America

The National Mall, home to many of the magnificent museums of the Smithsonian Institution, is a great place to start your Washington DC vacation. See the magnificent jewels, dinosaurs and mammals on display at the National Museum of Natural History, the airplanes and interactive flight simulators at the National Air and Space Museum, and the stories, arts and crafts at the National Museum of the American Indian. And it’s all free of charge. The museums also offer free tours to groups who reserve in advance.

There’s more to explore on the National Mall than just the Smithsonian Institution. Art lovers won’t want to miss a visit to the National Gallery of Art, while the National Archives is a must for any American history buff visiting Washington DC .

Evening

Enjoy a quick dinner in downtown or at a Capitol Hill neighborhood eatery then go to Union Station. The glorious train station is the departure point for tours of the monuments at moonlight offered by Tourmobile and Old Town Trolley. Bike the Sites and City Segway Tours (ages 16 & up) also offer evening tours in season departing from other points in DC. If you’ve booked a private charter, resist the temptation to see all of the monuments during the day and stop on your way back from dinner to see a few of them at night time.

Head to U Street for breakfast at a DC institution, Ben’s Chili Bowl. Or, if you’re visiting on a weekend, visit the colorful farmer’s market at Dupont Circle or Eastern Market on Capitol Hill.

After breakfast, tour the Capitol Hill neighborhood and explore the U.S. Capitol, Library of Congress and Supreme Court. The neighborhood is also home to Union Station and the Folger Shakespeare Library, which houses the largest collection of Shakespeare memorabilia outside of England .

For lunch, take the Metro to downtown’s Penn Quarter neighborhood. You’ll also find lots of dining options—from casual barbeque to elegant French—near the Verizon Center . Or, feast on fresh noodles and flavorful soups in DC’s Chinatown .

Go undercover at the International Spy Museum, where you can crack codes, take on covers and even let your group take on its own covert operation. Or, stop by the National Portrait Gallery and Smithsonian American Art Museum, the newest addition to the Smithsonian system.

Ride to the top of the Washington Monument (tickets required) or the Old Post Office Pavilion for a panoramic view of Washington . Animal lovers and families with young children may also wish to pay a visit to the National Zoo, home to giant pandas, cheetahs, tigers and other exotic species.

Evening

Discover DC’s theatre scene. The Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage offers free performances at 6:30 pm nightly. Other theatres, such as the Shakespeare Theatre Company, Arena Stage, Warner Theatre , National Theatre, regularly present familiar classics. For something a bit more contemporary, catch a show at Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company or Studio Theatre.

Start your morning in one of Washington DC ’s prized neighborhood attractions, like the Anacostia Community Museum , The Phillips Collection, Washington National Cathedral or Hillwood Museum & Gardens, then head to Georgetown for fantastic shopping and sightseeing in a charming historic setting.  Step back in time with a mule-driven barge ride on the historic Chesapeake & Ohio Canal and stop for lunch at a casual bistro.

Evening

Sports fans can watch the Washington Nationals, Washington Wizards, Washington Mystics, Washington Capitals or DC United in action. If your group is looking for nightlife, head to U Street for live jazz music or Adams Morgan to experience DC’s eclectic, international scene.