One of my favorite cities in the country, Washington D.C. always has something new for you to explore in each visit. While most people would want to tour the obvious places within Federal City (the Mall, the Smithsonian museums, the government buildings), I try to explore the off-the-beaten paths and pretend I’m a local. I loved walking through the neighborhoods in Georgetown, Dupont Circle, Chinatown, or U Street and imagined being a resident.
My favorite time to visit is in the spring when the cherry blossoms are in bloom, though I’ve yet to go during the Cherry Blossom Festival. Our family has always taken advantage of the free museums, the National Zoo and we try to visit a national landmark along the mall. We’ve toured the U.S. Capitol and the archives, but we still haven’t been to the White House, and I’ve only driven past the Supreme Court. We have yet to see any art museum, the Holocaust Museum, or the Smithsonian’s Udvar-Hazy Center, which is high on our to-do list for next time. Like I said, there’s just so much to do that you can’t help but take multiple trips to this amazing city.