The grassy Ellipse, north of the Washington Monument, links the Mall to the White House, one of the world’s most famous residences. George Washington himself chose the site of the executive mansion and oversaw construction through the 1790s, but the house wasn’t ready for occupancy until 1800, when second President John Adams moved in with his wife, Abigail.

The White House

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The most famous national landmarks blend our colorful history with beautiful or quirky aesthetics.

1. Built over the course of 36 years, the Washington Monument sits on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. The obelisk is the tallest structure in town.

Washington Monument

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The Byzantine workings of the federal government; the sound-bite-ready oratory of the well-groomed politician; the murky foreign policy pronouncements issued from Foggy Bottom: they all cause many Americans to cast a skeptical eye on anything that happens “inside the Beltway.” Washingtonians take it all in stride, though, reminding themselves that, after all, those responsible for political hijinks don’t come from Washington, they come to Washington.

Washington DC national mall

Nature lovers will find much to explore at America’s colorful and diverse gardens and arboretums.

1. Denver Botanic Gardens and its two satellite locations offer a range of experiences for plant lovers, from alpine tundra at Mount Goliath to plants from around the globe at the York Street gardens.

2. The 446-acre U.S. National Arboretum in Washington, D.C., is run by the government as a research facility, but it’s open to the public and boasts and impressive collection.

Denver botanic gardens

The U.S. is home to some fabulous big-city art museums, but – surprise – there’s also great art viewing in several smaller cities. Here’s where to go for the ultimate art tour:

1. New York City’s renowned Metropolitan Museum of Art, one of the world’s largest art museums, houses an astonishing 2 million pieces. Save energy for the Museum of Modern Art and the Guggenheim Museum.

2. Treat yourself to a peek at the new “Art of the Americas” wing at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. Across the street, lush artworks adorn the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, an Italianate palazzo.

3. Art lovers converge on the Santa Fe Indian Market. The city’s 200 galleries are a major attraction, as are the Museum of Indian Arts & Culture and Georgia O’Keeffe Museum.

Metropolitan museum of art New York City

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Washington, D.C. is of course the capital of the United States and thus, home to a magnitude of sights related to the federal government. But it is also a cultural center offering amazing museums and entertainment.
Capitol Hill

A visit to Washington, D.C. should definitely include a stop on Capitol Hill where you can find the United States Capitol, the US Supreme Court, and the Library of Congress, all three of which call magnificent buildings their home.
 

Washington DC

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