Washington in one day

At first glance, the US capital city of Washington (DC) may seem small, but there are many interesting places and attractions that are worth seeing.

Students Kathleen and Laura are studying at the mathematics department at George Mason University in Virginia. In your blog “America in one day”They give tourists tips, backed by their mathematical calculations. Their recommendations are based on visiting experience. Miami, Seattle and Washington.

The students will not only tell you what and where to look (for example, in Washington, the Museum of Natural History has “fascinating interactive games”), but also - and most importantly - calculate the most appropriate route using linear programming methods.

Travel to Washington

When planning a trip to DC, it is important to consider your airport choice. There are three different airports in the county—Ronald Reagan National Airport, Dulles International Airport, and Baltimore-Washington International Airport. We learned that if you are flying from another country, Dulles has better flights, but it is 30-40 minutes from the city (in Virginia). Baltimore-Washington International Airport is 30 minutes north of the city (in Maryland), so you'll either have to take a taxi or have another way to get into the city.

Ronald Reagan National Airport is in Arlington, Virginia, and this is the closest option. We flew through Reagan and found the airport to be very aesthetically pleasing. It is smaller than the other two.

Getting around DC is easy and there are several options for doing so. DC has a subway system. It has several lines and trains run fairly regularly. On a weekday, the maximum time between two trains is about five minutes, and on weekends, be prepared to wait 7-10 minutes. In the District of Columbia, you can buy a pass for a limited number of trips at a lower price. Now let's move on to our version of the day.

Family oriented DC in one day

In the District of Columbia are some of the best museums and attractions of the United States. First, we offer to go with the family to the park Gravelly Point. This large park is located near the Ronald Reagan Airport. It has entertainment for children and adults. Airplanes will fly right over you! In addition, the park offers excellent views of the Potomac River and monuments. If you are traveling with children, it is best to get here by car, bicycle or walk. Mount Vernon Trail allows you to enjoy beautiful views.

After visiting the park, the next stop should be museums. You can get to the National Mall (National Mall, where the Smithsonian is located) by subway or walk. If you are coming from Gravelly Point, your best bet is to go to Crystal City MRT. From this place to the National Mall is approximately 2,5 kilometers.

On the National Mall, first of all, see the monuments. The Lincoln Memorial, the Washington Monument, the World War II Memorial and the Capitol are on the same straight line. If you have little time, then stop at this because they are in the same area.

The Jefferson, Martin Luther King, and Franklin Roosevelt memorials are on the Tidal Basin. If you arrive in late March or early April, you may be lucky to see cherry blossoms. There will be many people, but the views are very beautiful. Tidal Basin is about 10 minutes walk from the National Mall.

Dinner

There are several options. If you want something quick and easy (and also not far from the National Avenue), check out one of the cafeterias in the Smithsonian museums. There are McDonalds and other networks in the Museum of Aviation and Aerospace, its own cafe operates in the Museum of Natural History, and the Stars and Stripes cafe is open at the Museum of American History (we do not particularly recommend it, but it is not the worst).

Union Station is also nearby if you want a quick meal - there is a huge selection there. If you want a more pleasant place to sit, then visit Pi Pizzeria. It is a 10-minute walk from the National Mall. They serve wonderful pizza there. We are sure that you will like it there.

After dinner

After lunch, choose the one you like from the Smithsonian Museums. In each of them there are expositions able to please both children and adults. The Museum of Aviation and Cosmonautics has a great new exhibition on flight dynamics with a lot of interactive entertainment.

The Museum of Natural History also offers fun interactive games for fans of history as well as the Giant Squid. And finally, in the Museum of American History, there is an original American flag that inspired the creation of a national anthem. The Museum of American History can be called a “living” museum, as there are still working on many exhibits.

What else to see?

After visiting museums you need to prioritize. If you want to see the Capitol or the White House, then go straight there.

You can schedule tours inside both buildings or just walk around them. You can also go to the Library of Congress. They offer excellent exhibitions on various topics. If shopping is more your thing, DC has that too. You have two options: CityCentre and Georgetown. CityCentre is a new luxury shopping destination and shopping destination literally in the heart of DC. It is located near Chinatown and quite close to the White House. There are many good restaurants there and a delicious Gelato shop. And also a whole restaurant dedicated to cakes... yes, such a thing exists!

Georgetown is a whole set of experiences in itself, and we will write a separate post about it. On the blog "America in a Day" you can see the map, which will help you quickly navigate on the spot.

In the near future, Kathleen and Laura will post a story about trips to Boston, Atlanta, New Orleans and Austin (Texas) on their blog.

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