MAIN Travel North America USA Washington DC

Moving from Philadelphia, New York to Princeton, the nation's capital later found a permanent home (by congressional decree in 1790) on the Potomac River, midway between northern and southern states.

As with most political decisions, the land on which the capital city was built was dank and swampy in summer, and bitterly cold in winter - and in the end satisfied no one!

French engineer Pierre Charles L'Enfant was hired to design the city, with Maryland and Virginia agreeing to cede land to create the ten-mile square District of Columbia, named for Christopher Columbus. The plan called for government buildings, in the classic style, built along spacious avenues all leading up to the Capitol building - which was almost completed when the British set it afire in the War of 1812.

Today, as the founding fathers intended, Washington, D.C. is a national showcase of attractions and exhibits offering free admission to the now 20 million tourists from around the world who visit each year. In addition to historical places of interest, the city's political culture also affords some of the nation's top restaurants, bars, day spas & beauty salons.

Kid-friendly Washington DC

With so much to see and do for kids and families in DC, it's difficult to know where to begin!

Besides the obvious and famous attractions like the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial, one of the city's top family attractions is the National Zoo.

Offering FREE admission, and an easy walk from the Metro (take the Red Line to the Woodley Park-Zoo/Adams Morgan stop), the National Zoo features up-close visits with gorillas, pandas and dozens of other species of wildlife.

Of course, no visit to Washington DC would be complete without a trip to the Smithsonian including a trip to the National Museum of Natural History for eye-popping displays of dinosaurs and mastadons, as well as the butterfly pavilion and - in the Harry Winston Gallery - the world famous Hope Diamond!

Next stop, the National Air & Space Museum for famous airplanes and rockets, a replica of the Hubble Telescope, fun simulator rides, the planetarium, and an awesome IMAX movie theater.

For parents, tween and teens, also don't miss a visit to the International Spy Museum for a spooky look inside the world of secret agents where visitors get to be a spy for a day, adopting the identity of a spy for the tour, complete with dossier and polygraph tests.

More travel information about Washington DC around the Web:

Along with general guides, just up ahead check out more travel guides on the nation's capital with a list of individual links for more information on Washington DC's top attractions.

Official Tourism Site of Washington, DC - Travel news & updates, what's on, online travel bookings, kids' fun pages, maps, pictures & travel videos.

Washington DC City Pages - One-stop browsing for dozens of city attractions, events & festivals including maps, tour operators, guides, and don't miss the virtual tour of the National Mall.

See Washington, DC - Pictures, descriptions, Metro stops and opening hours for all of the Washington D.C.'s historic & cultural attractions with related links to official sites.

Washington DC Major Tourist Attractions

Washington DC Summer Vacation Calendar:

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