US Capitol and Library of Congress
See the wedding-cake style dome and the beautiful grounds of the Capitol.
National Museum of Natural History
Incredible gems, plus a stuffed elephant and lots of animals, in a gorgeous building.
Thomas Jefferson Memorial and Tidal Basin
Huge memorial, quiet and magical in the morning, on the tidal basin.
Korean War Veterans Memorial
Memorial full of atmosphere, with statues of soldiers rising out of the juniper bushes.
Mount Vernon, George Washington's home
River-view house (by short, guided tour), gardens, and world-class museum.
White House North Lawn & Lafayette Square
Busy area with activists, street musicians, and tourists checking out views of the White House.
Busch Gardens, Williamsburg (3 hours away)
Large, shady theme park with huge rollercoaster and plenty of rides for kids.
Natl Portrait & American Art Museum
Two great museums in one building- less crowded than other Smithsonian museums.
National Air and Space Museum
Rockets and fighter planes! Land a plane on a boat. Walk though Skylab.
US Holocaust Memorial Museum
Meaningful architecture, excellent children's exhibit, and very sad exhibits for adults.
Foggy Bottom neighborhood
A neighborhood where good food and George Washington University students are to be found!
Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial
Unique memorial- you walk through the Mountain of Despair to get to the Stone of Hope.
Vietnam Veterans Memorial
Black polished granite L-shaped wall with names of those lost in the Vietnam War.
White House Visitor Center and South Lawn
Video with interesting quotes by those who have lived in the White House, and distant view of the south side of the White House from the lawn.
National Museum of American History
Interesting museum with exhibits on transportation (with great life-size scenes), voting, and items brought to America by immigrants.
Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial
Interesting memorial with many "rooms" portraying the Roosevelt's life, and waterfalls.