Washington DC Holidays

Every year, more than 16 million tourists visit the museums and monuments. The Smithsonian Institution, an educational foundation chartered by Congress in 1846, maintains many of the museums and galleries in DC. The U.S. government partially funds the Smithsonian, so there’s no entry fee.

The most popular museum in the whole U.S. is the National Air and Space Museum, located right downtown, with more than 9 million visitors a year. 

The time to visit DC is from mid March to mid April, when the cherry blossoms are in bloom. In 1912, Tokyo, Japan gave 3,000 trees to the city as a show of friendship. The National Cherry Blossom Festival has been held annually since those first trees were planted by first lady Helen Taft. During the festival, a meandering stretch of the Potomac River appears to grace the city wearing an endless pink and white garland. It is really a sight to behold.

Some of the most architecturally interesting buildings in the U.S. are located in DC: The White House, the Washington National Cathedral, the Thomas Jefferson Memorial, the Capitol, and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Many of these historic attractions are located along the National Mall, a large open park.

From anywhere on the National Mall, you can see the Washington Monument, the District’s tallest structure. Unlike most American cities, Washington has no skyscrapers. But you can ride the glass elevator to the top of the 555-foot-tall Washington Monument and see the entire city