Washington DC Area

If you are interested in learning more about US history, witnessing the US government at work, visiting some amazing educational museums, and seeing some of the most famous monuments in the United States, Washington DC should definitely be on your list of places to visit. In addition, since most of the monuments and museums are free, this is a great place to save money and still see some of the US's national treasures like The Constitution, the original American flag or even the Hope Diamond. For those museums with a student rate, it's advisable to have an ISE Card to show your student status.

Highlights of Washington DC

• The White House
• The US Capitol Building
• Lincoln Memorial
• The Washington Monument
• The Smithsonian Institution
• The Vietnam Veterans Memorial

Historical Sites

White House
Probably one of the most photographed sites in Washington DC is The White House, which has housed every US president since John Adams. For many years it was simply known as "The Presidential Palace" and its original color was not even white. Teddy Roosevelt was responsible for sanctioning the name change to "The White House" and that has been how it has been known ever since. Tours of the White House have been suspended after the 9/11 attacks, however, there is a nice video tour conducted by the first lady at the White House visitor center.

The US Capitol Building
Washington DC's main claim to fame is that it is where the US Capitol is located. Originally built in 1790, it was burnt down by the British in 1814 and rebuilt from 1817 to 1819. Additional wings for the House and Senate were added in 1857. Visitors to the Capital can gain access by guided tours which target the Rotunda, Statuary Hall, the old Supreme Court chamber, and finally, the Crypt, which has some exhibits on the Capital's history. Those interested in watching the Congress in session can get a pass for the visitor's gallery from the Sergeant-at-Arms.

Library of Congress
The Library of Congress is the largest library in the world with its 26 million books and roughly 100 million items including musical instruments, manuscripts, maps, photographs, and sheet music. There are free screenings of classic films and sometimes concerts are given using the library's five Stradivarius violins. The most beautiful part of the Library is the 1897 Jefferson Building which has vaulted ceilings and ornate decorations.

Lincoln Memorial
This memorial to the 16th US President, Abraham Lincoln, was built to inspire the American ideals of freedom and tolerance. The famous Gettysburg address is engraved on the south wall and the entire memorial acts as a reminder of the fundamental human rights owed to every human being. In 1963, Martin Luther King stood on the steps of the Memorial and gave his famous "I have a dream…." speech during the Civil Rights movement. The outside of the Memorial was designed to resemble a Greek temple. Each of the 36 columns represents the 36 states that were in Lincoln's union. In addition, since Lincoln was a supporter of the Gallaudet College for the Deaf, each of the hands on the 19 foot statue forms a letter (A on the right hand and L on the left).

Washington Monument
For some spectacular views, you might want to head over to the 555 ft (166m) Washington Monument. This Monument is in the form of a tall, white obelisk which was completed in 1885. There is an elevator that will take you to the top and for those who are interested, a staircase going down with plaques from all of the states. The Monument may be visited; however, the grounds are currently closed for security reasons.

Smithsonian Institution
A trip to DC would not be complete without a visit to the Smithsonian Institution. The Smithsonian is a complex of 15 museums as well as a research and educational institution which is responsible for millions of artworks, scientific specimens, artifacts, and much more. The Institution is more that 150 years old, and has some excellent programs, lectures, and educational films, most of which are free. While you may not be able to visit all of the Smithsonian museums, there are bound to be a few that are particularly interesting to you. For more information about The Smithsonian, please visit: www.si.edu.

Vietnam Veterans Memorial
This memorial for those who died during the Vietnam War was completed in 1982. Two walls of polished Indian granite reflect the faces of those who read the names engraved on the face of each wall. 58,209 soldiers were killed during the war. Family and friends have left notes, medals and mementos on the wall which makes a visit to this memorial a truly moving experience.

Arlington
On the other side of the Potomac River from the capital is Arlington. Arlington National Cemetery is here, as well as the gravesites of the Kennedy family. As a side note, the Pentagon is also located in Arlington.

Activities

The US Holocaust Memorial Museum
The Holocaust Memorial Museum was built as a means of documenting, studying and interpreting events that took place during the Holocaust. Its exhibits include personal accounts, photos, and items from the concentration camps of Nazi Germany which provide a haunting picture of what happened during that time. Additional information about the exhibits may be found at: www.ushmm.org

Places to Stay

Best Western
Information about Best Western hotels in Washington DC may be found at: www.bestwestern.com. ISE Cardholders will receive 10-15% off of the rack rate at all Best Western Hotels. In addition to showing an ISE Card, each Best Western Hotel requires that cardholders mention the corporate ID number, 00140160, in order to obtain the discounted rate.

Hostels
There are a wide variety of places to stay in Washington DC. To search for hostels online with full descriptions, photos and availability features, please click here. The $2 reservation fee will be waived when booking through this site.

Places to Eat

Old Ebbitt Grill
This restaurant is a great stop if you are interested in American Traditional Cuisine. Most items are under $30.00 and they claim to offer the largest selection of oysters in DC. Established in 1856, this is a fun dining saloon which is just across from the White House.

Chef Geoff's - Downtown DC
This is another casual dining establishment with top marks for under $30.00. Just 3 blocks from the White House, it serves a variety of American cuisine from seared duck, steaks and yellow-fin tuna to grilled pizza and burgers. Patio dining is available.

Getting Around

Walking
Visitors to central Washington will find that walking is the most convenient way to get around. Bring comfortable shoes as you might end up walking more than you had planned!

Car
Driving a car in Washington DC is not recommended as there is a lot of traffic congestion. Most rental agencies are either at the airports or downtown.

Bicycle
Biking is probably the best way to get around Washington DC as it is fairly flat and a bike will get you to your destination much faster than walking will. There are a variety of biking companies in DC. Better Bikes Inc. has been said to deliver and pick-up bikes anywhere in the DC area.

Bus
The bus can be convenient for those who don't want to walk or bike and can't get to their destination by Metro. Please be aware that the buses are affected by the same traffic as the cars.

Metro
The Metro rail subway services Washington DC and the surrounding area. It is very well-maintained and an excellent way of getting around.

Shuttle Bus
The Metro bus system also does a nice job of getting people to their destinations.

Taxi
If you don't have the patience for the Metro or the Bus, a taxi might be a good option for a short trip. If you can share the cab fare, they're not that expensive and will get you where you need to go. Cabs in Washington DC can be waved down. If you can't find one, two of the major companies servicing the area are Diamond Yellow and Capitol.

Moving On

Air
The three major airports in the DC area are Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), Baltimore-Washington International Airport (BWI) and Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD. DCA tends to be the most convenient airport for travelers as it is located right on the Potomac River near Arlington National Cemetery.

Car
For leaving the DC area, you can choose from a wide variety of car rental companies which are located at all of the major airports.

Bus
Greyhound has services available to Baltimore, New York, Richmond and many other destinations along the Eastern Seaboard and in the South. ISE Cardholders that keep their Greyhound bus receipts will be reimbursed 10% off the ticket price (walk-up tickets only). Receipts must be sent to ISE.

Train
Amtrak is an excellent way to see the areas outside of Washington DC. It has services between the Washington Airport and Baltimore and Washington DC (Its "flagship" Union station is located in Washington and has some excellent information for travelers). Amtrak also provides frequent services along the Eastern Seaboard from Washington to Boston. The trains are well-maintained and efficient. ISE Cardholders will receive a discount of 15% off of their Amtrak ticket by calling Amtrak at 1-800-835-8725 (in the US) to make their reservation and then calling 1- 800-255-8000 to give their reservation number and information to ISE to receive a rebate check.