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Our favorite maps of the DC Metro Area:

• National Mall
• DC Metro
• Reagan National Airport

Welcome to our Nation's Capital! If you've visited the DC area in the past, you know just how rich the area is with history and the pride of America. If this is your first visit, spend some time planning what you will see when you arrive. We suggest making a short list and a long list. Your short list should include the top three things you don't want to miss!

If your visit will be limited and you'd like to see a lot of things quickly, hop on the Metro and head to the National Mall where you'll be able to tour dozens of museums and monuments. The National Mall extends from the Washington Monument to the Capitol Building; the distance between the two is exactly two miles. Both sides are lined with an incredible two miles of museums. The outside perimeter of the mall is where you'll find spectacular monuments in park settings.

National Geographic offers a "walking tour" of the National Mall on their web site: nationalgeographic.com.

The cherry blossoms will be blooming in late March through the middle of April and will add an even more spectacular backdrop to the already breath-taking sites. Wear your most comfortable walking shoes, dress for the weather, and bring your camera with extra batteries!

The National Mall & Memorial Parks is the soul of the Capital City. It contains some of the oldest protected park lands in the National Park Service. Visiting the monuments will fill you with pride! For more information visit the web site at www.nps.gov/nama.

The National Mall includes the following:

• Washington Monument
  Constitution Avenue and 15th Street, NW
  Washington, D.C.
  Phone: 202-426-6841
  Web: www.nps.gov/wash
  Hours: 9 a.m.-4:45 p.m.; closed December 25.

• Lincoln Memorial
  23rd Street between Constitution and Independence Avenues, NW
  Washington, D.C.
  Phone: 202-426-6841
  Web: www.nps.gov/linc
  Hours: Open daily

• Thomas Jefferson Memorial
  15th Street, SW on the tidal basin
  Washington, D.C.
  Phone: 202-426-6841
  Web: www.nps.gov/thje
  Hours: 8 a.m. -Midnight daily; closed on December 25th

• WWII Memorial
  17th & Independence Ave., NW
  Washington, DC 20001
  Web: www.wwiimemorial.com

• Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial
  West Potomac Park near Lincoln Memorial on Ohio Drive
  Washington, D.C.
  Phone: 202-426-6841
  Web: www.nps.gov/frde
  Hours: 8 a.m. - 11:45 p.m.

• Korean War Veterans Memorial
  Daniel French Drive and Independence Avenue, SW
  Washington, D.C.
  Phone: 202-426-6841
  Web: www.nps.gov/kowa
  Hours: 8 a.m. - 11:45 p.m.

• Vietnam Veterans Memorial
  Constitution Avenue & Henry Bacon Drive, NW
  Washington, D.C.
  web: www.nps.gov/vive
  Phone: 202-426-6841

Washington also has dozens of museums, rich in history. Here are some that you may want to add to your list:

• Smithsonian
  Website: http://www.si.edu/visit/
  The Smithsonian is the world's largest museum complex and research organization composed of 19 museums and 9 research centers.
  Most museums are open daily, 10am-5:30pm, except December 25.

• Women in Military Service Museum
  Metro Stop: Arlington Cemetary
  Website: www.womensmemorial.org
  This is the only major national memorial to honor America's 2.5 million women who have served in the nation's defense. Free admission. Open everyday except Christmas.

• National Air And Space Museum
  6th Street and Independence Avenue, SW
  Washington, D.C.
  Phone: 202-633-1000 (voice), 202-357-1729 (TTY)
  Web: www.nasm.si.edu
  Hours: 10-5:30 daily (closed December 25); summer hours determined annually
  The National Air and Space Museum has the original Wright Flyer, the Spirit of St. Louis, SpaceShipOne, the Apollo 11 command module and a touchable lunar rock.

• National Air and Space Museum Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center
  14390 Air & Space Pkwy
  Chantilly, VA 20151
  Phone: 202-633-1000
  Web: www.si.edu
  Hours: Open daily (closed December 25) summer hours determined annually
  The Museum currently has over 80 aircraft in its displays.Some of the interesting pieces it has are the Space Shuttle "Enterprise", an SR-71 Blackbird reconnaissance aircraft; the Dash 80 prototype of the Boeing 707.

• National Museum Of Natural History
  10th St. and Constitution Avenue, NW
  Washington, D.C.
  Phone: 202-633-1000 (voice), 202-357-1729 (TTY)
  Web: http://www.mnh.si.edu
  Hours: 10-5:30 daily (closed December 25); summer hours determined annually
  This museum has an IMAX theater with daily films. You can also see everything from the Hope Diamond to an insect zoo!

• Naval Museum
  Washington Navy Yard
  805 Kidder Breese Street, SE
  Washington, D.C.
  Phone: 202-433-6897
  Hours: 9am-4pm Monday - Friday (reservations required); closed weekends and holidays
  The Naval Museum is housed in the Breech Mechanism Shop of the old Naval Gun Factory. Popular attractions include the fully rigged fighting top from the frigate Constitution, a submarine room with operating periscopes. There is no admission charge.

• United States Holocaust Museum
  Metro Stop: Smithsonian
  Website: www.ushmm.org
  This museum tells the story of the Holocaust through artifacts, films, photos, and oral histories. Open daily 10 am - 5:30 pm. Free-passes are given out daily on a first-come, first-serve basis. Advance passes may be purchased through tickets.com at (800) 400-9373 and www.tickets.com. A service fee applies.

What would a trip to Washington be without seeing the White House? You do have to schedule this well in advance of your visit and you'll have to jump some hoops to make it happen. Start out at your Senator or State Representative's office for assistance with scheduling a tour.

• White House
  Website: nps.gov/whho
  The home of every US president except George Washington. Tour requests MUST be made through your Senator or Representative and will be accepted up to six months in advance; Tours are scheduled Tues. - Sat. 7:30 am - 12:30 pm. For more information contact (202) 456-7041.

• White House Visitor Center
  The Visitor Center is open seven days a week, from 7:30 am - 4:00 pm. The Center features the architecture of the White House,the furnishings, and the residents.

The areas surrounding Washington, DC is rich with places to visit. The conference hotel is across the street from the Pentagon and a quick hop to both Arlington National Cemetary and the Iwo Jima Memorial. Here are some other places that are rich in history and well worth seeing:

• Arlington National Cemetery
  Metro stop: Arlington Cemetary
  Website: www.arlingtoncemetary.org
  Arlington is our country's largest national burial ground with more than 600 acres. Open daily 8AM -5PM (7 PM Apr-Sept) Free admission. Choice of self-guided walking tour or paid shuttle tour (information available at Visitors Center).

• The Pentagon
  Metro Stop: Pentagon
  Website: pentagon.afis.osd.mil
  Tours of the Pentagon are available to schools, educational organizations, and other select groups by reservation only. Groups interested in touring the Pentagon should contact the Pentagon Tour Office at 703-697-1776

• National Archives
  Constitution Avenue, between 7th and 9th Streets, NW
  Washington, D.C.
  Phone: 202-501-5000
  Web: www.archives.gov
  Hours: 8:45am-5:00pm Mon. & Wed.; 8:45am-9:00pm Tues., Thur. & Fri.; and 8:45am-4:45pm Sat.
  The Archives contain the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, the Emancipation Proclamation and the Treaty of Paris. Many people use the Archives to research and access early census, pension and military records research geneology.

• Ford's Theater
  511 10th Street, NW
  Washington, DC
  Phone: 202-638-2367
  Web: www.fordstheatre.org
  This historic landmark was the site of President Lincoln's assassination. There is a museum on the lower level along with live presentations in the Ford's Theatre. There are tours conducted by the National Park Service.

• John F. Kennedy Center For The Performing Arts
  2700 F Street, NW
  Washington, DC
  Phone: 202-416-8000
  Web: www.kennedy-center.org
  FREE TOURS are given at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.
  Groups of less than 20 do not need reservations.

• ESPN Zone
  555 12th Street, NW (at 11th & E Streets)
  Washington, DC20004
  Phone: 202-783-ESPN
  Web: espn.go.com/espninc/zone/washingtondc.html
  Hours: Monday though Saturday 11:30am - 12:30am, Sunday 11:30am - midnight.
  The ESPN Zone offers 41,000 square feet of enjoyment for fans of great dining and fun as well as sports. A great place for the family, and close to the White House, Capitol, National Mall and MCI Center.

• Folger Theatre
  201 East Capitol Street, SE
  Washington, DC
  Phone: 202-544-7077
  Web: www.folger.edu
  The three-tiered Elizabethan theater offers plays by Shakespeare and other modern playwrights as well as early music concerts, family programs, and reading of poetry and fiction. Visitors can also tour the Folger's national landmark building and Elizabeth garden.

• National Aquarium
  14th and Constitution Avenue, N.W.
  Washington, D.C.
  Phone: 202-482-2825
  Web: www.nationalaquarium.com
  Hours: 9-5 daily $5 Adult, $2 Child, Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas
  The National Aquarium has an interactive touch tank, a continually running theatre, and over 250 different species of fish.

• Bureau Of Engraving And Printing
  Department of the Treasury 14 and C Streets, SW
  Washington, D.C.
  Recorded tour info: 202-874-3019
  Web: www.moneyfactory.com
  Hours: Free, 40-minute public tours are offered Monday-Friday, every 20 minutes, from 9a.m. to 2p.m.
  See America's money being printed! Free tickets are required from March through September. The ticket booth is open on Monday through Friday at 8:00a.m. Tickets for 120 people are distributed every twenty minutes for same-day tours only.

There is some great shopping available in Washington DC. Most can be accessed by the Metro system.

• Fashion Centre at Pentagon City
  1100 S Hayes Street
  Arlington, VA 22202
  Phone: 703-415-2400
  Web: www.fashioncentrepentagon.com
  The Fashion Centre at Pentagon City, located close to the Capitol, and right on the Washington DC Metro system!

• Union Station
  50 Massachusetts Avenue, NE
  Washington DC 20002
  Phone: 202 289 1908
  Web: www.unionstationdc.com
  Union Station is visited by millions of people a year. It consists of two levels and has a great mix of stores you will be sure to recognize. The lower level has a food court and movie theaters.

• Old Post Office Pavilion
  Pennsylvania at 12th Street, NW
  Washington, DC
  Phone: 202-289-4224
  Web: www.oldpostofficedc.com
  The Old Post Office Pavilion is ranked as one of Washington's top eight attractions, It is an interesting mix of the present and past. The Pavilion offers three levels of entertainment, blending international cuisine, shopping, and relaxation At Ticketplace, you can even buy same-day, half-price tickets for performances at local theaters.