Planning Ahead for A Visit to Washington DC Area Attractions

As schools across the nation are getting ready for summer break families are planning their vacations. One of the "hot" places to go in the summer has always been Washington DC and the surrounding area.

The number of attractions are amazing and best of all many of them are free. Everyone knows about the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial but there are plenty of others to enjoy as well. While your here you might want to put these on your to do list as well.

You can never go wrong with a day at the National Zoo. Everyone wants to see the Panda Bears. With the fall weather the crowds have thinned and the animals are out enjoying the cooler weather. Bring a picnic and enjoy the beautiful fall colors.

Wander the grounds Arlington National Cemetery. The views from Arlington House, the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Solider and President Kennedy's gravesite are just a few of the sites that make Arlington National Cemetery a must on everyone's tour of the area.

Interested in Aviation History? The Udvar-Hazy Air and Space Center is the newest addition to the Smithsonian but not located in DC. The center which houses the space shuttle Enterprise is actually in Chantilly VA about 20 miles west of DC. You will also find the B-29 Enola Gay and an SR-71 (Habu) spy plane. With flight simulators and an IMAX theater at the center it is easy to spend an entire day within the walls of the center. It is free to enter the museum but there is a $12 parking fee per car.

Check out George Washington's Mount Vernon Estate on the banks of the Potomac River. Most visitors drive to Mount Vernon but you can also take a boat tour from Alexandria and arrive on the docks at the front of the house. It is easy to see why George Washington loved this property and why it is one of the most popular places to visit in the area. The grounds are impeccable, you can see the farm life as it was in the 1700's and be thankful that preservationists were able to keep Mount Vernon for all of us to see 300 years later.

The National Museum of the Marine Corps located just outside of the main gate of Quantico is the ultimate Ooh-rah" experience. Designed to resemble the flag raising at Iwo Jima the museum this museum is designed to make you understand what it means to be a Marine. With interactive exhibits you can feel as if you are right in the thick of the action. This is a great place to pay tribute to all current and past Marines and understand their place in our US history.

Take a break this weekend and enjoy the last few days of fall and one of our many local area attractions.