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Washington DC: What a Deal!
by Tammie Offia on February 09, 2010 |
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When most people hear the words educational travel, their minds immediately jump to visions of Machu Picchu ruins high above Peru, or blue-footed boobies on the sand of the Galapagos, or a tour of the Louvre in Paris. However, did you know that you have a bevy of educational travel opportunities in your own backyard? Enter Washington D.C.
Founded in 1790, D.C. has more than 200 years of culture and history behind it. Not very many U.S. cities can match that. In this challenging environment, now is the time to experience what our founding fathers worked so hard to institute and what we work so hard to preserve.
The architecture of Washington varies greatly. Six of the top 10 buildings in the American Institute of Architects' 2007 ranking of "America's Favorite Architecture" are located in the District of Columbia, including: the White House; the Washington National Cathedral; the Thomas Jefferson Memorial; the United States Capitol; the Lincoln Memorial; and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. With so much international acclaim and recognition, you could center an entire trip on just these iconic landmarks alone.
Let’s start with the National Mall, a large, open park area in the center of the city. Located in the center of the Mall is the Washington Monument, known for it’s upward stance and spire looking façade. Also located on the mall are the Lincoln Memorial, the National World War II Memorial at the east end of the reflecting pool (the famous pool that is more than 6 football fields long where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr and Barack Obama made ground breaking speeches), the Korean War Veterans Memorial, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, and the Albert Einstein Memorial. Located very near and worth the visit just to grasp the imensity, the National Archives house thousands of documents important to American history including the Declaration of Independence, the United States Constitution, and the Bill of Rights.
Located directly south of the mall, the Tidal Basin features rows of beautiful Japanese cherry blossom trees that were presented as gifts from the nation of Japan. The Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial, Jefferson Memorial, and the District of Columbia War Memorial are located around the Tidal Basin. A word of advice: Wear comfortable walking shoes and be prepared. You could log some serious miles just in one day as these monuments seem closer to each other than they actual are.
One of the most iconic and renowned institutions that has capitvated children and adults is The Smithsonian Institution. This educational foundation maintains most of the nation's official museums and galleries in Washington, D.C. The U.S. government partially funds the Smithsonian, thus making its collections open to the public free of charge. The most visited of the Smithsonian museums in 2007 was the National Museum of Natural History located on the National Mall.
The best part of touring all these historical monuments is that the vast majority of them are free. That’s right, FREE. They just require a little footwork to get to. If walking isn’t your thing, jump on the Metrobus or Metrorail, the lines criss-cross the city like a spider’s web. A variety of affordable passes are available, including one- and seven-day unlimited passes.
Take advantage of these fabulous travel opportunities. As the U.S. government tightens its reigns on spending and budget control, it may only be a matter of time before these free exhibits are extinct. With plenty of hotel rooms and airline seats available, you can secure a wonderful early summer vacation for you and your family, all without breaking the bank.
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