Helpful Links for Planning Activities in Washington

Cultural Tourism DC

Washington, DC Convention and Tourism Corporation

National Cherry Blossom Festival

The Washington Post's City Guide

The Washington City Paper

Landmarks

Bureau of Engraving and Printing
Guided tours of the Bureau are given from 9:00 am – 2:00 pm year-round and also from 5:00 pm – 6:45 pm between March and September. Tickets, which are only required for tours between March and September, are distributed each morning from a kiosk at the corner of 15th and C Streets, SW beginning at 8:00 a.m. on a first-come, first-served basis. Tickets for the Bureau of Engraving and Printing tour can also be requested through my office; view the Congressional Tours page.

Capitol
Visitors may obtain free tickets for tours on a first-come, first-served basis, beginning at 9:00 am daily, at the Capitol Guide Service kiosk located near the intersection of First Street, SW, and Independence Avenue. Recorded information is available at (202) 225-6827. Tickets for the Capitol tour can also be requested through my office; view the Capitol Tours page.

Passes to the House and Senate galleries to observe debate on the floor of Congress can be obtained from my Washington office in 2204 Rayburn House Office Building. Children must be at least six years of age to be admitted to the Senate gallery. In the House, children under 10 are allowed in the gallery if accompanied by an adult. Both galleries are open between 9:00 am and 4:30 pm, but may open earlier, depending on when the House and Senate are in session.
Metro: Capitol South, Blue and Orange Lines

Kennedy Center
Tours of the Kennedy Center are conducted daily, 10 am to 1 pm. Visitors should go to the Tour Desk on Motor Lobby A, where tours leave approximately every 15 minutes and last about 1 hour. To reserve a tour, call the Kennedy Center at (202) 416-8340. Tickets for the Kennedy Center tour can also be requested through my office; view the Congressional Tours page.
Metro: Foggy Bottom/GWU, Blue and Orange Lines
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Library of Congress
Tours of the Library of Congress are held Monday through Saturday at 11:30 am, 1:00 pm, 2:30 pm, and 4:00 pm. Same-day tickets are required and may be obtained at the information desk of the Jefferson Building. Participants should enter the building through the West front door (facing the Capitol). For more information, contact the Library of Congress at (202) 707-8000. Advance reservations for tours on Monday through Friday can be made through my office; view the Congressional Tours page.
Metro: Capitol South, Blue and Orange Lines
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State Department
Guided tours of the State Department Reception Rooms are conducted Monday through Friday at 9:30 am, 10:30 am and 2:45 pm. Tours are 45 minutes in duration. Reservations are required and can be requested at http://receptiontours.state.gov. The State Department suggests that tours be made at least 90 days in advance. Strollers are not permitted, and visitors may not bring backpacks or bags. Storage will not be provided.
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Supreme Court
An exhibit and short film can be viewed year-round on the first floor of the Court building, which is open from 9:00 am to 4:30 pm Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. When the Court is not in session public lectures are held in the Court chamber every hour on the half-hour between 9:30 am and 3:30 pm Lectures last approximately 20 minutes, and no reservations are required. When the Court is in session, oral arguments are generally heard from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm, and are open to the public. Limited seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis, so arriving early is recommended. In addition, a limited number of tours of the Court are available through my office; view the Congressional Tours page. For more information and a list of days when the Court is in session, call (202) 479-3211.
Metro: Capitol South, Blue and Orange Lines

Old Executive Office Building
All public tours of the Old Executive Office Building have been suspended until further notice.
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Treasury Department
All public tours of the Main Treasury Building have been suspended until further notice. Please visit the"Virtual Tour" on-line to view some of the historic spaces and decorative arts.
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White House
Reservations are not required to visit the White House Visitor Center, located in the Department of Commerce building at the southeast corner of 15th and E Streets, NW. The Visitor Center is open to the public, seven days a week from 7:30 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. For more information, call the 24-hour Visitors Office Information Line at 202-456-7041. Tickets for the White House tour can also be requested through my office; view the Congressional Tours page.
Metro: McPherson Square, Blue and Orange Lines
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Memorials and Monuments

Arlington National Cemetery
Open daily October through March from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm and April through September from 8:00 am to 7:00 pm. Contains the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the Amphitheater, the Custis-Lee Mansion and the graves of Presidents John F. Kennedy and William Howard Taft. The Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier occurs every hour on the hour, and also on the half hour during summer months. For more information call (703) 607-8052.
Metro: Arlington Cemetery, Blue Line
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Jefferson Memorial
Situated on the South side of the Tidal Basin, in West Potomac park, the Thomas Jefferson Memorial is one of the cities most picturesque landmarks. Dedicated in 1943, on the 200th anniversary of Jefferson's birth, this simple circular classical white marble monument is in keeping with a style much favored by the third U.S. president, architect, scholar and political thinker. At its center, a towering 19-foot bronze portrait statue (the plaster one, in position until after WWII, is in the basement, too large to be removed intact) stands on a 6-foot pedestal. Park rangers give 15-minute talks several times an hour.
Metro: Arlington Cemetery, Blue Line
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Korean War Veterans Memorial
The new Korean War Veterans' Memorial lies in the shadow of the Lincoln Memorial, near the Vietnam War Veterans Memorial on the west end of the Mall. It consists of 19 larger-than-life U.S. ground troopers equipped for battle moving toward an American flag. Etched into the granite are photographs of hundreds of faces taken from military archives.
Metro: Arlington Cemetery, Blue Line
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Lincoln Memorial
The building (architect: Henry Beacon) was constructed in the style of a classical greek temple with 36 columns meant to represent the Union at the time of Abraham Lincoln's death . On the North wall, the 16th president's second inaugural address; on the South wall the Gettysburg address. Above the statue the words: "In this Temple, as in the hearts of the people, for whom he saved the Union, the memory of Abraham Lincoln is enshrined forever".
Metro: Arlington Cemetery, Blue Line
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Vietnam Veterans Memorial
Located between the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial on the Mall in Washington, D.C., the dramatic and somber Vietnam Veterans Memorial was dedicated in November 1982. The privately financed monument was officially accepted by Pres. Ronald Reagan on Nov. 11, 1984, when he signed a document transferring the memorial to the U.S. Park Service. The V-shaped memorial consists of two 250-ft walls of polished black granite sloping to the ground from an apex of 10 feet. The walls are inscribed with the names of the more than 58,000 U.S. men and women who were killed or missing in the Vietnam War.
Metro: Arlington Cemetery, Blue Line
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Washington Monument
Designed by Robert Mills (b. Charleston, S.C., Aug. 12, 1781, d. Mar. 3, 1855) in 1838, to follow the form of an Egyptian obelisk, it rises more than 168 m (550 ft) above the city and is the largest masonry structure in the world.Mills achieved national prominence after being appointed (1836) architect and engineer to the federal government, in which capacity he designed this monument to the first president of the United States, George Washington. Tickets are required to enter the monument. Reservations may be made up to 5 months in advance by calling 1-800-967-2283 between 10:00 am and 10:00 pm, or over the internet at http://reservations.nps.gov. A service fee is charged for advance reservations. Free, same-day tickets are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis beginning at 8:00 am from a kiosk on the Washington Monument grounds, at 15th Street and Madison Drive. The Park Service recommends that you arrive early due to demand.
Metro: Smithsonian, Blue and Orange Lines
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Museums

Holocaust Museum
Entrance tickets to the Holocaust Museum can be obtained from the box office on the same day of your visit. For more information, please call (202) 488-0400. Visually-impaired visitors may call (202) 488-6100. Visitors who are hearing-impaired may call (202) 488-0406. Admission is free. Timed tickets are required to visit the museum’s permanent exhibition. They can be obtained at the museum’s box office on the day of your visit on a first-come, first-served basis. They can also be reserved in advance by calling tickets.com at (800) 400–9373. A service fee is charged for advance reservations.
Metro: Smithsonian, Blue and Orange Lines
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Smithsonian Institution Museums
The Smithsonian encompasses a number of fabulous museums around Washington, including the Natural History Museum, American History Museum, Postal Museum, and Air and Space Museum. Visit the Smithsonian website for a full list of museums to visit, along with special events taking place during your trip to Washington.
Metro: Smithsonian, Blue and Orange Lines
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For Children

National Building Museum
Fun for both parents and children, the National Building Museum features special activities for "young builders". The museum is America’s premier cultural institution dedicated to exploring and celebrating architecture, design, engineering, construction, and urban planning.
Metro: Judiciary Square, Red Line
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Discovery Theater
Each season more than a dozen productions feature puppets, storytellers, dancers, actors, musicians, and mimes in performances that present classic stories for children, folk tales from all over the world, American history and cultures, and innovative theater techniques. Located in the Smithsonian's Arts and Industries Building, 900 Jefferson Drive, SW. For more information, call (202) 357-1500.
Metro: Smithsonian, Blue and Orange Lines
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Glen Echo Park
Ride the antique hand-carved and hand-painted Dentzel carousel, saved by community effort, enjoy a play for children at Adventure Theater, and more. 7300 MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo, MD. For more information, call (301) 492-6229 or (301) 492-6282 (events hotline).
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ImaginAsia Family Programs at the Sackler Gallery
Children ages six to fourteen accompanied by an adult use an activity book to explore an exhibition and create a related art project to take home. No reservations are required for groups of less than eight. Visit the website for a monthly listing of events. For more information, call (202) 357-2700; reservations: (202) 357-4880, ext. 422.
Metro: Smithsonian, Blue and Orange Lines
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Other Attractions

Union Station
For over 90 years, Union Station has welcomed travelers to Washington and remains a functioning train station today. This magnificent building has played host to 17 Presidents and countless foreign dignitaries. However, what may be most impressive is the fact that Union Station's marble floors echo with the footsteps of over 25 million people each year, making it the most visited site in all of Washington, D.C.
Metro: Union Station, Red Line
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Dumbarton Oaks
Historic nineteenth century house and gardens at the edge of Georgetown. The garden is open daily from 2 to 6 pm between March 15 and October 31, and from 2 to 5 pm from November 1 to March 14. The museum is open from 2 to 5 pm from Tuesday to Sunday. Both the gardens and the museum are closed on national holidays. Admission is $5.00 during the summer months and free during the rest of the year. 1703 32nd St, NW. For more information, call (202) 639-6400.
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Georgetown
Historic neighborhood west of Rock Creek Park. Shopping, boutiques, restaurants and night clubs.

Mount Vernon
Eight miles south of Alexandria, Virginia. Home of George Washington. Open daily from 8 am to 5 pm from April through August; from 9 am to 4 pm from November through February; and from 8 am to 5 pm in March, September and October. General admission is $11. For more information, call (703)780-2000.
Metro: The Fairfax Connector shuttle bus leaves from Huntington Station on the Yellow Line
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National Zoo
Open every day of the year except December 25. Admission is free. From April 6 to October 25, the grounds are open from 6 am to 8 pm and the buildings are open from 10 am to 6 pm. From October 26 to April 5, the grounds are open from 6 am to 6 pm and the buildings are open from 10 am to 4:30 pm. 3001 Connecticut Ave, NW.
Metro: Woodley Park/Zoo, Red Line
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Tourmobiles
Guided shuttles travel between Capitol Hill and Arlington Cemetery with stops at many popular tourist attractions including museums and memorials. Ticket booths are located at Union Station, near the Washington Monument and at the entrance to Arlington Cemetery. Tickets can be purchased in advance by calling (800) 551-SEAT.
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United States Botanic Garden
Visitors can see the new plant exhibits that include nearly 4,000 living specimens. Additionally, the newly renovated Conservatory offers a beautiful and fascinating living plant museum. Open daily 10 am to 5 pm, including Christmas Day. For more information call (202) 225-8333. Large groups or persons who would like to reserve a wheelchair should call (202) 226-4082. 1st Street and Maryland Avenue, SW.
Metro: Federal Center Southwest, Blue and Orange Lines
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United States National Arboretum
Established in 1927 by an Act of Congress, the Arboretum is administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service. Its mission is to conduct research, provide education, and conserve and display trees, shrubs, flowers, and other plants to enhance the environment. The Arboretum contains 446 acres with 9.5 miles of winding roadways. It is located in Northeast Washington, with entrances on New York Avenue and R Street.
Bus: On weekends and holidays except December 25, use direct shuttle service from Union Station by taking the X6 metrobus. The bus operates every 40 minutes.
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