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There are many interesting tours and attractions in the D.C. area that you can plan independently and in advance of your trip. Here is information about some of the most popular sites:

Capitol Tour: The public tour runs from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Tickets are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis at the kiosk located along the curving sidewalk southwest of the Capitol, (near the intersection of First Street, S.W., and Independence Avenue). Ticket distribution begins at 9:00 a.m. Please arrive early to ensure that you receive tickets as they are limited; the public line usually starts to form at 7:30am. Recorded information is available at 202-225-6827. Please visit the Architect of the Capitol online at www.aoc.gov.

The National Archives: The newly renovated Rotunda is currently open to the public 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., seven days a week. In order to view the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights, please enter the building at 9th Street and Constitution Avenue. This experience is free of charge to the public. For more information please visit www.archives.gov.

The Bureau of Printing and Engraving: The Bureau offers public tours Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and also, 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. from June through August. Tickets are required for all general tours. Tickets can be picked up from the ticket booth located on Raoul Wallenberg Place. The booth is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. or until all tickets are given out for the day. Tickets are given out in 15-minute increments and are distributed for same day tours only. There is a limit of 5 tickets per person. To ensure that you receive tickets it is recommended that you arrive at least 60 to 90 minutes before the ticket booth is open. The nearest METRO station is Smithsonian. The website is www.moneyfactory.com.

Library of Congress: The Library offers free public tours of the Thomas Jefferson building Monday through Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. These tours are conducted by professionally trained volunteer docents and do not require reservations and meet in the Great Hall of the Thomas Jefferson Building. The nearest METRO station is Capitol South, and the Thomas Jefferson building is located on 1st Street and Independence Avenue, NE. Please visit www.loc.gov.

The White House: Although the White House is only available to tour through advance scheduled appointments, I invite you to pay a visit to the White House Visitor’s Center and gift shop on the Ellipse, between the South Lawn and the Washington Monument (the Southeast corner of 15th and E streets). The Visitor’s Center is open seven days a week between the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. The Center also offers exhibits ranging from the history of past presidents, to display pieces of White House furniture. Visit the White House website at www.whitehouse.gov.

The Holocaust Museum: The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum is open daily between 10:00 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Timed passes are necessary in order to enter the permanent exhibit. These may be obtained on the day of your visit or by calling tickets.com at (800) 400–9373. Each day, the Museum distributes on a first–come first–served basis a large but limited number of timed entry passes for use that same day. The Museum is located 100 Raoul Wallenberg Place, SW. The nearest METRO is Smithsonian. For more information please visit www.ushmm.org or call (202) 488–0400.

The Supreme Court: Lectures are given in the Courtroom every hour on the half hour when the Court is not in session beginning at 9:30 a.m. and concluding at 3:30 p.m. Located on the ground floor are exhibits, and a 20-minute film on the workings of The Court. The building is open from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. The building is closed weekends and Federal holidays. (Beginning the first Monday in October, the Court hears up to four one-hour arguments a day, three days a week, in two-week intervals, concluding the oral argument portion of the Term in late April. In mid-May, after the oral argument portion of the Term has concluded, the Court takes the Bench Mondays at 10 a.m. for the release of orders and opinions. This practice continues until all the cases heard during the Term are decided, usually the last week in June.) The nearest METRO stations are Capitol South or Union Station. Please visit www.supremecourtus.gov or call 202-479-3211 for more information.

Mount Vernon: To visit George Washington’s home, please visit Mount Vernon. Mount Vernon is open seven days a week, every day of the year, including holidays and Christmas This site is open: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., April through August, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. March, September and October, and 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. November through February. The cost is $13 for adults, $12 for senior, $6 for children ages 6 to 11, and free for children five and under. For more information please visit http://www.mountvernon.org.

The Kennedy Center: Free tours of the Kennedy Center are given by the Friends of the Kennedy Center from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. They depart from the parking plaza on Level A, and feature the Hall of States and Hall of Nations, the Center’s main theaters, and dozens of paintings, sculptures, and other artwork given to the Center by foreign countries. The nearest METRO station is Foggy Bottom. For more information call 202-416-8340 or visit http://www.kennedy-center.org.

The Smithsonian Museums: Admission is free for all Smithsonian museums in Washington D.C. and most are open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. For more information please visit http://www.si.edu

The National Zoo: The National Zoo is open every day of the year except December 25. Admission is free. The hours for the zoo are as follows: Grounds open from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. / Buildings open 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.  For more in formation please visit http://nationalzoo.si.edu/

The Washington Monument: Free same-day tickets are distributed on a first come, first served basis at the kiosk near the monument’s base at 15tha and Constitution Avenue, N.W., starting at 8:00 a.m. Advance tickets are available for a $2.00 service charge through the National Park Service. Please call 1-800-967-2283 or at www.nps.gov for more information on advance tickets. For general information about the Washington Monument, please call 202-426-6841.

Please call or check the websites of your intended destinations to confirm hours of operation as they may change for security or other reasons.

Good luck with your visit planning!