Washington
District of Columbia
Hard Rock Café: 999 E St NW, Washington, DC 20004
Accommodation Tip: Während unseres Besuches im Oktober 2013 haben wir im Omni Shoreham Hotel übernachtet. Das hat uns sehr gut gefallen. Unsere genauere Bewertung findet sich auf unserer Hotel page.
Our visits: So far 2 visits: October 2008, October 2013
Lincoln Memorial
Description: The monument honoring Abraham Lincoln was opened in 1922 and stands at the west end of the National Mall in Washington. It was designed by Henry Bacon.
Our rating: Unfortunately, the Memorial was closed during our visit in October 2013 because of the Government Shutdown. So we could only take a look from the outside. Nevertheless, we liked it, because the building and the huge statue of Abraham Lincoln are quite impressive. We think that the Lincoln Memorial belongs to a visit to Washington.
Entrance fees and opening hours
- Free of charge
- Open 24 hours all year round.
For the GPS: 2 Lincoln Memorial Cir NW, Washington, DC 20037
Washington Monument
Description: The nearly 558ft high obelisk can be found exactly in the middle of the national Mall. Built in honor of the first US president George Washington, it was opened in 1884. For a great panoramic view of Washington, there is a visitor level just below the top. Admission to this is free, but you do need tickets. These can be ordered online 90 days in advance. There are also tickets on site, but you always run the risk of not getting any tickets there.
Our rating: Unfortunately, we didn't make it to the top of the visitor level during our two visits to Washington. In 2008 we didn't have the time and in 2013 the monument was closed because it was being renovated. Thus, so far we only had a view from the outside, but the trip to the top is definitely still on our bucket list.
Entrance fees and opening hours
- Free of charge
- Open daily from 9am - 5pm.
For the GPS: 2 15th St NW, Washington, DC 20024
United State Capitol
Description: The United State Capitol is the seat of the United States government. The building was constructed between 1793 and 1823 and has been a National Historic Landmark since 1960. It is located at the east end of the national Mall in Washington. The Capitol can be visited. However, you should reserve tickets online beforehand to make sure you get in. There are also tickets available on site every day, but you have to wait in sometimes very long lines and hope for your luck. Everything you need to know about a visit can be found under the links above this description.
Our rating: We have not yet managed to visit the Capitol from the inside during our two visits. In 2008, the time was just too short and in 2013, the Capitol was closed because of the government shutdown. So only the view from the outside remained here and a proper visit remains on the bucket list.
Entrance fees and opening hours
- Free of charge
- Open daily from 8.30am - 4.30pm.
For the GPS: First St SE, Washington, DC 20004
White house
Description: The White House is the official residence and seat of the President of the United States. Apart from George Washington, all US presidents have lived in the building. It got its name from Theodore Roosevelt because of its white exterior. The foundation stone was laid in 1792 and eight years later it was first occupied. Since that time, however, the White House has been remodeled and expanded several times. Under Harry S. Truman, a core renovation took place, as the building was in too poor a condition for further use. Unfortunately, the White House can no longer be visited by German citizens due to the high security requirements. At the moment, this is only possible for American citizens.
For the GPS: 1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC 20500
Our rating: The White House is simply part of every visit to Washington. Even if you can only look at it from a distance, behind a fence.
Along the National Mall
Description: Along the National Mall there are plenty of attractive buildings that are home to museums and other public offices and institutions. Many of the museums belong to the Smithsonian Institution, one of the most important research and educational institutions in the world. In addition, the Mall is also home to numerous monuments, sculptures and gardens that invite you to visit them.
Our rating: From the Lincoln Memorial to the Capitol, the National Mall is over 5km long. Since there is so much to see on the way, you can spend weeks here and in the buildings, if you want to look at even approximately everything. So far, we unfortunately only had enough time to look at the buildings from the outside, because vacation time is always very limited. However, another visit to Washington is definitely still on our bucket list, because we want to take a closer look at some of the museums of the Smithsonian Institution.
