The Great American Getaway Part 2: Washington D.C.

A field trip to Washington D.C. has a way of making history come alive for children and adults.

Much of what Washington D.C. has to offer is contained in a relatively small area. Here are some Sears Imported Autos tips to making your D.C. getaway memorable (for the right reasons).

  1. Wear comfortable shoes. The best way to see D.C. is on foot, and unless you enjoy the pain associated with blisters, comfortable shoes are a must. Tours are available for those with disabilities or health issues.

  2. Use public transportation. The D.C. subway system, despite all the dirty politics that take place in D.C., is astoundingly clean and more efficient than getting lost while driving.

  3. Plan your walking route. There's no sense backtracking. Find out which memorials you want to see and find the most convenient walking route to see them.

  4. Give yourself plenty of time. It will take more than one day to see everything there is to see in D.C.'s monument area.

  5. Don't spend all your time staring at monuments. There are things to see other than concrete slabs and marble statues. Arlington National Cemetery, Georgetown University, and other noteworthy sites are just a subway ride away.

  6. Stay outside the city. D.C. is easily accessible by public transportation from Northern Virginia, where hotels don't cost as much.

  7. Pack a lunch. D.C. has a plethora of parks and places to picnic.

  8. Always know where you are. As with any large city, there are places tourists should not go, for safety reasons.

For those with a limited amount of time in the nation's capital, the following attractions are a must-see:

  1. The Washington Monument - The Washington Monument can be seen from almost anywhere in the city. Washington's influence can be seen throughout the world.
  2. The Lincoln Memorial - The actual memorial is far more impressive than its depiction on the back of a penny.
  3. The Jefferson Memorial - Thomas Jefferson doubled the size of the United States in 1803 for $12 million. His statue only cost $3 million.
  4. The Smithsonian - There's a lot to see at the Smithsonian. Ben Stiller was only there for a night and he fought off ancient Egyptian demons, hooked up with Amelia Earhart, and stole a plane.
  5. The Vietnam War Memorial - The wall contains the names of 58,261 names of those who lost their lives in the Vietnam War, a chilling reminder.