The capital of the United States. Famously named after George Washington, one of the Founding Father’s and the first president. Washington D.C. is thriving with great history and deserves its place for lists of places to visit in America. From its beautiful national parks to its interesting American history museums. Some of these reasons (not all) were enough to make me plan a short day trip.
Whenever planning a trip to America, I always research the states that are nearby. Since I was in New York City, (read about my NYC adventures here). We travelled via Greyhound, which was the cheapest and quickest way (door to door) as the bus drives directly into a local bus station. The cost was $30 return (£24) including booking fees and only took 3-4 hours. including the stop off in Delaware.
Washington D.C. is home to 14 national parks – four more than New York City. So if nature is something you admire, then this is another reason to visit. The weather was scorching. Temperatures on the day were between 32-34°C (around 90°F), bear in mind this was mid-August, so I was grateful we were freestyling our itinerary. When temperatures are so high always be mindful to keep yourself hydrated and catch shade where you can.
Our first official stop was to the Memorial Mall. Stopping by the Lincoln statue, there’s enough landscape and variety for whatever Instagram pictures you’re looking to take.
As the most visited National park, I wasn’t surprised by the footfall. A tourist hotspot which isn’t a surprise, I’d recommend stopping by if you do genuinely have an interest in American history (and would like to take a selfie or a more professionally organised photograph).
My favourite part of the day was discovering Martin Luther King’s memorial. It is a powerful statue with breathtaking views. I was pretty disappointed that I didn’t even know this existed but was pleasantly surprised. The footfall did not compare to the Memorial Mall obviously but like I mentioned the views were stunning.
If you’ve visited Washington D.C. let me know what your highlights were.