2.
Nearly 20 million visitors flock to Washington, DC, every year for everything from politics to business and tourism. Traditionally an American hot spot, the capital has begun to draw more and more foreign travelers.
3.
Walking around Washington is sure to work up your appetite and you can bet you'll be easily satisfied. With a mix of cultures, America's capital promises an abundance of fantastic restaurants. From Burmese and Vietnamese to Brazilian and new American cuisine, any craving is sure to be met. And grabbing a bite to eat will give you a chance to rest your feet almost all restaurants are accessible by Metro.
4.
Even though Washington has more than 63,000 guestrooms, it's always a good idea to make reservations well in advance. Hotels are temporary homes to business, political, and tourism travelers. In April, rates are higher because of the Cherry Blossom Festival, but they substantially decrease in December and January unless it's an inaugural year.
5.
DC is no longer a boring political town. The last 20 years have given Washington an opportunity to enhance its arts potential, and the city has embraced the results whole-heartedly. The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts is a world-class arts venue for everything from opera and ballet to musicals and drama. Each year, the "KenCen" offers, at no charge, a variety of festivals dedicated to different musical traditions and cultures.
6.
The US Capitol is the focal point of DC's street system. From it, the city extends into four quadrants NW, NE, SE and SW. The quadrant designation indicates the location in relation to the Capitol. The twin-shell dome atop the Capitol hovers 285 feet above the ground and weighs 9 million pounds! Depending on the temperature outside, the dome contracts up to 4 inches a day. And no, that's not Pocahontas perched on top. It's a 19-foot-tall bronze statue called "Freedom."
7.
If you need to catch up on some reading, you'll have no problem finding a book in the Library of Congress. Even though only a quarter of the 113 million items housed there are books, you can be assured that there will be no shortage of posibilities. However, you'll have to read while you're there only members of Congress and other elite borrowers are allowed to check out items.
8.
At 555 feet and 5 inches tall, the Washington Monument is the world's tallest masonry structure. The cornerstone was laid in 1848 with the same trowel that Washington himself used in 1793 to lay the Capitol's cornerstone. Opened to the public in 1888, it was at first only available to men the 20-minute ride on the steam-operated elevator was considered too dangerous for women. Today, because of vandalism and the frequency of heart attacks, no one is allowed to climb the 898 steps to the top.
9.
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue is probably the best-known address in America. The 32-room residence has been home to every US president except the father of the country, George Washington. It's visited by more than 1.5 million people a year.
10.
Many well-known artifacts are housed in the numerous museums that dot Washington, DC, including the Hope Diamond, Dorothy's ruby slippers, the Fonz's leather jacket, and the Bunkers' living room furniture from "All in the Family." And what's even better? It's all free!
