The 100 Best Affordable Vacations (12 page)

 Sleeping bags typically aren’t allowed; many if not most hostels now include sheets, soap, and towels with your stay.

But one thing hasn’t changed: Waterproof shower shoes and a padlock for security are still a good idea.

visit the nation’s capital

WASHINGTON, D.C.

I never forget that I live in a house owned by all the American people and that I have been given their trust.

—
PRESIDENT FRANKLIN DELANO ROOSEVELT (1938)

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Taking in the sights of Washington, D.C., is always a worthy pursuit. Most of the renowned Smithsonian Institution museums—and many other monuments—are located on or near the National Mall, the 1.9-mile swathe of green running from the Capitol steps to the Lincoln Memorial. All sights are free, unless noted.

Start your visit with a tour of the
U.S. Capitol
(1st St. NE/SE,
www.visitthecapitol.gov
, closed Sun.), at the head of the National Mall. In late 2009 a new underground, three-level 621-million-dollar visitor center opened, complete with a restaurant and restrooms. Even if you aren’t taking a tour of the Capitol, the center is worth a visit for its statues of 24 patriots formerly in the Capitol, an orientation film, and historic artifacts, including the pine platform on which President Lincoln’s body lay in state. To tour the legislature, book in advance through the visitor center or through your congressperson; the visitor center has a limited number of same-day tickets. Weekday mornings are usually the least crowded times. Large daypacks and luggage are not allowed.

The west side of the Capitol faces the National Mall. A treasure trove of museums lines the stretch of Mall between 3rd and 14th Streets; all lie within walking distance. The East and West Buildings of the
National Gallery of Art
(Constitution Ave. bet. 3rd & 7th Sts. NW,
www.nga.gov
) contains a comprehensive collection of Western masterpieces. The National Gallery of Art is the only museum on the Mall that is not part of the Smithsonian Institution.

The
National Museum of the American Indian
(Independence Ave. & 4th St. SW, 202-633-6700,
www.nmai.si.edu
) stands opposite the National Gallery of Art East Building. Historical photographs, ethnographic displays, and exhibits trace the history of America’s First People through their own eyes rather than those of the white settlers. Farther down the Mall stands the
National Air and Space Museum
(Independence Ave. & 6th St. SW, 202-633-2214,
www.nasm.si.edu
), home to airplanes, rockets, and space rocks, including the original 1903 Wright brothers flyer and the lunar module used in the Apollo program. Tours are offered daily at 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. The museum has an outpost near Dulles Airport, the
Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center
(14390 Air and Space Museum Pkwy., Chantilly, VA, 703-572-4118), for larger aircraft and objects, including the space shuttle
Enterprise.

Back on the Mall, the
National Museum of American History
(Constitution Ave. & 14th St. NW,
http://americanhistory.si.edu
) is home to Dorothy’s “ruby slippers” from
The Wizard of Oz,
Julia Child’s kitchen, and exhibits on the First Ladies.

Less visited by families, but worth the time, are a handful of Smithsonian art museums, the majority on the Mall:

 
American Art Museum.
Home to Albert Bierstadt’s “Among the Sierra Nevada” and Georgia O’Keeffe’s “Manhattan.”
8th
&
F Sts. NW, 202-633-7970.

 
Freer and Sackler Galleries.
Asian art.
1050 Independence Ave. SW, 202-633-1000.

 
Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Gallery.
Modern art including works by Alex Katz, Alexander Calder, and David Smith.
Independence Ave.
&
7th St. SW, 202-633-4674.

 
National Museum of African Art.
Textiles, masks, and musical instruments.
950 Independence Ave. SW, 202-633-4600.

 
National Portrait Gallery.
Showcase for Gilbert Stuart’s most famous portrait of George Washington, plus portraits of revered Americans like singer Lena Horne and sports hero Yogi Berra.
800 F St. NW, 202-633-8300.

The Mall is equally known for its iconic memorials. Walking west from 14th Street toward the Lincoln Memorial, you’ll first pass the obelisk of the Washington Monument, honoring our nation’s first President; the tributes to the soldiers of World War II, the Vietnam War, and the Korean War; and then the Reflecting Pool. South of the Washington Monument, the stately Thomas Jefferson Memorial overlooks the Tidal Basin, while the sprawling Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial lies hidden behind a screen of the basin’s famous cherry blossom trees.

Beyond the National Mall, there are a few other sights every visitor to D.C. should see. The most famous house in America stands at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW: the
White House,
the office and residence of the President. Peer through the wrought-iron fence on its north or south side for quintessential views. The White House is a high-security zone—but it is possible to visit it if you make the request at least 30 days in advance through your congressperson. Details are available at
www.whitehouse.gov
. If you’re unable to schedule a tour, visit the
White House Visitor Center
(corner of 15th & E Sts., NW), which has many exhibits featuring White House artifacts.

One of the Washington area’s most moving sights lies just across the Potomac River in Arlington, Virginia.
Arlington National Cemetery
(214 McNair Rd., 703-607-8000,
www.arlingtoncemetery.org
) is a grim testament to the fact that freedom is earned with a staggering price. Set on a wooded hillside, the cemetery is home to the Tomb of the Unknowns, honoring fallen unidentified soldiers from World War I, World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War; and the grave site of John F. Kennedy, one of the two U.S. Presidents buried here. Many visitors reach the cemetery by walking across Memorial Bridge, behind the Lincoln Memorial, but you can also take the Metro, the D.C.-area subway.

$PLURGE

FIND OUT WHO IS WATCHING YOU

Recent years have seen a revolution in news delivery, as cable TV, blogs, and the Internet have played growing roles in informing the public of local, national, and global events. The
Newseum
(555 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, 888-639-7386,
www.newseum.com
, $19.95)—the museum of news, journalism, and media—explores both the past and future of the news in a series of programs, exhibits, and events. You can see Tim Russert’s NBC office, learn about presidential pets, and discover how the FBI’s 10 Most Wanted list got started. Between films, photographs, and an interactive newsroom where you decide how to cover the day’s news, you’ll need several hours.

Check out the “watchers” you don’t read about—except in the novels of John Le Carré and Vince Flynn—at the
International Spy Museum
(800 F St. NW, 202-393-7798,
www.spymuseum.org
, $18). Find out what it takes to be a spy, see the historic tools of the trade, and learn the price of traitors. The museum is especially eerie on Fridays and Saturdays, when it’s open at night. Children’s programs are also offered.

Another painful, but worthy, lesson comes back in Washington at the
Holocaust Memorial Museum
(100 Raoul Wallenberg Pl. SW, 202-488-0400,
www.ushmm.org
), where the heart-wrenching permanent exhibit offers a stark reminder of the consequences of cruelty. During summer months, reserving (free) timed tickets is advised.