DK Travel - DK Eyewitness Travel Guide Washington, DC

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t Birds-eye view of the Lincoln Memorial

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t The Jefferson Memorial at the Tidal Basin.

Museums filled with wonders. Galleries bursting with masterworks. Lush, verdant parks and gardens. And everywhere famous views that every visitor knows by heart. This is a city in renaissance, a grand dream of marble and art, of substance and spectacle. Wherever you turn, there are marvels to be discovered, and discoveries that defy description. Whatever your dream trip to Washington, DC entails, this DK Eyewitness Guide is the perfect travel companion.

Washington, DC is undergoing a miraculous metamorphosis as whole neighborhoods are rebuilt and reborn. The city has rediscovered its waterfront in a big way, building gardens, parks, and bike paths along the Potomac River, and creating fabulous waterfront developments like National Harbor and District Wharf.

The heart of the city is the Mall, ringed with famous museums and grand monuments. Renowned airplanes and spacecraft inspire the dreams of tomorrow at the National Air and Space Museum, while science comes to life among the diamonds and dinosaurs of the National Museum of Natural History. The stately Northwest district is home to the grand mansions of Embassy Row, the magnificent Washington National Cathedral, and the must-see National Zoo. Historic Georgetown offers chic shopping and a gourmands delight of dining options. The Capitol Hill and Penn Quarter neighborhoods offer more fine dining and unique attractions such as the Newseum and the US Botanic Garden.

Washington is a small gem, but so packed with attractions, so full of things to see and do, that it can be hard to know where to start. Weve broken the city down into easily navigable chapters, with detailed itineraries, expert local knowledge, and colorful, comprehensive maps to help you plan the perfect visit. Whether youre staying for a weekend, a week, or longer, this Eyewitness guide will ensure that you see the very best Americas capital has to offer. Enjoy the book, and enjoy Washington, DC.

The Potomac in Mather Gorge, Great Falls.

Fala the dog, Franklin D. Roosevelt Memorial.

Aircraft at the National Air and Space Museum.

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Small but deliciously beautiful, Washington, DC delights at every turn. Any list of its treasures must include its famed museums, magnificent memorials, green spaces, and secret sanctuaries. Here are a few of our favorites.

t Often called Americas front yard, is an amazing collection of museums, gardens, and beautiful memorials that are the centerpiece of Americas capital.

Discover Reasons to Love Washington, DC

t The citys architects want you to know that this is an important city, and they do it with architectural eye candy, from the .

Discover Reasons to Love Washington, DC

Tidal Basin

t An unexpected treat on the west end of the Mall is this scenic , edged by a walking path that offers postcard views and shaded places to sit beneath the cherry trees.

Discover Reasons to Love Washington, DC

National Gallery of Art

t One of the worlds greatest collections, the has works ranging from antiquities to pop art, including Multiverse, this striking light sculpture by Leo Villareal.

Discover Reasons to Love Washington, DC

United States Capitol

t Every country has one overwhelmingly iconic building, and in America it is the spectacularly domed , which has become a symbol of the nations political strength.

Discover Reasons to Love Washington, DC

Lincoln Memorial