Washington is a great city to explore by foot and this is made much easier by sectioning the city into areas. Each area offers a wealth of sights and attractions, each worth exploring in depth. The Downtown region consists of neighbourhoods such as Penn Quarter, West End and Waterfront and is the place you will find the majority of Washington’s most famous sights including The National Mall, The White House, the Kennedy Centre, Smithsonian museums and Chinatown to name a few. North Central contains some of Washington’s most distinct and trendy neighbourhoods like Dupont Circle and Adams Morgan. This is the best place for nightlife, dining, entertainment and shopping. The West district includes neighbourhoods such as Georgetown and Northwest and is considered to be the affluent side of town. The area is renowned for its high end boutiques and gourmet dining as well as being home to a number of the city’s top attractions like the National Zoo and Dumbarton Oaks. Last but certainly not least, the East region encompasses Capitol Hill, Northeast and Anacostia. This is where you will find the Capitol Building, the Library of Congress, the National Arboretum and much more. Every neighbourhood offers a new experience.

The best place to start any sight seeing excursion in Washington is at the National Mall. Despite the name, this is not a shopping mall but a park of the US National Park Service which protects some of the country’s most distinguished park lands, memorials, museums, monuments and buildings. The National Mall contains the White House, the most famous home in the world. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, this illustrious building has housed every American president except for George Washington. Self guided tours are available however they are quite difficult to arrange. Canadian visitors wishing to tour the White House must contact the Canadian Embassy in Washington months in advance so they can attempt to secure you a spot and you must also have a group of ten or more. You can however drop by the visitors centre for detailed facts and information on the White House. The National Mall is also where you will find the US Capitol Building, the Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial, the Jefferson Memorial, the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial and many more, all of which are within walking distance of each other. A visit to Arlington National Cemetery is a truly touching experience. This is the final resting place of many American presidents including John F. Kennedy whose grave is marked by an eternal flame. Security is stringent everywhere so it is helpful to know you should expect security checks, searches of bags, purses and other personal items and to be patient when these searches are happening.

This city is full of excellent museums and galleries showcasing everything from dinosaurs to international espionage. A number of Washington’s best museums are part of the Smithsonian Institute including Smithsonian American Art Museum which showcases one of the country’s largest collections of American art by more than 7,000 artists, the National Museum of Natural History with exhibits dedicated to everything from bugs to diamonds, and the National Museum of the American Indian which is devoted to the heritage and cultures of Native American communities. Anyone who has ever uttered the words “Bond, James Bond” will love the International Spy Museum with its interactive exhibits and extensive collection of espionage artifacts, many of which the world has never seen. Pictures are not allowed here. Washington is a city full of some of the United States’ most significant sites and is a vacation destination that everyone should visit at least once in their lifetime. Washington, DC enjoys four distinct seasons during the year. Spring and fall are typically mild with warmer days and cooler nights, so keep this in mind when you are packing. Summers in Washington are generally hot and humid with an average daily high of 30˚C. The combination of high humidity and soaring temperatures can also cause thunderstorms so be sure to pack an umbrella. Winter on the other hand is cold. During the winter months Washington receives an average of more than 16 inches of snow and an average daily temperature of -1˚C.