Saturday, October 26, 2013

Night Tours Of Washington D. C. Itinerary And Tips

By Cornelia Reyes


Sightseeing by day in the capital is no match for the utterly magnificent landmarks seen on night tours of Washington D. C. Each monument is brightly lit up like a Christmas tree, and the moonlight makes it even more spectacular. From the White House to the U. S. Capitol at the other end of Pennsylvania Ave, there are living history monuments that are much more than just historical structures.

There are many options as to which attractions and sights to include, and how to go about visiting each of them. In other words, tourists get to choose the itinerary and the mode of transport. Take a nice walk in the moonlight with an expert tour guide, hit the main spots by bus with audio narration, or enjoy the pleasure of a trolley ride.

The starting point is either the White House or Capitol Hill. It's not possible to go into either complex, and it's not just because it's late. Visits to both must be planned for a long time beforehand by going through the right channels.

It's still possible to get an up-close look at these majestic buildings and experience the awe and thrill that one feels in the presence of greatness. Those starting from Capitol Hill or the Post Office can then continue to the WW II and Vietnam memorials before reaching the Lincoln Memorial. It's customary to take pictures on the steps with Honest Abe on his rather oversized perch in the background.

After Lincoln comes the Korean War Memorial, and then on to the Potomac Tidal Basin's south bank for a stop at the Jefferson Memorial. Famed as one of the best architectural specimens in the nation, the Thomas Jefferson Memorial was built based on ancient inspiration from the Pantheon in Rome and from the third President's own home in Virginia. The stunning 19-foot statue of Jefferson, the columns and the dome above are all a must-see spectacle for DC visitors.

The FDR Memorial which comes next is a quite touristy in comparison to the other historic structures in the capital. Each of its four so-called rooms has a different kind of waterfall. It's symbolic of the epic events and challenges such as WWII and the Great Depression that President Roosevelt had to contend with during his four terms.

Raise the flag on Iowa Jima, and then march to pay your respects to Martin Luther King Jr. The MLK Memorial comes under the National Mall's area, which means visitors are getting to see two major attractions. A significant fact about the MLK Memorial in DC is that its address is 1941 Independence Avenue, which neatly combines the year that Civil Rights legislation was passed with the basic right to freedom.

The last stop on the tour is the White House, which is off-limits to tourists, but still well worth a look from the outside. Obviously, night tours of Washington D. C. Can cover much more ground, and there's a whole lot more to see if there's still time left over before the sun comes up. A walk on the Georgetown waterfront, for example, comes highly recommended.




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