City breaks to the US usually end up in New York and Miami. But a trip to Washington DC proves that the capital has equally widespread appeal for everyone from history buffs and families to culture vultures and foodies.
Renowned for its top hotels and world-class restaurants, Washington also has an enviable array of museums (many free), a lively cultural scene and excellent shopping. And outside the city lies the Capital Region, encompassing the states of Maryland and Virginia.
From Maryland’s tranquil Chesapeake Bay and bustling Baltimore to Virginia’s civil war heritage and national parks, the Capital Region is truly eclectic.
The capital
City lovers will feel at home in Washington, a metropolis where history and culture thrive. This is evident along the National Mall, which stretches from the Lincoln Memorial to the US Capitol, passing the White House, poignant Vietnam and Korean war memorials and Smithsonian museums en route.
While most of Washington’s museums are free, two that are well worth their entry fee and excellent for families are the International Spy Museum and the Newseum.
The Newseum takes you through history’s most iconic moments via interactive exhibits that include eight 12ft-high concrete sections of the Berlin Wall, a gallery in memory of those who died in the September 11 attacks and an interactive newsroom.
The Spy Museum is similarly engaging, with the chance to take on a spy persona. Outside the city (in Virginia) is the National Air and Space Museum’s Steven F Udvar-Hazy Centre, where world-famous aircraft hang from the ceiling including the Enola Gay and the Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird, the world’s fastest jet.
Sightseeing in DC comes in all guises from photographic safaris and Segway tours (a two-wheel transporter) to film location tours, self-guided heritage trails and floodlit night trips.
Attraction World has 23 tours in and around Washington, all commissionable.
Independent travellers can experience numerous walking trails and the Metro and Circulator buses connect Downtown and Capitol Hill to nearby neighbourhoods such as Georgetown and Adams Morgan. Boat cruises along the Potomac river offer another perspective.
Other activities include watching the Nationals, Washington DC’s baseball team, at Nationals Park.
The area’s dining and bar scene comes alive in lively neighbourhoods, including Adams Morgan and Dupont Circle. Georgetown’s hip historic district is also packed with eateries, as is Capitol Hill and the Capitol Riverfront, home to landmarks and national treasures.
Shopping is also renowned in DC, from the Sunday flea market to The Shops at Georgetown Park.
Exploring Maryland
Head north from Washington and you’ll come to Maryland and its urban hub Baltimore. Most people head to the scenic Inner Harbour and the former seaport-turned-atmospheric old quarter of Fells Point for dining and shopping.
Like most cities, a something-for-everyone approach applies, with the National Aquarium and Maryland Science Centre a hit with families. Downtown Baltimore is also home to the baseball team at Oriole Park at Camden Yards.
The Chesapeake Bay is the state’s highlight, the US’s largest estuary surrounded by Maryland and Virginia. St Michaels is one of the bay’s most attractive spots. Its high street is lined with colourful clapboard house and shops while the waterfront Crab Claw restaurant, a former crab-shucking business, is a local institution, renowned for its blue crabs and Maryland crab feast.
Close by is the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, showcasing the culture and history of the Chesapeake Bay, while Patriot Cruises carries visitors along the Miles river, part of the estuary.
For fine dining, the riverview Sherwood’s Landing restaurant at the upscale Inn at Perry Cabin hotel is a must.
Maryland’s capital Annapolis is the country’s sailing hub and a must-see on a Maryland itinerary. City Dock and the Annapolis Harbour (nicknamed Ego Alley) is a boat-watching extravaganza, with 74ft schooners to eco-friendly Duffy Electric Boats on show.
Midweek visits offer tourists a chance to enjoy the Wednesday Night Sailboat Races (April-September) as 130 boats race around the Chesapeake Bay. Getting around Annapolis is easy – on land, electric-powered six-passenger E-Cruisers offer free transport and water taxis are quick and affordable.
The city is also home to the fascinating US Naval Academy, where 4,000 midshipmen live and train for the US Navy and Marine Corps. Advise clients to time tours for the noon formation (weekdays only), the daily uniform inspection.
Other sights include the Annapolis Maritime Museum and Maryland State House. For an unusual experience, suggest a trip to Chick & Ruths Delly on Main Street where at 8.30am (9.30am weekends), the owner invites patrons to join him in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.
Maryland’s interior has plenty to offer too – quirky towns such as Ellicott City are worth a stop. Founded by Quaker brothers in 1772, it has the oldest surviving railroad station in the US and its three-block historic main street has more than 50 shops and 17 restaurants, including Zagat-rated Tersiguel’s.
Maryland is also home to the Antietam Battlefields, a moving tribute to one of the civil war’s bloodiest days.
Virginia itineraries
Visitors to the Capital Region can also visit Virginia, south of Washington, for history, heritage, beaches and wonderful scenery.
Virginia is famous for Mount Vernon, former home and estate of the US’s first constitutional president George Washington, and Arlington National Cemetery. Here, sights include the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the unmissable Changing of the Guard ceremony and the eternal flame that lights up the Kennedy gravesite. This is offered as a day tour with Attraction World.
History buffs will enjoy Charlottesville, in particular Thomas Jefferson Country at mountainside Monticello, former home of the US’s third president and main author of the Declaration of Independence.
Virginia’s capital Richmond has much to offer, from its historic district and Museum of the Confederacy to relaxing by the James River and the city’s burgeoning live music scene.
Virginia is also famous for Colonial Williamsburg. Its Historic Area is the US’s largest living history museum, going back to the eve of the American Revolution with 301 acres of restored 18th-century buildings where character actors bring the town to life.
Clients who enjoy the outdoors will find excellent hikes along the Appalachian Trial and in the Blue Ridge mountains, Shenandoah National Park and the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area. The picturesque town of Lynchburg, at the foothills of the Blue Ridge mountains, is often called the City of Seven Hills and is home to the Poplar Forest, Thomas Jefferson’s retreat home.
For R&R, Virginia Beach, with its three-mile boardwalk, Aquarium & Marine Science Centre and latest hotel, the Hampton Inn Oceanfront South, is a relaxing option.
