Washington DC, what a great place for Optometry’s Meeting! The nation’s capitol offers a wide range of attractions and activities full of historic landmarks, parks, monuments, museums, and memorials. Although there are far too many sites to see in the few days that you’ll be in town, we’ve put together some of the “must-see” places during your visit.
Take a trip over to the National Mall and check out the incredible monuments and memorials.
Make sure to see the Washington Monument that was built to honor the first president of the United States. It is a 555-foot marble obelisk that towers over Washington, D.C.
You also won’t want to miss the Lincoln Memorial. “In this temple, as in the hearts of the people for whom he saved the Union, the memory of Abraham Lincoln is enshrined forever.” Beneath these words, the 16th President of the United States sits immortalized in marble as an enduring symbol of unity, strength, and wisdom.
The World War II Memorial is also another must-see located in the National Mall. Through stone architecture and bronze sculpture, this memorial recognizes the ways Americans served, honors those who fell, and recognizes the victory they achieved to restore freedom and end tyranny around the globe.
The author of the Declaration of Independence, and visionary for the founding of our nation, Thomas Jefferson, also has an amazing memorial site to see.
The Vietnam Veterans Memorial is another very popular attraction in which names of more than 58,000 Americans who gave their lives in service to their country are chronologically listed in stone.
Also located within the National Mall are several incredible museums and galleries. Visiting all of them would take days, so we recommend spending time at a couple of the most popular.
The Smithsonian Natural History Museum is one that you shouldn’t pass up. At this museum, you will see a variety of artifacts including an 80-foot dinosaur skeleton, a life-size model of a blue whale, and an enormous prehistoric white shark!
You should also take some time to check out the Smithsonian American History Museum. With more than 3 million artifacts of American history and culture, you’ll learn about the nation’s history from the War of Independence to the present day.
One of the most popular attractions in D.C. is the White House. The White House may be admired from afar, as guests are unable to step inside the grounds unless a request is submitted through your member of Congress. In lieu of touring the interior, you may want to just catch a sight of the structure from behind the front gates or you can head to the National Park Service’s White House Visitors Center to browse exhibits, watch historic reenactments, or stop by the gift shop
There’s nothing quite like the sight of the US Capitol building, with its towering 285-foot cast-iron dome topped by the bronze Statue of Freedom, ornate fountains and marble Roman pillars set on beautiful lawns and flowering gardens. This is also where many of the meetings take place with legislators to help advance our profession! The capitol is open to the public for guided tours if you’d like.
Take an evening to wander over to Georgetown for shopping and dinner. Georgetown is Washington DC’s historic waterfront filled with great shopping, restaurants, and nightlife. You can also take a stroll along Washington Harbor and take in the awesome views of the Potomac River.
Of course there are many other sites to see in DC depending on how much time you’ll have to be a tourist! Enjoy the meeting and take in as many attractions as possible while you’re in town!
-Dr. Dexter