Quote: With just a few days to get out and about the DC Metro Area over the Christmas Holidays, we skipped the more well known museums and national parks and opted for some perhaps not so well known attractions in the area.

Quote: Washington's National Mall is really a series of back-to-back parks. It includes the Capitol, all the Smithsonian buildings along the Mall, the Nation's most recognizable national monuments, and a too-vast assemblage of war memorials. All told, the Mall still manages to be more than the sum of its parts--truly inspirational.

Quote: I moved to the USA as an expat for 3 years. I'm like a tourist in the area I live (washington area). I have so much to explore and I will keep a journal of all my experiences. How lucky am I for having a 'vacation' of three years...

Quote: This journal offers tidbits about my favorite Smithsonian attractions. The Smithsonian proudly claims to be the "world's largest museum complex." Considering that most of these fabulous attractions are also free, you have a formula for what is perhaps the best of all possible bargains for museum aficionados.

Quote: This is my first trip to Washington DC. I'm a big history buff and I wanted to take in as much of Washington DC and our nation's history as I could in a few short days.

Quote: Tacking a weekend break onto the front end of a business trip, my husband and I discovered what it meant to be frugal with our time and energy in Washington DC. No mean feat in a city of countless museums, art galleries and national monuments.

Quote: As the title of this journal suggests, I was travelling on business and quickly discovered that even with a well-meaning GPS unit, driving is not the best way for a newcomer to experience Washington DC.

Quote: I am not a DC resident, but nor am I a typical tourist. I am a student closing in on my four years of "visiting" DC while at the George Washington University. In this journal, I offer my accumulated knowledge about the city to benefit other visitors.

Quote: With its sophisticated international mix of visitors, diplomats, and ethnic groups, it's no surprise that restaurants in Washington, DC reflect the world as well as a broad multicultural heritage.

Quote: If you're into espionage, then Washington, DC is your kind of place. Here are an area resident's favorite places for those with "suspicious minds."