Saturday, October 26, 2013

Night Tours Of Washington D. C. Itinerary And Tips

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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.

This doesn't prevent visitors from getting an up-close look and soak in the extraordinary feeling of being in the presence of greatness. If the tour begins at the Capitol or the Old Post Office, the next stops are the World War II and Vietnam War memorials, followed by the Lincoln Memorial. Visitors usually take a break on the steps at Lincoln's feet and have their pictures taken in front of Honest Abe on his mighty throne.

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.

Next up is the FDR Memorial, which is decidedly more "touristy" than just historic. Each of these four rooms has its own waterfall. Each one is symbolic of the challenges and signature events such as the Great Depression and WW II that shaped President Roosevelt's tumultuous 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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