Must-see attractions for your upcoming visit to Washington DC!

In honor of the 2024 election, I feel compelled to write about Washington, D.C., today. Over the last several months, many of us have been on the edge of our seats, waiting to see who would be elected. When we visited D.C. in September, it was a bittersweet experience; I couldn’t help but wonder whether all the hard work of our founding fathers would endure beyond 2024. As I stood before the monuments and walked through the Capitol, I felt a mix of emotions: would all the sacrifices—wars fought and lives given—be in vain?

I am so proud and relieved that the next four years seem more secure. I want to share the best parts of Washington, D.C., and highlight what you absolutely must see if you’re planning a trip there!

Capitol Building
Museum of the Bible
Arlington Ridge Park- Marine Memorial, Netherlands Carillon
Washington National Cathedral
Georgetown Cupcake
The White House
National Mall- Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument

The United States Capitol Building
Visiting the Capitol building is a must! It is filled with rich history, stunning architectural details, and incredible artwork that is worth seeing in person. We scheduled a guided tour, and our guide was very informative, answering all of our group’s questions. The tour lasted about 30 minutes and began with a video. After that, we were taken to the Rotunda and through several rooms, where we were amazed by the architectural features!

Museum of the Bible
If you have any appreciation for the Bible and Christian history, the Bible Museum is stunning! It has several floors, each dedicated to different themes. Our favorite floor featured a wide array of fascinating artifacts. It’s always intriguing to see how items looked during various time periods. The museum highlights the history of the Bible and its impact on the world, a detail that will stay with my kids forever. Although today’s culture sometimes downplays the fact that America was built on Biblical and Christian principles, walking through the museum provides ample evidence of how the Bible is intertwined with the nation’s beginnings and the intentions of our founding fathers.

The kids particularly enjoyed the interactive room called the “Children’s Experience,” where they could engage in games that accompany Bible stories.

We spent several hours exploring the museum, and while I thoroughly enjoyed the experience, there was a lot of reading involved! My family was eager to rush me along each floor, but I could have easily stayed much longer.

Arlington Ridge Park
We stayed in downtown Arlington, Virginia, just 15 minutes away from the White House. I fell in love with the charming downtown area. One thing I appreciate about downtowns is the vibrant atmosphere—everyone is out and about! People were walking, skating, and jogging with their dogs. I really enjoy community vibes, so it was comforting and enjoyable to experience.

Arlington Ridge Park was within walking distance from where we were staying, so we visited the Marine Corps War Memorial, the Netherlands Carillon, and then headed over to Arlington National Cemetery. The park was stunning; it overlooked the Washington Monument and had a lovely garden right across from the Netherlands Carillon. I wish I could have heard the bells from the Carillon, but the massive monument was still breathtaking to see on its own.

The war memorials are incredibly powerful. We must remember the men and women who sacrificed their lives to fight for our freedom, and the monuments and memorials in D.C. serve as a reminder of that reality.

Washington National Cathedral
Whether you are religious or not, this Episcopal church is wonderful to admire. Construction began in 1906, and the walls, floors, and stunning architecture are truly mesmerizing. The cathedral features both a downstairs and an upstairs area for viewing. While many cathedrals typically restrict access, this one had almost every area open for public viewing and prayer. Additionally, there was a Lego display of the church, where they are working on recreating the entire structure using Legos! I took three of my five kids with me, and after exploring for about an hour, I found that only one of them was still with me by the time I finished. They all returned to their father, who was waiting outside with our puppy.

Georgetown Cupcake
If you have a sweet tooth while exploring the city, be sure to stop by Georgetown Cupcake, also known as D.C. Cupcake, due to the show on TLC! Their cupcakes are incredibly delicious, and their coffee is great, too. We make it a point to visit Georgetown Cupcake every time we go to Washington, D.C.; we’ve also been to their location in New York, and they never disappoint! They have the perfect balance between frosting and cake. When we lived in the Northeast, we visited all the cupcake shops we could find, and Georgetown Cupcake was among our top three favorites.

The White House
Funny story: I have visited Washington, D.C., twice now, and both times I scheduled a tour of the White House. We were accepted both times, but unfortunately, we missed the date on our invitation. You need to request a tour three weeks in advance, and they do not allow changes to your date!

During our second visit, I was sure we would finally walk through the White House, but our plans changed, and we ended up visiting just a few days after our scheduled date. We could see the White House from the street both times, which was nice, but if you know the dates you’ll be in D.C., I highly recommend requesting a tour through the WhiteHouse.gov website. It’s very easy to apply, and you’re almost guaranteed to be accepted.

The National Mall
Everything is bigger in person, right? I couldn’t believe how large the Washington Monument is. The Lincoln Memorial is situated at the top of a significant number of steps and has a covering. The Gettysburg Address is carved into one wall, while Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address is carved on the opposite wall. These memorials are truly inspiring to witness, and if you have the time, I suggest seeing as many as you can.

Overall, Washington, D.C., was very clean and featured beautiful buildings that showcased the architectural design of early America. We spent three days there and still didn’t manage to see everything on our bucket list. However, if you only have a few days, these are several key attractions worth visiting. We even took our puppy with us everywhere; we only had to leave him in the hotel one day! Next time we visit D.C., we will be sure to schedule a tour of the White House and visit the Holocaust Museum.