Washington DC

Quick Guide:

• Free guide book mail to you from http://washington.org/
• A city full of history and politics.  
• Definitely learned a lot about American history regarding their wars and fight for independence, freedom and rights.
• Great for a budget traveler as most Smithsonian museums are free admissions.
• High security in some important government buildings

Government Buildings to see:

1. U.S. Capitol

• go for the visiting tour, reserve online for free
• Rotunda
• National Statuary Hall
• Senate and House of Representative Rooms
2. United States Supreme Court
3. Library of Congress

• Re-creation of the Thomas Jefferson's library
• Original hand-written Bibles
4. The White House

• Outside
• Visitor Centre
5. The Pentagon

Walking Tour of Monuments and Memorials (~3hr):

1. The Washington Monument
• can reserve online to go in
2. World War II Memorial
3. Vietnam Veterans Memorial
4. Lincoln Memorial and Reflecting Pool
5. Korean War Veterans Memorial
6. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial
7. Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial
• "Freedom is not free"
8. Thomas Jefferson Memorial

Adapted from: 

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Guide-g28970-i124-Washington_DC_District_of_Columbia.html

Museums: 

(free admission for all, 365 days a year except Christmas Day) 

1. National Archives
• One of the original Magna Carta
• Original Declaration of Independence, Bill of Rights, and The U.S. Constitution
2. American Air and Space Museum
• Original 1903 Wright flyer
• Lindbergh’s Spirit of St. Louis
• Apollo 11
• Amelia Earhart Lockheed
• Touch a real lunar rock
3. National Museum of American History
• Original Star-Spangled Banner Flag, the flag that flew during War of 1812
• Original Top hat of President Abraham Lincoln when he was assassinated
• Dorothy’s Ruby Slippers in 1939 film Wizard of Oz
• Home kitchen of Julia Child
4. National Museum of Natural History
• Fossils and artifacts
5. Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden
• Modern, contemporary art, painting sculpture, and photography
6. National Gallery of Art
• Classic European painting and sculpture 
7. American Art Museum
• American Art
8. Smithsonian Institution Building (The Castle)
9. Holocaust Museum
• Artifacts and information on the Holocaust

Others:

1. Willard InterContinental Washington
2. National Post Office Museum

Food:

1. Ben's Chili Bowl
2. Carmine's
3. Del Campo