Great opportunity to walk in the footprints of history. Overall, expect your visit to last about an…read morehour and a half. The Visitors Center provides a mini museum with background on Lincoln's life. Across from the Visitor's Center is Lincoln's Cottage where he spent roughly 13 months living in. While the fields and views were picturesque, the cottage was pretty barebones - devoid of furniture, background information, or anything that put you in more of an understanding of Lincoln's life there. The guide did provide some stories and even invoked some voices that came over speakers in a few of the rooms. They do have a number of festivals such as the Bluegrass and Bourbon Festival in May and I'd gladly return for those.

Right away: the people who complain about no furniture in the cottage . . . you have no…read moreimagination and lack vision. I've done almost all the history/nerdy stuff in DC. This is one of my favorites so far. First, I like the fact that there is little furniture in the cottage. For one, The Lincolns didn't furnish the cottage separately; they brought the furniture from the Whitehouse every trip. So the foundation has no idea of knowing how the cottage was set up, even if they wanted to buy reproductions (and really, why are we impressed with reproductions?) Secondly . . . the fact that they cottage is mostly empty, you really get to envision Lincoln, the man . . . you can form a picture in your head of what happened here, who he was . . . ESPECIALLY with the help of the knowledgable, passionate guides. This is not a 20 or 30 minute tour. You're going to be here at least an hour. Our tour was a little over an hour. Our guide, Haley, was enthusiastic and painted Lincoln clearly for us. She relayed multiple anecdotes and examples of how Lincoln was a man of the earth, a man of the people. A man who liked to tell stories and jokes. I was the only American from the US on our tour, and Haley related to everyone. Involved everyone. Challenged everyone to think about the various stories and scenarios she presented. And the house is GORGEOUS. I wish I could live there! I loved my visit. When I headed to the gift shop, the staff there were awesome too! (I wish I had gotten her name, but she had the coolest outfit on--a chunky sweater, a kerchief on her head, a Harriet Tubman tee-shirt, and colorful pants). Aside from her rad style, she was so enthusiastic and engaged with me and another group about area history. This isn't flashy. If you need bells and whistles, this isn't for you. If you really love history and those who have enthusiasm for it . . . this IS for you Again, one of my favorite things so far . . . if not the favorite thing.

Ive seen this place so many times in my life but almost everytime I have ever passed it, it was not…read moreopen. But, recently, while in Gtown on a nice day around 5:30pm, and strolling down M St, I saw the door was open to this place, and was pretty excited to check it out! I do like NPS sites and wil make every effort to stop at a site when I can. However, this place was a bit lackluster for me. I think the West has truly spoiled me as this place didnt do much for me. I get that its the oldest building in DC and that George Washington was mistaken to have slept here, but only the 1st floor was open and not much to see except a fireplace. The 2nd floor was also closed. The front room mainly had a bunch of souvenirs for sale. I bought a few postcards to support NPS. I didnt get a chance to visit the back yard as I have heard thats the best part of this visit. Ill try to visit this on another visit. I also thought that the front sidewalk could have been better paved and think more work can be done on sidewalks of M St to make it more appealing. Overall, a disappointing visit and experience but I was glad I finally saw the inside.

My wife and I love visiting NPS sites and we stopped in here back in May while walking around…read moreGeorgetown. It's a free site and is right on one of the main streets, so it's an easy one to visit. The house is small inside, but has a variety of information available to read. There's also a lovely backyard that is very peaceful and was our favorite place to visit. It's a nice little park site and I'd recommend it if you're in the area.

What a fun stop! Personal tour of the house, including entry to all but one bedroom. Wonderful,…read moredetailed tour of this historic home. Museum is decorated in 1700's items, some original and some replicas. There's also a stop that shows the architecture/layers of materials from the home. Tour includes the history of the original owner and his family, the changes of ownership and disarray the house fell into, restoration and current state. $3 for children 6+ and $7 for adults. Tour begins with a short video and then a 45-50 minute walk through of the home. Must be able to walk stairs. There are specific chairs throughout the home to sit during the tour if needed.

The Congress of Alexandria- General Braddock & Five Colonial Governors…read more https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Congress_of_Alexandria Quite Educational but also Entertaining - firing squad

It was very interesting I learn a lot.. I would like to go again the attraction was good..read more

If you're into American history, Gunston Hall is worth a tour to learn more about Founding Father…read moreGeorge Mason. The author of the Virginia Bill of Rights, Mason was contemporaries of George Washington and James Madison. Gunston Hall does a good job of bringing Mason's history to life. The visitor center includes an exhibit about his life, including areas for people of all ages to interact. There's even a dress up area that kids love. The house tour is $10 and it's the only way to go inside the 18th century mansion. The tour lasts around 45 minutes and they don't shy away from the fact that Mason enslaved between 100-300 people on his plantation. The garden behind the mansion is worth a visit as is hiking the trails, one which leads to the Potomac River. Mason and his first wife are buried near the mansion.

We were in Alexandria to check out the small town and got to enjoy the fountain. It was super…read moretouristy but loved the vibes of the little town of Alexandria. The area was clean and the weather was beautiful that day. I love how they have signs on nearby businesses to check out. Love how they support the businesses in Alexandria.

Beautiful old brick building that is the center and masterpiece of Old Town Alexandria. Many tours…read morestart from here and it is also the centerpiece of many event throughout the year. Right now, for example, the entire square was flanked by flags from Latin American countries, and I had the pleasure to highlight the one from Panama in my picture. During Christmas time, a huge Holiday tree decorates the center square.

In addition to the museum at Fort Ward there is also the park. And it is a nifty little park. There…read moreare rifle trenches and bombproofs and historical stuff like that going on. Then there are practical things too, like a 0.6 mile loop paved looped that goes around the park that sees a decent amount of foot traffic - walkers and runners getting some exercise in. They also have pavilions for picnics and an amphitheater. They often have free events at the amphitheater (like a Jazz show over Memorial Day). The park section also has a dog park. According to websites online, the dog park is the grassy area to the east side of the entrance. It is large and semi-fenced. But don't bother to look for signs that specifically designate the dog park area when you are there. I lived close by and was there almost every day and never found any signs that designated the dog park. Regardless, it is a good place to take your dog to play fetch and allow for a nice space to run. Of course you have to trust your dog off leash because it isn't totally fenced and it is right along Braddock Road. There are typically people coming in and out with dogs. Not normally many, but during nice weather, particularly on weekends, the whole outdoor park can get a bit busy with people. There is also free and easy parking access. I recommend the park at Fort Ward as a nice place for a stroll (with our without your dog), a picnic, some relaxing, & enjoying good weather.

I was not too keen at first to be taking a group of 50 odd 8th graders to see a fort. And neither…read morewere they. I was presently surprised! While there isn't much left of the fort walls themselves, they have a good stock of military instruments and displays that are interesting reminders of the struggles our country has faced. And the kids ended up pretending that they were back in the Civil War fighting! =P Its worth the trip out as a nice outing for kids.

Having visited DC at least three times over the past two and a half years, I had never been to the…read moreJefferson Memorial. If you have not been, it's fun to check out. It's a glorious, open-air white marble monument overlooking the Tidal Basin. We went there for the cherry blossom festival, but there weren't many blossoms when we went. If you do make the trek up the staircase to the main chamber area, there is a 19-foot bronze statue of Thomas Jefferson. But our focus was more on cherry blossoms. Despite that, it is a thrill to experience the architecture, with the Washington Monument being across the Basin. And if you're able to go when the weather is beautiful and pristine, with clear skies, it makes the experience all the better. Depending on where you're staying, try to check out the Jefferson Memorial. It's worth the visit.

I have so many pending drafts for years and I am now in my DC era. I have been to this memorial as…read morewell as all of the others, including all of the museums, many times in my life. The time has finally come to share my thoughts with all of you. The grounds on which this memorial sits are accessible 24 hours a day. This makes for a nice evening walk...lots to see. The marble rotunda is kinda big and Jefferson stands right in the middle of it, all 19' of him. His writings are engraved within the walls and that's pretty cool to see. The memorial can be found in West Potomac Park and during the right time of year, the cherry blossoms are in abundance here.

For night photography of this spectacular building, position yourself in front of the Capitol…read moreReflecting Pool, near the General Ulysses Grant Memorial, down the hill, on the west side of the U.S. Capitol Complex. That way, you'll capture the reflection of the whole Capitol Building in the water, provided there's enough moonlight and it's still outside, meaning not a lot of wind. Since it's named "Capitol Reflecting Pool" officially, you understand its true purpose, right?! It kinda took me a while to get it myself. I recommend going on a night when there's a full moon--and arrive there ahead of the moon's rise, to be prepared to shoot once it does. The moon doesn't stay near the dome of the Capitol for very long. The moon is your best friend to provide optimal light, so take advantage. Just shoot away, don't play it safe. Conditions can change quickly. You might have 5 minutes; might have an hour or so. Obviously, clear skies are needed--pray for that. You'll have company, too, as pro photogs will be shooting at this very spot. Since you're already on the National Mall, might as well walk it at night. So beautiful. I prefer to see the sights at night anyway, rather than in daytime. And it's safe. One of the most patrolled areas of DC, 24/7. I do this a lot.

United States Capitol Christmas Tree is a holiday tradition I look forward to every year. There's…read moresomething timeless about seeing it glow against the Capitol backdrop--elegant, balanced, and beautifully understated. Unlike the White House tree, it isn't wrapped in heavy netting, which makes all the difference. The lights aren't overdone; they glisten just enough to feel festive while letting the tree look natural. The result? A classic, picture-perfect moment that never disappoints and not as crowded as the White House Christmas Tree. Simple, stately, and quietly magical--an easy win for a winter photo op and a reminder that sometimes tradition gets it exactly right