No matter the time of day, Washington DC always has something beautiful to see

WASHINGTON DC: You can start your morning at the Lincoln Memorial and watch the sunrise behind the Washington Monument. It is perhaps the most special, serene location in all of Washington DC, and to experience a sunrise there is one of life’s must-dos.

Another option to start your day in Washington DC is to go to Capitol Hill and watch the sun rise behind the US Supreme Court.

After that, you can turn around and visit the US Capitol itself, where Congress works and writes the laws.

No day in Washington DC would be complete without walking the National Mall, between the US Capitol and the Washington Monument, and stopping into any of the Smithsonian Museums, where everything from fine art to the First Lady’s dresses, to Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo spacecraft are all on display.

If you ever think you’re lost in your exploration of Washington DC, just look for the Washington Monument and re-orient yourself. If you can see it, you can find your way back to where you want to be.

Don’t forget to walk past the White House! On rare occasion, you can stand across the street from it and have the President take off and fly over your head in his helicopter, Marine One.

After taking a short break, either to rest or to eat – or both – it is a good idea to go for a late-day walk towards the Tidal Basin and the Jefferson Memorial. On the way there, during a week or two period in the spring, the Cherry Blossoms are out and the entire Tidal Basin is ringed by puffy white and pink cherry trees.

If you visit the Tidal Basin in the evening, the Jefferson Memorial will be beautifully illuminated. Inside it you will find a statue of Thomas Jefferson, looking across the Tidal Basin at the White House.

Along the Tidal Basin, which sometimes experiences minor tidal flooding, you can watch a beautiful sunset as you head towards the World War II Memorial.

Finally, as you arrive at the World War II Memorial at dusk, you can experience one of Washington DC’s most majestic memorials, delicately illuminated, with the Washington Monument to one side and the Lincoln Memorial to the other. It is the perfect end to a full, but fulfilling, day in the capital of the United States!