USA - Washington DC
by David Sutcliffe
The DC stands for District of Columbia, not Davy Crockett, as one of my friends thought.
Capital of the USA, low rise, relatively small, full of boring government buildings......Washington may not have the glamorous appeal of it's East Coast neighbours such as New York, Boston or Philadelphia, but it has plenty to offer, especially as part of a north-east American itinerary.
3 days would be perfect - plenty of time to see the famous monuments and buildings such as the White House, Lincoln Memorial, Capitol Building & the Washington Monument. You'll also want to visit the Smithsonian Museum, National Air & Space Museum and, my personal favourite, the FBI Building.
Regular tours are given around the J Edgar Hoover Building where you can learn about the Federal Bureau of Investigation's history of fighting organised crime and terrorism - you can watch scientists at work in their forensic labs and even watch a firearms demonstration. Another bonus is that entrance is free!
Other, more off the beaten track options include moonlight hikes around the National Arboretum where a guide leads hikers on a 5-mile trek through scenic woodlands. The arts, nightlife, dining and music scenes are vibrant and well worth immersing yourselves in - one hot tip of you're into your rock music, check out the Black Cat Club for live music (the club is co-owned by Dave Grohl of the Foo Fighters).
A perfect start or finish to an itinerary which could also take in New York & Boston, or heading south into Virginia and the Carolinas.