About Washington
George Washington, the first president of the United States of America chose the spot along the Potomac and Anacostia rivers to develop the capital city of the country. Cut to resemble a diamond in shape, Washington is one of the largest and most populous states in the world. A great historical and cultural hub, it is a remarkable representation of a bustling urban life. Having plenty of hotels, restaurants, shopping centres, and cafes that are a testament to the state’s thriving tourism, Washington should be on every tourist’s bucket list.
Places to visit in Washington
- The White House and Capitol Hill : Capitol Hill houses the most popular building in all of Washington, the Capitol Building. Home to the judicial and legislative branches of the US government, the Capitol Building has a spectacular dome, and it also showcases several paintings, statues and historic exhibits. About 6 miles from the Capitol Building is the White House, which is the residence of the US president. It is a magnificent building and anyone can take a tour of it, however, the tour needs to be booked in advance.
- The National Mall : The National Mall houses several museums, memorials and monuments that also include a cluster of official government buildings. There is no entry fee to visit the mall but be prepared to walk a lot as it covers a massive area with a lot of important things to see. Some of the landmarks that you shouldn’t miss here are the Lincoln Memorial, the Washington Monument, the National Gallery of Art, the National World War II Memorial, etc.
- San Juan Islands : The San Juan Islands are a major tourist attraction in Washington. Home to a variety of rare flora and fauna, the islands are a serene getaway that is easily accessible by public ferries. Activities such as sea kayaking and orca whale watching are commonly undertaken here.
- Olympic National Park : The Olympic National Park covers a massive area and is home to a variety of vegetation. UNESCO has declared it an International Biosphere Reserve, and it is also listed as a World Heritage Site. The motive behind the construction of the park was to provide the residents with an area that can be beneficial to them and a place where they can enjoy the perks of nature, and the park does just that!
- Museum of Pop Culture : The Museum of Culture, commonly referred to as ‘MoPOP’ is a popular museum that represents contemporary pop culture. The museum was founded in 2000 by the co-founder of Microsoft, Paul Allen. MoPop is an upscale building housing several galleries, auditoriums and theatres and is a prime tourist attraction in the state of Washington.
Washington Airport
Washington has three major airports - Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Washington Dulles International Airport, and Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport. However, IndiGo operates its flights from the Washington Dulles International Airport (IATA: IAD).
Located 42 kilometres from the city centre, the airport is widely connected to all major roads in the state. Equipped with a range of passenger facilities like currency exchange, shopping stores, cafes, services for the disabled, prayer rooms, etc., the airport takes care of all kinds of passenger needs. Both public and private modes of transport are easily available right outside the airport to get to Washington.