Visiting Washington DC from Baltimore, MD

While the city of Baltimore, undeniably offers a plethora of things to occupy your time, the heritage, history and wonder of Washington DC is just a short drive away. This is an opportunity not to be missed by any, especially if you are taking a family vacation to the area. You can give your children the knowledge and experience that only our nation's capital can provide, with a quick drive and a little planning.

If you intend to visit the Washington DC area from Baltimore, there are many potential areas to visit. Here is a list of some of the most popular destinations in the Capital City, as well as a few travel tips to make your visit more enjoyable.

The Lincoln Memorial:

Immortalized forever on the back of the penny, the Lincoln Memorial stands as a massive monument to one of our greatest Presidents. This colossal construction is built to mimic ancient Greco-Roman monuments, with enormous marble columns thrusting into the sky to support the mammoth roof of the building. Walk up the steps and into the inner sanctum to get a better view of the colossal, contemplative President Lincoln, enthroned in his marble chair. This is an excellent way to instill a love of history in your children or to learn more, yourself.

Other Attractions in the Washington Mall:

While you are in the Washington Mall, there are many other elements to visit. The Vietnam Memorial offers a somber look at the roll our soldiers played in that foreign war, listing names of soldiers who served honorably. This stupendous wall offers an eye opening look at the number of soldiers involved in this war.

The Washington Monument offers you the chance to gaze in wonder at this spectacular megalith erected in honor of our nation's heritage. Standing at the far end of the National Mall, this Monument is a great place to start your tour of the area.

The Reflecting Pool stands directly outside of the Lincoln Memorial and is designed to allow visitors to reflect on the enormity of American history, heritage, sacrifice and honor. A visit here is a good way to collect your thoughts before visiting more of the great attractions in the Mall.

The Smithsonian (The Castle) stands inside the Mall as well. No visit to the Capital City is complete without a tour of the amazing wonders housed in the Smithsonian. You can find relics from the past and the present, representing the best and greatest achievements of American society. From the Wright brothers' famed plane to NASA space capsules and paintings by famed American artists, you'll find an enormous amount of things to see inside the Smithsonian.

There are many more things to do scattered around the city, but the National Mall is the best place to kick off your visit. Make sure that you avoid rush hour traffic when visiting from Baltimore, or take one of the many public transportation options found within both cities. This will go a long way towards making your trip more enjoyable.