8 Best Things to Do in Washington D.C. In Summer

The Tidal Basin

Visiting Washington, D.C. for the first time? Visit the Tidal Basin, a 107-acre pond with a 2.1-mile round walk. Constructed to leverage the Potomac River's high tides to sweep sediment from the Washington Channel.

The White House and the Washington Monument

At its completion in 1884, the Washington Monument was the tallest building in the world, at slightly under 555 ½ feet. Today, tourists may take one of the monument's glass lifts to the top observation deck for 360-degree city vistas.

Lincoln Memorial

The DC's numerous monuments include the Lincoln Memorial, but travellers also love Honest Abe. History aficionados may read Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address and Gettysburg Address on the memorial's north and south walls.

World War II Memorial

The World War II Memorial was dedicated in 2004 commemorating the 16 million American soldiers who fought in WWII, including the thousands who died.

Vietnam Veterans and Korean War Veterans Memorials

The Vietnam Veterans Memorial, or "the Wall," is a long black granite wall with the names of almost 58,000 Americans who died in the Vietnam War. It's one of the most affecting war monuments.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial

This 30-foot granite monument honours Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on the northwest margin of the Tidal Basin. Everything from its address at 1964 Independence Ave.

Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum

The Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, which draws millions of visitors annually, houses famous aircraft like Amelia Earhart's Lockheed Vega 5B, the Apollo 11 Command Module.

Smithsonian National Museum of African American History & Culture

A copy of Yoruban art's three-tiered crowns, with bronze-colored latticework accents honouring enslaved African Americans' ironwork, the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History & Culture debuted on the National Mall in 2016.