List of Things to Do in Washington, D.C.

No visit to Washington, D.C., is complete without stopping by the White House. The free tours are easier to book if you have a group of 10 or more. Otherwise, you'll have to stop by from 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday to see whether you can join a group waiting to get in. The tour takes you through the White House main rooms, and while there are no guarantees, there's always a chance that you can get a peek of the president at work. The White House Visitor Center offers a photo tour as well as videos and exhibits that help visitors understand the history and architecture of the place better. If the White House tour doesn't work or if you're hungry for more, try the U.S. Capitol, where timed passes are easier to obtain.

White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20500
(202) 456-1111

U.S. Capitol
Constitution Avenue and First Street
Washington, DC
(202) 225-6827

There are 19 museums at the Smithsonian Institution, meaning whatever your interests and taste, you'll probably find a building covering it. The National Museum of Natural History is one of the most popular, especially because of its Butterfly Pavilion. Visitors also flock to the National Air and Space Museum to see rockets, astronauts' suits, and the Spirit of St. Louis and the Sputnik 1. The Portrait Gallery, the National Museum of American History, Behring Center, and the Arts and Industries Building are also popular. Entrance is free to all museums, and most offer a mix of media, permanent and changing exhibits, and special events for both children and adults. All of the museums are in the same area, located over a 1-mile stretch between Third and 14th streets, near Independence Avenue.

Smithsonian Institution Information Center
P.O. Box 37012
SI Building, Room 153, MRC 010
Washington, DC 20013
(202) 633-1000

Imagine having the chance to play spy for a few hours. You actually get to do so at the International Spy Museum, where many of the exhibits are interactive and there are workshops and lectures related to the role of the CIA in the U.S. history. Permanent exhibits include gadgets, techniques and artifacts used during the past 50 years in the world of espionage. Of particular interest are the exhibits known as "School for Spies," through which you get an insight into what needs to be learned to become a spy and the systems and disguise techniques used by those in the field, as well as the "The 21st Century Exhibit," which allows you the chance to see the amazing gadgets in use today, many of which seem to be taken out of a sci-fi movie.

International Spy Museum
800 F St. NW
Washington, DC 20004
(202) EYE-SPY-U

Washington, D.C., is home to many unique museums, and the National Postal Museum is no exception. With a history covering more than 200 years, this place is home to stagecoaches, rare postage exhibits and the legendary Pony Express. The "Binding the Nation Gallery" is one of the most popular because it showcases the evolution of the U.S. Postal Service, starting at the time of pre-revolutionary America. Many exhibits center on specific items, such as the "Civil War Soldiers' Mail" collection. Interactive exhibits use film and computer stations to set the stage to explain historical re-enactment or complex modern delivery processes.

National Postal Museum
2 Massachusetts Ave. NE
Washington, DC 20002
(202) 633-5555