Washington D.C.
The Washington, D.C., Metropolitan Area is made up of the District of Columbia and the adjacent areas of Maryland and Northern Virginia. Living and working in this community affords many opportunities to visit some of the most unique and exciting places our country has to offer.
Washington Nationals
A major league baseball team is centered right here in Washington, D.C.
Ford's Theatre & Lincoln Center
Theatre entrepreneur John T. Ford leased the First Baptist Church in 1861, and converted it into a music hall.“Ford’s Atheneum” grew in popularity and was poised for tremendous success when the building was destroyed by fire. Undaunted, the entrepreneur immediately began reconstruction and opened Ford’s “New Theatre” in August 1863. On the evening of April 14, 1865, President Abraham Lincoln, his wife and two guests attended “Our American Cousin.” That night, John Wilkes Booth fired a shot that plunged the nation into mourning and a theatre into darkness. John Ford tried to reopen the theatre but threats of arson closed its doors. The government bought the theatre in 1866, and over the next 90 years it was an office building, warehouse, and museum.
Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial
The Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial is a landscape of four outdoor rooms with granite walls, statuary, inscriptions, waterfalls and thousands of plants, shrubs and trees along the famous Cherry Tree Walk on the Tidal Basin in West Potomac Park. Each of Roosevelt’s four terms in office are portrayed by American sculptors whose works in bronze bas relief and sculptured figures relate memories of the man and his times to an enclosed landscape emphasizing ornamental trees and shrubs native to the mid-Atlantic region.
John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
Overlooking the Potomac River in the nation’s busiest arts facility, presenting more than 3,300 performances each year for audiences numbering more than 2 million, the Kennedy Center continues to fulfill his vision by producing and presenting an unmatched variety of theater and musicals, dance and ballet, orchestral, chamber, jazz, popular and folk music, and multimedia performances for all ages. The Kennedy Center contains the Opera House, Concert Hall, Eisenhower Theater, the Terrace Theater, Hall of Nations, and the American Film Institute Theater.
Library of Congress
Housing more than 84 million items in 470 languages, the Library of Congress is one of the world’s largest library systems. Congress established the library in 1800, for its own use, but has extended its services over the years and the library is now open to the general public. The library also features rotating exhibits, concerts, poetry readings, and public lectures.
National Air & Space Museum
Plan your visit to the National Air and Space Museum’s two locations — the National Mall building in downtown Washington, DC and the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center near Washington Dulles International Airport.
National Gallery of Art
Take a taste of the finer things in life and view the collection of Renaissance paintings, Dutch masterworks, French impressionism, as well as 20th century paintings and sculptures in this national gallery.
Maryland
The State of Maryland surrounds almost three-quarters of Washington, D.C., and is a cornucopia of interesting places to visit. From life on the Chesapeake Bay with its tasty fresh crab to the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis that prepares young men and women to become professional officers in the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps, from the great city of Baltimore with its major league football and baseball teams to the Eastern Shore with its beautiful beaches and shoreline, Maryland offers the chance for an exciting new excursion every weekend.
Baltimore's Inner Harbor
One of America’s oldest seaports and one of the world’s newest travel destinations, Baltimore Harbor was established in the 17th century. Baltimore Harbor has a rich maritime heritage and today is complemented by exciting attractions such as the National Aquarium and the Maryland Science Center. The Inner Harbor is close to Fells Point and Little Italy with water taxis providing the opportunity to view the Baltimore’s dramatic skyline on a leisurely cruise as well as transport to other exciting city locations.
The Baltimore Sympohony Orchestra at Strathmore
The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra has astonished audiences round the globe. The Center’s dazzling architecture is nothing short of captivating. Its 2,000-seat concert hall houses the highest caliber acoustics, and its location is convenient and easy to get to with plenty of complimentary parking available for ticketed events. It’s clear this concert hall for the BSO at Strathmore is becoming the cultural center of Montgomery County.
Baltimore Ravens
This professional football team, established in 1996, is an addition to sports in Baltimore. Built in 1998, the stadium is located just south of Oriole Park at Camden Yard.
The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore
Currently the Zoo’s animal collection encompasses more than 1,500 birds, mammals, amphibians, and reptiles, representing nearly 200 species. Animals are displayed in natural settings replicating their native habitats.
Maryland Renaissance Festival
The Maryland Renaissance Festival is a recreation of a 16th century English village. Their village is named Revel Grove, and is set on a beautiful 25-acre wooded site with 85 acres of free parking. The village consists of craft and food booths, five pubs, eight major stages, a Jousting Arena and lots of games. The Festival is a perfect family outing, in easy reach from both Baltimore and Washington, D.C.
National Aquarium in Baltimore
The Aquarium features hundreds of exhibits featuring more than 16,500 animals. The National Aquarium Institute will inspire our visitors and partners to celebrate and nurture the world’s aquatic habitats from tropical rain forests to coral reefs; from our Chesapeake Bay to the world’s oceans.
Ocean City
Maryland’s 30 miles of Atlantic Ocean seashore include a large resort center, Ocean City, and two oceanside parks, Assateague National Seashore Park and Assateague State Park, both located a few miles south of Ocean City.
Oriole Park at Camden Yards
Oriole Park at Camden Yards, the beautiful baseball-only facility in downtown Baltimore, became the official home of the Orioles April 6, 1992. Oriole Park is state-of-the-art yet unique, traditional and intimate in design, blending with the urban context of downtown Baltimore while taking its image from baseball parks built in the early 20th century. The ballpark seats 48,876. A light rail system brings fans directly to the park.
Six Flags America
Six Flags America theme park features thrilling world-class roller coasters including hyper-coaster Superman: Ride of Steel, one of the tallest coasters on the East Coast; Batwing, Maryland’s first flying coaster; and the classic wooden Wild One, celebrating its 95th year of thrills in 2012.
Virginia
Virginia is home to a wealth of interesting historical sites such as Arlington National Cemetery, the Iwo Jima Memorial, the Pentagon, Reagan National Airport, Old Town Alexandria, Mount Vernon, and the Manassas National Battlefield Park, offering history lovers a never-ending choice of places to visit.
Air Force Memorial
The Memorial, composed of three bold and graceful spires soaring skyward to a height of 270 feet, is dedicated and given to the nation by the U.S. Air Force. Sitting on the 3-acre promontory adjacent to Arlington National Cemetery and a short walk from the Pentagon. The Memorial honors the millions of men and women who have served in the U.S. Air Force and its predecessor organizations, including the U.S. Signal Corps, the Army Air Corps, and the Army Air Forces. It pays tribute to the dedication, sacrifice and contributions of those who pioneered the skies, those who shape the air, space and cyberspace victories of today, and those who will continue to do so in the future. The Memorial hosts a paved “Runway to Glory” at the site entrance, a larger-thanlife bronze Honor Guard statue, two granite inscription walls located at either end of a central lawn and a glass contemplation wall that reflects the missing man formation, the final tribute given to fallen airmen.
Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania National Military Park
Approximately 110,000 casualties occurred during the four major battles fought in the vicinity of Fredericksburg, making it the bloodiest ground on the North American continent. In 1927 the U.S. Congress established Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania County Memorial National Military Park to commemorate the heroic deeds of the men engaged at the battles of Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville,Wilderness, and Spotsylvania Court House. Today the park also includes the historic structures of Chatham, Ellwood, Salem Church, and the “Stonewall” Jackson Shrine.
Great Falls Park
Great Falls Park is one of the capital area’s most scenic views of the Potomac River. This 800-acre park has extraordinary views of Great Falls, 14 miles upriver from Washington D.C., with 15 miles of hiking trails and 5 miles of horseback riding and biking trails. The park is known for two things — its scenic beauty at the head of Potomac River fall line and the historic Patowmack Canal. Note: Great Falls Park waters are OFF LIMITS to all swimmers and waders.
Marine Corps Memorial
Based on Joe Rosenthal’s Pulitzer Prizewinning photograph of six Marines raising the stars and stripes American flag on Mount Suribachi in Iwo Jima, this 78-foot memorial, created by Felix de Weldon, commemorates all the Marines who have died in battle since 1775. Open daily, 8 a.m.-midnight. Route 50 at Arlington Boulevard and Ridge Road.
Shenandoah National Park
Take a drive along the winding roads of the beautiful 105-mile Skyline Drive that offers one of the finest scenic trips in the East. The drive twists and turns throughout the 80-mile long park that ranges from two to 13 miles wide. 70 overlooks allow any lover of nature to stop and view the Blue Ridge, Piedmont, and Shenandoah River Valley. Fall is the ideal time to visit the park, as the autumn colors envelop the scenery. The park is open year-round, with lodging and cottage accommodations. The park headquarters is located five miles east of Luray on US 211.