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Washington D.C. is notched out of the state of Maryland at the confluence of the Anacostia and Potomac Rivers.  Washington survived the destruction of the Civil War and continued to grow into the beautiful city we know today.

Besides its many political attractions such as the White House, Smithsonian Institute, the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial, Washington D.C. is also full of theaters, galleries, restaurants, nightclubs, shops, and parks. Washington is a place full of color with its many people, arts, culture and seasons. Come see why Washington D.C. is our nation's capital.

From its celebrated symbols of patriotism to its undiscovered neighborhoods, the sites and sounds of the nation's capital inspire millions of visitors every year.  Packed with famous sights, free attractions, and an endless calendar of special events, Washington, DC offers year-round inspiring experiences.

Beyond Washington DC's most familiar vistas, the capital city unwinds into a lively urban center.  Casual cafes and upscale bistros line the trendy streets of Georgetown, while the downtown district sizzles with a host of new restaurants. Spontaneous Jazz notes tumble out the windows of U Street's nightclubs, while world-class performers take the stage at the highly acclaimed Kennedy Center.  Kayakers tackle the Potomac River as it winds past the elegant marble tributes to America's great leaders.

Beyond the inspiring monuments and news-making public figures, Washington, DC is a city of colorful, diverse neighborhoods, filled with hip boutiques and galleries, historic homes and small museums, urban parks and spectacular gardens. Neighborhoods are comfortable for walking and almost all are accessible by Metrorail or Metrobus.

When Pierre Charles L'Enfant gazed northward along the banks of the Potomac River in 1791, he envisioned a "pedestal waiting for a monument." Since that day, Washington, DC has evolved into a fascinating, lively city combining grand, neoclassical government buildings, monuments, memorials, museums and the National Mall with colorful neighborhoods, art, theater, music and culture.

Washington, DC is a powerful symbol not only of our nation but also of democracy and freedom. The District of Columbia's neighborhoods, people, history and culture truly embody the American Experience - from Duke Ellington to John Phillip Sousa and from the Civil War to civil rights.  Only in Washington, DC, can visitors be inspired by touring the magnificent Capitol Building and Washington Monument by day and be moved by taking in magical performances by the National Symphony and world-class opera by night.

During your stay in the nation's capital city, we encourage you to discover Washington, DC as more than just a tourist. Become a part of the American Experience.  Marvel at the Lincoln Memorial. Show your children the Star-Spangled Banner.  Stop in at Eastern Market, an amazing European-style gathering of food vendors and artisans. Explore Jacqueline Kennedy's Washington through a Citywide Celebration and discover how her love of the arts and this city transformed the nation's capital.

Located midway along the eastern seaboard of the United States, south of Maryland, north of Virginia and 233 miles south of New York City, the Washington, DC metropolitan area refers to the District of Columbia, plus 7 Maryland counties (Anne Arundel, Calvert, Charles, Frederick, Howard, Montgomery and Prince George's), 5 Virginia counties (Arlington, Fairfax, Loudon, Prince William and Stafford) and 5 Virginia cities (Alexandria, Fairfax City, Falls Church, Manassas and Manassas Park).

The District of Columbia is 67 square miles and divided into 4 quadrants: Northwest, Southwest, Northeast and Southeast.  The U.S. Capitol building marks the center where the quadrants meet. Numbered streets run north-south.  Lettered streets run east-west (there are no J, X, Y or Z streets), becoming 2-syllable names, then 3-syllable names as you travel farther out from the center. Avenues named for U.S. states run diagonally, often meeting at traffic circles and squares.

You haven't seen Washington... until you've seen it at night! Old Town Trolley Tours® is the key that unlocks the mysteries of "Washington After Hours"!  Enjoy the sights and sounds of this truly magnificent city as you join our professional tour guides for entertaining anecdotes and historical information along with a sprinkling of bewitching ghosts stories of the spirits who haunt our nation's capital.

Onboard you'll see the illuminated monuments and memorials, the Capitol Building, the White House and Georgetown.  Stops include: FDR Memorial, the Kennedy Center, the Iwo Jima Memorial and the Lincoln and Vietnam Veteran's Memorials. Learn which President's spirit walks the halls of Congress.