Planning Your Washington D.C. Vacation Itinerary

"Look out, Washington, D.C., here I come!" You're literally moments away from exclaiming exactly that, but first you must take all of your mental planning and lock it down to a tangible itinerary. You’ll need to make a detailed plan for where you want to go, how you plan on getting there and what type of roof you'll have over your head on a nightly basis. Here are a few tips to help you organize your Washington D.C. itinerary.

Traveling to Washington D.C.

Depending on where you'll be coming from to begin your Washington D.C. vacation, you'll find that there are a sea of variables and options available to make your trip more convenient and less expensive. If you reside on the East Coast, consider traveling by train if you can't find cheap Washington D.C. flights to get you into the D.C. metro area. Traveling by train still brings with it a sense of romanticism that has nearly been forgotten in mainstream America.

If you're cruising in from the Midwest, South, Southwest or any other American region, you'll probably want to consider a flight to Washington D.C. as your first travel option. When you're willing to become your own travel agent, you'll have no problem finding discounted airfare available through many Internet travel sites.

Once you've arrived in Washington D.C., it will be much easier to enjoy your vacation if your hotel accommodations are sufficient. Unless you literally plan exploring the city at all hours, a nice bed in a nice, clean, contemporary room will be the icing on your Washington D.C. vacation cake.

What to Do in Washington D.C.

As an individual who has traveled to Washington D.C. on several occasions, consider the following sound advice. Give yourself more than one day to visit the monuments and memorials. In fact, if you spread the monument/memorial visitations over a three-day period, it will allow you to take your time enjoying the sites during the day, while freeing up your late afternoons and evenings to explore other parts of the city, including the very active social scene.

The monuments along the National Mall are laid out so beautifully and efficiently that you can truly take your time perusing, and seeing several things at once. Just know that you'll become crunched for time if you try to add tours of the Capitol Building and the White House on top of your leisurely stroll.

More to Do in Washington D.C.

Once you've gotten your fill of the Congressional area, you'll definitely want to travel to the other side of the Potomac River; Virginia will present you with even more vacation opportunities. If you have an appreciation for American history, then you'll definitely want to schedule time to visit the Arlington National Cemetery and the home of George Washington, Mount Vernon. You can also enjoy a day-trip to the plantation of Thomas Jefferson, Monticello, which is an approximate 2.5 hour drive from The District.

On the other hand, if you're more into the contemporary American lifestyle, you'll have no problem finding "your scene" in areas such as Georgetown. Great Washington D.C. restaurants, great shopping and a contemporary mix of American people can be found strolling the city streets of an area that seems to link the American past to the American present.