Washington: 10 Things to Do

The best way to see most of Washington's monuments and museums is to stroll down the Mall, a greenway crowned by the Capitol and lined with treasure all the way to the Lincoln Memorial. Start by taking the Metro there (orange or blue line to Smithsonian; take the Mall exit out of the station), as parking is impossible. Then choose your own adventure, rambling in and out of museums and staying only as long as you'd like. If you have kids with you, take a break at the old-fashioned carousel in front of the Arts and Industries building, about halfway down the Mall. Or duck into the sculpture garden at the Hirshhorn Museum nearby. There's a lot to see, so you'll have to prioritize — or chill out and assume you'll be back one day.

The National Museum of American History is one museum not to be missed on the Mall. Reopened on Nov. 21, 2008, after a two-year renovation, it is a massive collection of all things American — from Abraham Lincoln's top hat to the Nintendo Game Boy. Another sure thing on the Mall, the National Museum of Natural History has something for everyone in the family, from the femme to the fierce. The Hope Diamond is here, along with an insect zoo, an IMAX cinema and a hall full of dinosaurs.

Things to skip: the National Museum of the American Indian, which feels like a museum designed by committee, and the World War II Memorial, an eyesore that offers little to inspire.

• 1. The National Mall
  900 Ohio Drive SW, Washington, DC; 202-426-6841 38.889791-77.021464 nps.gov/nacc
• 2. National Museum of American History
  14th Street NW & Constitution, Washington, DC; 202-633-1000 38.892089-77.031951 americanhistory.si.edu
• 3. National Museum of Natural History
  10th Street NW & Constitution, Washington, DC; 202-633-1000 38.892087-77.025989 mnh.si.edu
• 4. Hirshhorn Museum
  7th Street SW & Independence A, Washington, DC; 202-633-1000 38.887557-77.021982 hirshhorn.si.edu
• 5. Lincoln Memorial
  At the end of the Reflecting P, Washington, DC; 202-426-6841 38.889367-77.049942 nps.gov/linc