Teeming with magnificent monuments, iconic sights, incredible districts and marvelous museums, the United States capital Washington DC is a fabulous destination. Washington DC appeals to a wide range of visitors – from those interested in history and politics to architecture lovers.
Suggested Itineraries
- Day 1 – Washington DC, Arlington
- Day 2 – Shenandoah caverns, Shenandoah National Park
- Day 3 – Williamsburg, Virginia Beach, Chincoteague
- Day 4 – Rehoboth Beach, Delaware Memorial Bridge
Day 1 – Washington DC, Arlington
If you are in the US capital, a trip to the National Mall is a must. Known as “America’s Front Yard,” this prime piece of historic real estate brims an iconic architecture. Visiting this place in the evening is the best as the monument lights up in bright light. Stretching from the foot of the US Capitol to the Potomac River, this swath of green and cherry blossom trees is revered as the most important symbolic site in the United States. Along the line of the river on the other side lies Lincoln Memorial. An iconic site that draws millions of people, this awe-inspiring monument honors one of the most beloved Presidents in American history: Abraham Lincoln.
US Capitol Building is a place on most people’s list of must-see tourist attractions in Washington, DC. We visited this place on a gloomy, yet mesmerized by it beauty. This magnificent building dates back to 1793, when President George Washington laid the cornerstone. You can go very up close to the building but won’t be allowed to enter.
Not far from Washington DC , we visited another historically important city named Alexandria. It is located in Northern Virginia right on the Potomac River and south of Arlington and Washington DC. Alexandria is known for its historic Old Town and for being the gateway to Mt. Vernon. Old Town Alexandria is a historic town dating back to the 1700s. The King Street Trolley is a delightful experience. Upon stepping off the free trolley, we walked around the quiet cobble-stoned streets, past the historical colonial home and discovered the unique shops hidden on the side streets and artsy alleyways. We also enjoyed stunning views of the Potomac River while were at Alexandria’s waterfront restaurants.
Another place in a short drive from Washington, DC, is Arlington National Cemetery. It is one of the most famous burial grounds in the world. Dating back to the Civil War, this legacy site honors hundreds of thousands of lives and tops the list of what to do in Washington, DC, for military history buffs. Beautifully landscaped and dotted with flowing fountains, Arlington National Cemetery is a perfect spot for quiet reflection.
Day 2 – Shenandoah caverns, Shenandoah National Park
On our road-trip across Virginia on Day 2, we headed to visit Shenandoah caverns. It is about 2 hours drive from the capital. There is an entrance fee to the cavern which includes a guided tour of about an hour. After you buy your cavern tour tickets we spent time to visit the gift shop while we were waiting for our time slot. An hour-long tour took us on a one-mile stroll along well-maintained walkways to see jaw-dropping formations like diamond cascades, rainbow lake, bacon formations, giants room and so much more.
From Shenandoah caverns, we headed towards Shenandoah National Park. The park is a long stretch of land within Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains. There plenty of things one can do in this park including hiking, kayaking, wildlife watching, camping. We had only few hours to spend, hence, we decided to do one hike and mainly drive through the road inside the park. There are hiking trails ranging from easy to difficult. Some of the more popular trails include Big Run Loop Trail, Mill Prong Trail, Sugarlands Valley Nature Trail etc. We did the Upper Hawksbill Trail which is a moderate hike of 1.5 miles. Hiking through the jungles provides great opportunity to spot different types of wild plants. The view from the top to the valley is breathtaking.
The other must to do in Shenandoah National Park is the skyline drive. This road follows the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains with stunning views of Shenandoah Valley to the west and endless ridge lines to the east. There are several overlooks where we stopped and enjoyed the view before moving out of the park to make the onward journey to the city of Richmond where we stopped for the night.
Day 3 – Williamsburg, Virginia Beach, Chincoteague
Today morning we made a trip to the colonial town of Williamsburg. This was the capital of the colony of Virginia (and later the state of Virginia) from 1705 until 1779, and today re-creates those times in their original locale, often in the original buildings. We booked a ticket for a self-guided tour of the town and you can very much walk around to explore. Riding horse cart to explore the town is another option. This is where you’ll find costumed characters re-enacting scenes from daily 18th-century life, glimpse historic buildings and churches, and see soldiers practicing musket drills. Colonial Williamsburg is also part of the Historic Triangle, so you’ll also want to pay a visit to the nearby towns of Jamestown and Yorktown for more history. But we decided to move to Viriginia beach as we have a lot more drive to do in the day.
Where the Chesapeake Bay meets the Atlantic Ocean, you’ll find the vibrant and bustling coastal city of Virginia Beach. A popular destination all year long, Virginia Beach shines during the summertime when visitors flock to the oceanfront and boardwalk. Virginia Beach Boardwalk is one of the key places to visit in the area, and it’s the main reason that tourists flock to this part of the state – especially in the summer, for some fun in the sun! The summer was pretty hot to sit in the beach, hence we bought beach umbrella from local shops. There are rickshaw rides to move around the beach. Also known for its flourishing local dining scene, arts and entertainment, maritime history, and family-friendly attractions, Virginia Beach features its own unique offerings for everyone to enjoy.
From Virginia beach we took a long drive to a small town named Chincoteague. The drive itself is very scenic. We needed to travel over 17.6-miles Chesapeake Bay Bridge. It is and engineering innovation and vibrant wildlife – without a single stop sign, traffic light, or intersection in sight.
Chincoteague is a town on the island of the same name, in Virginia’s Eastern Shore region. It’s a gateway to Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, on Assateague Island, which has beaches and wild Chincoteague ponies. The breed is showcased at the Chincoteague Pony Centre. Wild Ponies have inhabited Assateague Island for hundreds of years. We took a Sunset Wildlife Cruise with ASSATEAGUE BOAT TOUR & KAYAK TOUR. They know the best spots on the Assateague coastline for pony viewing, and took us there for a unique experience. Wildlife sightings along the way may include bald eagles, shorebirds, and dolphins. The sunset from the boat was really memorable experience. Later in the evening we drove to Delaware near Rehoboth beach and made a night stop there.
Day 4 – Rehoboth Beach, Delaware Memorial Bridge
Escape Explore Experience 