Saturday, August 9, 2014

Get The Inside Scoop With Washington DC Audio Walking Tours

By Tanisha Berg


One of the top tourist destinations in the USA is the nation's capital. After all, this is where history is made every day. The city has a huge variety of sights to see and different ways to do it. If you don't like sightseeing as part of a tour group, though, you may want to consider Washington DC audio walking tours. This way you can explore at your own pace but still get the fascinating background information on the sights that a tour guide would have given you.

Sightseeing in the District of Columbia, or DC as it's often called, is a breeze. Most of the famous sights are located within a couple of blocks and the city is very bicycle and pedestrian friendly. Simply put on some comfortable shoes, pack some sunscreen and water and go see some of the most significant places in history.

Most of the main sights are located along or near the National Mall. This park, shaped more like a strip, is home to many of DC's best museums, among them several Smithsonian Institution museums. In addition, you'll find the Lincoln Memorial, the Korean War Veterans Memorial, the Vietnam War Veterans Memorial, the Washington Monument and the US Capitol, among others.

Another interesting tour is to stroll down Pennsylvania Avenue, particularly the 1.2 miles that link the US Capitol with what is arguably the most famous house in the world, the White House. It is down this stretch that newly inaugurated presidents parade and among the landmarks along the way are the headquarters of the Department of Justice and the FBI.

A landmark event in the USA's history was the American Civil War and DC played a significant part in this. If you're interested in history, a must is an audio tour that takes you to Civil War sites in the city. You'll get to see places like the site where President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated, the office from which Clara Barton did her pioneering work as nurse and founder of the American Red Cross, as well as stunning architecture of the era.

If you love architecture, head to the part of Massachusetts Avenue that is known as Embassy Row. The name comes from the many embassies along this section. Some are housed in stately historic mansions while others, such as the Embassy of Brazil, boast stunning modern designs. You'll also find statues of international statesmen such as Winston Churchill, Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela here.

While it's not actually located in the District of Columbia but instead lies across the Potomac in Virginia, Arlington National Cemetery is a must-see too. There are many memorials here, including one to the Buffalo Soldiers. An audio guide will help you find the graves of people like President John F. Kennedy and will tell you more about those who lie buried here.

You'll find a range of audio walking tours for Washington DC. Simply go online and find the ones that appeal to you. Some are available free of charge and you just need to download them.




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