Tuesday, August 12, 2014

See The American Capital At Your Own Pace With Washington DC Audio Walking Tours

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By Tanisha Berg


The American capital is one of the most visited cities in the country. It's not surprising, considering that here you'll find national museums, memorials and sites where history was made. There are many ways to go sightseeing here but if you'd like to avoid rushing from sight to sight, Washington DC audio walking tours are just the thing for you. They give you the inside scoop that a tourist guide could give but you get to explore independently.

To see the main sights in DC, you don't need to bother too much with transport. Almost everything is contained within a small area that you can easily navigate on foot or by bicycle. Moreover, the city is very pedestrian and bike friendly.

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.

A lovely stroll on a sunny morning is through Arlington National Cemetery. It's located just outside DC's borders, in Virginia across from the National Mall. President John F. Kennedy is buried here, as are his brothers Robert and Ted and his wife Jackie. There is a memorial to the crew of the Space Shuttle Challenger and one to the Buffalo Soldiers, among other memorials. There are graves of famous people but also of ordinary soldiers with fascinating stories.

To find an audio walking tour that will appeal to you, simply look online. There is a wide variety of options available for download to an MP3 player, iPod or iPhone. Best of all is that several of these are free.




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