I go to DC once a year now to lobby Congress on school stuff.
I have the greatest time in my free time going around DC.
You now have to get tickets for the White House tour WAAAAY in advance because they have to do some kind of security check on you. It is usually slow in DC in February, so I do not have to deal with many crowds.
Last year, I did three Smithsonian museums, the National Archives, and the Washington Monument all in a morning - to afternoon self-tour. It was a whirlwind tour, but I really enjoyed it!
I am one of those that is in real awe when I am there, and I think about the history and everything that went into making our great country.
The Vietnam memorial, the Lincoln Memorial, and the new WWII memorial all give me goosebumps.
John1