The National Gallery of Art offers everything you ever wanted to know about art and presents an incredible amount of it all in one place. The Gallery's numerous exhibits and attractions stretch from the Middle Ages all the way to today. Works by da Vinci, Rembrandt, Raphael and Titian, among others, are all here. The facility proudly exhibits over 3,000 paintings, 2,000 pieces of sculpture and over 100,000 prints, drawings and other interesting pieces. Also, don't forget to spend a little time in the Sculpture Garden that can be found at the corner of 7th and Madison.
The Washington and Old Dominion Trail (W&OD or "Wad") is an excellent recreation trail that runs through the Northern Virginia counties. The 45-mile trail is completely paved with nine foot wide asphalt and has a yellow painted center line. To run the whole trail and back means you're looking at a 90-mile trek, but it can be done over the course of two days thanks to the hotels and bed and breakfasts along the trail. The only real complaint from bikers is that there's much traffic most of the time due to the Wad's immense popularity.
Great Falls Park offers an excellent chance for nature lovers to not only experience the allure of the Potomac River, but to also get away from all the stress of the everyday grind and enjoy some truly serene moments in the great outdoors. The park is open from dawn until dusk and offers amazing views with plenty of chances to see wildlife like waterfowl. The park is situated 14 miles northwest of Washington, DC along the Potomac River in suburban Fairfax County, Virginia. The river's beauty winds through several types of natural scenery that makes for something truly captivating nearly everywhere you look.
Want to know where all the money comes from? Then get set to find out on one of Washington, DC's most popular tours when you visit the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. Some of the exhibits include bills that are no longer in circulation, counterfeit money and a staggering $100,000 bill, along with a presentation of how money is produced and printed. In keeping with fiscal responsibility, the tour is actually free but during peak summer months, admission tickets are given out on a first-come, first-served basis.