Ford's Theatre has a built-in drama all its own. This is where John Wilkes Booth shot President Abraham Lincoln, and that unsettling episode still resonates in the structure today. Take a tour that retraces the incident, and you can also get a look at some of the interesting backstage areas. And if you are visiting for a performance, the excellent acoustics and inviting seating arrangement will ensure that whether you are watching a play or a musical production, the entertainment takes on a deeper significance when you consider that you are sitting within some truly historic walls.
The Capital Crescent Trail is one of the area's most popular. This 11-mile trail begins in Silver Spring, Maryland, curves westward through Maryland into Washington, DC and ends in the heart of historic Georgetown. Captivating, beautiful scenery marks this as an exceptional recreation trail for walking, hiking and biking.
In a world where your kids are enthralled by video games and computers, take them back to a time and place where a well-produced theatrical show meant something special. That place is the Discovery Theater. Part of the Smithsonian, this venue was founded in 1964 as the Smithsonian Puppet Theater. The ways that the stories are presented may have changed, but the original spirit is still very much alive. The kids will see fun and educational presentations and attractions that include everything from Polynesian dancing to live snake shows and dazzling magicians. The Discovery Theater is truly a great choice for family friendly fun.
Theodore Roosevelt was one of our nation's most beloved Presidents, but he also was an avid outdoorsman and one of the first advocates of conservation. To honor his passion and concern for the outdoors, the Theodore Roosevelt Island Park was established to not only recognize the efforts of this very public figure, but to also provide a natural setting that Teddy himself would have been proud of. A statue of him with two fountains surrounded by columns rightfully acknowledges his efforts to preserve our natural resources. The park itself is 91 acres of natural beauty that is accessible by footbridge from the parking lot, off the north-bound land of the George Washington Memorial.