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.
The Washington Ballet was founded in 1976 by the great American ballet pioneer Mary Day, this group is considered to be one of the nation's finest ballet companies. The performers push themselves to the limit to deliver the highest caliber of artistic expression and entertainment in such famous titles as the Nutcracker, Alice in Wonderland and the Great Gatsby, to name but a few. So buy your tickets, get dressed up, and enjoy a truly dazzling evening with the Washington Ballet.
One of the most emotionally-charged sites in Washington, DC is the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. The dark, black granite walls are inscribed with the 58,209 names of Americans missing or killed in the Vietnam conflict. This V-shaped memorial design draws you in and allows you to not only take in the monument's magnitude, but it also allows you to have a private, intimate moment within the monument's breadth. While you're visiting this monumental attraction, make sure you see Frederick Hart's "Three Soldiers" life-sized sculpture made of bronze that portrays three young servicemen.
Considered by many to be the ultimate must-see museum in DC, the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum is nothing short of an emotional and educational experience. When you arrive, you are given an "identity card" of a real Holocaust victim that deeply personalizes your trip through the various exhibits. You'll view an astounding collection of film clips, photographs, artifacts and unflinching first-hand accounts. There's even an exhibit for the kids that treats the subject matter in a highly sensitive manner; this exhibition will inspire questions and answers that will no doubt lead to a better understanding of this horrible passage in our world's history.