National Mall & Lafayette Square
The National Mall in the heart of D.C. isn't really a neighborhood at all. Instead, it's technically a national park — one overflowing with grand vistas, historic locales and stunning museums. It's a must see for any first-time visitor to Washington.Our nation's most famous monuments and buildings form the unofficial boundaries of the Mall — from the Lincoln Memorial and the beautiful Reflecting Pool to the Vietnam Memorial, the World War II Memorial, the Washington Monument and all the way to the the United States Capitol at the other end. Many of the Smithsonian Institution's museums line the Mall.
The two-mile stretch also has many wide open spaces that create a park in the center of the District, making for a wonderful walk during nice weather. And for the green thumbs among us, there are two great attractions as well. The U.S. Botanic Garden at the foot of Capitol Hill is home to many fascinating and exotic plants from around the world. And in the spring, who isn't familiar with the Mall's famous Cherry Blossom Festival, when the famous trees are filled with pink and white flowers!
Lafayette Square, adjacent to the White House, is famous for its statues, its orators, its protests and its squirrels.
