With its rich history and abundance of visitor attractions, D.C. has been singled out by TripAdvisor as one of the best travel destinations in the U.S. See photos.
There’s a multitude of well known visitor attractions in the D.C. area, The Exorcist Stairs, the site of the climactic scene from The Exorcist is one of the more unusual.
(WTOP)
WTOP
The Washington Monument is an iconic feature of the D.C. skyline.
(WTOP/Dave Dildine)
WTOP/Dave Dildine
The Robert and Arlene Kogod Courtyard at the National Portrait Gallery, one of 18 Smithsonian Institutions in D.C.
(Courtesy of the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery)
Courtesy of the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery
Dupont Underground. Abandoned trolley tunnels, a mile away from the White House, are turning into an art space.
(WTOP/Mike Murillo)
WTOP/Mike Murillo
Of course seeing the White House is a must for most visitors to D.C. President George Washington selected the site for the White House in 1791.
(Thinkstock)
Thinkstock
The Mansion on O Street has 100 rooms to explore along with elaborate tea services.
(WTOP)
WTOP
Washington D.C. is home to a number of war memorials. The Vietnam Veterans Memorial on the National Mall is a tribute to the dead and missing from Vietnam.
(AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta
Abraham Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C. continues to be one of the most famous tourist sites and is an evening tour staple.
(Thinkstock)
Thinkstock
The U.S. Capitol’s former columns still stand at the United States National Arboretum in Washington.
(AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster
Tours of the modern day United States Capitol, often called the Capitol Building and the home of the United States Congress, are a popular choice.
(Thinkstock)
The winners were determined by the online planning and booking site based on a number of factors. The quality of reviews and ratings for hotels, restaurants and attractions in destinations worldwide were looked at on TripAdvisor over a 12-month period, along with traveler booking interest on the site.
It seems that D.C.’s abundance of history and plentiful cultural offerings is attracting travelers.
“It’s clear in looking at this year’s list of Travelers’ Choice award-winning destinations that our millions of reviewers across the globe love exploring iconic cities that are full of rich history and culture,” said Brooke Ferencsik, senior director of communications for TripAdvisor.
New York City took the top spot for the best destination to visit in the U.S. Maui, Hawaii, was in second place, Las Vegas, Nevada, took third, Oahu, Hawaii, fourth and Orlando, Florida, fifth.
A global list of winners was also compiled by TripAdvisor. Paris, France, scooped the top award, followed in second place by London, United Kingdom.
