Capital City Bike Tours is delighted to welcome you to Washington, DC and everything the U.S. Capital has to offer! We offer you the best orientation, an informative and entertaining guide and simply a great time. After over a decade of guiding hundreds of thousands of travelers throughout the world, we have become the city bike tour benchmark. Now, we are bringing our world-class tours to the nation's capital. On our tour, you'll get the company of a licensed guide, the use of a super-comfortable bike, great tips and advice about what to do in town, an educational and informative experience, a chance to meet other travelers, and simply the best day of your stay. We are also experts. We have the know-how. After guiding thousands of bike tourists through European cities since 1999 with our sister, Fat Tire Bike Tours, not to mention the thousands we have ushered through the Capital City via City Segway Tours, we've become the experts and we're excited to show you DC soon! Click here for more information.

Unique, funky, and contemporarily-hip are a few words to describe this one-of-a-kind Industry Gallery in the Northeast. With industrial materials like recycled glass, aluminum, and carbon fiber, artists from all over the world create new and innovative works to redefine the relationship between art and design. The gallery holds single-artist exhibitions to highlight the works of each international artist who is selected for his or her unique insight and ability to illuminate broad spectrums of international design. This is definitely the new destination for contemporary art connoisseurs, collectors, curators, or art lovers. Click here for more information.

Carousel rides have always been a fond childhood memory for many. Who can say no to those colorful, bright horses and fancy round cups? Just like the good old days, the Smithsonian Castle offers a charming carousel on the national mall for both children and kids-at-heart. The Smithsonian Carousel was built by Allan Herschell in 1947, with brilliantly 60 hand-carved and painted animals. If touring the National Mall with kids, taking a spin is a refreshing break for the restless kids tired of site-seeing and touring museums. At times, the line may be a bit long, but you can still enjoy the spectacular views of the monuments.

The Pentagon Memorial honors lives lost during the 9/11 terrorist attack on Washington, D.C. in 2011. Adjacent to The Pentagon in Arlington, this outdoor memorial is a beautiful tribute to the 184 men and women who died in the tragedy. With its sleek and simple designs, this memorial helps visitors remember and reflect on the appalling incident. Every year during the event’s anniversary, an American flag is hung on the section of the Pentagon hit by Flight 77. If interesting in participating to commemorate the event, check online for related events.

Who knew exercising could also be so musical and artistically graceful?

Starting mid-November through mid-March the Ice Rink at the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden will be open for general admissions. Skating in the cool crisp air while enjoying music from the state-of-the-art sound system and twirling amidst magnificent sculptures is truly a romantic, yet cultured experience.

Don’t forget to stop by the Pavilion Café to power up! The café boasts an unobstructed panoramic view of the Sculpture Garden. Did I mention that they serve fresh wraps, gourmet pizzas, hot coco, and even wine and beer?

What else stands more proudly than the Washington Monument which overlooks the entire District of Columbia? This prominent structure marks the skyline of Washington, DC since 1884 and was built to commemorate President George Washington’s military leadership during the American Revolution. Standing 555’5’’ feet tall, the Egyptian obelisk offers an unobstructed view of the city for over thirty miles. For a bird-eye view glimpse of the District, reserve tickets at the National Park Service website, but reserve early since it is peak season from April to September and the tickets are very much in demand. Shh… Free tickets for same-day visitors can be obtained on a first-come-first –serve basis from the Washington Monument Lodge at 8:30 am.

With a wide array of sights and attractions to explore in the nation’s capital, there is no better way to travel and sightsee by cycling. With Bike and Roll, a bike rental provider with a wide array of bike models to choose from, you can check in and out of the three kiosks by the National Mall, the Union Station, and at Old Town Alexandria.

Each rental comes prepared with a helmet, lock, flat kit, and a city map to better help you whizz past this lovely city safe and prepared. Trust me, stopping to smell the roses is easier on a bicycle.

Insider Tip: Renting bikes from Old Town Alexandria not only gives you a chance to stroll King Street, but cyclists can easily take the scenic Mount Vernon Trail to the famous George Washington’s Estate!

In “National Treasure,” you may remember seeing Nicolas Cage scurrying across the Main Reading Room of the Library of Congress in search of the fictitious Book of Secrets. However, what Cage didn’t tell you is all the other real treasures for you to find at the Library.

The Library truly is an unparalleled world resource with a collection of more than 144 million books, prints, recordings, and manuscripts in 460 languages. You have the option of joining the tourists and be rushed in and out of the visitor areas, or registering for a Reader Identification Card at the Madison Building and having access to the beautiful library with myriad of unique reading rooms, its vast collection, and the Internet for free!

Newseum Blends High-Tech With Historical. The Newseum — a 250,000-square-foot museum of news — offers visitors an experience that blends five centuries of news history with up-to-the-second technology and hands-on exhibits. The Newseum is located at the intersection of Pennsylvania Avenue and Sixth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C., on America’s Main Street between the White House and the U.S. Capitol and adjacent to the Smithsonian museums on the National Mall. The exterior’s unique architectural features include a 74-foot-high marble engraving of the First Amendment and an immense front wall of glass through which passers-by can watch the museum fulfill its mission of educating the public about the value of a free press in a free society and telling the stories of the world's important events in unique and engaging ways. The Newseum features seven levels of galleries, theaters, retail spaces and visitor services. It offers a unique environment that takes museumgoers behind the scenes to experience how and why news is made. Click here for more information.