More Can't Miss D.C. Attractionsby Michele Cheplic | More from this Blogger 11 Nov 2007 09:21 PM Happy Veteran's Day! To all the men and women who defend our freedoms on a daily basis know how much you are appreciated. And to all of the family members of our service men and women, my sincere thanks for the sacrifice you make each time your loved one is sent far away from home to protect our country. In honor of Veteran's Day I am devoting a series of blogs to Washington, D.C.'s most popular attractions. We've already discussed the some of the foremost symbols of American democracy, now we're moving on to some other can't miss attractions. The National Zoo I have an animal-loving three-year-old so it is impossible to visit any city without touring its zoo. And D.C.'s National Zoo is one of the best in the country. You'll recall back in 2005 the zoo made headlines with the birth of Tai Shan, a baby giant panda. Panda-monium struck, and the fur ball better known as Butterstick, is still a huge hit. The zoo's other big attractions include three (fairly) new Sumatran tiger cubs and a new Asia Trail, a quarter-mile trail that weaves through several new animal habitats housing sloth bears, giant pandas, Asian otters and other native Asian animals. The zoo is open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. April through October and from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. the rest of the year. It is closed on Christmas Day. The National Archives If you have ever wanted to get a first-hand look at the documents that established the United States of America head to the rotunda at the National Archives. There you will find the Constitution, the Bill of Rights and the Declaration of Independence on display. The building also houses a permanent exhibit of historic letters, photos, film and other documents. One of the most popular exhibits is the "Public Vault," which showcases American History from a telegram between President Lincoln and Ulysses S. Grant to a film of President George W. Bush when he was a toddler. The National Archives is located a few blocks east of the White House and is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free. The Library of Congress The Library of Congress is housed in three buildings--Jefferson, Adams and Madison. They are easy to find as they sit behind the Capitol building so you'll save time getting there. Which is nice because once you get inside you'll want to spend as much time as possible exploring the buildings' elaborate details. For example, the Jefferson Building's Great Hall is breathtaking. Its intricately painted dome is the visual highlight of the structure. Then, there are the books. Miles and miles of books, personal papers and reference material including a Gutenberg Bible, which was the first book made with moveable type. For $2.50 you can take a self-guided audio tour of the three buildings and all of their treasures. The library is open Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Related Articles: Visiting Washington, D.C.'s Most Popular Museums Hawaii's "Not So Famous" Military Memorials National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific at Punchbowl Pearl Harbor: An Unforgettable Trip Visiting Pearl Harbor's Newest Attraction More Educational Vacation Destinations Family Friendly Attractions in Baltimore More Of Maryland's Top Family Friendly Attractions Learn more about Michele Cheplic  Michele Cheplic was born and raised in Hilo, Hawaii, but now lives in Wisconsin. Michele graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Journalism. Relevanttravel tags User Comments No comments on this article yet. Be the first to comment! Community Tags D.C., family travel, National Zoo, National Archives, Washington Discuss this article
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