Experience the Nation’s Capital with a Bus Rental in Washington, DC!

Arts and culture is very alive in Washington, DC, where it is possible to catch an art gallery exhibit, a dance or theatre performance, or a musical show or concert on any given night.

For instance, you can go to the National Gallery of Art (Washington, DC 20006), where you can see the best art in the capital, with sculptures, images and paintings dating as far back as the 13th century exhibited in the West Gallery. See the best Italian Renaissance art works here, too. Modern art, on the other hand, are featured at its East Wing, and this is where you can find the best works of Lictenstein, Calder, Pollock and Picasso. The museum also has a sculpture garden.

Another art gallery and museum worth visiting is the Corcoran Gallery of Art. It is the first and one of the finest art museums in Washington DC. In here, you can find the works of Mary Cassatt, John Singer Sergeant, Rembrandt Peal and Gilbert Stuart, among others. Meanwhile the Philips Collection is considered as the first modern art museum in the country and it is also one of the best known.

Of course, you would need to visit the three Smithsonian art attractions here, too:

• The Smithsonian American Art Museum, with its varied art works such as the Art of Video Games, the Civil War American Art, and other art exhibits created by more than 7,000 artists.
• The Smithsonian National Museum of African Art (Washington, DC 20560), where you could find the best art works on the African Diaspora.
• The Smithsonian Freer Gallery, on the other hand, has a great variety of exhibits from Chinese to American art, to biblical manuscripts.

You could also go to the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, where you could find the best art works done within the last 30 years. Even with that limitation, the museum still has more than 11,000 art works that you could appreciate, as well as films and movies that you could watch. Lastly check out the National Museum of Women in the Arts, Kreeger Museum, Renwick Gallery, and the National Portrait Gallery.

If you are looking to buy some artwork for your home, Washington DC also has great art galleries that you could visit.

Performance arts and music. Washington, DC is home to around 80 professional theater groups that are responsible for more than 350 productions every year. Check out performances by the Washington Ballet as the group puts on its annual review at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Meanwhile, opera lovers have come to love Washington National Opera.

No discussion of theater in DC is ever complete without mentioning the Arena Stage, which was a catalyst for the growth of indie theater in the area. Arena is very much responsible for the emergence and thriving of Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company, the Studio Theatre, the Shakespeare Theatre Company and other independent theater groups. Further, the GALA Hispanic Theatre serves as a National Center for the Latino Performing Arts, while you should experience Washington's Black Broadway in the U Street area. The U Street Corridor is where you would find famed institutions such as the Bohemian Caverns, the Lincoln Theatre, and the Howard Theatre.

Washington is home to many prominent musicians from various musical genres. This was home to military brass band composer John Philip Sousa, to jazz legend Duke Ellington, to soul superstar Roberta Flack, among others. This is also where you could find the DC Youth Orchestra Program, the National Symphony Orchestra, and the Washington Symphony Orchestra, as well as the United States Navy Band and the United States Marine Band.

Today, most great bands and musicians perform live at the Verizon Center. Another venue you could go to is the Filene Center, with around 90 productions in a season. You could also catch some of the best musical acts in various night clubs in the city, such as Act IV, or in smaller performing arts centers, such as Atlas Performing Arts Center or DAR Constitution Hall.

Do check out the National Theatre, which has been open since 1835 and has undergone six renovations in its lifetime. Junius Brutus Booth – the father of John Wilkes Booth, who would later assassinate President Abraham Lincoln – acted in the National Theatre's first productions.

Ford's Theatre is also located in DC. And, lastly, there is Warner Theatre, which is a concert venue that started its life as a vaudeville and silent movie theater in the 1920s.

Festivals. The capital is host to great festivals that take place throughout the year.

Summer festivals in Washington, DC celebrate film, food, music and the arts. You have the DC Jazz festival with over 125 performances spread out over six days and in venues all throughout the city. The Source Festival, on the other hand, highlights innovative and experimental theater productions. The festival typically showcases three full-length plays, short plays and the "blind dates" events where four artists from different art disciplines come together to create an original play.

Then there is the Smithsonian Folklife Festival, the Safeway National Capital Barbecue Battle, and the Capital Fringe Festival.

In the fall, you have Fiesta DC, the Latino Festival that gives you a glimpse into the Latino culture with a parade, a science fair, arts, crafts and food. You would also enjoy the sidewalk cafes, vendors, dance and cultural performances, a Kid's Fair and other activities at the Adams Morgan Day. There are also several Oktoberfests that are held in many communities here.

The holiday season has several events that are related to Hanukkah and Christmas. There's the Capitol Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony, the DAR Open House, the National Christmas Tree and the Pageant of Peace, and the Logan Circle Holiday House Tour. Then there are the New Year's Day celebrations, the Washington Winter Show, the DC Restaurant Week, and the Martin Luther King celebrations in January.

Come spring, you can enjoy the National Cherry Blossoms Festival, the White House Easter Egg Roll, the National Cathedral Flower Mart, Passport DC, the Fiesta Asia, Memorial Day Parade, and the DC Jazz Festival.

Other must-attend fall festivals in Washington, DC include H Street Festival, Southwest DC Arts Festival, National Book Festival, and Kids Euro Festival.

Architecture. The capital's buildings are mostly low rises as restricted by law, but that does not mean that there are no wonderfully designed buildings here. In fact, DC has six buildings listed on American's Favorite Architecture's top ten, including:

• The White House (Washington, DC 20500)
• Washington National Cathedral
• Thomas Jefferson Memorial
• United States Capitol
• Lincoln Memorial
• Vietnam Veterans Memorial

Other buildings on this extensive list sponsored by the American Institute of Architects include:

• Washington Monument
• Supreme Court of the United States
• Library of Congress
• National Gallery of Art (West Building)
• Union Station
• Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum
• Willard Hotel
• Ronald Reagan Building
• Washington Metro
• National Building Museum
• United States Holocaust Museum

It is very convenient to see all of these architecturally amazing buildings and more with a bus rental in Washington, DC!

There are several dining choices in Washington D.C., and they represent some of the best restaurants in the entire country. Over the years, there have been some restaurants that have become favorites among both locals and tourists.

For one, there is Komi in Dupont Circle. This fine dining joint has helped locals here appreciate a fine goat dish. So be sure to try out their goat and lamb dishes, including their 12-course set menu.

Minibar, with Chef Jose Andres at the helm, serves Portuguese and Spanish dishes, such as oaxacan marshmallow, chicken shawarma and pig tail curry panini. It is also known as one of the most expensive restaurants in the world, but the food is just worth the steep price tag.

CityZen is another expensive restaurant you can try while here. Chef Eric Ziebold often changes the menus frequently so you have something new every few months. Marcel's, on the other hand, is where you could get the best Belgian and Italian fare. Little Serow, serves great Thai food.

And before you think that in order to get the best food here means that you have to pay through your nose, we would like to recommend Estadio, where you get great Spanish and Portuguese food without the hefty price tag. Or you can order the tapas at Jaleo and enjoy the clams casino at the Red Hen. Further, you can get affordable and delicious Turkish meals at Zaytinya (Washington, DC 20001).

Other restaurants you can try out in Washington DC include:

• Blue Duck Tavern
• The Bombay Club
• Central Michel Richard
• Corduroy
• Fiola
• Izakaya Seki
• Mintwood Plac
• Palena
• Proof
• Rasika and Rasika West End
• Rose's Luxury
• Seasonal Pantry

Shopping. Shopping in Washington DC would take you to some of its more interesting neighborhoods.If you are looking for fresh produce, unique gifts and antiques, head on to Capitol Hill, where you can find Eastern Market and Union Station. Fashionistas love the revitalized downtown area with Gallery Place in Chinatown, where you can find Urban Outfitters, Aveda and other popular stores. Or you can go to Zara, Guess or H&M. You can even find the latest handmade jewelry at Mia Gemma, or get something unique at the Peruvian Collection. Further, you can go to Georgetown, where you can find shoes and designer clothing created by DC's best local talents. On Georgetown's cobblestone streets, you will find great national retailers such as Restoration Hardware and Coach, mixed with local businesses such as Piccolo Pigies, Pink Novemeber, Hu's Shoes and Dawn Price Baby.

Other shopping neighborhoods you should not miss here are Dupont Circle and Penn Quarter.

On top of these shopping districts, DC also has great malls. Check out the Chevy Chase Pavilion (Washington, DC 20015), where you can find national retailers, along with specialty stores. Another mall you can go to is the Mazza Gallerie, where you can shop at any one of the 18 stores, and perhaps watch a movie at AMC afterwards.

Check out the Rock Creek Golf Course (Washington, DC 20011), which is just minutes away from the center of DC. It has beautifully maintained greens, so it serves as a wonderful escape from the hustle and bustle of DC.

Langston Golf Course welcomes both locals and visitors alike and has seen the likes of former President Ford, Bob Hope and Jim Thorpe play. Check out the challenging holes here that are set amidst a beautiful backdrop of picturesque lakes and verdant hills. The East Potomac Golf Course has three different courses with very different layouts. Another course you can go to is the U.S. Soldiers and Airmens Home Golf Course.

Washington DC is one of only 12 cities in the country that have teams in all the four major men's sports leagues and one for women. The Washington Wizards of the National Basketball Association, the Washington Mystics of Women's National Basketball Association, and the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League all play at the Verizon Center. Meanwhile, the Washington Nationals plays at Nationals Park, and D.C. United plays its home games at RFK Stadium. Lastly, the National Football League's Washington Redskins plays at FedEx Field in Maryland.

Other teams include:

• the Washington Kastles
• the Washington D.C. Slayers
• the Baltimore Washington Eagles
• the D.C. Divas
• the Potomac Athletic Club

Other sporting venues you can go to include the William H.G. FitzGerald Tennis Center, which is home of the Citi Open.

The many historical sites, monuments and landmarks in Washington, DC not only give you a glimpse into the nation's history, but also allow you to see the changes in American life and architecture over the decades.

There is the Old Stone House in Georgetown, which is the oldest private home in the city. The National Park Service maintains the house in order to showcase how people lived during that time. The U.S. Capitol building is one of the oldest and is also one of the most recognizable in the area. Visit the Capitol Complex and enjoy the Capitol Building, the Senate and the House, the botanic Garden and other buildings. You should also go to the Octagon Museum, where you can find exhibits on design, preservation, architecture and Washington DC's early history.

Further, you could go to the Washington Monument, honoring George Washington and his many accomplishments and the National Building Museum, which now serves as a museum for design, engineering, construction, urban planning and architecture. Then there is the Corcoran Gallery of Art, which has one of the most complete collections of American Art, while the Carnegie Library houses the Historical Society of Washington and a special events venue.

Historic houses you should not miss include Frederick Douglass National Historic Site, the Tudor Place, the Dumbarton House, the Decatur House, and Sewall-Belmont House.

Other notable historic places you should go to include the Union Station, the White House, the U.S. Treasury Building, Smithsonian Castle, Old Ebbitt Grill, the Renwick Gallery, the Eastern Market and the Eisenhower Executive Office Building.

Plus, you could never say you were in Washington, DC if you do not go to the National Mall. The National Mall covers two miles of green space that connects the Lincoln Memorial and the U.S. Capitol Building. In the National Mall, you can find the Washington Monument, the Korean War Memorial, the World War II Memorial, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial, and the Delano Roosevelt Memorial. You should also stroll down Capitol Hill, Pennsylvania Avenue and Tidal Basin. Or you can check out the historic neighbourhoods of Georgetown and Dupont Circle.

Lastly, you should go to the National 9/11 Pentagon Memorial, which commemorates the lives of 184 people who were killed in the September 11 attack on the Pentagon.

Parks in Washington, DC are prime spots for recreational activities. So check out the best parks here:

• Anacostia Park has more than 1,200 acres of green space and it has the largest recreation area in the city. The park includes the Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens as well as the Kenilworth Marsh, where you can have relaxing nature walks. There is also a golf course, marinas and a boat ramp here.
• Benjamin Banneker Park gives you a great view of the Potomac and is a memorial to a black man who helped Andrew Ellicott in surveying the city way back in the 1790s.
• Bartholdi Park is a component of the U.S. Botanic Garden and has beautiful flower gardens and a classic fountain designed by the designer of the Statue of Liberty, Frederic Auguste Bartholdi.
• Constitution Gardens right in the National Mall has great landscaped gardens, a lake and an island.
• East Potomac Park has a great view of the Potomac River and has several facilities such as a playground, tennis courts, mini golf course, outdoor swimming pool, golf course and picnic areas.
• The Friendship Turtle Park is the best playground in the area, featuring a lot of climbing structures, swings, tunnels, and slides. There are picnic tables and a lot of benches as well as sandboxes that has turtles in them, tennis courts, basketball courts and soccer fields.
• Georgetown Waterfront Park has great views of the Potomac River and is an ideal place for a picnic, biking, skating and hiking.
• Kingman and Heritage Islands Park is where you could do a lot of outdoor activities such as boating, fishing, biking and hiking.
• Lafayette Park has several statues of noted presidents and personalities, including the Marquis de Lafayette, Andrew Jackson, comte Jean de Rochambeau, Thaddeus Kosciuszko, Baron Frederich Wilhelm von Steuben, among others.
• Pershing Park has a great ice skating rink.
• The Tidal Basin is where you would find the famous cherry trees as well as the Jefferson Memorial. Find a great spot to have a picnic here or ride a paddle boat!

Also check out the Battery Kemble Park, the 59 city parks within Capitol Hill, Dupont Circle, Fort Dunport Park, Fort Reno Park, Fort Totten Park, Francis Scott Key Park, Meredian Hill Park, Montrose Park, Rawlins Park, Rock Creek Park, Theodore Roosevelt Park, and the West Potomac Park.

Visit the Smithsonian National Zoological Park, one of the oldest in the entire country.

The free zoo has elephants, lions, reptiles, birds and tigers, and it has a Kid's Farm, where you can see horses, rabbits, sheep and goats.

There is also the pizza playground and the Think Tank.