Top Ten of Washington D.C., 

Washington, D.C. is unlike any other city on Earth, for obvious reasons. It is the capitol of the United States and has some of the richest history of any place in the country. In addition, it seems that for everything that ever happened there, they erected some kind of a monument to it. Well, monuments are great and you'll see plenty just walking down the street in Washington, but there are some lesser mentioned sightseeing attractions that every visitor should see.

If you ever sat through a Mission Impossible or James Bond movie, you will definitely get a kick out of this one. Dedicated to the undercover art of international espionage, the International Spy Museum features the true stories of real spies from the United States and around the world. Visitors can dig into the unusual history of espionage and see real-life artifacts actually used by spies. This is the largest and best collection of its kind in existence and uses interactive displays (like the School for Spies) and films to involve visitors.

Here is a free one that needs a look. Every evening at 6pm, the Kennedy Center presents a Millennium Stage Performance. This comprises free performances by local, national, or international musicians. This is a real winner. After the performance, take a stroll onto the terrace for a fantastic view of the Potomac River. In addition to the free shows, The Kennedy Center offers up approximately 3,000 unique performances per year and is the home of National Symphony Orchestra, Washington Opera, Washington Ballet and the American Film Institute.

There are some monuments, of a sort, that get overlooked in Washington because they are a little smaller than the rest. However, the most important artifacts representing the ideals of the American people are on display only at the National Archives. Here, you are able to see and read the original documents that form the basic design of the United States of America. Here, you will find the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution of the United States, and the Bill of Rights, all in one place. It may not sound like a lot at first, until you're standing there realizing what you're looking at.

The home of George Washington, named Mount Vernon, stands on the shores of the Potomac River and is the most scenic tourist attraction in the Washington, D.C. area. This is the best place to sightsee if you are curious about the life of America's first president. The elaborate museum and education center features 25 galleries and theaters depicting the story of George?s life. This historic mansion and surrounding estate is well worth the time spent during your Washington, D.C. tour. After all, they named a city after him.

Of course, you will want to see the Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, the Smithsonian Museums and maybe the White House, depending on who's living there at the time. But, don't forget to investigate the best stuff that lies off the beaten path.