National Mall, Washington

Part of the original design for the federal city, this massive open space park stretches from the US Capitol to the Lincoln Memorial and around the Tidal Basin to the Jefferson Memorial. It is also where the museums of the Smithsonian, the Vietnam Memorial, the Reflecting Pool and the famous Washington Monument are located. It was intended to be a place to remember American heroes, to celebrate freedom and to be a forum to exercise freedom in the form of protests and rallies. Numerous festivals and concerts take place on the lawn throughout the year. A gravel path encircles the Mall and is a great place for a sightseeing run or walk. Watch for Senators. Certainly any visit to Washington DC should start here on the Mall.