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A visit to this solemn burial ground brings conflicting emotions – pride in the determination of defenders of freedom, pleasure in the presence of its great beauty, but dismay at the loss of so many lives marked by the arrays of headstones (see Arlington National Cemetery).

Locally, Bethesda is best known for its enormous quantity and range of restaurants, most of them clustered into a lively downtown area that still retains the atmosphere of a traditional town center. The high-end employment offered by Bethesda’s world-renowned biotechnology industry, however, has also generated a spirited music, performance, and arts scene catering to its cultured and wealthy residents. The city is especially strong on public art. Its streets and parks spotlight distinguished contemporary works in every style, by way of sculpture and stunning painted murals.

Like so many features of the area, the C&O Canal grew from a dream of George Washington’s as a gateway to commerce with the US lands to the west (“west” meaning Ohio at the time). Coal, flour, fur, timber, whiskey, iron ore, and other goods traveled on barges, towed by mules walking along canalside paths. The canal’s commercial days are over, but its entire length from Georgetown to Maryland has been turned into one of the most beloved national parks. Visitors can experience the beauty and serenity of the canal by walking about a block south from M Street, NW and turning west onto the towpath. The National Park Service Visitor Center for the C&O has terrific guidance for enjoying the canal. Guided tours and seasonal mule-powered barge rides on the canal are offered.

Animations, environmental and nature films, and child’s-eye views of life are compiled into lively shows the right length for children’s attention spans (see National Gallery of Art).

Chinese culture abounds here, with an array of restaurants and shops. A Chinese arch was funded by Beijing and constructed in 1986, with seven pagoda-style roofs ornamented with 300 dragons.

Assateague Island is famed for its wild ponies. The pony swim and auction, held on the last Wednesday and Thursday of July, is a major attraction. The Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge is paradise for bird-watchers and nature buffs. The local seafood is first-rate, and the ice cream made here is justifiably famous.