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Begin at the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial on West Basin Drive. A Tourmobile stop (see Tour Bus Lines) is directly in front of the memorial (parking is limited). The sweeping flow of this memorial carries visitors past water-scapes punctuated by engravings of the words of the president and evocative sculptures of his times.

On the left, leaving the memorial, is the little Japanese pagoda given to the city as a gesture of friendship by the mayor of Yokohama in 1958. Graceful Japanese cherry trees line the Tidal Basin bank beyond. Continue east across Inlet Bridge. About five minutes along the walkway stands the brilliant Jefferson Memorial (see Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial), noted for its delicate design in spite of its size. Looking out from the steps here to the city is a wonderful experience.

Continue around the waterfront, cross Outlet Bridge, and bear to the left to the little boathouse, where you can rent a paddleboat for a unique view of the Tidal Basin (Open Mar–Apr: 10am–5pm; May–Oct: 10am–6pm Adm). If you prefer to stay on dry ground, continue north toward the Washington Monument and cross Maine Avenue leading to Raoul Wallenberg Place. On the right is the US Holocaust Memorial Museum. Before taking in the exhibits, gird yourself with some kosher fare in the Museum Café (see United States Holocaust Memorial Museum). Then spend the afternoon in remembrance of lives tragically lost under the Nazi regime.

The atrium of the Museum of Natural History is six stories high, and the food is also good. Live jazz played on Friday nights (see National Museum of Natural History).

Workers here create and print all US paper currency – 37 million notes a day worth nearly $700 million.

Behind a glass wall in the National Gallery of Art concourse is a man-made waterfall spilling over a stepped cascade. Facing this view is an attractive café with a wide range of hot and cold food.

Ceramic teapots in various colors, styles, and sizes. The most popular are the decorative mini teapots. In the National Museum of Natural History.

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).

One of the many magnificent fabric creations available at these two Oriental museum stores. They also have unusual novelties such as haiku refrigerator magnets. In the Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery (see Art Galleries).

The Lewis and Clark expedition organized by Thomas Jefferson in 1803 was able to follow rivers much of the way, but depended on a compass like this one for guidance. Formerly in the National Museum of American History.

Many kids make their first contact with the study of the natural world through their fascination with dinosaurs. The displays at the National Museum of Natural History should wow them – and there is a stunning new mammal exhibit (see National Museum of Natural History).

The ultimate action figures, plus many genuinely informative as well as fun activities and kits, are found in the TriceraShop here in the National Museum of Natural History.