Like most large cities, there are two distinct parts to Washington, D.C.  Unlike other cities, though, it has two governments running it, two different types of lifestyles, and no one way to help it overcome some of its shortcomings while remaining the most important city in the world.

Still, the history of the city leads up to some of the best known attractions in the world.  The design of the city was created by a French designer to mimic areas of his home country.  It's a strange design in places because many points lead to a center, that being the seats of power.  It's funny that all it takes is a 15 minute walk and you can leave the White House and suddenly feel like you're in parts of a ghetto.

But the White House itself is more spectacular than you can imagine from pictures, and if you're a true American, you feel nothing but awe standing in front of it.  Unfortunately, because of worries of terrorism, you can't drive by it anymore, as there are barricades that have closed down the road to visitors, just as they've done to the Congress building.

If you want to feel real awe, there are three sites you definitely must visit.  One is the Lincoln Memorial.  Just standing next to it can take your breath away, and you feel like Lincoln is watching over you and will protect you, no matter what's going on in your life.  The Washington Memorial is fantastic as well, especially if you decide to walk there at night to see the lights of the tower reflecting into the pool, and if the moon is out it's even better.  And finally, the Jefferson Memorial is a wonder also, once again better if you can view it at night, because lit up it's a fantastic site to behold.

Of course, if you're looking for one place which will keep you in D.C. for a week if you try to take it all in, you don't have to go any further than the Smithsonian Institute.  Although it's actually a group of 19 museums throughout the country, 14 of those museums are located through the city.  The number one museum is the National Museum of Natural History, which has over 121 million individual items and multiple exhibits, including:

• African Voices
• Butterflies + Plants: Partners In Evolution
• Hall of Geology, Gems, and Minerals
• Osteology: Hall of Bones
• The Hall of Human Origins,
• The National Collection of Amphibians and Reptiles
• The National Gem and Mineral Collection
• The O. Orkin Insect Zoo
• The Sant Ocean Hall
• Western Cultures Hall

There's plenty more to see and do in Washington D.C., and you can even make an appointment to visit your own representatives and senators if you're interested in doing so.  Every American should visit Washington D.C. at least once in their lives.