Nowadays, you can ride one of the monument's glass-encased elevators to the top observation deck to enjoy 360-degree views of the city, which invariably impress visitors. Standing just shy of 555 ½ feet, the Washington Monument was the tallest structure in the world at its completion in 1884. Head over to the National Park Service's official Tidal Basin page for additional information.Įven if you're only in town for a short trip, visiting the Washington Monument and the White House – two marble symbols of the U.S. If you're planning a summertime visit, brace yourself for the city's stifling heat with plenty of water. Cyclists can use Capital Bikeshare, which has a few docking stations in the vicinity. You can also take the National Mall bus line of the DC Circulator to the area. If you're relying on public transportation, the easiest way to reach the Tidal Basin is by Metro the closest stops are Smithsonian (on the Blue, Silver and Orange lines) or L'Enfant Plaza (accessible from the Blue, Silver, Orange, Yellow and Green lines). A memorial to Virginia Declaration of Rights author George Mason, also stands nearby. depending on the time of year.Įven if you don't make it to town for the cherry blossoms, you won't want to miss the three major memorials that can be found along the Tidal Basin's shores: the Thomas Jefferson Memorial, the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial and the Martin Luther King Jr. You can pick up a paddle boat every day starting at 10 a.m. Paddleboats are available to rent from spring until fall for $32 per hour for a four-passenger boat. You can follow the path that leads around the basin, but recent visitors recommended testing the waters in a paddleboat. Every spring, the Tidal Basin bursts with color as cherry blossom trees (gifted to the city from Tokyo) bloom into cotton candy-colored tufts, and they attract hordes of visitors. Constructed to use the strong tides of the Potomac River to clear silt from the Washington Channel and to maintain steady water levels in the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pools, it now also serves as the backdrop to some of D.C.'s best-loved sites. before, plan to spend some time along the Tidal Basin, an approximately 107-acre pond encircled by a 2.1-mile loop trail. This water is also pumped into the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.If you've never been to Washington, D.C. This surge back-closes the inlet gates and forces its way out of the basin and into the Washington Channel, scouring its way toward the Anacostia River downstream and eventually rejoining the Potomac below D.C. Twice a day as the tide turns the Tidal Basin is filled with 250 million gallons of water from the Potomac River. Built on fill from the dredging of the Basin in the 1880’s, Jefferson’s Memorial is one of the best spots in the city to take in the full splendor of the cherry blossoms during peak bloom in late March or early April. As you complete the loop around the Tidal Basin you will find yourself standing before one of America’s most iconic monuments, the round dome of the Jefferson Memorial. This beautiful spot is ideal for taking in the brilliant blossoms every spring. Continuing your walk you will come to the artistic FDR memorial, renowned for its use of waterfalls and landscape architecture. Indeed, just down the trail you will see the site of the first plantings of the cherry trees back in 1912. It is lit every year to kick-off the Tidal Basin Cherry Blossoms Festival, which celebrates the friendship between Japan and America. Along the way you will pass the Japanese Lantern, a 350-year old granite lantern whose twin still resides in Tokyo. Walking the trail takes you past countless cultural treasures and beautiful panoramic views of the city skyline and natural areas. Located in the southwest corner of the district, the Basin is part of West Potomac Park and ringed by the Tidal Basin Loop Trail (2.1 miles). by the nation of Japan, a stroll around the Tidal Basin is one of the best ways to take in the city. Home to hundreds of the famed cherry trees gifted to the U.S. Its shores are home to some of D.C.’s most iconic landmarks and monuments including the Jefferson Memorial, the Martin Luther King Memorial, the FDR Memorial, and the site of the first cherry tree planting in West Potomac Park. Occupying more than 100 acres, the 10-foot deep basin is circled by the Tidal Basin Loop. Constructed from landfill in the 1800’s as an offshoot of the Potomac River, the Basin harnesses the power of the tides to flush accumulated silt from the Washington Channel, keeping it navigable. A man-made marvel of natural beauty and ingenuity, the Tidal Basin might be overlooked by many visitors to D.C., but it plays an important role in the history of the District.
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