Washington, D.C. lends itself to several great themes. A theme helps your group decide what attractions to visit. They’re a great choice for student groups, families, and military reunions. This amazing city has so much to offer in historical sights, monuments, and museums. It helps to consider your group’s specific interests as you choose between them, and it’s easy to find several great attractions within a given theme. Here are a few theme tours to give you an idea of the possibilities.
Law and Order
Washington, D.C. has a ton to offer in this theme! The National Museum of Crime and Punishment is a favorite attraction for groups and a great choice for this theme. The International Spy Museum is a fun choice for student groups with interactive displays on all things espionage. Of course you’ll want to consider The Supreme Court. Tours are available daily and groups can sit in on proceedings when Court is in session or participate in lectures otherwise. The National Law Enforcement Museum and Memorial add another layer to the fascinating experience of a tour in law and order.
Black History
Black history tours are some of the most popular educational travel choices in the nation. Many cities offer a large number of attractions perfect for the theme, and Washington, D.C. is no exception. The Frederick Douglas National Historic Site honors one of America’s first great black speakers and educates groups on the struggle of African-Americans through the 1800s. The African-American Civil War Museum and Memorial is one of the only attractions to shine a light on this unique group of soldiers. Black history tours should include Lincoln Park, the Anacostia Museum and Center for African American History and Culture, and the Mary McLeod Bethune House, which is the historical setting for one of America’s key civil rights activists. The Smithsonian’s Museum of African Art is a thrilling addition to this tour and even attractions like Mt. Vernon offer insights into black history in America, including a beautiful memorial to American slaves.
Military Reunions
If you’re a World War II veteran, you simply have to get to Washington, D.C. to visit the breathtaking World War II Memorial. This is one of the newest of the D.C. memorials, and it’s beautiful in every detail as well as its refreshing whole. Washington, D.C. has a lot to offer military groups and has plenty of accommodations suitable for large reunions. Other war memorials on the National Mall are equally moving and include the Korean War Memorial, Vietnam War Memorial, and the US Marine Corps War Memorial, otherwise known as the monument to the Battle of Iwo Jima. These, plus hundreds of other inspiring and powerful D.C. sights, can help create an unforgettable reunion for any military group.
Movies and the Arts
How about a tour of D.C. that highlights T.V. and movie locations from all your favorite shows and films on law, order, and espionage? Pulling from popular culture is a great way to familiarize yourself with an unfamiliar city. You can even throw in some treasure-hunting with an underground tour at Mt. Vernon that highlights locations from the popular National Treasure films. If pop culture interests your group, you’ll love the exhibits at the Smithsonian’s Museum of American History. Art museums abound in DC as well from American Art to African Art and modern and contemporary pieces in The National Gallery of Art.
Civics and Government
Perhaps this is the most obvious, but there’s no better choice than Washington, D.C. for an up close and personal education on government. Tour the White House and Capitol Hill. Round out your study of the three branches of government with a lecture in The Supreme Court or a peek at its proceedings. You can even set up a private meeting with your group’s member of Congress. You’ll want to have plenty of advanced planning for these group travel tours, so book now or call a travel coordinator to get you started!