Get Off the Beaten Path in Washington,D.C.

The Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument, and Capitol are all top places to visit in Washington, D.C. Most tourists start with those well-known destinations. Does your family like to find hidden treasures, though? Well, as part of your bus tour, you can go off the beaten path for some unusual activities and sites. Consider some of the following ideas for your D.C. tour.

President Lincoln's Cottage

President Lincoln had a summer house located on the grounds of the Soldiers' Retirement Home. He and his family lived there for 13 months between 1862 and 1864. The cottage is largely empty, but audio recordings and video displays create a sense of Lincoln and his time there. Next door is a small museum with Civil War displays and different exhibits related to Lincoln's policies and life.

National Museum of Health and Medicine

The U.S. military runs a museum that dates back to the Civil War. Its inception was as a military surgical and medical research center. They later turned their focus to studying infectious diseases. They actually discovered the cause of yellow fever at the center. Now a museum, you can see exhibits related to military medicine in history as well as general medical pathology in the military.

Embassy Row

As the name suggests, Embassy Row is the location of foreign embassies in Washington, D.C. Embassy Row is part of Massachusetts Avenue NW, and it consists of several elaborate mansions that now serve as embassies. You can ride up the avenue in your tour bus or get out for a stroll. In May, you can participate in special events hosted by 70 of the embassies.

Franciscan Monastery of the Holy Land in America

Washington, D.C. is home to the American chapter of the Franciscan friars. The Franciscan Monastery of the Holy Land in America is located on 45 acres of wooded land in Northeast D.C. The monastery contains replicas of churches, gardens, and shrines found in the Holy Land. Belowground is a recreation of the Roman catacombs. You can take a guided tour of the monastery.

Spanish Steps

You may think you're in Italy if your next stop is the Spanish Steps in the Dupont Circle Neighborhood. The steps are located on 22nd Street. The City Beautiful movement inspired the steps, which accommodate a steep level difference between two streets. The area is a popular picnic spot. It's also ideal as a location for snapping photos.

Anacostia Neighborhood

A charming neighborhood to visit is Anacostia, which is just over the 11th Street Bridge, which is famous for being John Wilkes Booth's escape route after assassinating Lincoln. You can visit Cedar Hill, which was Frederick Douglass' home. An unusual site is the Big Chair, which is 19 feet tall. It's no longer the largest chair in the world but is still a cool site for taking pictures.

Butler's Orchard

If you like outdoors-related activities, consider a trip to Butler's Orchard. Located in Germantown. Butler's Orchard affords you the opportunity to pick your own fruit when it's in season. Fruit is available about three seasons out of the year. However, Butler's Orchard also has activities during the wintertime. You can also tour Germantown in your bus.

Washington National Cathedral

The Washington National Cathedral is a house of worship for the Episcopal Church. It's a relatively modern building built in the 20th century, but it looks like Gothic style churches in Europe. It also features gargoyles. A very non-traditional aspect of the cathedral is that some of the gargoyles are modern - you can find one that looks like a hippie and another that resembles Darth Vader.

Make your trip to Washington, D.C., unique by getting off the beaten path. Talk to the travel experts at Jean's Bus Service, Inc. , for more ideas or to book the tour bus.