SINCE 1970, Trailfinders has been bringing people and adventures together, and it is now offering you the chance to experience Washington DC in all its glory – for free.
The tailor-made global travel specialist is running a competition where the lucky winner will enjoy the delights of the US capital on an unforgettable holiday.
Imagine yourself immersed in America’s history, discovering its many cultural highlights or maybe even taking a paddle in the Potomac River.
This prize could give you all that and more: a four-night stay in a four-star hotel, with a Washington DC Unveiled City Tour to boot. For two. Flights included. All you have to do is pack. Click here to enter this fantastic competition.
So what makes Washington DC so special? The answer? It is one of a kind: a major city crammed with free things to see and do, and family-friendly and affordable too.
Truth be told, you could plan an entire week there and not have to dip into your pockets for anything besides your accommodation, transport and food.
For an introduction to the city, take a tour of the National Mall. This landscaped park with monuments, gardens, fountains and pools – stretching almost two miles from the Lincoln Memorial to the Capitol Building – is also known as “America’s front yard”.
It’s the place where Dr Martin Luther King’s “I have a dream” speech still echoes – and the country gathers to remember important days.
“With more than 40 complimentary attractions, if ‘free’ were a country, DC would be its capital”
The White House, free museums, Michelin dining, even Wayne Rooney’s football club… the US capital is a visitor’s dream – and you could win a trip for two to see for yourself
Lining this great green rectangle are world-class museums and the National Gallery of Art, including the outdoor Sculpture Garden. And each of them is free to visit. Because if “free” were a country, DC would be its capital.
With more than 40 complimentary attractions – including the White House, Capitol Building, Library of Congress, 16 Smithsonian museums, US Botanic Garden and the National Zoo – Washington puts on a sensational show for visitors.
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Be sure to check the listings too, as many of these museums put on after-hours events – concerts, lectures, even happy hours – and they tend to be more relaxed and intimate, ideal for couples.
A guided tour may be more your thing – tour operator DC by Foot offers a variety of “name your own fee” and ticketed walks.
Get inspired ... The National Gallery of Art’s permanent collection features over 150,000 sculptures, photographs and other works of art
WASHINGTON
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The final frontier ... Planet Word is the world’s first voice-activated museum
Grand designs ... The Thomas Jefferson Memorial is dedicated to the third US president
Rhythm of the city ... street art pays tribute to go-go, DC's unique musical style
Old-world charm ... Pair oysters with the city’s official drink, a gin rickey, at Old Ebbitt Grill
Treat stop ... Indulge in Baked by Yael’s cake pops
Take a hike ... Rock Creek Park is filled with trails and outdoorsy activities for all ages
“It’s hard to find somewhere to eat and drink that doesn’t come with a fabulous view – rooftop bars and eateries are big in DC”
Land of the free ... All tours of the White House are complimentary
The scope of the museums alone is incredible, covering everything from the space race and spycraft to African and Native American art and culture.
And DC’s newest addition, the spectacular Planet Word, is the world’s first voice-activated museum, with lots of interactive exhibits and immersive experiences that bring language to life in unexpected ways.
Past times ... Head across Key Bridge to hunt the ghosts of Georgetown in the city’s oldest neighbourhood
Learn about the history of U Street’s “Black Broadway”, the hub of cultural life for African-Americans between the wars; take a moonlit stroll among the Mall’s monuments; or get to know the ghosts of Georgetown, Washington’s oldest neighbourhood.
Bargain Big Bus tours are ideal for young families who want to save on shoe leather, and Unlimited Biking’s itineraries are popular with romantics (especially the National Cherry Blossom Festival route in March and April).
Though Downtown has so much going for it, exploring further will reward you. DC is home to some fascinating neighbourhoods.
Shaw is one of the city’s hippest enclaves with craft cocktail bars, indie clothing boutiques, global restaurants and, at Blagden Alley, incredible street art.
The Capitol Hill Historic District boasts plenty of green space, and at its centre is Eastern Market, which is celebrating its 150th birthday this year.
On weekends, this community hub becomes even more bustling with musicians busking, local farmers’ stalls laden with seasonal produce, and artists and makers selling paintings, ceramics, jewellery, you name it – pick up a one-of-a-kind keepsake and the makings of a picnic.
But dining out – and wetting your whistle – doesn’t have to hurt your wallet. Among the restaurants providing great value for money are Farmers Fishers Bakers, for brunch or family dinners on the banks of the Potomac River; and the Old Ebbitt Grill, for old-world charm, delicious oysters and a gin rickey (the city’s official drink).
Kids love Baked by Yael, across the street from the National Zoo, especially its cake pops (cakes on sticks like lollipops); and the Pavilion Café is great for a light, healthy lunch in the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden.
In fact, it’s hard to find somewhere to eat and drink that doesn’t come with a fabulous view. Rooftop bars and eateries are big in DC thanks to a law passed over a hundred years ago that states no city building can be over 13 storeys tall.
Of course, if you want to splash some cash, there are plenty of things to do. You could cheer on the DC United football team, managed by Wayne Rooney (who’s hoping for a much better season than their last one), catch a Broadway show at The National Theatre or eat at one of the city’s 59 Michelin Guide restaurants.
And if the excitements of the city get a bit too much, Rock Creek Park has your back.
Just three miles north of the National Mall, the park offers a nature centre, a bird-watching deck, 32 miles of trails and a planetarium that puts on free shows for kids (check listings and arrive early).
Is there anything that DC doesn’t have?
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Click here to enter the competition