The National Mall
The long lawn that runs between the Jefferson Memorial on the south to the Lincoln Memorial on the west and to the Capitol on the east is really a giant park, which is why the National Park Service oversees it. More than just grass, the Mall is lined by 2,000 American elms and the famous 3,000 cherry trees.
If you visit Washington D.C. in the spring or early summer, don't miss the Twilight Tattoo on the Jefferson Memorial Grounds every Wednesday at 7
At the turn of the last century, the area was a railway yard, but construction of the Smithsonian museums turned it into the public space it is today. Sometimes called the nation's backyard, the Mall is a wonderful public space for national expressions of remembrance, observance, and protest. In the summer months, free “Screen on the Green” screenings of classic movies are shown Monday nights at sunset, but people start staking out their territory at 5
The Smithsonian Carousel is a nineteenth-century merry-go-round that features beautiful horses for kids to ride when the weather is nice. It may remind you of the many merry-go-rounds in Paris. The carousel is located across the street from the Arts and Industries Building on the Mall. Kids can take a ride for $2 daily from 10
The Mall is accessible from Smithsonian or L'Enfant Plaza Metro stations on the Orange or Blue Line, or the Archives-Navy Memorial Metro station on the Yellow or Green Line.
