Visitor Information in Washington, D.C.

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Visitor Information

It's a good idea to gather information about the city before your trip, as the D.C. Visitor Information Center has a disinterested staff and a lackluster collection of brochures. The center is inconveniently located in the Ronald Reagan International Trade Center, a government office building that you can enter only after flashing your ID and passing through a metal detector.

The Washington, DC Convention and Tourism Corporation's free, 120-page publication, titled The Official Visitors' Guide, is full of sightseeing tips, maps, and contacts. You can order a copy online or by phone, or pick one up in their office. For information about getting around the city, check out the Metro and bus-system guide published by the WMTA.

The most popular sights in D.C. are run by the National Park Service or the Smithsonian. The "Dial-A-Park" and "Dial-a-Museum" lines have recorded information about locations and hours of operation.

Events & Attractions

National Park Service (202/619-7275 "Dial-a-Park" park information. www.nps.gov). Smithsonian (202/357-2700; 202/357-2020 "Dial-a-Museum," 202/357-1729 TDD. www.si.edu). White House Visitor Center (Dept. of Commerce:, 1450 S. Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC, 20230. 202/208-1631. www.nps.gov/whho).

Tourist Information

D.C. Visitor Information Center (1300 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC, 20004. 202/328-4748. www.dcvisit.com). Washington, DC Convention and Tourism Corporation (901 7th St. NW, 4th fl., Washington, DC, 20001. 202/789-7000 or 800/422-8644. www.washington.org). Washington MTA (202/637-7000. www.wmata.com).

State Information

State of Maryland (Office of Tourist Development, 217 E. Redwood St., 9th fl., Baltimore, MD, 21202. 410/767-3400 or 800/634-7386. www.mdisfun.org). Virginia Tourism Corporation (Headquarters:, 901 E. Byrd St., Richmond, VA, 23219. 804/786-2051 or 800/847-4882. www.virginia.org. Walk-in office, 1629 K St. NW, Washington, DC, 20006. 202/872-0523 or 800/934-9184).