by Linda Finnegan

Created on: September 19, 2010   Last Updated: September 28, 2010

Fall is a wonderful time to visit the Washington, DC area. Not only can visitors enjoy the pleasant weather and beautiful fall foliage of the city, but they can take advantage of numerous festivals, museum programs and cultural events that are held in the fall each year.

The National Mall, the monuments, and other public areas are places to start any fall walking tour in Washington, DC. The famous cherry trees of the National Mall and the Tidal Basin put on a spectacular fall leaf display. Other good places to visit are Rock Creek Park and the National Arboretum. Special note should be taken of the Arboretum’s dogwoods, willows, and special collections. This area of Washington, DC is rife with museum and cultural points of interest too.

Additionally, the National Book Festival is held on the National Mall every September. The festival celebrates reading and many award-winning authors, illustrators, and poets attend and talk about their work. Pavilions containing books in every genre are available for browsers. Library representatives from every state share information and resources about library programs in their state and their local authors. It is a great way to enjoy the city and a truly one of a kind festival.

Several neighborhoods boast festivals within the city in September too. The Adams Morgan Day Festival features international food, music, cultural demonstrations and crafts set in the historic neighborhood. The Penn Quarter Arts on Foot Festival features theater productions, workshops, art exhibits, demonstrations, films, concerts, children’s activities and more. They are great opportunities to experience the cultural variety of the nation’s Capital.

Traveling up and down the Potomac is another popular way to see the beautiful fall sights. River Cruises leave from Washington Harbor in Georgetown and travel down the river. Travelers can see all the sights of the Capital framed in fall colors. These cruises are inexpensive and frequent. Visitors can also rent kayaks and canoes in front of Kennedy Center and explore the river and the coves of Theodore Roosevelt Island. The Island boasts 2.5 miles of hiking trails through a woodland refuge. Theodore Roosevelt Island can also be accessed from the George Washington Memorial Parkway in Virginia.

Traveling south to Alexandria and Mt. Vernon, Virginia, sightseers can visit the historic buildings and cobblestone streets of the area dressed in its fall glory. Mount Vernon is the home of

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