Things to do / Travel Guide
Our nation's capital; the seat of our government - the Capital region is a major hub of U.S. defense, administration, and finance. Visitors are welcome to tour Washington DC area facilities for free, courtesy of your Federal tax dollars. And if you're heading north to Baltimore or Gettysburg you'll enjoy seeing pretzels and Maryland-themed candy being made.
Behind-the-scenes and factory tours are typically family-friendly activities good for a short and interesting diversion from a region's mainstream tourist activities. Generally inexpensive, visitors are often given free tastes and samples, like at Moore's Candies in Baltimore, or pretzels at Snyder's of Hanover, in Pennsylvania. Note that some tours have irregular hours and admission restrictions. Click on the individual icons for more practical information.
Behind-the-Scenes Tours in the Washington DC Area
Millions of dollars await you at the Bureau of Printing and Engraving; well, not exactly. But you can get a behind-the-scenes look at how the money you use every day is produced - from plain white paper into wallet-ready bills. One of the tour's highlights is seeing a $1 million cube of $10 sheets stacked one atop the other. As this tour is one of the most popular in the region, you should plan accordingly to ensure spots for yourself and your travel partners.
Tour the five branches of the U.S. armed forces at the Pentagon, the world's largest office building, located in Arlington, Virginia. A uniformed serviceperson will guide you through the building and test your knowledge about the Air Force, Coast Guard, Army, Navy, and Marines. Due to security concerns it is advisable to make tour arrangements in advance.
The Capitol Building is the home of the legislative branch of the U.S. government, and visitors to the site can tour both chambers of Congress, the Senate and the House of Representatives. Connecting them is the Rotunda, atop which sits the building's famous dome, within which sits the original draft of the U.S. Constitution, on display for all to see. In addition, with some advanced planning, your Congressman can arrange a personalized tour, including admission to the viewing galleries. When planning your visit, make sure Congress is in session.
Behind-the-Scenes and Factory Tours in Washington D.C. and Baltimore, Maryland
Behind-Scenes-Factory-Tours
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