Drive through History: George Washington Memorial Parkway

Next up, head to Fort Hunt Park to see the abandoned ruins of the military fort that defended the Potomac during the Spanish American War. Today you can wander around the ramparts and batteries at this historic Fort. During the Great Depression, it served as a Civilian Conservation Corps Camp, and during WWII, it served as a training area where soldiers learned how to interrogate prisoners and escape from enemy prison camps, and where intelligence officers tried to decipher German documents during the war.

Pay your respects to the fallen at Arlington National Cemetery. This 624-acre memorial is the final resting place for many of America's members of the military and their relatives. The military cemetery is also home to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers. If you can manage it, try to plan your trip here so you can watch the changing of the guard. It's an incredibly moving experience.

Next is the Netherlands Carillon, which is a massive steel tower with 50 bells representing the Dutch’s gratitude to America for the country’s aid during WWII. The carillon is set in a scenic park featuring flower beds throughout, as well as sculpted lions. It’s a great place for a picnic, and provides amazing views of D.C.

From there, head to Arlington House, also known as the Lee-Custis Mansion. This decadent mansion, and former slave labor plantation, it’s most well-known for what happened when he left it in 1861. The Arlington House became a Union army facility after the Lee family left at the start of the Civil War. Then in 1863, the property became Freedman’s Village, where a community of freed slaves made their home.

So far, you’ve been driving through history, and walking through memorials and historic homes, so how about actually living history? Try your hand as an eighteenth-century farmer. The Claude Moore Colonial Farm at Turkey Run is a living history museum, depicting what life was like for low-income farm families just before the Revolutionary War. Get ready to become completely absorbed in authentic details of the time.