Key Tips for visiting the US Capitol

Hi all, This is part one of two on traveling to Washington D.C. - While the second post will make some sight seeing,restaurant, and going out suggestions - this portion will merely provide you with some super useful advice to avoid disappointment. I hope it helps!  

The White House : Going on a tour of the White House can be a fun and unique experience (last time I checked you cannot meander through many residences of State leaders. To do this however requires a great deal of forward planning. You need at least a month if not two during the off season to request a tour and if you have not done so for this summer already then you pretty much need to resign yourself to seeing the outside only. The ONLY way to get a tour of the White House is to ask a Member of Congress to submit a request for you. Fun fact it does not have to be your district's member. So if you bleed blue and live in a super conservative area and never want to ever ask anything of a Republican you don't have to (yay). If you are a foreign national you need to get in touch with your Embassy in DC. Check out the website for more detailed information on what you will need to submit: I cannot stress enough however that you really ought to do this the second you know you will be in DC and want to see the White House, otherwise you might be disappointed.  

The Capitol : The Capitol is slightly easier to visit but still requires forward planning. Currently there are two ways to see the Capitol, either through an official tour with a Red Jacket Capitol Staff Member or through the office of your Representative (as a Hill intern I was given tour training, you kind of get a crap shoot with staff some are really good and some not so much). If you want to do it through the Capitol CVC you go to this website and request a tour . For requesting through your Rep you can use the two links on the CVC website should you know who your Rep is if not see here for House of Representatives or here for your Senator The more advanced planning you can give (especially in the summer) the better. Having never attempted to get day of tickets I cannot comment on how far in advance you ought to book but I would give yourself at least a week.  

Super Important: They are extremely restrictive about what you are able to take into the Capitol. There is absolutely no food or drink allowed what-so-ever. If you have an ill member of your family or a tiny baby you really must get in touch with the CVC in advance to try and get special clearance. Same is to be said of medicines administered by needles or anything else that could be problematic. No large bookbags or anything of the sort are allowed so also plan accordingly when packing for your day out. I believe there are also wheel chair type restrictions (not sure if you can use your own) so if anyone in your group has special needs of any kind it is a good idea to call and find out what you ought to do!

 The Capitol Dome : This is part of a special tour not included on a standard Capitol tour, I work on the Hill and I still have not figured out how to get one of these, when I do I will let you know!  

The Library of Congress : This is not nearly as in demand so there are no special recommendations for guaranteeing a tour here. As for other major monuments: Supreme Court, Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial - there are no guided tours so piddle around as you wish.

Washington Monument : If you are coming to DC this summer the Monument is sadly still closed :( There has not been any recent indication on when it will open again but you probably do not want to be trapped in a tiny tiny column in the Washington swamp heat anyway!

These snippets are the most important things to know in advance of your visit to Washington DC - there is a ton you can do day of without a lot of planning but if this is on your list it is important to prepare in advance!