Finally, walk or hop the bus to the Tidal Basin , ringed by hundreds of cherry trees. Inviting waterfalls and ponds make this a great place to relax. Mei Xiang and Tian Tian made their public debut in January 2001, and the playful pair is the city's biggest bipartisan hit. Enjoy the scenery in this woodsy corner of Rock Creek Park . An alternative is to relax on a 90-minute guided tour around the city on the Duck, the amphibious tourmobile that actually drives into the Potomac River.
Kids love it.
Ducks depart hourly from Union Station. You'll find the morning will slip by quickly, so go ahead and eat lunch here. Pick up your souvenir freeze-dried ice cream in the gift shop. Simply enter the doors under the East Front steps. In this domed hall you'll see frescoes and statues, and huge oil paintings depicting American history.