Spring is Washington, D.C.'s best season! Come see Washington's famous cherry blossoms, and the National Mall and its monuments. Did you know that most of the Mall used to be part of the Potomac River? Do you know about the controversy surrounding the design of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial? On the National Mall & Monuments tour, you'll hear the answers to these questions and see the
Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial, the World War II Memorial, the Korean War Memorial, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and a lot more.

You can also explore the White House to the Capitol on America's Main Street, Pennsylvania Avenue. You'll hear about a trial of Nazi spies and why the Oval Office is shaped that way. You can also see some well-known (and not so well-known) Civil War sites in Washington, including where John Wilkes Booth met with his co-conspirators and the site of a stop on the Underground Railroad.



No matter how long your stay is, there's more to see in D.C. than you'll have time for. Seeing just the Smithsonian museums around the Mall could take you days, and add in time for a visit to Arlington National Cemetery or the White House, and you've got a great trip to Washington.

Are you planning on being in Rome in April?

Plan your trip ahead of time.
Every year numerous people travel to the Vatican to partake in the Easter celebrations presided over by the Pope. The celebrations commence with the Blessing of the Palms, Procession and Mass on Palm Sunday in Saint Peter's Square and continue throughout the week and into the weekend. Good Friday begins with A Celebration of the Lord's Passion in the Vatican Basilica, followed by Way of the Cross in the Colosseum. Holy Saturday marks the inception of the Easter Vigil in the Holy Night at the Vatican Basilica, and finally, on Easter Sunday, thousands of faithfuls go to Saint Peter's Square for Mass, which Holy Father Benedict XVI now presides.

Although this is very religious time and some of Rome may be hibernating, there is still much you can experience off the beaten trail. If the Vatican and Colosseum are too crowded for your liking during this time, you can venture over to the Spanish Steps and Trevi Fountain, and take in more of the backstreet markets Rome has to offer. If you want to get out of the city, take a trip just outside of Rome and visit Assisi. You can take a tour, in either English or Italian, of both the Upper and Lower Basilicas, and hear the entire Giotto fresco cycle depicting the Life and Miracles of St. Francis.

So when you aren't taking in the beautiful Easter celebrations, explore a bit, even if you venture beyond Rome's borders. For other travel and tour ideas within Rome or Italy, visit Tourcaster.