A short get-away to Washington D.C. doesn't have to be a tease. With a little planning and creative foresight it can be a unforgettable vacation experience.

Visiting Washington D.C., with its wide array of tourist destinations, can intimidate even the most seasoned of travelers, and can seem impossible to absorb in three days or less. Maximize the user-friendly vibe and landscape and you will not find yourself in the “we can always comeback” club.

The White House

1600 Pennsylvania Avenue

Self guided tours from 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday

Closed on federal holidays

Free Admission

The home of every president but George Washington, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue is a no-brainer choice for the D.C. explorer. Whether its marveling at the graceful elegance of the Green Room, in which Thomas Jefferson dined, or just the irony of Hillary’s first- lady portrait this is a first stop full of history. Always free, tours can be requested through your congressional representative, up to six months in advance.

The National Archive

700 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

Hours: 10am to 7pm in Spring and Summer(March 15-Labor day)

10am to 5:30pm in Fall and Winter(Day after Labor day- March 14)

Closed on federal holidays

Free Admission

The Archives, located on Constitution Avenue between 7th and 9th streets, contain the original copies of the Declaration of Independence, Constitution, Bill Of Rights. You can also view the Magna Carta once owned by former presidential hopeful, Ross Perot. Admission is free.

Be sure to see the census report that list a young Louisa May Alcott, and the Elis Island record for Leslie Hope, who somewhere along the road to fame would change his name to Bob. Informative guides and interactive exhibits rich in history mean a whole afternoon can be spent within the walls.

The National Gallery

4th and Constitution Avenue NW

Hours: Monday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Closed on December 25 and January 1

Free Admission

This national smorgasbord is an art lover’s delight with works from Da Vinci to Vermeer. Its massive size and sheer magnitude makes it an ill-planned venture for the time conscience traveler. Feeling ambitious? Pick up the Less Than an Hour guide from the lobby. Alternatively, just have lunch in its Cascade Café located inside between the East building and the West building of the museum. The lighting is superb and the cascading waterfall on the north end trumps the ambience of any deli in town.

Traditional fare like chicken tenders and pizza are offered alongside Black Forest ham with bel paese cheese and apple slaw on pumpernickel meaning that children can be satisfied without compromising the taste of the parents. Most meals range around ten dollars and the antipasto bar is only sixty–five cents an ounce. Alcoholic beverages range from Bud-Light to Adelsheim Pinot Gris. Espresso is also available.

When you have your fill, be sure to meander to the museum bookstore where topics such as technique, Northern Baroque and decorative arts sum up extensive collections of books for purchase. The Young Artist bookstore offers titles like When Pigasso met Mootsie, by Nina Laden. The how-to section covers sun prints to fisheye camera kits.

Be sure to see the Lincoln Memorial and stand on the square where Martin Luther King gave his famous I have a Dream speech. Visit the Museum of Natural History and marvel at the Hope Diamond. Make Washington D.C. your next choice for family get-away or three-day weekend excursion.