A befitting tribute to the many trials and tribulations that America has suffered and grown from are the varied monuments of Washington. Lovers of history, or those that just want to connect themselves more to their country, will enjoy wandering around the National Mall and the many varied museums and monuments that are nearby to it. A trip to Washington brings forward all the pageantry and history that the United States has to offer.

To see these monuments in person, know what you need before you travel. For instance, certain European citizens may require a visum usa-ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization).  Ready to explore American history? A few of the memorials in the nation’s capital include.

Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial 

Ohio Drive SW | Washington DC

 The Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial is Washington’s largest memorial. Inside are statues of Franklin himself, Eleanor Roosevelt, Franklin’s trusted Scottish Terrier Fala, reflecting pools, waterfalls, and a line of unemployed Americans. Of course the latter, signified all that Roosevelt did, with his new deal, to help disadvantaged Americans and form the nation’s first welfare system.  Starting from the West side of the memorial visitors are taken through a retrospective of FDR’s time within the White House. Coming to see this FDR memorial will certainly give a greater appreciate of this great man and the times that he lived in.

 United States Holocaust Memorial Museum 

100 Raoul Wallenberg Plaza SW | Washington DC

A very sobering memorial and museum visitors will have to be in the right frame of mind to take in Holocaust Memorial Museum’s harrowing exhibits and reminders of World War II atrocities. Exhibits in the museum include Hitler’s Rise to Power, the horrors of the Final Solution, and examples of anti Semitic propaganda. A unique element of the museum is that all visitors are given an identification card of a real person who experienced the holocaust when they enter. Throughout visitors stay at the memorial they are given updates as to the well being of the person whose card they hold. The Holocaust museum is free and is located at the southern tip of the national mall.

Jefferson Memorial 

South of the Washington Monument on Ohio Dr. | Washington

One of America’s most beloved presidents was the southern gentle man and intellectual president Thomas Jefferson. One of the founding father’s Jefferson was known for his role as an American Revolutionary leader and one of the nation’s first presidents. His memorial is situated in the extremely picturesque Tidal Basin – which especially during the cherry blossom season is lovely. There is an exhibit nearby to the memorial that allows visitors to learn more about Thomas Jefferson’s life.

Washington D.C. is full of varied things to do. Not just a city full of iconic monuments, there are also museums, festivals, restaurants and bars that make a trip to Washington fun for everyone. One of the special times of year to visit Washington is the yearly Cherry Blossom Festival. Right at the high season of their growth the city is filled with lovely cherry blossom trees which create a great aesthetic. A few things to see and do in Washington include.

National Mall (The Mall) 

Perhaps the main focal point for visitors to Washington is to visit the National Mall. Stretching out for more than 5 miles, the mall – as its often called – is a museum and tree lined grassy expanse that reaches from the U.S. Capitol Building to the Lincoln Memorial. If you have time walk along the mall during the day, stopping in the varied museums while they are open, and the evening where you can enjoy the sites lit up by lamplight.  As it is a long walk be sure to wear comfortable shoes.

National Cherry Blossom Festival 

As March turns into April a spring tradition in Washington is the National Cherry Blossom Festival. Gifted from Tokyo to DC the Tidal Basin Cherry Blossom trees each year bloom into wondrous cotton candy like leafs and tufts. Enjoy these trees by walking along the Tidal Basin; another great way to enjoy the Cherry Blossom Trees is to view them from the basin river on a paddle boat or one of the boat cruises available.  Other events associated with the festival include a 10 Kilometer fun run, concerts, food, and fireworks. A great thing about the Cherry Blossom Trees is that they are free to view and almost always yield a great picture.

Washington Monument 

Washington DC, DC 20013 | Official website

One of the iconic in Washington is the 555 foot tall obelisk that is the Washington Monument. At the time of its completion, back in 1884, the Washington Monument was the tallest structure in the world. Free to visit, travelers can ride an elevator up to the top of the monument to enjoy sweeping, panoramic views over the city. For a small fee travelers can choose to set a time they visit online to avoid standing in long queues. For many just snapping a photo of the monument will suffice rather than battling the lines.

We’ve all been there – getting home from a holiday and swearing that if we were to do it all over again, we would give ourselves more time and not be so rushed. Our next trip will be different because we’ve learned our lesson and won’t make the same mistakes again. How many of us though actually make those changes when the time comes? Are the unavoidable

The truth is some patterns are easy to break if you just take some time to get prepared, which means doing your research and not leaving things until the 11th hour. It doesn’t matter if you’re planning on travelling for a short business trip or for a month long jaunt all over the planet, seeing some of Britain’s famous sights or getting off the island, good planning goes a long way to ensuring you have everything you need. Thankfully there are airports out there that have the needs of the traveller in mind with a variety of options tailored to a wide range of needs.

Flying out of London Heathrow can be a breeze if you take the time to plan out a well thought out route, which may include a hotel stay nearby and a place to park your car. Shuttles and trains are all well and good for people coming from central locations, but for those not on the direct routes, you still can’t beat the park and fly.

Even still, here are a few things to keep in mind when getting ready for your next flight!

Book in Advance

Hotels, like flights, book up quickly and it really is a first come first served situation. Some people can’t help last minute travel if they just found out about it, but if you have weeks or even months to get things sorted, it never hurts to book in advance. Heathrow is a big airport with its many terminals spread out so be sure to keep in mind the Heathrow terminal hotel and parking options that correspond to your itinerary.

Nobody wants this!

Avoid the Rush

As far as preparedness goes, nothing beats being at the terminal well in advance of your flight. You can ensure this is the case by spending the night at one of the nearby hotels instead of waking at home and running into rush hour traffic and the gridlock that accompanies it. This way you get to the terminal well in advance, can check in at your leisure and spend more time getting excited for your departure.

Don’t Forget the Return!

So many people focus on getting away that they forget about their inevitable return – which can be a pain in its own right. Ensuring your car is taken care of in the proper parking lot, nearby and easily accessible, means you can get back home without issue. Getting in too late and don’t feel like driving? Be sure to have a hotel room booked upon your return – it’s like a mini vacation in itself!