I've arranged to take a tour of the Washington Monument/White House. Where can I store my bags/ camera while I take the tour?

The White House firmly restricts items that visitors can bring with them during their tour. If it's not convenient for you to store your bags at your hotel or in your car, here are some suggestions:

If you're touring after 10 a.m., you can store your bags in complimentary bag check facilities at the National Gallery of Art on Constitution Avenue between 3rd and 7th Streets (no items larger than 17" by 26").

If your tour is earlier than 10 a.m., you can go to Union Station on Metro, where a baggage storage facility is available 6am-10pm daily. Items may also be stored for a 24 hour period or longer if desired. A photo ID is required. Cash and travelers checks are the only accepted forms of payment. Rates are $2-$5 per hour, depending on the size of the bag.

You can designate one member of your group to wait with your bags while the rest of your group takes the self-guided tour. There should be ample time for that group member to tour as well.

Consider having breakfast at one of the nearby hotels or restaurants. The Willard InterContinental's Café du Parc (1401 Pennsylvania Ave. NW), Old Ebbitt Grill (15th and G Sts. NW) and Brasserie Les Halles (1201 Pennsylvania Ave. NW) will allow you to keep your bags there while you tour. The restaurants open at 7:30 am.

Written by: http://www.washington.org

Which Washington, DC attractions require tickets?

Many of Washington, DC's major attractions are open for the public and do not require tickets, including the museums of the Smithsonian system and the National Zoo, the National Gallery of Art and the national monuments and memorials. Washington, DC's most popular ticketed attractions, the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, the Washington Monument and International Spy Museum, allow visitors to avoid waiting in line by pre-reserving their tour tickets for a small fee.

Visitors can pre-reserve individual tickets for the Washington Monument for a fee of $1.50 per ticket by calling 1-877-444-6777 or visiting www.Recreation.gov. For groups, call 1-877-559-6777. If you do not pre-reserve your tickets to the Washington Monument, plan to arrive early in the morning for ticket distribution. Tickets are distributed at the 15th Street kiosk (east of the Monument) beginning at 8:30 am. Lines may form much earlier in the morning.

Timed passes are needed for the permanent exhibition at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum. Passes are free and are distributed daily beginning at 10 am on a first-come, first served basis. You can pre-reserve tickets for a small service charge of $1.75 per ticket through Tickets.com (for groups of 21 or smaller). Groups of 21 or more qualify to make a scheduled visit to the Museum for the Permanent Exhibition: The Holocaust or the current Special Exhibitions. Group reservations are free and must be submitted using the Museum's online reservation system. Requests are processed on a first-come, first served basis, and may be submitted from 24 hours to 12 months in advance of the visit date. It is highly recommended that groups who wish to visit during the spring and summer months complete their reservations well in advance of their visit date due to high demand during that period. Visit www.ushmm.org or call (202) 488-0400 for additional information.

The Bureau of Printing and Engraving requires tickets for its tours from March through August only; these are only distributed on the day of your visit, beginning at 8 am. Lines form early and, during peak season, tickets are often distributed by 9 am. Reservations are required for Group Tours which take place 11:00 am - 12:15 am. 50 people max per tour). Complete a Group Reservation Request Form and fax it to 202-874-6331. The Bureau is closed on weekends, federal holidays and the week between Christmas and New Year's Day.

Tickets are also required to tour the US Capitol. They can be obtained in person on the same day of the tour beginning at 9 am. You can also contact your congressional representative or senator to arrange a tour in advance of your trip. Visit www.aoc.gov for more information.

Tours of the White House are only available by advance arrangement through your member of congress or senator. You can contact your representative or senator's office up to six months in advance to request a tour. More information is available at www.whitehouse.gov.

While the Library of Congress, the Supreme Court, Ford's Theatre, the National Gallery of Art and the Smithsonian museums do not require tickets, you may want to check schedules in advance to take advantage of guided interpretive tours, lectures, IMAX movies and other programs.

from http://www.washington.org/