Located between Washington, D.C. and Virginia, this city is home to the Pentagon, Arlington National Cemetery, and the U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial.
Arlington, Virginia lies across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C. This city of 26 square miles includes the massive Pentagon building, where you can take guided tours of military history exhibits, and Arlington National Cemetery, where the eternal flame burns at President Kennedy's grave. Walk through Theodore Roosevelt Island's wooded trails, watch the Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknowns, or take a quick Metro ride to downtown D.C.
Using Arlington's Metro System
Arlington's eleven Metro stations connect to Washington D.C. via Blue, Orange, Silver, and Yellow lines. At Rosslyn station, you'll ride up a 194-foot escalator - among North America's longest - taking just over two minutes from bottom to top. From most Arlington stations, you can reach Reagan National Airport in 10 minutes, the Pentagon in 5 minutes, and downtown D.C. in 15 minutes. Trains run every 6-12 minutes during peak hours and 12-20 minutes at other times.
Visiting Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery spans 624 acres, with gravesites of veterans from the Revolutionary War to present-day conflicts. Watch the precise ritual of the Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknowns - every hour in winter months (October-March) and every half hour in summer (April-September). Take a guided tour of Arlington House, where you can walk through rooms with 1850s furniture and see exhibits explaining the property's connection to Robert E. Lee and the Civil War era.
Walking and Biking Arlington's Trails
Walk or cycle the 17-mile Mount Vernon Trail along the Potomac River, where you'll see Washington Monument and Capitol Building across the water. The Four Mile Run Trail crosses the county east to west, connecting to the 45-mile Washington & Old Dominion Railroad Trail. Throughout Arlington's parks, you'll find 93 basketball courts and 92 tennis courts open daily from sunrise to sunset.
Inside the Pentagon Complex
The Pentagon occupies 6.5 million square feet, with five floors above ground and two basement levels. Visit the Pentagon Memorial, where 184 benches commemorate the victims of September 11, 2001. Each bench includes a small pool of running water and points in a specific direction - toward the Pentagon for those who died in the building, or toward the sky for those who died on the plane.
Arlington's Museums
At the DEA Museum, examine confiscated drug paraphernalia and learn about major drug enforcement cases through interactive exhibits. The Arlington Historical Museum occupies the 1891 Hume School building, where you can see artifacts from local Native American settlements and Civil War battles. Visit Gulf Branch Nature Center to see local snakes, turtles, and fish in their habitats, and walk the nature trails through its 38-acre woodland property.
