Museums hold a special place on all tourist agendas. The Smithsonian Institution has done a fantastic job in giving DC residents and tourists free and open access to some really fantastic history and artifacts through its various musems. Among these, the Museum of Natural History is a local favorite and a resounding success with visitors and DC residents alike.

This museum, located in the Washington DC Mall area alongside Constitution Avenue, will literally take you back and forth in time: placing you right next to dinosaurs in one section, bringing you face to face with your extinct mammal relatives in another, and taking you on a round of African villages in yet another section. You can also view a brilliant (literally!) collection of gems and jewels including the world famous Hope Diamond, the crown of Napoleon's queen, Marie Antoinette's earrings, and many other really dazzling jewels and stones.

There is a whole section devoted to natural minerals and stones which will amaze you at the wondrous objects found in natural settings above and below the ground. The colors, shapes, and sizes of different types of natural mineral deposits and stones will truly overwhelm you about how much beauty and art lives in our natural surroundings.

There are also activity centers and areas for children. Although they require some advance planning, if you are visiting with your family, it may be worth making the arrangements ahead of time.

There are several food choices within the museum, including the Atrium Cafe with a full service menu and the Fossil Cafe with sandwiches and snacks. The food is reasonably good, albeit on the expensive side, but then the museum has to make money somehow!!

The IMAX Theater plays many interesting features including 3-D movies on a variety of themes. If you're at the museum long enough, it would be worthwhile catching one of these features.

In short, this museum is a very interesting destination for visitors, and even local residents. You should definitely make a trip if you haven't already been there!