🇺🇸 Washington DC — No Pre-Booking

Brought my parents to DC with no prior reservations — pure luck-based one-day experience! 🍀 1️⃣ Washington Monument Online info said tickets need booking 30 days or 1 day in advance, or lining up early same day. Ticket distribution starts at 8:45 AM, but some started queuing from 7:00 AM. We tried our luck after breakfast 🥯, arrived at 7:30 AM — about 10+ people were already waiting. Around 8:45, a ranger announced that everyone who wanted to go up at 9:00 could follow him. Chaos ensued 😅! It seemed like not many were waiting, so somehow everyone got into the 9:00 group. We got into the second group — view from the top was absolutely fantastic! 📸 North, South, East, West views. 2️⃣ Lincoln Memorial Walked from the monument to the Lincoln Memorial. 🏛️ 3️⃣ White House Due to Netanyahu's visit, many roads around the White House were blocked 🚧. Uber drop-off was tricky, and sidewalks near it were closed — could only view it from a distance. 4️⃣ Library of Congress No booking for the Capitol? Decided to try the Library around 11:30 AM. Scanned a QR code at the entrance 🎟️ — got in with no line! Walk-in success! 😍 5️⃣ U.S. Capitol While exiting the library, found a passage directly connected to the Capitol 🏛️→✅. Went through a quick bag check 🎒, and just made it for the 12:20 PM tour — no waiting! The tour began right away. Today felt super lucky! 🌥️ Cloudy weather actually helped — not too hot like previous days. Headed back to the hotel to relax by 2:00 PM 😴💤. All tickets today = $0.00 🎉💸 #WashingtonDC #DCHotels #TravelDC #DCOnABudget #DCTravel