Washington & Philadelphia

With magnificent monuments and memorials, gracious government buildings, vast museums, broad avenues and eclectic neighbourhoods, Washington, DC looks the part as America's capital city. It is a fascinating place where political drama and scandal bubble under the surface, while the streets teem with trendy shops, funky marketplaces, lively bars and inviting restaurants.

The American capital puts on quite a display for its visitors, and, best of all, there's free admission to all the major attractions on the National Mall, a great swathe of green that stretches from the foot of the Capitol Building to the Potomac River.