From CNN Interactive writer Andy Walton
October 7, 1997
Web posted at: 2:36 p.m. EDT (1836 GMT)WASHINGTON (CNN) -- America's capital city has its share of problems, but a lack of things to see is not one of them.
One sight that doesn't make many must-see lists, though, is a more than 20-mile stretch of road and 7,200-acre park, home to a list of monuments most tourists have never heard of.
The George Washington Memorial Parkway is the sixth most-visited site in the National Park system, drawing more than six million visitors a year -- including D.C.-area commuters, joggers and cyclists.
The GWMP hugs the Potomac from Mt. Vernon to the Beltway just northwest of Washington. For travelers who bring a car to Washington -- not always advisable -- the Parkway is a respite from the crowds on the National Mall.
The Parkway winds through the dense woods of the Virginia piedmont. The Parkway is noticeably cooler than the nearby freeways, and offers striking views of Washington and the river.
Mount Vernon, Washington's plantation, marks the southern end of the Parkway. A surprisingly short drive from the city, the main house and surrounding buildings that belonged to the first president have been meticulously preserved.
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