Hilton's safety pledge was reassuring, but reduced amenities and so few fellow travelers made the entire experience somewhat unnerving. : With its monuments, museums, and of course, the White House, Washington DC is a beacon for tourists, counting a record 24.6 million visitors in 2019. But after months of lockdown due to COVID-19, the nation's capital looks quite different these days. Most major attractions, including the Washington Monument, the Holocaust Memorial Museum, and nearly all the Smithsonian Museums remain closed. Those that are open, such as the National Zoo, now require advanced timed-entry passes.