Forest Hills Memorial Gardens, 10901 Brandywine Rd, Clinton, MD 20735, US

Arlington National Cemetery is not just where some of our country's bravest are buried—it's one of the most serene of the Washington, D.C. area's bustling attractions. Whether you enjoy military history or botany, this scenic swath of more than 620 acres awaits. Since 1868, countless American and foreign visitors alike have come to see the graves of John F. Kennedy, George C. Marshall, William Howard Taft, and other notables. But Arlington National Cemetery is also home to 8,600 trees, including 142 Memorial Trees.Parking and public transportation at Arlington National CemeteryThough pay parking is available, the Metro is more convenient, allowing you to avoid the region's notorious traffic. The conveniently named Arlington National Cemetery stop is on the Metro's Blue line. The Metrobus stops a little farther away on Memorial Avenue.Best and worst time go to Arlington National CemeteryMid-morning, after rush hour has ended and before lunchtime traffic has started, is the best time to visit. Avoid commuter hours (7-9 a.m., 3-6 p.m.). Crowds are biggest on Memorial Day and Veterans Day and during the summer, Washington's most popular tourist season but also its most humid. For a quieter, more scenic time, come in the autumn or spring, when the weather is milder and the trees are at their most beautiful.Admission to Arlington National CemeteryAdmission is free any day of the year. Hours are longer in April through September.Must see/do at Arlington National Cemetery:The Changing of the Guard is an elaborate daily ritual to commemorate American service members whose remains have never been identified. It happens every hour on the hour, from October 1 to March 31, and almost twice as many times from April 1 to September 30, at the Tomb of the Unknowns.Other places to visit near Arlington National CemeteryThanks to the Metro, you have plenty of options for things to see and do not far from the cemetery. Shop in Pentagon City, dine in Old Town Alexandria, or venture into the District for plenty more historical options.Insider tip for visitors to Arlington National CemeteryFor one of the best views in the entire D.C. metro area, stand in front of Arlington House by the grave of Pierre Charles L'Enfant, the architect and civil engineer who came up with Washington's street layout.Author's bio: Born and raised in Arlington, Virginia, Christine Stoddard has lived in the Washington, D.C. metro area off and on for more than 25 years. She's been published in The Huffington Post, Cosmopolitan, Bustle, Thought Catalog, The Feminist Wire and runs Quail Bell Magazine.