Photo by Bullneck

This week U.S. News and World Report offered its judgment on the 21 best places to take a vacation in the U.S., and the District took second place behind San Francisco. Wrote the magazine:

The nation’s capital has a lot going for it. With iconic landmarks like the Lincoln Memorial and the world’s largest obelisk, the Washington Monument, you can sightsee for days. Exploring one of the free Smithsonian museums is a pleasant way to spend a day but make sure to save some energy for an evening out — DC has a sweet restaurant and bar scene.

According to the list, we’re a more desirable vacation spot than San Diego, New York, Yellowstone or even Maui. A few weeks ago, Travel & Leisure magazine found that the District leads the nation’s 33 biggest cities in museums and galleries, placed second in historical sites and monuments and third in terms of cultural offerings.