Let’s talk about the White House. After all, Oprah recently did her Christmas special with the new administration. So it might be on your mind. Besides that, it’s the most identifying residence in Washington D.C., which remains the most popular city for student group travel.

If you’ve ever considered a trip to the nation’s capital, it has surely crossed your mind: Can groups still tour inside? The answer is yes with a big, fat but.

There are many times throughout the year when the White House is not available for tours. It’s recommended that you request a tour with as much advance notice as possible. This is something you do through your member of congress. (Our travel company, though not all, will take care of this detail for you.) There will be several security hoops to jump through, information to provide about your group numbers, etc.

Is it worth it? Many believe it is simply for the experience – just being able to say you’ve been there – that can be pretty cool. You should know, though, that these tours are hardly personal. You won’t be visiting with the President himself or any member of his family. You won’t be anywhere near the actual residence areas or the famous Oval Office. Many of the luxurious rooms you’ll visit are roped off, and you simply view them from beyond, like a diorama at a museum. Still, seriously, they’re pretty beautiful. And the history of how different pieces entered the decor can be fascinating information.

Here’s another thing to consider: Up until the moment you step inside, your hard-earned tour could, of course, be cancelled. Scheduling conflicts can arise on a last-minute basis, and you won’t get to say you’ve been there after all. Fortunately, there’s an alternative.

The White House Visitor Center was not technically designed as an alternative to the White House itself but as a complement to it. Basically, you get to see more there. The visitor’s center features architecture from the White House, furniture, trivia about former First Families, photographs, even famous visits from dignitaries and other White House special events. Despite not actually being in the White House, this is a more inside look at the famous residence.

The other benefit to the Visitor Center is that it’s open all the time and available to all D.C. visitors without scheduling in advance. It’s definitely the way to go if you’ve planned your D.C. tour short notice or if you’re traveling at the same time that, say, the president of France is in town.

The White House Visitor Center is located on the southeast corner of 15th and E streets in Washington D.C., just two blocks east of the White House.

Photo by ricardo.martins on Flickr.