The National Museum of the Marine Corps has received the Certificate of Excellence from Tripadvisor for earning exceptional traveler ratings over the past year.  The Museum has consistently earned a 5.0 rating on the popular travel website, which attracts 4.1 million users a month.

Visitors to the Museum often turn to Tripadvisor, one of the world's biggest travel resources, to tell others about their experiences.  These reviews come from visitors from the local area as well as around the world.

A recent visitor from the Netherlands wrote "Only a short drive from the standard tourist spots in the Nation's capital, this museum is well worth a visit! As a foreigner, I was impressed by the way that the U.S. Marine Corps remembers its members and shows the world what they have done. However, this is done without the politics behind it. It's about the men and women that put their lives at risk, at any time in any place in the world. This I liked very much. Many thanks to the volunteers in the museum who have magnificent stories and loads of extra information! Combined with the spectacular building, the free parking and the nice bar I would say that this is a must-go when you're around."

The reviews often convey emotions that were stirred during the visit.  "My Christmas present to my Dad, a Marine vet, was to take him to the National Museum of the Marine Corps. In retrospect, I think it was as much a gift to myself!... We concluded our visit with the beautiful chapel, a nice spot to process the impact of the story I had just learned, or, in my Dad's case, been so beautifully reminded of. Thanks to our past and present Marines for their courage!" raved Jaggfly, a traveler who has reviewed 22 properties during the last year.  Only half of those reviews were exceptional, giving more credence to his review of NMMC.

While some reviews do note the Museum's distance from Washington, D.C., many of them highly encourage the short trip. "We spent 8 days in Washington DC and this was the highlight. This is the best museum I have ever experienced. It is very much part of the new and engaging design that has become so popular with some of the private paid museums. The difference is that this museum is free and has the signature artifacts such as the flag that flew over Iwo Jima. Again, good for all ages and for military and non-military buffs alike," mtbmike of Denver wrote.

Many local reviews make it obvious that return visits are also common. "This was our 5th visit to this museum, which is a 'go to' place for whenever we have guests. The museum is well done, has informative volunteer docents, is always clean....The museum recently added 'try on' uniforms and a few more documentaries, and another area is planned. Every time we go, we notice something new.. Whenever we are there, we typically chat with other museum goers, some whom are Vietnam vets and others who are out-of-town visitors, and the opportunity to thank a service member is always a plus," gracegarden, a frequent female reviewer, wrote.

The Museum, which opened in November 2006, has already welcomed nearly 3 million visitors.  Current galleries tell the Marine Corps story through the end of the Vietnam War with other exhibits covering the Global War on Terrorism and more recent stories.   Plans are under way to break ground in 2015 for new galleries to continue the story.

The National Museum of the Marine Corps is located at 18900 Jefferson Davis Highway, Triangle, Va.  The Museum brings to life the U.S. Marine Corps' rich history and honors the commitment, accomplishments, and sacrifices of all Marines.  It is open 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. every day except Christmas. Parking and admission are free.

For more information on the National Museum of the Marine Corps, call 703-784-6107 or visit www.usmcmuseum.com.