Washington (D.C.)

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Washington, D.C., or the District of Columbia, is the capital of the United States of America. It is a planned city, designed specifically to house the federal government, and is not part of any state. Its history, beautiful architecture, and excellent cultural centers attract millions each year. It is surrounded by the states of Virginia and Maryland.

Table of contents
1 Understand
2 Get in

2.1 By plane
2.2 By train
2.3 By car
2.4 By bus

3 Get around

3.1 City layout
3.2 Public transportation
3.3 Taxi
3.4 By car

4 See

4.1 Capitol Hill
4.2 National Mall
4.3 Downtown
4.4 Within the city limits

5 Do

5.1 National Mall
5.2 Within the city limits

6 Learn
7 Work
8 Buy
9 Eat

9.1 Budget
9.2 Mid-range
9.3 Splurge

10 Drink

10.1 Georgetown
10.2 Dupont Circle
10.3 Downtown

11 Sleep

11.1 Budget
11.2 Mid-range
11.3 Splurge

12 Contact
13 Stay safe
14 Cope
15 Get out

15.1 Northern Virginia
15.2 Suburban Maryland

16 External links
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Understand

Washington, D.C. was established in 1791 by an act of the infant United States Congress. To avoid a dispute between the various states and regions about which city should be the capital of the new nation, Congress established a brand new city, outside any existing state. The District of Columbia was carved out of Virginia and Maryland, and the new city was built. Designed by architect Pierre Charles L'Enfant according to Enlightenment-era rationalist philosophy, Washington (named after the country's first president) was envisioned as a kind of Socratic wildlife refuge for America's new philosopher-kings.

Fast-forward two hundred years, and you'll see that the Founding Fathers' vision has at least partially been fulfilled. Washington, D.C. is a city of transients from across the nation who come to serve in one of the many Federal government departments here -- or even as legislators, executives, and judges themselves. It is a very young city, with a huge percentage of the population under 30. Very few residents have lived here all their lives. Most recent census figures report that about 50% of the population has changed its domicile in the past 5 years.

A funny thing happened on the way to the Forum, though: as a relatively liberal city on the tip of America's South, Washington has also attracted one of the largest African-American populations in the US. This has caused serious tensions in the nation's capital, as the theoretical ideals of a temporary governing population conflict with the needs of a real-world city's permanent residents.

Due to its uniquely federal nature, Washington D.C. gets bombarded with advertisements not found in other cities, such as ads for military hardware, as the large defense contractors vie for brainshare among Pentagon employees. Ironically, the city is generally ignored by potential presidential candidates, as its population has such a small share of votes.

D.C. has a hate-hate relationship with the Congress which calls it home. As D.C. doesn't belong to a state, it is required to provide all the services that would normally be provided by the state. And as it ultimately answers to Congress, it is often the brunt of congressional jokes. (Ask any resident about National Airport, and you'll understand.) To top it off, DC has no voting representation in Congress to contest the requirements placed on the city. Hence, the slogan found on many D.C. license plates, "Taxation Without Representation".

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Get in

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By plane

Washington D.C. is served by three major airports.

Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (http://www.mwaa.com/national/) (DCA), on the west bank of the Potomac River just south of the city, is the closest and most convenient. Walkways connect the concourse level of the B and C terminals to the Washington Metro rail platform. To get downtown (10 minutes), take the Yellow Line toward Mt Vernon Square/UDC. For West End destinations, take the Blue Line toward Largo Town Center.

Washington Dulles International Airport (http://www.mwaa.com/dulles/) (IAD) is located at Dulles (pronounced Dull-ess), Virginia, 26 miles west of downtown DC. To get to DC, the most convenient option is the Washington Flyer (http://www.washfly.com/) coach, which operates every half hour on the quarter-hour to and from the West Falls Church Metro (Orange Line). It takes 20-25 minutes and costs $8 one way or $14 round trip. The Metro rail service from West Falls Church to downtown DC takes another 20-25 minutes. The cheapest option is the 5A Metrobus, an express bus which makes stops at Herndon, Tyson's Corner, Rosslyn (Blue and Orange Lines) and downtown L'Enfant Plaza (Green, Yellow, Blue, and Orange Lines). It departs hourly and takes 50-60 minutes; the fare is $3 each way. (5A timetable and map (pdf) (http://www.wmata.com/timetables/dc/5a.pdf))

Baltimore/Washington International Airport (http://www.bwiairport.com/) (BWI) is in Maryland and is 30 miles north-east of DC and 10 miles south of downtown Baltimore. Metro operates the hourly B30 express Metrobus to the Greenbelt Metro Station (Green Line). It boards on the lower level outside the International Pier. The fare is $3 each way and it takes about 30 minutes. The Metro rail service from Greenbelt to downtown takes another 25 minutes approximately. There are also train services from BWI Rail Station. MARC (http://www.mtamaryland.com/) operates weekdays to New Carrollton (Orange Line) for $5 each way, or Washington Union Station (Red Line) for $6. Amtrak (http://www.amtrak.com/) provides access to Union Station (from $13; 30-35 minutes) and to nearby Alexandria, Virginia near the King Street Metro station on the Blue and Yellow lines (from $27). A free "Amtrak/MARC" shuttle bus runs from the airport terminal to the BWI Rail Station.

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By train

Amtrak services stop at downtown Union Station, 50 Massachusetts Ave NE, on Metro's Red Line.

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By car

Washington DC is primarily served by I-95 from Baltimore, MD or Richmond, VA. Other interstates of note are:

  • I-495 is the DC Beltway. Avoid during rush hour if you can. On the East side of the city, I-495 follows I-95.
  • I-270 connects from I-70 in Frederick, MD to I-495 in Bethesda, MD
  • I-395 connects downtown with the I-495/I-95 interchange in Northern Virginia.
  • I-295 connects downtown with I-495/I-95 at the Woodrow Wilson Bridge in Southern Prince George's County, MD.
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By bus

The Greyhound stop for Washington, DC is at 1005 1st St NE.

The stop is a few blocks north of Union Station where you can catch the Red Line Metrorail. (New York Avenue station recently opened, giving faster access to Metro.) Current fares are around $30 from New York (city).

Other Greyhound stations are located in Silver Spring, Maryland and Arlington (Virginia).

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Get around

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City layout

The city is split into four quadrants centered on the Capitol Building: NE, NW, SE and SW. City roads are laid out in a grid, with east-west streets named for letters (then alphabetically single-syllable words, double-syllable words, etc.) and north-south streets named for numbers. Since an address can theoretically apply to four different locations in Washington, street addresses properly indicate the quadrant—the White House is properly 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. The Northwest quadrant is the largest and home to most items of interest to visitors.

The grid has several peculiarities which are the legacy of Pierre L'Enfant's 18th century plan for the city. There is no J Street, as in the script of the time the letters I and J were similar and the planners wanted to avoid confusion. Similarly, modern addresses on I Street are usually written Eye Street to avoid confusion with the number 1. Constitution Avenue and Independence Avenues are broad thoroughfares partly because early proposals called for them to be canals.

Perhaps the greatest complications are the Avenues, named mostly after states. These cut diagonally across the grid, and many major intersections are formed into circles dedicated to historical figures.

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Public transportation

Washington has one of the best public transportation systems in the country. The hub-and-spoke rail system is integrated with an extensive bus system, with all lines converging in downtown D.C.

Metrorail, usually referred to simply as "the Metro," is operated by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (http://www.wmata.com/). Its five intersecting lines have stops in most major neighborhoods, with the notable exceptions of Georgetown, Adams-Morgan, and Old Town Alexandria. Since parking downtown can be scarce and expensive, many attractions recommend using the Metro, and WMATA publishes a pocket guide indicating which line and stop to take for various landmarks.

  • Red Line - forms a long "U" from suburban Montgomery County, Maryland through downtown. Attractions on the Red Line include the Union Station, the MCI Center, the National Zoo, and the National Basilica of the Immaculate Conception.
  • Yellow Line - links the Washington Convention Center to Alexandria via the MCI Center and Reagan National Airport.
  • Green Line - forms a "C" which swings through Prince Georges County from Greenbelt (and its BWI Airport shuttle) past the University of Maryland, the gentrifying U Street and Columbia Heights districts, the Southwest Waterfront, and historic Anacostia.
  • Blue Line - an "S" that meanders from Largo Town Center near FedEx Field (home of the Washington Redskins) to RFK Stadium (home of the D.C. United), under the Potomac to Arlington National Cemetery, and south to Reagan National Airport and Alexandria.
  • Orange Line - Runs from Fairfax County suburbs (and the Washington Flyer Dulles Airport shuttles at West Falls Church) along the Wilson Boulevard entertainment corridor, through downtown, and out again past RFK Stadium to New Carrollton (with onward connections to MARC and Amtrak).

Parking is available at many suburban stations, particularly at the termini. It is important to note that parking at a Metro lot requires a "SmarTrip" card, a rechargeable debit card; cash, credit cards, and checks are not accepted for parking. One must purchase a SmarTrip (http://www.wmata.com/riding/smartrip.cfm) card for $5 at a vending machine and add value to it using cash or credit cards. The SmarTrip can also be used to pay Metrorail and Metrobus fares, and to make paperless transfers from one to the other. Parking on weekends and holidays is free.

Metrorail fares (http://www.wmata.com/riding/hours_fares.cfm#Metrorail%20Fares) are based on distance, starting from $1.35. Peak fares are in effect on weekdays from opening (5:00 a.m.) to 9:30 a.m. and 3:00 to 7:00 p.m., during which the maximum fare is $3.90. At all other times, lower fares are in effect, with a maximum of $2.35. Because the fare is based on distance, each passenger must have his or her own farecard (whether paper or SmarTrip) and use it both when entering and exiting the system. If the value on the card is insufficient to exit, it can be recharged using "Exitfare" vending machines.

Visitors planning to make extensive use of Metrorail may consider a day pass, valid on all Metrorail trains after 9:30 a.m. weekdays or all day weekends and holidays. It costs $6.

Metrobus fares (http://www.wmata.com/riding/hours_fares.cfm) are a flat $1.25 for most routes, or $3 for express routes. Certain routes feature discounted fares. An all-day pass for Metrobus is $3 and valid until 3:00 a.m. on regular routes or for $1.25 on express routes. Metrobus accepts SmarTrip for payments and transfers, but does not accept Metrorail paper farecards or passes. To save money on your metrobus trips, you can also get transfer slips that allow you to take another bus within a two hour period.

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Taxi

Taxi cabs do not use meters, but charge fares based on zones traveled -- plus such surcharges as one dollar during rush hours (7 - 9:30 AM and 4 - 6:30 PM) and $1.50 for each additional passenger. Taxi Cab Zone Map: http://dctaxi.dc.gov/dctaxi/frames.asp?doc=/dctaxi/lib/dctaxi/Taxicab_Zone_Map.pdf .

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By car

Downtown Washington's roads are well-signed and organized on a relatively predictable grid, but also heavily congested with aggressive drivers. Weekday parking can be scarce and expensive.

Many major intersections are formed into circles. The larger circles can be harrowing for inexperienced drivers—Dupont Circle links five roads running in ten directions with two traffic rings and an underground bypass.

Partly as a means to combat heavy rush hour traffic, a significant number of intersections are monitored by traffic cameras. Drivers may also wish to note that since Washington is federal land, a traffic ticket is a federal violation.

Local opposition prevented the construction of interstate highways through Washington; the two freeways that feed into the city from Virginia, I-66 and I-395, both terminate quickly. Washington and its innermost suburbs are encircled by the Capital Beltway, I-495, which gave rise to the expression "Inside the Beltway."

Washington boasts several scenic drives:

  • Pennsylvania Avenue from 14th Street NW toward the Capitol
  • Rock Creek Parkway, which follows Rock Creek, then the Potomac to the Lincoln Memorial
  • Reservoir Road from Georgetown to the Clara Barton Parkway, continuing to the Capitol Beltway
  • Embassy Row, Massachusetts Avenue from Scott Circle to Wisconsin Avenue
  • the George Washington Memorial Parkway, which follows the Potomac on the Virginia side
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See

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Capitol Hill

Capitol Hill plays a central role in the country's political life, as two of the three branches of the federal government - the legislative and the judicial - are located here. Washington D.C.'s layout centers on Capitol Hill, with the city's four quadrants starting at the Capitol Building.

  • Capitol Building. (202) 225-6827. Metro: Union Station on the Red Line; Capitol South on the Blue or Orange Lines. The Capitol Building is filled with impressive paintings, statues and historical exhibits. The Capitol is open to guided tours only, M-Sa 9am-4:30pm. Tours can be joined by getting a free, first-come, first-served ticket from the Capitol Guide Service Kiosk located near First St SE, across from the United States Botanic Garden. Ticket distribution begins at 9am. http://www.aoc.gov/
  • Supreme Court. First St & Maryland Ave NE. Metro: Union Station on the Red Line; Capitol South on the Blue or Orange Lines. M-F 9am-4:30pm. http://www.supremecourtus.gov/
  • Library of Congress. 10 First St SE, (202) 707-8000. Metro: Capitol South on the Blue or Orange Lines. Displays one of the Gutenberg Bibles, as well as rotating exhibitions from the Library's vast collection. Free admission. http://www.loc.gov/
  • Folger Shakespeare Library. M-Sa 10am-4pm. Houses the world's largest Shakespeare collection and has a replica of Shakespeare's Globe theatre. http://www.folger.edu/
  • Union Station. Metro: Union Station on the Red Line. Not just a train station or metro stop, the Beaux Arts architecture of the 1908 building makes it worth a look. Contains shops, restaurants and a cinema. A large monument to Christopher Columbus stands outside the building. http://www.unionstationdc.com/
  • National Postal Museum. 2 Massachussetts Ave NE (just west of Union Station), (202) 357-2700. Metro: Union Station on the Red Line. Every day except 25 Dec 10am-5:30pm. Exhibitions of how mail has been delivered throughout history, rare stamps, and other ways that the mail shapes culture. Free admission. http://postalmuseum.si.edu/
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National Mall

The National Mall is not a shopping center but rather a long grassy expanse stretching from Capitol Hill westward to the Potomac River. The Mall's central location and the many famous museums and monuments which surround it make the Mall a popular destination.

Museums run by the Smithsonian Institution (http://www.si.edu) are free of charge and their gift shops do not have the 6.5% DC tax levied on items sold.

From east to west along Constitution Avenue (the north side of the Mall)

  • National Gallery of Art. M-Sa 10am-5pm, Su 11am-6pm. The east building of this museum focuses on modern art, while the west building showcases more traditional, mostly European, paintings and sculptures. The two buildings are connected by an underground walkway which has a store and a restaurant. Free admission, and unlike most art museums, flash photography is allowed. http://www.nga.gov/
  • National Archives. Metro: Archives-Navy Memorial via the Green and Yellow Lines. See the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights. Gift shop. Free admission.
  • National Museum of Natural History. Open every day except 25 Dec. Regular hours 10am-5:30pm, open later in summer. This museum presents a hodgepodge of world cultures, dinosaurs and mineral samples, among other things. Be sure to see the Hope Diamond, the largest blue diamond in the world. http://www.mnh.si.edu/
  • National Museum of American History. Open every day except 25 Dec. Regular hours 10am-5:30pm, summer 10am-6:30pm. http://americanhistory.si.edu/
  • Washington Monument. Currently closed due to construction. The view from the 550 foot Washington Monument is great on a clear day, allowing you to see up and down the Mall, and out as far as the Shenandoah Mountains. Entrance is by timed ticket, which are distributed on a first come first served basis, and are available free from a National Park Service booth on 15th Street. It's worth stopping off early in the day (opens at 8am) and collecting your tickets before visiting a museum or three, and then coming back later. Better still, book your ticket online in advance at the NPS Reservation Center (http://reservations.nps.gov/parkresults.cfm?park_id=461&cfid=38285&cftoken=72758772).
  • White House - 1600 Pennsylvania Ave - Just north of the Washington Monument. Tours are available only for groups of 10 or more and must be requested up to six months in advance through your member of Congress. http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/tours/
  • Corcoran Museum of Art. W, F-M 10am-5pm, Th 10am-9pm. The oldest art gallery in the American capital. $6.75 individual admission, $4.75 seniors, $3 students with ID, $12 families with young children (donation on M and Th after 5pm). http://www.corcoran.org/
  • National World War II Memorial. Opened in 2004. http://www.wwiimemorial.com/
  • Reflecting Pool
  • Vietnam Veterans Memorial. http://www.nps.gov/vive/
  • Lincoln Memorial. http://www.nps.gov/linc/

From east to west along Independence Avenue (the south side of the Mall)

  • US Botanic Garden. Conservatory open 10am-5pm. Bartholdi Park, south of the conservatory, is open dawn to dusk. http://www.usbg.gov/
  • National Museum of the American Indian. The newest of the Smithsonian museums displays the cultural traditions of the Native peoples of North, Central and South America. http://www.nmai.si.edu/
  • National Air & Space Museum. Every day except 25 Dec 10am-5:30pm. The most-visited museum in the world, this impressive repository contains thousands of impressive artifacts, including the Wrights' 1903 Flyer and Apollo 11's command module Columbia. Free. http://www.nasm.si.edu/
  • Hirshhorn Museum & Sculpture Garden. Museum 10am-5:30pm; Sculpture garden 7:30am-dusk. International modern and contemporary art. http://hirshhorn.si.edu/
  • Smithsonian Castle. 8:30am-5:30pm. This distinctive brick-red structure was the original Smithsonian museum. The building now presents an overview of the Smithsonian system as well as occasional exhibitions. http://www.si.edu/visit/infocenter/sicastle.htm
  • National Museum of African Art. Presents the diversity of African art. The Freer and Sackler Galleries can also be accessed through this museum. http://www.mnafa.si.edu/
  • Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery. Every day except 25 Dec 10am-5:30pm. These linked Smithsonian museums feature Asian art. There is also an underground passage to the National Museum of African Art. http://www.asia.si.edu/
  • United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Metro: Smithsonian via the Blue and Orange Lines. Every day except 13 Oct and 25 Dec 10am-5:30pm. Entrance is by free timed ticket on a first come, first served basis. Films, audio testimonies and historical exhibits tell about the Holocaust. http://www.ushmm.org/
  • Bureau of Engraving and Printing. 14th St and C St. Not a museum, this is where the Treasury prints money. http://www.moneyfactory.com/
  • Jefferson Memorial. On the Tidal Basin. Metro: Smithsonian is the nearest station, but it's not close by. A larger than life statue of Thomas Jefferson, the third president of the United States, stands in the center of this open-air marble structure. Quotes from Jefferson's writings, including the Declaration of Independence, are reproduced on the walls. http://www.nps.gov/thje/
  • FDR Memorial. http://www.nps.gov/fdrm/

Make the effort to see the monuments at night when they are all lit up. If you can catch the Capitol as the sun is setting on a clear day, the colors as the building gets lit up are wonderful.

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Downtown

  • International Spy Museum. 800 F St NW. $13/adult, $12/seniors, $11/children (5-11). http://www.spymuseum.org/
  • National Building Museum. 401 F St NW. M-Sa 10am-5pm, Su 11am-5pm. Highly Recommended. Free, suggested donation $5. http://www.nbm.org/
  • National Museum of Women in the Arts. 1250 New York Ave NW. $8/adult, $6/student, free/children (18 and younger). http://www.nmwa.org/
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Within the city limits

  • National Zoo 3001 Connecticut Avenue NW. Metro: Woodley Park-Zoo/Adams-Morgan or Cleveland Park via the Red Line. See the pandas, lions and many more at this branch of the Smithsonian. Free admission. http://nationalzoo.si.edu/
  • National Cathedral Metro: Woodley-Park-Zoo/Adams-Morgan or Cleveland Park via the Red Line. This impressive example of Gothic architecture is the sixth largest cathedral in the world. One of its stained glass windows has a moon rock embedded within. http://www.cathedral.org/cathedral
  • National Geographic Society - Explorers Hall Metro: Farragut North via the Red Line. This 3-building complex, headquarters for National Geographic Magazine and National Geographic Channel, shows exhibitions on art, culture, science, photography, geography, and technology. Free admission. Open every day except Dec. 25 from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Also features a National Geographic Store. See also http://www.nationalgeographic.com
  • Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception 400 Michigan Avenue NE. Metro: Brookland-CUA via the Red Line. The second largest Catholic church in the United States. There are numerous chapels, as well as two gift shops and a restaurant. http://nationalshrine.com
  • Anacostia Museum 1901 Fort Place SE. Metro: Anacostia, but check website (http://anacostia.si.edu) for important details. Closed until January 31, 2005. This is the Smithsonian's center for African-American history and culture. Free admission. http://anacostia.si.edu
  • Theodore Roosevelt Memorial - Theodore Roosevelt Island. This is in a nature preserve on the Potomac River. You can either park off of GW Parkway, or walk in from the Rosslyn Metro station.
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Do

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National Mall

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Within the city limits

  • Rock Creek Park. NW. Hiking and biking trails and coyotes. Nature Center (W-Su 9am-5pm) has exhibits, weekend guided walks and details of self-guided walks. http://www.nps.gov/rocr/
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Learn

  • Gallaudet University, 800 Florida Avenue NE. If you talk sign language, this is definitely the place to go. http://www.gallaudet.edu
  • Washingtoniana Division, Room #307, Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library, 901 G Street, NW (across from Gallery Place Metro stop). Washingtoniana Division is the special collection division containing historical material related to both federal as well as "hometown" Washington, DC. Phone (202) 727-1213. For more information see: http://www.dclibrary.org/washingtoniana/index.html.
  • Peabody Room, 2nd floor, Georgetown Branch Library, 3260 R Street, NW (corner of Wisconsin Avenue and R Street). Peabody Room is the special collection division containing historical material related to the history of Georgetown, established in 1751 as Georgetown, MD. Phone (202) 282-0214. For more information see http://www.dclibrary.org/branches/geo/peabody.html
  • Smithsonian Institute, The Smithsonian Institute offers classes to members.
  • Howard University
  • Catholic University of America
  • American University
  • Georgetown University
  • George Washington University
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Work

Certain career fields find a natural home in DC. While everyone knows this is where politicians go, you can also find a fair share of lawyers, lobbyists, defense contractors and civil servants.

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Buy

All Smithsonian museums have gift shops and they are tax-free. The largest and best of the Smithsonian are in the National Museum of American History and the National Air and Space Museum.

The gift shop in the National Building Museum is one of the best gift shops not run by the Smithsonian Institution. (6.5% DC tax applies.)

Georgetown is a trendy area of D.C. with plenty of shops. http://www.georgetowndc.com/. The heart of Georgetown is at the corner of M Street and Wisconsin Ave. No Metro stations are immediately accessible, although it is walkable from Rosslyn (Orange & Blue), Foggy Bottom/GWU (Orange & Blue) and Dupont Circle (Red). There is also a Georgetown connector shuttle from these three stations for $1 each way, or $0.35 with a rail transfer.

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Eat

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Budget

  • Union Station Food Court - on the bottom level of Union Station, located NE of the National Mall. Metro stop: Union Station. The food is nothing special, and the setting is noisy and crowded, but the prices are often cheaper than what is available in nearby museums.
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Mid-range

  • Sala Thai Dupont Circle branch at 2016 P Street NW, (202) 872-1144; Cleveland Park branch at 3507 Connecticut Avenue NW, (202) 237-2777. Thai food.
  • Bombay Bistro 3570 Chain Bridge Rd,Fairfax, VA,703-359-5810. This is as close as it gets to some of the good restaurants from India. This restaurant reminded me of the traditionally set restaurants one finds back in India. There are some good hand carvings, pictures, embroidery setup on the walls. The decor in general is good. The menu is one of the widest menus I have seen in Asian Indian restaurants. Prices are towards the higher end of its peers but nowhere near the Giannottis and George and Gennettis of the world. I had Chicken Tikka Makhani (the first dish I ever try in a new restaurant). The restaurant owner/manager was a bit too friendly and recommended to us to reduce our order since "we were ordering way too much for a family of three" - but thats OK. True asian Indians tend to be friendly. I bet she would not do that to a native american. In general service is good. Free parking is available. To get there, take the I-66 out of Washington D.C. and go on Highway 123. Last but most important: There is an array of certificates and awards this restaurant has won over time hung in the window facing outside. Those awards/certificates are impressive. Another thing: the bar tender did not know how to make Scotch Whisky on the rocks! I got two cubes of ice in a glass with scotch and water - indian shtyle.
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Splurge

  • Olives, 1600 K Street, NW. +1 202 452 1866. Mediterranean/Italian style, steak and chop house featuring olive tapinades. Valet parking. Full bar. Noisy bistro-type atmosphere.
  • Marcel's, 2401 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW. +1 202 296-1166. Self described French cuisine with flemish flair. Expensive. Quiet, elegant atmosphere. http://www.marcelsdc.com
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Drink

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Georgetown

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Dupont Circle

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Downtown

  • ESPN Zone - 555 12th St. NW, Phone: 202.783.3776, Metro Stop: Metro Center - Not a place to take a date, but a fun place that is a little expensive, but with over 200 tvs and 13 foot tall tv all tuned to sports, it is worth it. Website (http://www.espnzone.com/washingtondc/)
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Sleep

If you need to stay in Washington DC, then look below, if not, go to Baltimore and save a bunch. Alternatively, you can stay in one of the nearby areas which are on the Metro, thus saving both time and money.

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Budget

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Mid-range

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Splurge

  • Hotel Monaco, 700 F Street, NW. +1 202 628 7177. http://monaco-dc.com
  • Hay Adams Hotel, 16th and H Street, NW. Tel +1 202 638 6000. Fax +1 202 638 2716. Reservations +1 800 853 6807. Small five star luxury hotel, with gorgeous White house and mall views. http://www.hayadams.com
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Contact

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Stay safe

Washington D.C. is covered by many police forces which all work together. The big ones for public safety are:

  • The Metropolitan Police Department (this is the main department you want to contact since it is in charge of law enforcement city wide)
  • United States Park Police
  • United States Capitol Police (patrols the grounds of the U.S. Capitol and surrounding areas)
  • Metro Transit Police Department (patrols Metro trains and buses)
  • United States Secret Service (mainly around the White House)

There is also a greater chance of you running into the Secret Service and the U.S. Marshals in Washington.

For major events and protests, the Police Department has a central command center where they can monitor actions through a network of cameras. For exceptionally large events (but not protests), they are likely to set up security zones where they can screen attendees. (It's like a large outdoor airport terminal.)

While Washington has claimed the title of Murder Capital of the World in many recent years, the area west of the Capitol Building is generally clear of violent crimes. It's mainly the residential areas east of the Capitol Building that contribute to the violent crime in Washington. It is not recommended crossing the Anacostia River if you can help it (there's nothing much to see there, and the Blue Plains Treatment Facility puts out a horrible smell).

Washington is divided into four quadrants. The safest area of the city is in the Northwest quadrant, whereas the highest crime rates are often in the Northeast and (especially) the Southeast quadrants.

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Cope

Be prepared for airport type security as you enter some buildings. Even if you do not plan to carry a lot of gear around, a small bag makes it much easier to empty your pockets of everything before going through metal detectors.

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Get out

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Northern Virginia

  • Pentagon. Just across the Potomac River from downtown DC. While lingering is not recommended for security reasons, you should know it is the largest office building in the world, and covers 4 zip codes. (Army, Navy, Air Force and Department of Defense.)
  • Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia. Just across the Potomac River, adjacent to the Pentagon. Closes at dusk. This national military cemetery includes John F. Kennedy's tomb and the house of General Robert E. Lee. Visitors can watch the changing of the guard ceremony in front of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. http://www.arlingtoncemetery.org/
  • Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center - National Air and Space Museum. 14390 Air & Space Museum Pkwy. Chantilly, VA 20151 (202) 357-2200 Located near Dulles International Airport, this museum houses many air/spacecraft, including the SR-71 "Blackbird" spy plane, the Concorde supersonic jet and the space shuttle "Enterprise". Parking is available for $12/vehicle. Additionally, a shuttle is available from the Air and Space Museum downtown. Prices range from $5 to $7 depending on number of tickets bought. http://www.nasm.si.edu/museum/udvarhazy/
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Suburban Maryland

  • Bethesda nearby suburb with shopping and cultural landmarks.
  • Mormon Temple. Kensington. Must see the amazing annual Christmas light display.
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