Washington, D.C.

Introduction

Capitol Building, Washington, DC, USA

© All Rights Reserved GregW

Washington, D.C. is America's capital city, in addition to being the center of the country's politics, is also home to a large number of significant cultural institutions, memorials and historic monuments. The city lies on the banks of the Potomac River, between Virginia and Maryland, on the east coast of the US. The city was built in the 18th century to serve as the national capital and lies within its own federal district, the District of Columbia (D.C.).

Neighbourhoods

Foggy Bottom

One of the oldest neighbourhoods in Washington, the Foggy Bottom neighbourhood encompasses the areas roughly in between 17th Street/White House (east) and Rock Creek Park (west), and Pennsylvania Avenue (north) and Constitution Avenue (south).

The George Washington University main campus, the DAR Constitution Hall, numerous embassies, the American Red Cross National Headquarters, the Watergate complex, the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, and the Federal Government (including the Old and New Executive Office Buildings and Department of the Interior) are some of the notable occupants of Foggy Bottom. The George Washington University in particular has grown in the last decade, and has come to dominate much of the neighborhood, although numerous old and historic townhouses and residences still remain.

The neighbourhood is served by several bus routes, and a Metro stop on the Blue and Orange lines (called Foggy Bottom-GWU).

Sights and Activities

The White House

The building on 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue is the residence of every American president since John Adams. While the White House was completed in 1800, it was already expanded a year later. In 1814 the White House burned down during the War of 1812, when it was burned by the British Army. Reconstruction began almost immediately, and President James Monroe could move into a partially reconstructed house in October 1817.

White House

© All Rights Reserved Darell

The Mall

The Washington D.C. Mall is one of the most amazing sights in city. In this wonderful park located in the heart of Washington, D.C. is home to several amazing sights. Some of these sights are the Lincoln Memorial, the Washington Memorial, the Vietnam War Memorial and several of the of Washington D.C.'s finest museums are located around the edge of the mall. If anything the mall is just nice green space in the heart of the city.

The Lincoln Memorial

The first plans for the memorial date back to 1867 when a commission was formed to work out plans for a memorail in honour of Abraham Lincoln, but the build was not commissioned until 1911, as a suitable piece of land couldn't be found before 1902. The first stone of the memorial was layed on February 12, 1914, the birthday of the President. While Henry Bacon worked on the memorial, Daniel Chester. French designed the statue of Lincoln, which would become the center piece of the memorial. The statue is made from white marble, that was carved by the Piccirilli Brothers in New York, and looks towards the relecting pool and the Washington monument in the distance.

Government Related

• Capitol Building
• Arlington National Cemetery is one of the nicest national cemeteries in the country and the changing of the guard can be very moving.

The Smithsonian Institutions

• Smithsonian Castle
• Air & Space Museum
• Natural History Museum
• National Gallery
• National Museum of the American Indian
• National Museum of American History

Other Museums

• International Spy Museums

Gardens, Farmers Markets and Wineries

Do something different in Washington, D.C. Visit historical and contemporary gardens, farmers markets and even wineries are within driving distance of the city. Have a look at the Mycapitalgardens USA website for more information.

Events and Festivals

• Passport DC (05 May 2012 - 14 May 2012) - This annual event hopes to offer visitors the sensation that they've traveled around the world without leaving DC. Featuring exhibits from over 40 worldwide embassies, this event will feature a European festival, an Asian cultural festival, children's events, and much more. This will be a great family event and a wonderful learning experience for all.
• National Cherry Blossom Festival (20 Mar 2012 - 27 Apr 2012) - - One of the more famous festivals or events in Washington, D.C., the National Cherry Blossom Festival is held every spring in Washington, DC. The festival dates vary slightly every year because the event is planned as close to the Peak Bloom Date as possible, which is highly dependent on weather that refuses to conform to any sort of scheduling. For the dates of the current year's Festival, visit the National Cherry Blossom Festival homepage. The festival is a celebration of the original 1912 gift from Japan to the United States of more than 3,000 cherry trees as a show of friendship. Activities are held throughout the city, but the main events take place on the Mall, and around the Tidal Basin, where you can see most of the trees. Many of the events showcase Japanese culture, and if you're interested in learning more about the trees themselves, you can partake in tours led by the National Park Service. The festivities culminate in the National Cherry Blossom Parade, which travels down Constitution Avenue with floats, local and international clubs and organizations, and lots of marching bands. Plan ahead if you're traveling to Washignton, D.C. for the National Cherry Blossom Festival, and be prepared for any kind of weather. Spring in Washington, D.C. can bring one day of sun and 75 °F weather, followed up by a day of wind, rain, and temperatures in the 40 °F-50 °F range.
• Capitol Pride (30 May 2012 - 10 Jun 2012) - The Capitol Pride event is the 4th-largest GLBT event in the country. This festival is a nine-day celebration of love, diversity, and civil rights advocacy for the GLBT community. This event is held every year in May/June.
• National Capital Barbecue Battle (23 Jun 2012 - 24 Jun 2012) - Voted as one of the top food events in the country, this BBQ event is full of food, fun, and tons of barbecue! Popular BBQ restaurants from all around the country flock to this event to showcase their culinary skills. Visitors can expect to sample many different kinds of BBQ; cooking demonstrations and some cooking classes will also be available. The highlight of the event is the great BBQ battle, where chefs compete for the winning title.
• Independence Day (04 Jul 2012) - One of the best Independence Day celebrations occurs rightfully in the heart of the Nation's capitol. Known for its dynamic parade, with incredible marching bands and great displays of patriotism. Popular music artists are invited to perform during this event, and visitors can choose from an array of music concerts held throughout the day. In the evening is the finale event, where a beautiful fireworks display takes over the night sky.

Weather

Washington has warm summers and relatively mild winters, although temperatures occasionally drop to below -20 °C. Averages are around 7 °C though, with light frost at night. Summers are around 30 °C dropping to around 18 °C at night, but highs of around 40 °C are measured regularly. Precipition is quite evenly distributed throughout the year, most of it falls in the form of rain, although sometimes decent amounts of snow leave the city with a white blanket. Spring and autumn are good times to visit the capital.

Getting There

By Plane

There are three major airports that serve the Baltimore-Washington Area. Getting from each of these airports into town is a mixed bag. They all have the standard taxi, shuttle services and rental cars. Public transportation on the other hand is lacking.

1. Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) - This airport is located 25 miles (40 kilometres) west of Washington, D.C., in Dulles, Virginia. United Airlines, JetBlue Airways and American Airlines are the main airlines in this airport.

To/from Dulles Airport

• Washington Dulles Airport is served by a private bus company that picks you up at the terminal and drops you off at a Metro station in DC. For a cheaper option, one can take the Metro Bus, which runs on a slightly longer schedule, every hour or so. This 5A express bus makes two to three stops on its way from the airport to downtown Washington, depending on the time of day. Stops include the Herndon–Monroe transfer station in Herndon and the Rosslyn Metro station in Arlington.
• Loudoun County Transit provides bus service which runs from the Dulles Town Center shopping center, to the airport, then to the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center Air and Space Museum.
• Taxis, shuttles and rental cars are widely available and byc ar Dulles is accessible via the Dulles Access Road/Dulles Greenway (State Route 267) and State Route 28.

2. Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) - This airport is located three miles (5 kilometres) south of Washington, D.C. in Arlington County, Virginia. US Airways is the carrier with the most flights across the country.

To/from Ronald Reagan Airport

• Rail: The Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport Metro station is located on an elevated outdoor platform (with a canopy) connected to the concourse level of Terminals B and C, and offers service to the Yellow and Blue lines.
• Bus: Metrobus provides service on weekend mornings before the Metrorail station opens. Door-to-door service is available from several providers.
• Car: Taxis from DCA to Virginia are metered. Taxis from DCA to the District of Columbia now run on a metered system as well. DCA is located on the George Washington Memorial Parkway, and connected to U.S. Route 1 by the Airport Viaduct (State Route 233). Interstate 395 is just north of DCA, and is accessible by the G.W. Parkway and U.S. Route 1. There are numerous car rental facilities and parking places at the airport as well.

3. Baltimore-Washington International Airport (BWI) - Located 10 miles (16 kilometres) south of Baltimore and 30 miles (48 kilometres) north of Washington, D.C., this airport's main carriers are Southwest Airlines and US Airways.

To/from Baltimore-Washington Airport

• Rail: The airport's station is located about a mile from the airport terminal; a free shuttle bus connects the train station and airport terminals. The station is served by Amtrak Northeast Corridor trains and, on weekdays, by the MARC Penn Line. Travel time by train is about 10 minutes to Baltimore's Penn Station and 35 minutes to Union Station in Washington, D.C. Trains depart at least once an hour seven days a week, with departure times during rush hours and business hours being significantly more frequent. The Maryland Transit Administration's Light Rail line has a stop just outside the entrance to the airport's International Terminal. Passengers can take the Light Rail to a variety of destinations in Anne Arundel County, Baltimore City, and Baltimore County, and can transfer to the Metro Subway in Baltimore. A ride downtown takes approximately 30 minutes. Trains run every 20 minutes during peak hours, and 30 minutes all other times.
• Bus: Bus service between the airport and the Greenbelt station of the Washington Metro and MARC Camden Line is provided by WMATA's Metrobus on Route B30 every 40 minutes 6:00am-10:00pm weekdays and 9:00am-10:00pm on weekends. The Maryland Transit Administration's Bus Route 17 serves the airport 24/7. During the hours when the Light Rail operates, buses operate to the Patapsco Light Rail Stop. When the Light Rail is not in service, buses operate to Downtown Baltimore. Howard Transit's Silver route operates between BWI and The Mall in Columbia hourly at most times except overnight. Annapolis Transit's Route C-60 operates between the airport and Annapolis.
• Car: parking places, rental car facilities and plenty of taxis are available at the Baltimore-Washington Airport.

By Train

Amtrak runs many regularly scheduled trains from Washington, DC to Boston, Chicago and many other cities. The trains are:

• The Acela Express between Washington and Boston.
• The Capitol Limited between Washington and Chicago, via Pittsburgh and Cleveland.
• The Cardinal/Hoosier State between Washington and New York and Washington and Chicago, via Cincinatti and Indianapolis.
• The Carolinian/Piedmont between Washington and New York and Washington and Charlotte, North Carolina.
• The Crescent from New York via Washington to Atlanta and New Orleans.
• The Northeast Regional between Boston and Newport News, via New York and Washington DC.
• The Silver Service/Palmetto between New York and Tampa/Miami, stopping in Washington DC, Charleston, Savannah and Jacksonville.
• The Vermonter between Washington DC and St. Albans, Vermont, via New York City.

By Car

Like Rome, all roads lead to Washington, DC, but watch the round-a-bouts, they get kinda tricky!

By Bus

Greyhound runs regular bus between all the major cities. There exist on the East Coast a system commonly referred to as the 'Chinatown Bus'. These buses are run by several companies, some use old retired buses to brand new ones. Tickets go from $10 to $20 roundtrip between Washington, D.C. Chinatown to New York, with optional stop in Baltimore.

By Boat

Getting Around

By Car

Many international rental companies have a wide selection of rental cars and these include Hertz, Avis, Dollar, Thrifty, Enterprise, Budget and Alamo/National. Most companies will require you are at least 25 years of age, although younger people might be able to rent cars at slightly higher rates and with some insurance differences as well. A national driver's license is usually enough, but an additional international one is recommended. Also note that it usually costs more to include lots of other extra things. For example extra drivers, GPS, the first full tank, SLI (Supplemental Liability Insurance), PAI (Personal Accident Insurance, usually covered already at home), road assistance/service plan, and drop-off costs for one-way rentals.
If you want to book a car, it is recommended that you book your car before arriving in the USA. This is almost always (much) cheaper compared to just showing up. Also, try and book with a so-called 'broker', which usually works together with a few or many car rental companies and can offer the best deal. Some examples include Holidayautos, Holidaycars and Sunny Cars. Some of the cheapest deals to book from Europe, includes Drive-USA, which also has a German version.

For more information and tips about renting cars and campers, additional costs, insurance, traffic rules, scenic routes and getting maps and fuel it is advised to check the USA Getting Around section.

By Public Transport

The public transportation system in the District consists of the Metrorail and Metrobus (see the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority), and the DC Circulator. These, along with several regional transit systems, such as MARC, VRE, ART, CUE, DASH, and Fairfax Connector, serve Washington, D.C. and the surrounding areas of Virginia and Maryland. While the Metrorail and Metrobus serve stations both inside and outside of the District, most of the regional systems listed above do not serve the District itself. Rather, they connect to the Metro system at various points in Virginia and Maryland.

By Foot

By Bike

Eat

Ben's Chili Bowl

Drink

Sleep

Budget

Mid-Range

Upscale

Work

Learn

• George Washington University
• American University Washington, D.C.

Keep Connected

Internet

Phone

See also International Telephone Calls

Post

The US Postal Service is very good and well priced mail system. There are hundreds of big and small post offices in Washington, D.C. If wanting to send a letter or postcard it is best just to leave it in a blue mail box with the proper postage. There are also private postal services like FedEx, UPS and DHL.

External Links

• Official Governmental Website
• Official Tourism Website