Quick guide for visiting iconic Washington DC

Cultural, political, historical—Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States, is all of the above and more. The city referred to as Washington, the District of Columbia, the District or simply DC—was founded on the banks of the Potomac River on the country’s east coast in 1790 and borders the states Virginia and Maryland. As the seat of government, it has a highly transitory and international population.

Iconic Washington DC

DC’s streets radiate out from the city’s centre, where its iconic government buildings and national monuments are located. Favourites include the Lincoln Memorial and the humbling Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Check out the U.S. Capitol and the White House, and then rub elbows with movers and shakers at the Caucus Room, a favourite hangout of politicos.

Don’t miss the free excellent museums that compose the incomparable Smithsonian Institution, especially the National Museum of the American Indian and the National Museum of American History, which reopened in November 2008 after a two-year renovation. Shopaholics must visit the eclectic weekend Eastern Market.

Dine out and take in cultural DC

Washington’s dining scene is hopping, with several top restaurant options. Nearly any international cuisine can be had, but definitely try Ethiopian fare, which is better and more abundant here than anywhere else in the U.S. The revived U Street Corridor— significant for its African-American culture and history, is currently the hip neighbourhood.

For Britons who can’t get enough of the Bard, the Shakespeare Theatre Company presents top-notch productions at its year-old Harman Centre for the Arts. Ford’s Theatre, infamous for where President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated, reopens February 2009.

Spring and fall are the best times to visit; summers are hot and humid (the city was built on a swamp after all). To avoid the city’s awful traffic, the Metro subway and bus systems are the best ways to get around.

Contributor

Donna M. Airoldi is the editorial director for TravelMuse.com, an online travel-planning site. TravelMuse is featuring special Washington DC coverage for the upcoming Presidential Inauguration.

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