Washington D.C.

Washington is a city of contrasts with the clean and sanitized Mall and the poorer outskirts with their high crime rates and litter.

It is useful to describe the layout of this planned city (district). It is bounded by Virginia to the southwest (on the other side of the river) and Maryland on all other sides. The district is in the shape of a diamond with four quadrants with the Capital Building in the middle: North East, North West, South East, and South West. The roads are set out in a grid pattern though there are some diagonal roads/streets named after states. All road names include the quadrant in which they are located. East-West streets are identified with letters while North-South streets (e.g. C Street NW) and identified with numbers (e.g. 3rd Street SW). Generally building/house numbers identify how far they are away from the capital with each “100” being a single street (block). For example, “an address at 514 19th St NW would be on 19th St west of the Capitol, and since E is the fifth letter of the alphabet, the 514 address would be between E and F Streets NW.” (source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Streets_and_highways_of_Washington,_D.C.).

The different neighbourhoods in the city have distinct flavours. A few of the better known are: Georgetown (historic, small town feel), Chinatown, Dupont Circle (historic roundabout park) and Capital Hill (the area around the Capital Building).

When visiting, avoid driving into the middle of Washington if at all possible, the Metrorail (subway system) is VERY efficient and clean, providing service into the city from quite some distance away, so you can stay at a hotel on the outskirts without having to pay higher prices in the middle of the city (see Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority for details).

The main train station is “Union Station” located a short distance from the Capital Building and offering train services to long-haul locations throughout the country. There is a shopping arcade at platform level as well as a food court in the basement with many fast-food outlets to chose from which also has a full size Wallgreens. The main hall is a beauty to behold.

Dulles International Airport is located 25 miles west of the city in Virginia with train and bus service into the city in addition to the normal car options. The Baltimore-Washington International (BWI) airport is located just outside of Baltimore and so is quite some distance from Washington which can be accessed via train.

If you are in the middle of the city you can get around quite easily by walking though things are a bit spread out. There is also a local scooter rental service operating if you want to use it to get around.

Most attractions are free of charge and, as such, are very busy. If tickets are required, it is recommended that you obtain them WELL in advance of your visit. The following are of particular interest:

• Arlington National Cemetery - The burial place of many famous Americans and the grave of the unknown soldier, guarded 24 hours a day.

• Bureau of Engraving and Printing - To get timed entry tickets, you have to obtain them online in advance. The tour is quite good, taking a brief video of the printing process and a view of the presses themselves. The public can purchase various products (including uncut bills) in the on-site shop. See my Banknote Collecting (Notaphily) page for details.

• Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial - One of the most modern memorials in Washington, this is a series of walls, waterfalls and quotes carved into the rocks. Very interesting insight into the man.

• Hirshhorn Museum - On the south side of the mall, this is small art gallery also has a sculpture garden. With it's circular levels and rotating exhibits, it is an interesting place to visit. There is a small café on the ground floor and gift shop in the basement. See my album of pictures at https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjCx3NS.

• International Spy Museum (700 L'Enfant Plaza, SW Washington DC 20024) - An striking looking museum and one of the few in the city you actually have to pay to enter, the International Spy Museum tells the history of spying over several floors of exhibits. It is located a short distance south of the mall near the Washington Monument. There is a souvenir shop on the ground floor.

• Korean War Veterans Memorial - A striking memorial for those that died in the Korean war depicts a series of larger than life statues of soldiers walking through a paddy field. The etched portraits in the stone walls are touching. This is located just to the south-east of the Lincoln Memorial.

• Lincoln Memorial - The famous monument of Lincoln sitting on a chair with his piercing eyes. Located at the extreme west side of the mall, back to the Potomac river, the monument is located in an area of park with the large reflecting pool between it and the tall spire of the Washington Monument. Not a lot to see at the monument though the quotes on the walls are interesting and the monument provides a wonderful view across the Reflecting Pool towards the Washington Monument.

• The National Archives Museum - Located just off of the mall this is a smaller museum devoted to some of the most precious American documents such as the Declaration of Independence.

• National Gallery of Art - A mixture of contemporary and classic art. Located on the north side of the mall this large gallery is divided into two buildings: The classical west building and the modern east building, with the west being the largest.

• The National Museum of American History - A shrine to American 'culture' concentrating largely on popular culture (read: television). Makes an interesting afternoon. Very popular. Located on the north side of the mall.

• National Museum of the American Indian - Located on the south side of the mall on the eastern end, very close to the Capital, this striking looking building is worth just visiting to look at. Inside there is a large central atrium with floors with various exhibits but is generally quite small. The “Americans” exhibit on the 3rd floor is highly recommended as it questions how the native Americans have had their culture used and misused in modern society. See my album of pictures at https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjCx1ky.

• Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum - Located on the south side the mall, the National Air and Space Museum is the most well-known (and loved) museum of all of the Smithsonian museums. With many original exhibits of rockets, planes and other air and space ephemera. Various galleries of exhibits throughout are also worth a visit. Though free to visit, timed tickets should be obtained online in advance (often you can do this as you are waiting in the line to get in). There is an IMAX theatre here that charges a nominal fee and, of course, there is a gift shop on the ground (1) and basement levels (LL). The basement also has a café. See my album of pictures at https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjCx3RN.

• Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History - Located on the north side of the mall, this museum has numerous displays about natural history.

• Smithsonian National Postal Museum - A surprisingly good museum concentrating largely on culture instead of the sticky pieces of paper. If you like stamps – this is the place for you HOWEVER if you could care less and would like to enjoy a smaller, cultural, museum, this is worth a visit. The museum is located just across the street from Union Station. See my Stamp Collecting (Philately) page for details.

• Thomas Jefferson Memorial - A modest memorial with a statue in the middle of a dome and a few quotes. A diverse and controversial life is commemorated simply in this monument. Great views across a small lake (a tidal basin). A relaxing walk around the lake, through the park, in good weather is highly recommended. It is located on the eastern shore of the Potomac, a short walk south of the Lincoln memorial.

• U.S. Capitol - The center of American federal government, the home of the house of Representatives and the Senate. Queues form for (free) entry to the building where you can browse through the various halls and sit in the visitor's galleries of both houses if they are not in session. There is a large visitor center accessed in the basement at the rear of the building (on the opposite side of the mall). Pre-booking of tickets is essential though you may be lucky and get tickets on the day. Tours are offered free of charge. See my album of pictures at https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjCx7zq.

• Vietnam Veterans Memorial - This striking monument of black stone carved into the ground contains the names of all those US citizens who gave their lives in the Vietnam war. It is located just to the north-east of the Lincoln Memorial beside the reflecting pool and there are books here you can use to look up where the names of those that died can be found on the wall.

• Washington Monument - Located just south of the White House between the mall and the reflecting pool, the Washington Monument offers great views of the capital from the top via a quick elevator ride though small windows mean photos are difficult. There is a small exhibit explaining the history of the monument. Timed entry tickets are available free of charge from a small booth located near the base of the monument or online and should be picked up well before your visit.

• The White House - Tickets for tours are available but the queue is notorious – you must be in the line VERY early in the morning and, of course, free tickets need to be booked online in advance. Tours take in many of the famous rooms of the house.

There are continual tours of all key sites by trams which operate in the Mall area. A day pass which allows unlimited get on/get off privileges is reasonably priced.

There is a lot to see in the city itself but if you are willing to visit a short distance away there are a few other places I think you might enjoy visiting.

The Pentagon is a distinctive building housing the heads of the US Military located on the western side of the Potomac, south west of the centre of Washington. It DOES offer tours but as you might expect the entry requirements are quite strict, please see the web site for details.

The Goddard Visitors Center is located near Greenbelt, north-west of Washington. Goddard is essentially a research facility though it does house some of the significant computer resources of NASA. Tours are available to the public from the visitors center which also contains some minor exhibits. Worth a visit for space enthusiasts but little in terms of rockets and space (children are NOT recommended to visit).

The Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center is an amazing annexe of the Smithsonian Institution's National Air and Space Museum located in Virginia a short distance from the Dulles International Airport. See my page here. It has to be seen to be believed.

For further information, please see:

• Baltimore & Washington Journal - I created when I visited Baltimore and Washington D.C. in 1998
• DC City Government Site
• Washington D.C. Online - The official home page
• Wikipedia - Washington, D.C.
• Washington DC - Official Tourism site of Washington DC