Tue 15 Jan 2008
Posted by Meg under American Cities , Attractions , Vacation , hotels
Growing up just a few hours away from the nation’s capital, I visited the city several times per year, whether it was for field trips, family excursions, or work purposes. And though I will probably never think of DC as one of America’s best cities, I can honestly say that it’s a great place to visit, and it still holds appeal for me even after many trips.
There’s no way you can see and do everything DC has to offer in just a day or weekend, so if you live far away, it’s a great place to spend a week of vacation.
When deciding where to stay, you’ll want to pick a place that’s near a metro line. The main tourist area is the National Mall, where you’ll find lots of museums, monuments, and usually a protest or two on any given day — but there’s so much more to the city than just this one small area, so you’ll want to pick up a metro card and plan to ride around a bit.
If you want a cheap place to stay, your best bet is one of the outer suburbs in Maryland or Virginia, which can be about a 45 minute metro ride into the heart of the city. But my favorite neighborhood in DC is Adams Morgan, which is also home to one of my favorite hotels, the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel.
Like everything else in the city, rooms here will cost you quite a bit, but the luxurious accommodations are well worth the cost, in my opinion. The hotel features an Old English Pub among several other in house dining options, and is conveniently located right on the subway line. It’s a short walk from here to the National Zoo, where adults and children alike can easily spend a whole day.
One great thing about DC is that most of the attractions are free. The Zoo and all the monuments and museums have no admission fee — they just get your money at the gift shops and restaurants.
After a day of sightseeing, you can return to your hotel in Adams Morgan for a change of clothes, then step outside into the middle of one of the hippest night scenes in the city. It’s where all the young people come to eat, drink, and be (mostly) naked after dark. For laid back and delicious, but with less of a wild streak, I recommend the 24-hour Tryst coffeehouse.
For a list of special events happening this year in DC, visit the Washington Tourism website here.
