Beginner's Guide to Washington, D.C.

Budget Accommodations

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Washington, DC budget accommodations can seem impossible to find, but they are available. For the most part, the farther you move away from the city, the cheaper that lodging will become, and thus, “budget” lodging in a downtown hotel may mean slightly different things than budget lodging in the suburbs. In addition, if you are on a particularly tight budget, search on the Internet for hostels and budget bed and breakfasts, as these will often be the least expensive option.

If you want to stay downtown and save some money, look for economic chain hotels. Red Roof Inn has a recommended hotel on H Street and there is a Days Inn on Connecticut Avenue. For an even better location, check out Hotel Harrington, which is on 11th Street and less than a block from the White House.

These three hotels, however, are likely more expensive than what you will find in the suburbs. If you are willing to stay in Maryland (still within a Metro ride of downtown), check out the American Inn of Bethesda. On the other hand, if you prefer Virginia, consider the Best Western in Arlington, which has a free shuttle to Reagan National Airport or the Travelodge in Alexandria. The Travelodge is in a particularly good spot, Old Town Alexandria, which is worth a visit even if you’re not staying in Virginia.

Mid-Priced Accommodations

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Mid-priced accommodations usually give you one of two things: great location or exceptional service. You can find a highly satisfactory (though not five-star) hotel downtown or, for the same price, stay at one of the top hotels in the suburbs. For the most part, our mid-priced suggestions range from one hundred to one hundred and fifty dollars, though this price range can vary depending on the season.

In downtown Washington, consider the Holiday Inn on C Street or the Four Points Sheraton on K Street, just north of the White House. Another option is the Embassy Suites on 22nd Street. It is on the high end of our “mid-priced” price range, but because it offers suites, you will have extra room, and because it’s Embassy Suites, you will have a great hot breakfast on the house.

Moving north from downtown, you can find some great hotels in Dupont Circle, which is a fun area of town and offers exceptional ethnic dining. Fitting in with the character-filled environs, the Tabard Inn doesn’t have any two rooms that are exactly the same. Just west of Dupont Circle is the Jurys Normandy on Wyoming Avenue. This hotel is in the embassy section of town, which has a nice secluded feel as compared to downtown DC.

Five-Star Accommodations

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Washington, DC entertains more foreign dignitaries than perhaps any other city in the world, and when the foreign dignitaries, as well as the rich and famous, come to town, they can stay at some of the best accommodations in the world. These five-star hotels will generally cost at least two hundred dollars each night, and for that price they offer unparalleled service, fabulous locations (though not always downtown), and oftentimes, a bit of history. Whether you are a foreign dignitary yourself, a business traveler looking to conduct business, or a traveler looking to escape business, these hotels will impress you.

Several of the city’s best hotels are downtown, just a few steps or blocks from the big sights. The Hay Adams Hotel, for example, is directly across from the White House. If you want a luxurious hotel that is also historic hotel, you have two main options: the Renaissance Mayflower and the Willard Inter-Continental. The Renaissance Mayflower is a seventy-five year old national landmark, and the Willard Inter-Continental is outstanding and more than one hundred years old. Finally, as in many other cities, it’s hard to go wrong with the luxurious Ritz-Carlton; DC’s version of the chain is on 22nd Street.

If you want five-star luxury without the downtown crowds, consider staying in Georgetown. The most famous hotel in Georgetown is the Watergate, where individuals monitored the break-in that eventually brought down President Richard Nixon. Another option is the Four Seasons, which has great views of Rock Creek Park and a running trail along the Baltimore and Ohio Canal.

Washington, D.C., Neighborhoods

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Republicans and Democrats agree on at least this one thing: Washington DC is growing by leaps and bounds. The population of metropolitan DC has surpassed three million yet unemployment is declining. Consequently, DC offers one of the stronger real estate markets in the country in both the commercial and residential sectors. All DC neighborhoods combine both sectors, yet each neighborhood has its own flair and character. Here are a few of the more prominent areas of town:

· Downtown/Capital Hill: The Hill, as Capital Hill is popularly known, is home to scores of office buildings, both government and private. In addition, there are a few residential blocks, including some with Victorian-style architecture. Real estate is expensive here, but it puts you right in the heart of the action.

· Dupont Circle: Just north of downtown, Dupont Circle is known as the vibrant section of town, complete with ethnic restaurants and offbeat shops. The area is especially popular with young professionals, and there are large sections of apartments here.

· Adams Morgan: As far as real estate goes, Adams Morgan is similar to Dupont Circle; young professionals flock to the abundant residential rentals.

· Georgetown: West of downtown, Georgetown sits on the banks of the Potomac. Young professionals usually can’t afford to live in Georgetown, however, as the two hundred year old and architecturally beautiful row houses and cobblestone streets make real estate in this neighborhood very pricey.

· Anacostia: Anacostia, in east DC, is a historically black community. The Frederick Douglass National Historic Site is here, and there is a sizable residential population.

There are several other key areas of town, from Chinatown to Columbia Heights, but these five neighborhoods are particularly well known among residents. Of course, many of the city’s residents live in the Virginia and Maryland suburbs, but that is a topic for another article.

Metro DC Areas

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Washington, DC was created by slicing off sections of Maryland and Virginia, yet DC has never fully separated from these two parents. The majority of DC employees actually live in Maryland or Virginia (the commute is generally twenty to forty minutes each way), and many DC businesses are actually based outside of the city. Here are a few of the especially popular areas among DC commuters.

Maryland

· Prince George County: Like DC and unlike most DC suburban areas, Prince George County has a majority black population. The University of Maryland is here in College Park and other cities include Laurel and Upper Marlboro. The median household income is just over $55,000.

· Montgomery County: To the west of Prince George County, this county includes towns such as Gaithersburg, Silver Spring, Chevy Chase, and Bethesda, which is home to the Bethesda Naval Hospital.

Virginia

· Fairfax County: This Virginia county includes the well-known towns of McLean, Falls Church, and Fairfax, which is the headquarters for the oil conglomerate Exxon-Mobil. The household median income in the county is a whopping $81,000 per year.

· Arlington County: Arlington, Virginia, is just across the Potomac from DC and is home to the Pentagon and Arlington National Cemetery. In addition, Arlington includes Crystal City, which is a popular new residential and commercial area among both young professionals and congressmen.

· Alexandria: Live in Alexandria and you’ll be sharing George Washington’s digs; the president and general lived and died at in town at Mount Vernon. As for the city itself, it has a historic waterfront and downtown, complete with cobblestone streets and great shopping and dining.

Unlike each of the fifty states, Washington, DC, has a majority African-American population (approximately sixty percent). Once you move into Maryland or cross the Potomac into Virginia, however, the demographics often slip into the traditional white majority.

The Washington, D.C., Real Estate Market

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Some real estate analysts have noted that Washington, DC is always going to have a stable, strong real estate market; after all, the government’s not going anywhere.

Even though DC has a stable real estate market, it also has a growing market. Over the past three years, DC has added seventy-five thousand jobs each year (the highest job growth rate in the country) and had an unemployment rate of 3.6 percent. This economic growth produces a strong real estate market, both in housing for these new workers and in commercial properties.

For the young professionals who are moving to DC, the city has thousands of apartments. Unfortunately for these professionals, however, DC apartments are very pricey compared to the rest of the country. In Fairfax County, for example, the average price for a top-quality apartment is about sixteen hundred dollars (add about two hundred dollars for a townhouse).

Home prices are likewise high and rising; in the year prior to May 2005, median home prices rose twenty-three percent, a figure two and a half times the national average. If you go all the way back to January 2003, the prices have risen forty-eight percent. The average home rental is over twenty-one hundred dollars, and there is an eighty-five absorption rate. Some houses are selling for more than fifty percent above the asking price.

Commercial real estate growth mirrors that of the residential community. The price of office buildings has risen twenty-seven percent in one year, even though DC has restrictive building codes that prohibit skyscrapers.

The booming real estate market is expected to slow, but it will likely continue to rise slowly, and at least avoid plummeting; after all, the government’s not going anywhere.

Moving to Washington, D.C.

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Any move presents its unique challenges, but moving to the nation’s capital and one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world can be particularly challenging.

In many cases, your move to DC won’t be by choice; major corporations, such as AOL, Lockheed Martin, Exxon Mobil, and US Air, are headquartered in DC and maintain large numbers of employees. On the other hand, however, Washington is a great place to move if you want to get your foot in the door of government or public policy. Thousands of young professionals, idealistic or not, have gone to DC to get involved in shaping public policy, whether in government or with private firms.

Once you move to DC, you’ll be faced by some of the drawbacks of big city life. DC has legendarily frustrating traffic and one of the higher costs of living in the country. In addition, the city government is just now putting some of its past problems behind it, and DC has always had a relatively high crime rate. Finally, DC has the largest economic gap in the country (twenty percent of its residents live below the poverty line), and it is a challenge (and opportunity) to fight that disparity.

If you can, avoid moving to DC during busy periods, especially if you plan to be moving into the district itself. If you’re going to be moving into a house, check if the owner occupies the house and determine what exactly you will be paying for, heating bills can be well over a hundred dollars for even the smallest apartments.

Once you get settled in, you’ll have a hundred little details that you won’t realize you forgot until you arrive. Here is a head start:

· Auto Information: Head to the DC Department of Motor Vehicle’s web site at http://dmv.dc.gov for information on changing your license and your car’s registration.

· Schools: In addition to its many universities, DC has a wide array of both public and private schools from pre-K to high school. Check out the DC public schools at: http://www.k12.dc.us/DCPS/home.html

· Address: Changing your address is free at the post office, and you can have your mail forwarded from your old address for several months. You’ll also want to change your address for all your bills and to have your utilities turned on at your new home.

· Voter Registration: Go to the DC Board of Elections and Ethics web site at http://www.dcboee.org/ to print the voter registration form.

Once you get to town, get to know your immediate area and then start to explore the rest of the city. Take advantage of all DC has to offer: its historic side, its ethnic sides, and its cultural aspects. The longer you live in DC, the more you will discover.

Sources:

http://www.post-gazette.com

http://realtytimes.com

http://www.about.com

http://www.insiders.com

Restaurants

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The nation’s political capitol might also be its dining capitol. From great holes in the wall for downtown lunch to fine dining experiences in the residential areas, Washington has flavor for all of your taste buds.

· Downtown/Capitol Hill/Foggy Bottom: Several dining guides agree that Laboratoria del Galileo is the best restaurant in DC, bar none. Its Italian food can be expensive but it’s always excellent. Another good dinner spot, according to Frommer’s, is the romantic Butterfield 9. On the other hand, Capitol Hill employees on lunch break often make a beeline for either Tortilla Coast or the greasy Ben’s Chili Bowl, which is on U Street is popular.

· Adams-Morgan/Dupont Circle: Diversity reigns in Adams-Morgan and Dupont Circle. Meskerem, for example, offers great Ethiopian food while Zorba’s has been serving great affordable Greek food for twenty years. Southern food may not offer quite the same ethnic experience, but Vidalia is still a great option. Finally, if you just want some comfort pizza, Luigi’s is the best bet in Dupont Circle.

· Maryland and Virginia: Fine dining is cheaper in the suburbs than it is within the district. On the Maryland side, Jackie’s is a good budget restaurant in Silver Spring. On the other hand, if you wake up in Virginia, go to the 29 Diner in Fairfax, which offers the area’s best breakfast all day long. Old Town Alexandria also has a number of character-filled eateries. You’ll also more likely to find familiar chain restaurants such as Chili’s and Applebee’s in the suburbs than you are downtown, but that rule does have its exceptions.

The main distinguishing point of Washington dining is diversity; several sections of the city have entire rows of ethnic restaurants. Chinatown, for example, does not have the reputation of its New York counterpart but the food is just as good. On the north side of town, near the zoo, is Woodley Park, which is highlighted by the Afghan Grill (formerly Khyber Pass). You can also find great ethnic food south of the city in Crystal City.

Washington D.C. Activities: Monuments and Museums

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The big attractions in Washington D.C. are the federal monuments and museums. It is inspiring to visit the buildings where American leaders have lived and worked and the monuments that honor some of America’s greatest leaders, soldiers, and thinkers.

Washington government tours begin and end with the White House, the residence and office for two centuries of presidents. Just a few blocks east, the U.S. Capitol contains the chambers of the Senate and the House of Representatives. Tours of both buildings are free, but you should contact your elected representative to obtain tour reservations.

Outside of the White House and the Capitol, the most recognizable Washington buildings are the monuments. The Washington Monument towers over the city while the Lincoln and Jefferson Memorials are architectural beauties, complete with towering columns and sculptures of their namesakes. The Franklin Roosevelt Memorial opened to public acclaim within the last ten years, and a Martin Luther King, Jr., Monument is also in the works. In addition, solemn memorials commemorating World War Two, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War, provide a good opportunity to ponder the sacrifices that American soldiers have made on behalf of the country.

After visiting these monuments, you might be ready to move inside and visit some of America’s great treasures at the Smithsonian Museums. The Air and Space, Natural History, American History, and American Indian Museums are the major parts of the Smithsonian group, but even these museums are only the tip of the iceberg that is the DC museum scene. Here are some of the other popular tourist spots:

• Supreme Court
• National Archives—home of the Declaration of Independence and other historic documents
• FBI Headquarters
• Mount Vernon—George Washington’s home ten miles away in Alexandria
• Pentagon
• Library of Congress
• National Cathedral
• Ford’s Theater—the site of the assassination of Abraham Lincoln
• Folger Shakespeare Museum
• National Zoo—the home of America’s first pandas

One of the great things about Washington D.C. is that almost all the sites are free to the public. American tax dollars pay for these attractions, so even though you may need to wait in line, you won’t have to pay.

Washington D.C. Activities: Culture and Shopping

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History and politics provide Washington with its biggest attractions, but the city is also full of modern-day activities.

Though it doesn’t have the reputation of New York or Los Angeles, Washington has a great series of theater and music performances. The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts is one of the best venues for both music and theater, but there are several other great spots as well. The Washington Symphony is one of America’s best, and on the Fourth of July, the concert accompanies the legendary fireworks. Whatever time of year you’re in town, check the newspapers to see what is playing.

Washington has never had the athletic reputation of cities such as Boston and Philadelphia, but it is no sports slouch. The city is especially abuzz over the Nationals, the city’s new Major League baseball team. The basketball Wizards no longer have Michael Jordan on the team, but they do have a playoff team and an arena downtown. The NFL’s Washington Redskins and the soccer team DC United play in the Virginia suburbs. If you prefer college sports, check out the three Georges: Georgetown, George Washington, and George Mason. George Mason plays in Fairfax, Virginia, and had a magical run to the NCAA Final Four in 2006.

If you prefer shopping to sports, you’ll meet your match in DC. Big chain stores are both downtown and in the suburbs, often in one of DC’s many malls. The Union Station Mall, Crystal City Mall, and the Friendship Heights malls are some of DC’s most popular shopping experiences. As for non-traditional shopping, you can find that in eclectic Adams Morgan and at the Georgetown Flea Market.

Georgetown, which is one of Washington’s wealthiest areas, offers many of the city’s fine shopping experiences. On the other hand, if you’re looking for bargain shopping, head to the Leesburg, Virginia, outlet stores. Finally, if you’re in town on a Saturday, head to Capitol Hill for Eastern Market, where the crowds gather for fruits, vegetables, antiques, collectibles, and much more.

Washington D.C. Outdoor Activities

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You could easily spend all of your time in DC shuttling from one monument to the next, hoping to get everything in. If you have time, however, slow down and relax at one of Washington’s appealing outdoor activities. Washington has a substantial amount of green space where you can run, relax, read, and people watch.

While you’re downtown, make sure to spend some time at the National Mall and Constitution Gardens. The National Mall is the long green space between the Washington Monument and the Capitol and on warm days, it is filled with joggers, readers, softball games, and Congressmen. On the other side of the Washington Monument is the long reflecting pool (which leads up to the Lincoln Memorial) and the Constitution Gardens.

North of the Lincoln Memorial, Rock Creek Park moseys past Georgetown and Embassy Row. Other popular parks include West and East Potomac Parks, which encompass the Jefferson Memorial and the Tidal Basin, and Theodore Roosevelt Island State Park, a small natural preserve in the Potomac River.

The most scenic drive in DC is the George Washington Memorial Parkway, which lines the southern bank of the Potomac. Just west of the parkway is Arlington National Cemetery, which is well worth an afternoon or a day. Within the cemetery is The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the grave of President Kennedy, as well as the final resting places of thousands of American soldiers. If you continue south on the parkway past Arlington, you’ll soon come to Mount Vernon, where you can stroll the grounds and view the Potomac through the eyes of George Washington. As the joke goes, George Washington used to throw a silver dollar across the Potomac (money went farther in those days).

Another great way to experience the Potomac River, however, is on the river itself; take a cruise down the river. If you’re still in a water mood, rent a bike and pedal along the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal. Whether walking, riding, or driving, an outdoor diversion gives you a glimpse of a different side of Washington.

Washington, D.C. Overview

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Washington D.C.: Restaurants and Activities

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Washington, DC: Lodging and Accommodations

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Washington, DC Vacations: One to Three Days

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Beginner's Guide to Washington, D.C.

Budget Accommodations

Mid-Priced Accommodations

Five-Star Accommodations

Washington, D.C., Neighborhoods

Metro DC Areas

The Washington, D.C., Real Estate Market

Moving to Washington, D.C.

Restaurants

Washington D.C. Activities: Monuments and Museums

Washington D.C. Activities: Culture and Shopping

Washington D.C. Outdoor Activities

Washington, D.C. Overview

Washington, D.C. Overview

History

Getting There and Getting Around

Neighborhoods

Washington D.C.: Restaurants and Activities

Restaurants

Washington D.C. Activities: Monuments and Museums

Washington D.C. Activities: Culture and Shopping

Washington D.C. Outdoor Activities

Washington, DC: Lodging and Accommodations

Washington, DC: Lodging and Accommodations Overview

Budget Accommodations

Mid-Priced Accommodations

Five-Star Accommodations

Washington, DC Vacations: One to Three Days

Washington, DC: Getting Prepared, Getting There, and Getting Around

Washington, DC in One Day

Washington, DC in Two Days

Washington, DC in Three Days