Washington, D.C.

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The capitol of the United States, Washington D.C. (District of Columbia) boasts a veritable cornucopia of sites to see, events to attend, and people to meet. The diaspora spans practically every nationality and ethnicity: said diversity evident in the food, sight-seeing destinations, and events available in the D.C. Metropolitan region.

Contents 1 Things To Do 1.1 Government Buildings and Museums 1.1.1 Capitol Hill 1.1.2 National Mall 1.1.3 Smithsonian Museums 1.1.4 Potomac River Basin 1.1.5 Arlington National Cemetery 1.2 Culture 1.3 Tips for using public transportation 1.3.1 Metro 1.3.2 Taxi Cabs 1.4 Seasonal Events 1.5 Wireless Internet / Hotspots 2 Local links

Things To Do

There is a lot to do here. DC is a political powerhouse, with a lot of government history. There is also a vibrant cultural life, including nightlife.

Government Buildings and Museums

Capitol Hill

• The Capitol- The public may tour the Capitol, see a House or Senate Session, observe a Committee hearing. For American citizens, guided tours of the Capitol may be reserved through representatives of Congress, and are conducted by congressional aids. Ticket information
• Supreme Court
• Library of Congress
• National Botanical Gardens

National Mall

The National Mall is an open-area national park in downtown Washington, D.C. Officially termed by the National Park Service the National Mall & Memorial Parks, the term commonly includes the areas that are officially part of West Potomac Park and Constitution Gardens to the west, and often is taken to refer to the entire area between the Lincoln Memorial and the Capitol, with the Washington Monument providing a division slightly west of the center.

Smithsonian Museums

• Postal Museum'- Located across First Street from Union Station, the Postal Museum is one of the most overlooked museums of the Smithsonian. It's more than mere stamp collections; it's an unique lens through which to view American history and technological innovation.
• National Museum of the American Indian- The building is among the newest additions to the National Mall. Its architecture is unlike any other structure in the District, comprised of organic curves and naturally rough surfaces, rather than the smooth columns of Roman style architecture or more modern angular constructions seen throughout downtown D.C.
• National Gallery of Art- The East Wing contains modern art, including works by Andy Warhol.
• Air and Space
• Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden
• Arts and Industries
• African Art
• Freer and Sakler Galleries
• The Castle
• Natural History
• American History- (Closed for renovation until Summer 2008)

• National Archives
• Navy Memorial
• Holocaust Museum
• Bureau of Engraving and Printing

Potomac River Basin

• Washington Monument
• Jefferson Memorial
• Lincoln Memorial
• WWII Memorial
• Roosevelt Memorial
• Vietnam Memorial

Arlington National Cemetery

• JFK: The Eternal Flame
• Tomb of the Unknown Soldier: The Changing of the Guard

• Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
  • Millennium Stage
• Watergate Complex
• National Zoo
  • Pandas

• Embassy Row
• National Cathedral
• Eastern Market
• International Spy Museum
• Rock Creek Park
• Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens
• National Arboretum
• Frederick Douglass House (Anacostia)

Culture

• Dupont Circle
  • The intersection of Connecticut, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts Avenues and P and 19th Streets, Dupont Circle is a hub of activity. Restaurants, bars, cafes, bookshops, fashion boutiques, galleries and other places of interest about. The following is a short list of the many places to visit in the area.
    • Brickskellar
    • The Big Hunt
    • Kramerbooks and Afterwords
    • Teaism
    • Soho Tea and Coffee

• U Street
  • Ben's Chili Bowl
    • Since 1957, there has been no better place to find for chili burgers and half-smokes than at Ben's Chili Bowl. Bill Cosby said that it's his favorite D.C. eatery.
  • Coppi's Organic Italian
  • Bohemian Caverns
  • 9:30 Club
• 14th Street
• Chinatown
• Adams Morgan
• Georgetown
• Capitol Hill

Tips for using public transportation

Metro

Rail: The most important thing to remember when using Metro is to stand on the right. It is always rush-hour on the Metro, and the left side of escalators is for riders who are on the move. If you are carrying large pieces of luggage, pushing a baby carriage, or bringing a bicycle on Metro, use the elevators. These items are not welcome on escalators. Standing on the left is a sure sign that you are a tourist, and will not only be a hazard but also greatly annoy fellow Metro riders.

Taxi Cabs

As of June 1, 2008, Washington DC taxis are required to use time and distance based metered rates and are no longer on zone based rates. For more information, please go to http://dctaxi.dc.gov.

   * Tolls & airport charges may not be included.
   * $1.00 Gasoline Surcharge
   * $1.50 each additional passenger
   * $19.00 Maximum fare for trips within District of Columbia

(extra charges include: multiple passengers, rush-hour, gas price increases, and multiple stops), passengers' and drivers' rights, and identification for the driver are required to be displayed prominently in all taxicabs.

Many D.C. taxi drivers are not from America, some having arrived very recently and others having lived in the U.S. for decades. They often talk on the phone while driving, and you may hear dialects from Nigeria, Pakistan, Russia, or any number of other countries. D.C. taxi drivers frequently are politically savvy, and rides often consist of conversations regarding politics and world events.

Seasonal Events

• Cherry Blossom Festival
• Smithsonian Folklife Festival
• Capitol Fringe Festival

Wireless Internet / Hotspots

These are all free. Why pay?

• Crumbs & Coffee (1737 Columbia Rd NW)
• Tryst Coffeehouse (2459 18th Street, NW, no internet sat/sun)
• Java House (1645 Q St. NW)
• Columbia Heights Coffee (11th between Park and Monroe)
• Caribou Coffee (several locations, www.cariboucoffee.com)
• Java Shack (2507 N. Franklin St., in Arlington, Virginia, accessible via the Orange Line)
• St. Elmo's (Alexandria, Virginia, http://www.stelmoscoffeepub.com/)

Also visit the following for more information:

• http://www.wififreespot.com/dc.html
• http://dcatlas.dcgis.dc.gov/agencyapps/wifi.aspx
• http://indiecoffeeshops.com

Local links

Couchsurfing group - Wikipedia - Wikitravel