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WASHINGTON – THE NATION’S CAPITAL
Washington, D.C. is one
of America’s great cities and yet one of its worst. With a few blocks of the
White House are some of the most dangerous neighbourhoods in the country.
Still, before the Expos relocated here, Washington was not quite complete. Now
that the Nationals have begun playing in RFK Stadium, baseball road trips in
the Northeast can be much more interesting.
The center of
Washington is for tourists from all over the world. Internationally famous
sites include the Capitol, Washington Monument, White House, Lincoln Memorial,
and the Smithsonian, the greatest collection of museums in the world.
Attractions outside the city include the Pentagon and Arlington National
Cemetery. This is a city where sports is far behind politics and history, and
the road tripper can be excused if he decides to spend several days here
discovering the stories behind the founding of the nation.
This is not to say that Washington is a bad sports town. The Redskins have a storied history that has recently been sullied by owner Dan Synder, while the Wizards NBA franchise hosted Michael Jordan’s comeback for two memorable, if not quite successful, seasons. The Washington Capitals round out the big 4, while Major League Soccer’s DC United shares RFK with the Nationals. The college sports scene is also very vibrant, with the Terrapins of the University of Maryland close by.
Impressions: Driving in Washington simple, but you
have to watch out for roads that are closed due to security. Downtown streets
are generally in grid format, although some streets such as Pennsylvania Avenue
move diagonally through the downtown core. Downtown hotels are expensive, if
you are staying in the suburbs try to find a hotel near a Metro station. WMATA,
also known as Metro, offers a day pass that allows you unlimited access for the
whole day. If you decide to drive downtown, you can find some free parking near
the FDR memorial and in some other areas, but you need to get there
early.
Once you are out of
your car, spend as much time as you can on foot. Walking from the Lincoln
Memorial to the Capitol is long but you will see so much on the way. The
Smithsonian Museums are each worth at least half a day if you have time, and as
admission is free, they are quite worth it. The Air and Space Museum is
particularly intriguing.
I suggest that you plan for at least 3 days in Washington and take your time to view the attractions. This is not a city you want to rush through; the sites here are unique and world-famous and you should relax and enjoy the experiences that only Washington can provide. Having said that, take care to avoid some of the seedier neighbourhoods. Stay within the tourist attractions and you will have no problems, but a two block walk in the wrong direction can leave you in a strange and potentially dangerous area.
Jefferson Memorial
Overall, Washington is a fascinating town. Frankly, the Nationals are not the number one story here, even though they are still quite new. This is one of the few towns in the US where sports is secondary, and so the roadtripper may want to spend a few extra days here checking out the unique sites that can only be found in the national capital.
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