As the center of the United States' federal government, Washington, D.C. constantly bustles with activity. It's also home to some of the country's most prestigious museums, performing arts organizations, monuments and memorials, and historic places. The city boasts enough professional sports teams to make some states envious. Outdoor recreation abounds, too, in its parks, gardens, and waters. Shopping and dining also excel here, from upscale boutiques and five-star restaurants, to funky shops and ethnic eateries.
The capital city's conception began at the end of the Revolutionary War. All the states wanted the new nation's capital city to be one of their own. To avoid rancor, the Constitutional Convention decided in 1787 to build a new federal district set apart from the states and governed by Congress. President George Washington chose the District of Columbia's site, originally 100 square miles along the Potomac River. Pierre L'Enfant designed the original layout of the city, which was later revised by Andrew Ellicott. The city's signature circles with intersecting diagonal avenues symbolize the government's different branches emanating from its central source of power.
Today, Washington, D.C. covers 67 square miles, comprised of four sections: Northwest, Southwest, Northeast, and Southeast. At the city's center, where all four sections meet, sits the U.S. Capitol building. Approximately 572,000 people live in the city itself, while the entire metropolitan area (including seven counties in Maryland and five counties in Virginia) has a population around 5.4 million.
Although the federal government is the driving force of D.C.'s economy, and is a major employer, many other supporting businesses, such as government-related research and publishing, also thrive here. With all the city has to offer travelers, tourism is DC's second-largest industry. Trade associations, law, higher education, and the medical field, including research, are other important industries. The larger metro area also serves as world headquarters for a number of corporations, like Gannett News, the International Monetary Fund, and Marriott.
Located in the mid-Atlantic region of the United States, D.C. experiences four distinct seasons with a generally mild climate. Summers are hot and humid. July is the hottest month, and averages a high temperature of 87 degrees Fahrenheit, with the lows temperature averaging around 69 degrees Fahrenheit. Warm weather typically lasts well into October. The city's short winters yield more rain than snow, with January's average high temperature 44 degrees Fahrenheit and average low 30 degrees Fahrenheit. April brings temperatures into the 60s, as well as the blooming of the city's famous cherry blossoms.
April's annual National Cherry Blossom Festival draws numerous tourists and residents to see the cherry blossoms in full bloom, as well as to the festival's special events, performances, and parade. In addition, the city hosts many other fairs and festivals throughout the year.
Of course, many tourists want to see the city's famous monuments or get a glimpse of the government at work. Now icons of the nation's capital, the Washington Monument, Jefferson Memorial, and Lincoln Memorial are perennial favorites. In addition to commemorating past Presidents, the city honors the country's veterans with such memorials as the African American Civil War Memorial, Korean War Veterans Memorial, and Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Just across the Potomac in Arlington, the Arlington National Cemetery serves as the final resting place for hundreds of thousands of honored citizens. Well-known graves include the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers, President John F. Kennedy, and boxer Joe Louis. For an inside look at the government, tour the White House, the Supreme Court, or the Bureau of Engraving and Printing.
Those with cultural tastes will find more than enough to satisfy them in D.C. From the classics performed at the Folger Shakespeare Library to cutting-edge, contemporary plays developed by the Wooly Mammoth Theatre Company, theater goers have a plenty to choose from. Dance, opera, concerts, political comedy, and many other types of performing arts thrive here, too. The Kennedy Center also hosts numerous top-notch performances every year.
D.C. also boasts a large number of museums, 19 of which are part of the renowned Smithsonian Institution, including the Hirshhorn Museum, National Portrait Gallery, National Air and Space Museum, National Museum of Natural History, and National Museum of the American Indian. For more fine art, stroll through the National Gallery of Art or Corcoran Gallery of Art. Indulge your inner James Bond at the International Spy Museum, or learn about naval history at the U.S. Navy Museum.
Historic sites abound in D.C., too. The Frederick Douglass National Historic Site, Tudor Place, and the Decatur House are just a few of the capital city's many historic homes open to the public. To tour a plantation, take a short trip to Virginia to Woodlawn Plantation or Mount Vernon, George Washington's homestead. D.C.'s historic buildings also include churches with stunning architecture, such as the Washington National Cathedral; several synagogues; and a Franciscan Monastery, complete with replicas of catacombs and sites in the Holy Land.
Sports fans can cheer on their favorite teams at RFK Stadium and the Verizon Center. The city's most famous team, the NFL's Washington Redskins, plays out of FedEx Field in nearby Landover, Maryland. Other pro teams include Washington Capitals (NHL), Washington Wizards (NBA), Washington Mystics (WNBA), DC United Soccer, and Washington Nationals (Major League baseball).
If the urban landscape leaves you longing for some nature and recreation, you'll find plenty to do. Biking, jogging, and hiking are popular along the towpaths of the C&O Canal, which stretches 184.5 miles between Georgetown and Cumberland, Maryland. You can also take a mule-drawn boat ride down the canal. For a round of golf, a tennis game, or a horseback ride, head over to Rock Creek Park. The park's 1754 acres include picnic areas, a nature center, plenty of trails, an art gallery, and an amphitheater for events and performances. Watersports are also an option in the District of Columbia, including rented paddle boats at the Tidal Basin, canoeing or kayaking, or sailing in the Potomac River. In the winter, the National Sculpture Garden Rink is the perfect place for ice skating. Other places to get outdoors include the Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, National Mall, and Theodore Roosevelt Island. Kids will especially love a trip to the National Zoo or National Aquarium.
As far as dining goes, D.C.'s restaurant scene bursts with enough choices to please even the most demanding gourmand. Rub elbows with political hot-shots at one of the city's "power dining" spots. Try the creative cuisine at one of the city's new contemporary restaurants, or savor flavors from countries like China, India, Brazil, Ethiopia, El Salvador, Greece, and France.
Whatever your interests, this bustling metropolis provides so many interesting activities you may have a hard time choosing what to do first. See for yourself why Washington, D.C. is a city like no other.
