USA TRAVEL GUIDE, “WASHINGTON, DC,” THE U.S. CAPITAL

WASHINGTON DC: THE CAPITAL OF THE UNITED STATES

BY CLAY LARROY

Traveling is the kind of activity, which almost all the people love. For someone it is an opportunity to relax and abstract from everyday busy life. For others it is interesting to observe the way people of other cultures and mentality live. Some people consider it to be the best way to have fun and always try to visit as many clubs, pubs, restaurants and cafes as possible for their wallets and time limits. When you want to plan a vacation contact me!

With leafy boulevards, a munificence of monuments and a clutch of museums that rank among the best in the world, Washington DC is both the USA's political and cultural capital. But there's more to the city than marble colossi and thrusting politicos. Behind all the marble lies a throbbing social scene, complete with some of the best clubs on the eastern seaboard, quaint little suburbs thronged with bohemian locals and green city parks that house wildlife as diverse as the city's human population.

For most, however, it is Washington DC's abundance of monuments that make the city a must-visit; whether it's the iconic Lincoln Memorial on whose steps Martin Luther King made his ‘I Have a Dream' speech or the enormous Washington Monument that dominates the city skyline.

Founded in 1790 as a ‘neutral' capital, straddling the then hotly contested dividing line between north and south, Washington DC has elements of both. From the north, it takes its patrician architecture and icy winters, while from the south comes the scorching summers as well as the bonhomie that lifts a night out in Washington.

Its imposing National Cathedral owes its Gothic looks to the UK, while Washington's street plan and overall design came from the mind of a Frenchman, Pierre L'Enfant. Its history, greatly discussed on any tour of the city, also owes much to outside forces with the majority of locals happy to sit down and regale visitors with the tale of how the fledgling city was sacked and burned in 1814 by an angry regiment of British redcoats led by Major General Robert Ross. Despite his best efforts, the city survived and now thrives with barely a scar to show for it.

Today, Washington is a city of buzzing suburbs, with much of the night time action happening, unusually, outside of the city center itself. Downtown DC, home to the Capitol, the White House and the Smithsonian, is an oddly somnolent place at night, lacking the buzz of New York and only really coming alive when the Senate is in session. Nevertheless, it continues to draw visitors from all over the world, many of whom come to see its haunting war memorials: the innovative Korean War Veterans Memorial, the touching Iwo Jima bronze sculpture and the ridiculously ugly contraption sent by a grateful Netherlands following the end of World War II. Sometimes a box of chocolates really is better.

The Dutch contribution to the skyline notwithstanding, DC really is a city that embraces all nationalities. The seat of American power draws all comers, a fact made plain by the imposing edifices along embassy row, and the huge variety of cuisine that dominates the restaurant scene. Oddly enough, DC is one of the best places to try Ethiopian food outside of Africa. That, however, doesn't mean you won't find excellent homegrown fare. Just over 30 miles from the Chesapeake Bay, Washington is famous for its oysters and lump crab cakes, both of which, as generations of politicos have discovered, offer the perfect solution to hunger pangs during a late night debate.

Things to do in Washington, DC

Activities

Wildlife watching

Just outside central DC is the beautiful, and vast, Rock Creek Park, which bisects the city north of the Anacostia River and covers an impressive 809 hectares (2,000 acres) of thickly forested hills. Along with strolls along its many hiking trails, the park is also a haven for wildlife watchers who can do their best to catch a glimpse of everything from raccoons to coyotes within its boundaries. Less exotic but just as lovely are the huge herds of deer, inquisitive squirrel population and vast flocks of birdlife.

Watch an American football match

Washington, like every US city worth its salt, is home to its own American football team. In this case, it's the Washington Redskins (www.redskins.com). Although not hugely successful in recent years, the club has amassed an impressive trophy cabinet that includes no fewer than five NFL titles and is considered the second most valuable NFL franchise in the US. Games take place at the FedEx Field just outside the city in Maryland at the end of the Blue Line, but plan early to secure tickets.

Ice skating

Although considered to be a Southern city, Washington's winters are cold in the extreme. While that isn't so wonderful for sight-seeing, it does mean the city's al-fresco ice rinks come into their own during the winter months. One of the best is the Canal Park ice rink (tel: (202) 465 7012; www.canalparkdc.org/ice-rink) which opens each winter to the delight of locals and tourists alike. Set in the heart of the beautiful Canal Park, its capacious runs make it particularly good for newcomers to the sport.

Sightseeing on a Segway

The motion and controls might take a bit of getting used to but a spin on a Segway is hard to beat - for laughs if nothing else. Washington, like the rest of the US, has no shortage of companies offering tours of all the main monuments by Segway or electric bike. Segs in the City (tel: 1 800 734 7393, in the USA only; www.segsinthecity.com) is more than a brilliant pun, with hire, classes and tours available.

Kayaking

Thanks to its prime position on the banks of the Potomac and Anacostia Rivers, kayaking, canoeing and sailing are all hugely popular among locals. Boating in DC (www.boatingindc.com) can sort you out with canoe, kayak, stand-up paddleboard and pedalo hire as well as lessons. One of the nicest places to test your sea legs is along the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, which offers calm waters and easy paddling. The loveliest scenery is to be found between Georgetown and Violettes Lock, as well as along the Potomac itself. Be warned though: river kayaking is considerably harder and not a great idea for beginners.

Oyster tasting

Chesapeake Bay is famous for its wonderful oysters and just over 30 miles from Washington DC. As a result, there's no shortage of oyster bars in the city, which means it's a great place to try them for the first time - or brush up your shellfish know-how if you've eaten them before. Most are stocked with the Eastern or Atlantic oyster which, despite being the same species, changes in flavor depending on whether they're raised in the salty lower reaches or at the freshwater top. Tuck into some oysters at the Rapphannock Oyster Company (tel: 202 544 4702; www.rroysters.com) and wash them down with a decent glass of wine or craft beer.

City Attractions in Washington, DC

Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial

The Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial pays tribute to the accomplishments of the 32nd US president. With sculptures, waterfalls, pools and walls of grey granite, it honours his services to the country during four terms of office and highlights historical events like the Great Depression and WWII. Most interesting are the two FDR bronze statues. Since Roosevelt never wanted to be pictured in a wheelchair, the monument includes a larger-than-life statue in which he is wearing a floor-length cape. The true-to-scale sculpture, where he is sitting in his wheelchair, was added later. There is also a bronze likeness of Eleanor Roosevelt.

Website http://www.nps.gov/fdrm

International Spy Museum

All is not entirely what it seems at one of Washington's most entertaining museums. Through multimedia presentations, hands-on exhibits and audiovisual effects, the focus at the International Spy Museum is on educating the public about espionage's impact on current and historic events. Among the highlights is the collection of quirky spy paraphernalia such as decoder machines, miniature cameras and a lipstick pistol, while other exhibits allow visitors to test their powers of observation, analysis and surveillance at interactive stations. 'Operation Spy' allows visitors to assume a cover, and among other things, conduct video surveillance, carry out a polygraph test on a suspect agent and escape from a high-security compound.
Website http://www.spymuseum.org

 Korean War Veterans Memorial

Located just south of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, the marble and limestone Korean War Veterans Memorial was built using funds donated from individuals. It was dedicated in 1995. Sitting on a 0.9 hectare (2.2 acre) site, the sculpture features 19 stainless steel soldiers depicted in combat, with the American flag as their symbolic objective. There are images of thousands of the ordinary personnel who supported the combat troops in the military operation and a mural wall is inscribed with the words: 'Freedom is not free'. Within the triangular structure is a small pool lined with black granite and surrounded by a grove of elegant Linden trees, all of which are dotted with inscriptions remembering the wounded, killed and missing.
Website http://www.nps.gov/kwvm

Library of Congress

Housing the largest library in the world, the Library of Congress contains collections of rare American history materials and more than 144 million items. Among them is theGutenberg Bible and a copy of the musical score of the 'Star Spangled Banner'. The library itself is embellished with murals, stained glass windows and statuary. Exhibitions change regularly. There are daily guided tours of the 19th-century Thomas Jefferson Building. Free public tours are available Monday to Friday at 1030, 1130, 1230, 1330, 1430 and 1530 as well as 1030, 1130, 1330 and 1430 on Saturday.
Website http://www.loc.gov

Lincoln Memorial

The imposing 5.8m (19ft) marble statue of Abraham Lincoln, the 16th president of the United States, gazes from the Lincoln Memorial across the Reflecting Pool to the Washington Monument. The style of the memorial is that of a Greek temple with 36 Doric columns, but it is the statue of Lincoln, sculpted by Daniel Chester French, that steals the show. On the interior walls are inscriptions from the Gettysburg Address and Lincoln's second inaugural speech. As a symbol of freedom and racial harmony, the Lincoln Memorial was the site of Martin Luther King's 'I Have a Dream' speech in August 1963.

Website http://www.nps.gov/linc

National Air and Space Museum

The most popular of all the Smithsonian Museums, the National Air and Space Museum traces the development of air and space travel. It is home to the original Wright Brothers' 1903 Flyer, Charles Lindbergh's Spirit of St Louis, the Bell X-1 (the plane that broke the sound barrier in 1947), the Apollo 11 lunar command module and a vast collection of aviation and space technology memorabilia. Free 90-minute tours trace the history of air and space at 1030 and 1300. The museum also houses an IMAX film theatre and the Albert Einstein Planetarium. A second vast NASA museum next to Dulles airport houses historically significant craft including Space Shuttle Enterprise and the Enola Gay.

Website http://www.airandspace.si.edu

 National Museum of Natural History

Arguably the most impressive of the three museums administered by the Smithsonian Institute, the National Museum of Natural History has a superb collection of dinosaur fossils, an insect zoo, the worlds largest preserved bush elephant, the 45.5-carat Hope Diamond and an IMAX film theatre. The Mammal Hall is devoted to mammal and human diversity, evolution and adaptation, while the Sant Ocean Hall uses state-of-the-art technology to demonstrate the oceans' essential role and includes a coral reef teeming with marine life. The newest exhibition, the David H. Koch Hall of Human Origins, tells the epic story of the evolution of man.
Website http://www.mnh.si.edu

National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI)

NMAI is a tribute to Native Americans. The impressive structure is circular and faces east in accordance to American Indian traditions. Decorated in earthy tones, it is designed to reflect indigenous aesthetics. The museum is divided into four sections: 'Our Universe' focuses on Native philosophies related to creation and the relationship between man and the universe; 'Our Peoples' relates the life of Native Americans via videos; 'Our Lives' focuses on the contemporary life and identities of eight Native Communities; and there is also a changing contemporary exhibit. In the Lelawi Theater, the audience is put in the middle of a unique multi-media presentation about tribal life.
Website http://www.nmai.si.edu

REFERENCE SITES:

http://www.travelresearchonline.com/

It's almost impossible to be funnier than the people in Washington. 
Carol Burnett

Travel to create marvelous memories for you and your family or friends!