Washington, DC

Quick Area Guide

The Capital Region draws people from all over the world and offers the best of city living, the convenience of suburban life and the beauty of the country. Encompassing the District of Columbia, Northern Virginia and Suburban Maryland, the Capital Region is rooted in the very beginnings of our nation, but has coupled its historic significance with continual development and growth. Incredibly rich culturally, the Capital Region also offers many different living opportunities for residents in all stages of life. Although the federal government and tourism are the primary industries, the region offers many other traditional and growing industries including law, higher education, technology medicine/medical research and government related research. The Capital Region is also home to the world headquarters for corporations such as US Airways, Marriott, Amtrak, Gannett News, Mobil Oil, MCI Telecommunications and the International Monetary Fund.

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Attractions

Monuments

One of the largest draws to Washington, DC, is the many monuments and memorials scattered around the Washington area. The most famous are centered in the heart of the District, along the National Mall and the Tidal Basin. This beautiful area is a wonderful place to wander, especially when the cherry blossoms are in bloom. In addition to the Presidential monuments that honor Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln and Roosevelt, there are also a number of war memorials in remembrance of the Korean War, the Vietnam War and World War II. Right across the Potomac in Arlington are two other wonderful memorials, Arlington National Cemetery and the Iwo Jima Memorial. Also scattered around the District are the National Law Enforcement Memorial, the United States Navy Memorial, the African American Civil War Memorial and Museum and the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.

Georgetown University

Founded by Archbishop John Carroll in 1789, Georgetown College educational center, under the leadership of Father Patrick F. Healy, (1868-1878) the first African American president of a major college in the United States. Today the oldest Catholic university in the US, Georgetown University is a private, co-educational, Jesuit institution with a student population of approximately 11,515 enrolled in its graduate and undergraduate schools. Visit the 1879 Victorian Healy Building which dominates the Georgetown skyline, and the Jesuit cemetery where Father Patrick Healy and his brother Father James Healy are buried on the grounds of the campus. Father James Healy was the first African American Catholic priest and bishop in America.

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Golf and Tennis

Bull Run Country Club

This course is just 15 minutes from Washington, D.C., bordered by historical civil war battlefields. Utilizing the natural features of the 450 acres that the course resides upon, architect Rick Jacobson has a created a deceptively tough track featuring natural wetlands, trees and wildlife. The course plays 6,961 yards from the tips and is a perennial award-winner in numerous national golf publications.

East Potomac Park Golf Course

This public course features an 18-hole championship course (6,303 yards) and an 18-executive par-three course. Designed by Robert White and Walter Travis, this Washington, D.C. golf course first opened in 1920. The course is flat and fairly simple, with large bunkers and mature trees providing the hazards. The Washington Monument is the primary visible landmark at East Potomac Park.

Raspberry Falls Golf and Hunt Club

This four-star gem of a golf course is located in the Virginia countryside just three miles from Washington, D.C. This Gary Player design opened in 1996, and has since challenged Washington, D.C. area golfers of all skill levels with its links-style design and cavernous bunkers. The course measures 7,191 yards from the tips, and if you're having trouble on this difficult course, there's also a hunt club on premises so you can shoot something other than a high score.

The Tournament Players Club at Avenel

Avenel is one of the premier stops on the PGA Tour, just minutes from downtown Washington, D.C. Since its opening in 1986, this semi-private golf course has hosted numerous PGA Tour events including its first, the 1986 Chrysler Cup, where Arnold Palmer aced the par-3, 239-yard third hole on consecutive days—a feat previously unaccomplished in the history of golf.

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Museums

National Gallery

The National Gallery of Art has one of the finest collections in the world, spanning over eight centuries of painting, sculpture, decorative arts, prints, drawings and photographs. Comprised of two distinct buildings and an outdoor sculpture garden, the museum also has several cafes where visitors can sample a variety of foods in a lovely setting. Open for over 60 years, the West Building was originally a gift from Andrew Mellon. Its classic architecture was designed by American architect John Russell Pope, and it now houses most of the traditional collection. The newer East Building was opened in 1978, and was designed by architect I.M. Pei. This building houses the contemporary and modern collection, as well as many of the educational areas and auditoriums. Admission is free.

Smithsonian Institution

The Smithsonian Institution is made up of 16 museums in the Capital Region and the National Zoo. Admission is free to all museums and the variety and scope of the Institute is enough to interest people of all ages, backgrounds, and interests. Popular destinations include the National Air and Space Museum, which covers the “history, science and technology of aviation and space flight” with artifacts, exhibits and interactive displays, and the National Museum of American History, which houses a vast array of interesting artifacts from our nation’s past and exhibits on everything from science and technology to September 11th. Other highlights: the New National Museum of the American Indian, the Hirshorn Museum and Sculpture Museum, and the National Museum of African Art.

International Spy Museum

This is a private museum in Washington opened in 2002 and explores the fascinating history of espionage and spies. Exhibits filled with tools and techniques of the trade are paired with stories of the most famous spies and spy masters and include interactive displays, movies and computers. Everything from Hollywood spy movies to cracking the Enigma Code is covered in these multi-media displays. While all of the exhibits are informative, some go beyond cool spy gadgets and stories and address the very real issues of terrorism in the past and present and the ways the intelligence gathering has adapted to these changing threats. This museum is fun for all ages and is packed with information and gadgets to keep everyone engaged!

Phillips Collection

The Phillips Collection opened in 1921in the Georgian Revival home of Duncan Phillips. America’s first museum of modern art, the collection includes masterpieces from European and American Impressionists to mid-twentieth century masters. The galleries show off such artists as Renoir, van Gogh, Monet, Degas, Cezanne, Vulliard, Bonnards, Braque, Picasso, Matisse, Klee, Homer, Tyder, O’Keeffe, Rothco and Diebenkorn. Although currently expanding, the Phillips Collection is still based in the Dupont Circle area home of Duncan Phillips. It is currently a publicly supported museum, and admission is charged.
Phone: 202-387-2151
Hours: Tuesday – Saturday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.; Thursday extended hours 10 a.m. – 8:30 p.m.; Sunday Noon – 7:00 p.m.

Dumbarton House

This federal house and museum is the headquarters for the National Society of the Colonial Dames of America. It houses fine 18th-and 19th-century American furniture and art. 2715 Q Street, NW, Washington, DC.
Phone: 202-337-2288
Hours: Tuesday-Saturday; Tours 10:15 a.m., 11:15 a.m., 12:15 a.m.

Kreeger Museum

Just outside of Georgetown one of the city's newest attractions, the Kreeger Museum is located in the former residence of Carmen and the late David Lloyd Kreeger. Designed by renowned architect Philip Johnson, the museum showcases the Kreeger's permanent art collection of 19th and 20th century painting and sculpture, as well as traditional African, Indian and Pre-Columbian art. Highlights include work by Monet, Picasso, Moore and Miro.
Address: 2401 Foxhall Road, NW, Washington, DC
Phone: 202-338-3552
Hours: Open for guided tours Tuesday. - Saturday. at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., reservations required.

Old Stone House

Built in 1765, this is the city’s only remaining colonial building. There is a museum, craft demonstrations and formal gardens. There is no admission charge.
Address: 3051 M Street, NW, Washington, DC
Phone: 202-426-6851
Hours: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday.

Tudor Place

Tudor Place was built by Martha Parke Curtis, granddaughter of Martha Washington, and her husband Thomas Peter and completed in 1816. The plan of the surrounding Federal-period garden survives intact with formal parterres and sweeping lawns with centuries-old specimen trees. Today, Tudor Place's extensive family collection includes heirlooms from Mount Vernon, important examples of American and European decorative arts, furniture, silver and a major local archive of manuscripts and photographs relating to the Curtis-Peter family and the region's history. Address: 1644 31st Street, NW, Washington, DC
Phone: 202-965-0400
Hours: Tour Times Tuesday - Friday – 10:00 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1:00 p.m., 2:30 p.m.
Tour Times: Saturdays 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.; every hour on the hour
Office Hours 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

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Neighborhoods

Washington, DC

The District of Columbia is a world-class city with residents from around the country and around the world. There are many diverse and distinct neighborhoods in DC, with historic homes and urban parks. Although the federal government and tourism are the primary industries, the city offers many other growing industries as well.

Bethesda, Montgomery County, MD

One of the most renowned communities in the Washington, DC metropolitan area is known as a great destination for ethnic restaurants, boutiques, home décor shops, and artistic and trendy hot spots. Additionally, as home of the National Institutes of Health, National Library of Medicine and the National Naval Medical Center, it is one of the world's leading biomedical research centers. Bethesda's bustling streets are always hosting special events to delight downtown residents, employees and visitors, including Taste of Bethesda, Imagination Bethesda children's street festival, a free Summer Concert Series and the Bethesda Literary Festival. Additionally, the Bethesda Arts and Entertainment District is home to numerous art galleries, live theatres, public art displays, and music and dance studios. Bethesda's residents, visitors and employees enjoy the convenience of a Washington, DC suburb with its own business center and the lifestyle amenities of one of the most coveted residential communities in the capital area. Downtown Bethesda is easy to explore on foot or bike. A Metro station in the heart of Bethesda links the community to the rest of the Washington area. A free trolley service makes getting around the downtown area even easier.

Northern Virginia

Northern Virginia offers a variety of urban, suburban and rural areas that are within easy distance of Washington, DC. All of these areas are ethnically & culturally diverse, offering numerous alternatives to living right in the District. A fast growing area, Northern Virginia is home to much of the Capital Region’s residential and business expansion. Northern Virginia also is home to two of the three airports that serve the Capital Region; Reagan National Airport and Dulles International Airport. Northern Virginia is comprised of three major areas; Arlington County, Alexandria City and Fairfax County. Arlington County is an urban/suburban area located directly across the Potomac River from Washington, DC. Ideal for easy commuting, the Metro system links many different parts of Northern Virginia with DC. Low tax rates, cheaper cost of living and booming expansion make Arlington County a wonderful place for young professionals and families. Bordering on the Potomac River south of Arlington, Alexandria City is an urban/suburban area which includes Old Town, a charming small town of bustling shops and restaurants. The Metro runs to this area as well. Lastly, Fairfax County is a large suburban/rural that is divided into smaller areas including McLean, Great Falls, Vienna, Tyson’s Corner and Falls Church. These smaller towns range from busy shopping areas like Tyson’s Corner to beautiful quaint towns such as Great Falls. Far enough from the bustle of the city, several of these towns do have Metro access to the city for easy commuting.

Old Town

This charming community in Alexandria is the original colonial settlement. Beautifully restored 17th-and 18th-century homes and businesses line the brick sidewalks and cobblestone streets. Old Town offers a wonderful mixture of specialty shops, pubs and restaurants, and many places have extended evening hours for nighttime enjoyment. Also part of Old Town is the Torpedo Factory Arts Center, a creative alliance with 84 working studios, five levels for browsing and shopping, as well as an art school and classes.

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Preserves and Parks

Parks

The region includes over 32,000 acres of parks in MC including one large regional park, Cabin John Park, and a number of neighborhood parks. Cabin John Park include action playgrounds, an ice skating rink, picnic and athletic facilities, the Locust Grove Nature Center and a miniature train ride. Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission also maintains McCrillis Gardens and Gallery at 6910 Greentree Road in Bethesda and the Capital Crescent Trail. The gardens display over 750 varieties of azaleas, and there is an indoor art gallery on the grounds with rotating exhibits.

Trails

The Capital Crescent Trail is a paved hiker-biker trail connecting downtown Bethesda with Washington, DC The trail uses the right-of-way from the former Georgetown Branch Railway. The Georgetown Branch Trail, an interim trail, has recently been created along the right-of- way between downtown Bethesda and downtown Silver Spring. For more information on the Capital Crescent Trail contact M-NCPPC at 301-495-2503 or the Capital Crescent Trail Coalition at 202-234-4874. For information on the Georgetown Branch Interim Trail, call the Montgomery County Department of Public Works and Transportation at 240-777-7194.

C&O Canal

This park is run by the National Park Service. The C&O Canal runs 184.50 along the Potomac River on the former canal towpath. A visitor center is located at 11710 MacArthur Blvd. Great Falls, (Falls Road and MacArthur Boulevard). For information call 301-299-3613.

Dumbarton Oaks

This 19th century mansion is surrounded by 10 acres of formal gardens in upper Georgetown.
Address: 1703 32nd Street, NW, Washington, DC
Phone: 202-338-8278
Hours: Daily, April – October.

Frances Scott Key Park

One of the District's newest parks, this small, but lovely area is located east of the Georgetown side of Key Bridge, which connects Washington, DC, with Roslyn, Virginia. The bronze bust of Key is capped by a flag with 15 stars and stripes similar to the one that inspired Key to write “The Star Spangled Banner” in 1819. A walkway and bike path from the C&O Canal are carefully integrated into this hilltop area, which provides a great view of the Potomac River.

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Shopping

Eastern Market

Visiting on a weekend? Join in a Washington, DC, tradition and shop for antiques, hand crafted jewelry, flowers and more at this open-air market on Capitol Hill.

Georgetown

This charming and historic area is home to many charming shops along the main streets, M Street and Wisconsin Avenue. Ideal for strolling and window shopping, there are also many little boutiques and restaurants tucked in on side streets. In addition to smaller stores, there are also chain stores such as H & M, The Gap and Banana Republic, higher-end stores such as Kenneth Cole and the AX Armani Exchange; and specialty stores for cosmetics, antiques, home furnishings and high quality paper goods. The Georgetown Park Mall, right in the heart of Georgetown, also offers a variety of different stores.

Fashion Center at Pentagon City

Go two stops further on Metro rail’s blue line to this retail shopping center of over 100 shops and a wide variety of eateries, from full-service dining to a food court for those looking for a quick meal.

Tyson's Corner Shopping Center

Only minutes from the nation’s capital, Tyson’s Corner Center is the largest shopping mall in the Washington, DC, area. At Tyson’s, you’ll discover an unbeatable mix of department and specialty stores – more than 290 in all.

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Theaters

Glen Echo Park for Arts and Culture, Inc.

In June of 2002, the National Park Service transferred management of Glen Echo Park to Montgomery County. In turn, Montgomery County formed the Glen Echo Park Partnership for Arts and Culture Inc., a nonprofit organization to manage day-to-day park operations and work with resident arts groups and others to conduct programs. The park is host to seven resident organizations, including Adventure Theatre and The Puppet Co., Discovery Creek Children's Museum, four artist studios, a thriving social dance program, a restored carousel, and numerous classes in the arts. The park is located at 7300 MacArthur Boulevard. Call 301/320-7757 for information.

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