From theater and jazz to majestic monuments, hiking and biking to tremendous shopping, Washington, DC offers adventures for visitors of all ages. Hailed as a world-class cultural capital, Washington has also become a top shopping and dining destination. From casual outdoor dining to bargain-hunting in DC’s exciting neighborhoods, you’re sure to find just what you are looking for in Washington, DC!

Neighborhoods

Washington, DC is a city of neighborhoods, each with fascinating history and attractions. These diverse areas “beyond the monuments” make DC the true American experience. So plan some extra time to discover the charming neighborhoods where Washingtonians live, shop, and have fun!

Adams-Morgan

Columbia Road, NW, between 18th and Kalorama Park, NW. One of Washington’s most lively neighborhoods, with an international array of restaurants, boutiques, hip specialty stores and late-night entertainment. In Adams-Morgan there is truly something for everyone. Some of the restaurants to try are Red Sea (Ethiopian), Straits of Malaya (Singapore cuisine), Montego Bay (Jamaican), I Mati Trattoria (Italian), Tom-Tom Club (Mediterranean), and Perry’s (Japanese). Adams-Morgan is a five-minute cab ride from the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel and no more than 20 minutes walking distance.

Chinatown and MCI Center

Between 6th and 8th Streets at G and H Streets, NW. This small neighborhood, marked by the colorful Friendship Arch, contains many of the city’s Asian restaurants and shops and is the site of a very popular Chinese New Year’s Day parade. Some of the restaurants to try are Golden Palace Restaurant (Chinese) on 7th Street, Hunan Chinatown (Chinese) on H Street, Tony Chang’s Mongolian Restaurant (Chinese) on H Street, District Chophouse & Brewery (American) on 7th Street, and The Rock Sports Bar and Restaurant (American) on 6th Street.

Dupont Circle

Along Connecticut Avenue from N to T Streets, NW. This neighborhood is home to the Phillips Collection, Textile Museum, Woodrow Wilson House, Woolly Mammoth Theater, art galleries, shops, historic town houses and numerous restaurants. Some of the restaurants worth trying are BeDuCi (Mediterranean) on P Street, Gabriel (Spanish) on P Street, Restaurante i Ricchi (Italian) on 19th Street, and Kramerbooks & Afterwords Café (American) on Connecticut Avenue.

Georgetown

27th to 37th Streets, NW, between Rock Creek Parkway and K Street, NW. Once a thriving colonial port and a strategic point on the Underground Railroad, this charming historic area features specialty stores, nightclubs, and intriguing restaurants. Some of these restaurants are 1789 Restaurant (American) on 36th Street, Bangkok Bistro (Thai) on Prospect Street, Bistro Francais (French) on M Street, Blues Alley (Creole) on Wisconsin Avenue, Clyde’s of Georgetown (American) on M Street, Filomena Ristorante (Italian) on Wisconsin Avenue, and Morton’s of Chicago (American) on Prospect Street.

Upper Northwest

North of Calvert Street, NW. An urbane mix of sidewalk cafes, nightclubs, unusual shops, and museums. Home to the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel, the National Zoo, Washington’s National Cathedral, and Rock Creek Park. Some of the restaurants that are within a block of the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel are Jandara (Thai) on Connecticut Avenue, Lebanese Taverna (Middle Eastern) on Connecticut Avenue, Murphy’s (Irish) on 24th Street, Petitto’s Ristorante d’Italia (Italian) on Connecticut Avenue, and Saigon Gourmet (Vietnamese) on Connecticut Avenue. For dessert and cappuccino, Dolce Finale, located right below Petitto’s on Connecticut Avenue, is a must.

…Things to See and Do

The Capitol Building, the White House

Tour the US towers of power. Free, but tickets are required for the White House tour and often need to be picked up early on the day you want to go. For information about tours of these two venerable Washington, DC attractions, visit the Washington, DC Web site at www.washington.org or call 202-456-7041 for a recorded message from the White House Visitor office, or 202-225-6827 about the Capitol Building.

The Smithsonian Institution

on the Mall

“The Mall” is Washington nomenclature for a midway stretching from the US Capitol building down to the Washington monument, some 20 blocks away, featuring some of the world’s most renowned museums that are part of the Smithsonian Institution. One can spend a full day or longer in each museum alone, or concentrate on selected permanent or visiting exhibits in several. If you will have some free time in Washington and plan on visiting the Mall, it is good to have an idea of what you might like to see ahead of time. The Institution accommodates such previewing with an informative Web site at www.si.edu, from which one can glean detailed descriptions about each of the museums. Here are the Smithsonian Institution museums that are located on the Mall and their addresses.

Arthur M. Sackler Gallery (Asian Art), 1050 Independence Avenue, SW.

Arts & Industries Building (African American and Native American cultures), 900 Jefferson Drive, SW.

Freer Gallery of Art (Asian and American Art), 1050 Independence Avenue, NW.

Hirshorn Museum & Sculpture (19th & 20th-century paintings and sculpture), 7th & Independence Avenue, SW.

National Air & Space Museum (The real things - the Kitty Hawk, Spirit of St. Louis, John Glenn’s Friendship 7, plus many, many others!), 6th & Independence Avenue, SW.

National Museum of African Art (African Art), 950 Independence Avenue, SW.

National Museum of American History (see the Information Age exhibit, and so many others), 14th & Constitution Avenue, NW.

National Museum of Natural History (the Hope Diamond, dinosaur fossils, the Insect Zoo, and more than 120 million objects in all), 10th & Constitution Avenue, NW.

The Monuments

Statues and monuments abound in the Washington metropolitan area, but the most famous are still on or near the Mall. The Washington Monument, Jefferson Memorial, and Lincoln Memorial are the long-standing stalwarts. Of more recent vintage are the Korean War Memorial and the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial. If you have not yet seen the Vietnam War Memorial, it is an experience that visitors universally agree is unforgettable. Just across the river in Arlington are the Arlington National Cemetery, the Iwo Jima Memorial, and the eternal flame at the grave of President John F. Kennedy.

“Off the Mall” (But Not Very Far)

Bureau of Engraving & Printing—See how to make money in the literal sense, at the rate of 8,000 sheets per hour; a 35-minute tour, free, but tickets are required. 14th & C Streets, NW.

Corcoran Gallery of Art—Washington’s oldest art collection, featuring Dutch and Flemish masterpieces, French Impressionists and Postimpressionists, and American art of all periods. 500 17th Street, NW.

National Geographic Society—The interactive Geographica exhibit, a 72-seat amphitheater that simulates orbital flight, plus changing exhibits. 1145 17th Street, NW.

National Museum of American Art—American artists from the 18th century to the present. 8th & G Streets, NW.

National Museum of Women in the Arts—Collection of more than 1,500 pieces by 400 women artists from 28 countries. 1250 New York Avenue, NW.

National Portrait Gallery—Official portraits of all the US presidents and many more. 8th & F Streets, NW.

National Postal Museum—Part of the Smithsonian, located across the street from Union Station and a few blocks from the US Capitol Building. In addition to fascinating permanent exhibits, changing exhibits that will be on display in November include “Posted Aboard the R.M.S. Titanic”; “Precious as Gold,” which reviews the travails of keeping the mail moving during the Klondike/Alaska gold rush of 1896–98; and “Mayhem by Mail,” which explores crime-solving methods used in recent cases by the Postal Inspection Service. 2 Massachusetts Avenue, NE.

Renwick Gallery—Also part of the Smithsonian, a collection of 20th-century American crafts. 17th & Pennsylvania Avenue, NW.

Closer to Home…and a Little Further Afield

DC neighborhoods, the suburbs, and general environs surrounding the nation’s capital have much to offer. Here are just a few highlights.

Bethesda—Bethesda is no longer just the home of NIH. It has become one of the most popular restaurant havens in the metropolitan area. Accessible by Metro, several stops north of the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel on the Red line.

Dupont Circle’s Art Galleries—A number of independent art galleries thrive in the Dupont Circle area just one metro stop away from the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel. There has been a recent tradition of holding a joint open house among many of the galleries from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm on the first Friday of every month, which in November will be November 5.

Georgetown—Though less of a shopping district than it once was, there are still plenty of outstanding restaurants in this Washington, DC neighborhood, and it’s a pretty quick cab ride from the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel.

Mount Vernon—You’ll need a car or tour transportation to get to George Washington’s home on the Potomac outside of Washington, but it’s only about 20 miles south of the capital. George Washington Parkway, Mount Vernon, Virginia.

Newseum—Open Wednesdays through Sundays, this unique attraction is an interactive news museum where visitors can be reporters or television newscasters, relive the greatest news stories of all time through multimedia exhibits, and view news memorabilia. Located right across the Potomac River from Georgetown and 2 blocks from the Rosslyn Metro stop on the Blue and Orange lines. 1101 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, Virginia.

Old Town Alexandria—10 minutes south of National Airport, historic Old Town has a reputation for great restaurants as well as quaint shops. Possible to get to by Metro (King Street stop on the Yellow line), but it’s a hike from the station. You may want to take a cab.

The Phillips Collection—Less than 2 blocks from the north exit of the Dupont Circle Metro stop (one stop away from the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel), the Phillips has been hailed as America’s first museum of modern art, and features work by Renoir, Cézanne, El Greco, Manet, Matisse, O’Keeffe, Picasso, and others. 1600 21st Street, NW.

Spirit Cruises—Daytime and dinner cruises down the Potomac, some all the way down to Mount Vernon. For further information call 202-554-8000.

The Textile Museum—A must-see for textile lovers, this museum that opened in 1925 is in fact located a short cab ride away from the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel. 2320 S Street, NW.

Washington National Cathedral—With its purely Gothic architecture, this Episcopal cathedral is a popular stop on tours of Washington, and welcomes visitors of all faiths. On one of the highest points of the city, the observation gallery gives visitors spectacular views of the nation’s capital. Gardens, greenhouse, herb cottage, and museum gift shop as well. Massachusetts and Wisconsin Avenues, NW.

Special Exhibits in Washington in November

It is always hard to know several months ahead of time all of the interesting exhibits, performances, and other special events that will be taking place around the nation’s capital. But as of summer 1999, in addition to permanent exhibits in the Smithsonian Institution’s museums, here are a few of the special exhibits scheduled around town for November. All of these are on the Mall or nearby and many are free admission. Be sure to check the Washington, DC, tourism site at www.washington.org as we get closer to November to learn about other events.

Picturing Hemingway: A Writer in His Time—Photographs, paintings, letters, first editions, manuscripts, and memorabilia, marking the 100th anniversary of Hemingway’s birth. National Portrait Gallery, 8th and F Streets, NW. Note: The Hemingway exhibit ends on November 7.

Renoir to Rothko: The Eye of Duncan Phillips—At the Phillips Collection in Dupont Circle, 1600 21st Street, NW.

Women, by Annie Liebovitz—More than 70 portraits by photographer Annie Liebovitz of women who have made significant contributions to contemporary culture. Corcoran Gallery of Art, 500 17th Street, NW.

Glass! Glorious Glass—At the Renwick Gallery, 17th & Pennsylvania, NW.

Edward Hopper: The Watercolors—60 watercolors by an artist better known for his oil paintings, these are being shown for the first time in 40 years. National Museum of American Art, 8th & G Streets, NW.

Masterpieces of Chinese Painting—10th to 18th century painting and calligraphy, hanging scrolls, murals, and screen paintings. Freer Gallery of Art, 1050 Independence Avenue, SW.

Treasures from the Royal Tombs of Ur—150 artifacts from 2600-2500 B.C. Sumarian royal culture. Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, 1050 Independence Avenue, SW.

Regarding Beauty: Perspectives on Art Since 1950—Featuring 70 visual examinations of beauty, by Picasso, Rothko, Bourgeois, and others. Hirshorn Museum, 7th and Independence Avenue, SW.

The Drawings of Annibale Carracci—Carracci (1509-1609) is regarded by many as the greatest draftsman of all time, and is known for his portraits of the human figure. This exhibit will feature 95 of his drawings, many never before displayed in the US. National Gallery of Art, 4th and Constitution Avenue, NW. Also in November at the National Gallery will be other special exhibits: From Schonagauer to Holbein: Master Drawings; Brassai: The Eye of Paris; and Tilman Riemenschneider: Master Sculptor.

Wrapped in Pride: Asante Kente and African America—traces the history of Kente cloth production and its traditional uses. National Museum of African Art, 950 Independence Avenue, SW.

Guided Tours

Although AMIA will not offer organized city tours, there are plenty of opportunities to hook up with daily tours of the nation’s capital and environs. Here are but a few of the tour companies and their contact information:

All About Town, Inc.—202-393-3696.

DC Walking Tours—202-237-7534. http://www.dcwalkingtours.com