A Capital Built for Walking and Wonder
Washington DC is the capital of the United States, a planned city on the Potomac River known for the National Mall, the Smithsonian museums and monuments that rank among the most recognisable in the world. It was laid out from 1791 on a design by Pierre Charles L'Enfant, with broad avenues radiating from the Capitol, and that plan still gives the city a clarity few capitals match. Wide skies, tree-lined streets and low-rise neighbourhoods make it surprisingly gentle for a seat of government.
The National Mall is the great set piece: the Capitol at one end, the Lincoln Memorial at the other and the Washington Monument between them. The Smithsonian Institution runs a family of museums along it, with free entry to most, from Air and Space to Natural History and African American History and Culture. A tourist board has an unusually rich story to share, one that works for culture seekers, families and history lovers at once.
Cherry Blossoms, Georgetown and the Wharf
Spring brings the city's signature moment. The Japanese cherry trees around the Tidal Basin, a gift from Tokyo in 1912, bloom in a haze of pink, usually from late March to early April, and the National Cherry Blossom Festival wraps parades and events around them. Georgetown, with its cobbled streets, canal path and Federal-style houses, is the most elegant neighbourhood for a stroll, while the Wharf on the Southwest Waterfront has opened a lively mix of restaurants, music venues and marina views.
Cultural evenings come easily. The Kennedy Center hosts opera, orchestra and theatre, Capitol Hill's Eastern Market has been trading since the nineteenth century, and the U Street corridor carries a proud jazz heritage. Just across the river, Virginia offers Arlington and Mount Vernon, while Maryland gives easy access to Annapolis and the Chesapeake Bay. A hotel group can showcase everything from grand historic addresses to modern waterfront stays.
Read the full Washington DC guide on Visit Travel Group, or see VisitDC.co.uk on Visit Travel Group.