A guide to Washington Dc!

By Saskia Perez-Cooke, North Carolina State University, United States.

Why DC?

Whether you’re studying on the East Coast or simply traveling through the United States, the capital of the US, Washington, D.C. is definitely a place to add to your list. Known for its cleanliness, affordability, and diverse range of activities, D.C. was a charming weekend city break!

Where to Stay?

For our trip, we chose an Airbnb near Union Station, hoping to stay centrally located to the Capitol and other iconic monuments. However, in hindsight, this may not have been the best choice in terms of safety. The area near our accommodation had a significant homeless population, and walking back in the evenings often involved unsolicited interactions with strangers. While this trip for us wasn’t about staying out late every night so we managed despite the unsafeness we felt, I can imagine if a group was more night-out oriented they might have faced some trouble getting home safely in this area. Whilst our airbnb was a bargain, safety does always come first so I would highly recommend staying closer to Downtown or the Dupont Circle area, especially if you are a group of girls like we were. At the end of the day these trips are supposed to be fun and a break from everyday life so there is no point feeling unsafe or unhappy if it is easily avoidable!

Things to do!

We visited D.C. in late November, and the city’s festive spirit was great. If you’re traveling around this season, I strongly recommend checking out the Downtown Holiday Market and the Dupont Circle Christmas Market. Coming from the quieter pace of North Carolina, it was so refreshing for us to experience the bustling atmosphere of these Christmas markets. Though be warned the markets are very pricey!!

One of the highlights of our trip was our visit to Georgetown. This neighbourhood honestly stood out as one of the most unique, charming places I’ve encountered in the U.S. With its cobblestone streets, historic homes, and boutique shops, it reminded me of some of the quaint neighbourhoods in England. As international British students it definitely felt like a bit of home in the US. I find that a lot of cities in the US can be very copy and paste, but Georgetown differed in this sense, it was so unique.

Pretty much everyone raves on about the renowned museums in DC and for a good reason! With so many to choose from, and the fact that all of them are free to enter, it’s easy to spend an entire day exploring. My personal favourite was the National Museum of African American History and Culture, it was so well-made and powerful, we were there for hours!

Of course you cannot go to D.C without visiting the the iconic landmarks like the Capitol, the White House, the World War II Memorial, the Botanical gardens etc. There is so much history in this city its hard to miss, you will find yourself unintentionally walking past major monuments. These are all free to visit and a walkable distance from each other, so pick a nice sunny day and see all these great landmarks!

Hidden Gems of D.C.

One of the more underrated spots we discovered was The Wharf. Just a short subway ride from downtown, it was a more relaxed atmosphere from Downtown. With plenty of restaurants, a nice waterfront and seasonal activities such as ice skating, it was a great find towards the end of our trip. I can only imagine if we visited in summer we would 100% gone for dinner in one of the outdoor restaurants overlooking the Washington Channel. It was hard to believe that The Wharf is located in the capital city of the United States as it almost felt like a slow-paced modern beach town!