Every year, Washington DC welcomes sixteen million people as visitors to her city. As the Nation’s Capital City, there are literally hundreds of things to do and attractions to see, and as the power center of the free world, it is an exciting place to visit. There are nearly 50 museums and most are free. To give an idea of the size and scope of these attractions (museums only) one need only consider: it takes many days just to make it through all the halls and artifacts of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History. Not all museums are as expansive as the Museum of Natural History, but this lends itself to the notion of why Washington, DC has such an appealing magnetism, and the reason visitors return time and time again. If your itinerary is set up to do so, you can peruse the sights of DC without ever seeing the same attraction twice. In addition to the dozens of museums and memorials, we feel inclined to mention other free attractions such as the tour of the Bureau of Printing and Engraving, where you can see money literally being fabricated, a tour the National Cathedral (an awesome spectacle in its own right) and the National Zoo to see the infamous Giant Pandas.
Cultura
Find the best in Washington DC arts and culture. Search our Washington DC events calendar, Virginia events calendar or Maryland events calendar to find fun cultural or performing arts events in the Washington DC area. Learn about special events in Maryland, Virginia and Washington - music festivals, film festivals, wine festivals and more local events and culture. Make plans to catch a special Washington DC performing arts event or a bit of Washington culture today.
Sights
Washington, DC is a wonderful place for both individuals and families to visit and explore. There is so much to do and see, you couldn't possibly do it all in one trip, so to make your planning less stressful I've put together a list of the top ten must see sights and things to do. My list includes guided tours as well as museums, monuments and many of the free places and activities the District has to offer.
Food and drink
Food writers outside the city like to talk about Washington's culinary scene as if it has newly come into its own. They're out of touch. The truth is that the capital has been cultivating an enviable stable of truly excellent restaurants gradually for about the last 10 years -- and by "excellent, " I don't necessarily mean fine dining/expensive. For example, old-timer Jaleo's specialty is its small plates of authentic Spanish tapas, priced at $5 to $10, while newcomer Tackle Box offers a full dinner of wood-grilled fresh fish and two delicious sides for a flat $13.
Washington, D. C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D. C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U. S. Constitution. The federal district is therefore not a part of any U. S. state. It was formed from land along the Potomac River donated by the states of Maryland and Virginia; however, the Virginia portion was returned by Congress in 1846.
A new capital city named after George Washington was founded in 1791 to the east of the preexisting port of Georgetown. The City of Washington, Georgetown, and the remaining unincorporated area within the District were consolidated under a single government in 1871, which formed Washington, D. C., as it exists today. The city shares its name with the U. S. state of Washington, located on the country's Pacific coast.
Washington, D. C., had a resident population of 601, 723 in 2010, and is therefore ranked as the 24th most populous incorporated place in the country. Because commuters from the surrounding Maryland and Virginia suburbs raise the city's population to over one million during the workweek. The Washington Metropolitan Area, of which the District is a part, has a population of nearly 5. 6 million, the seventh-largest metropolitan area in the country. Commuters may experience daily travel distances of 70 miles (113 km) from from Hagerstown, Maryland, MSN Money, accessed October 12, 2011.
The centers of all three branches of the federal government of the United States are located in the District, as are many of the nation's monuments and museums. Washington, D. C., hosts 176 foreign embassies as well as the headquarters of the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the Organization of American States (OAS), the Inter-American Development Bank, and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). The headquarters of many other institutions such as trade unions, non-profit organizations, lobbying groups, and professional associations are also located in the city.
The District is governed by a mayor and a 13-member city council. However, the United States Congress has supreme authority over the city and may overturn local laws. Residents therefore have less self-governance than residents of the U. S. states. The District has a non-voting, at-large Congressional delegate, but no senators. D. C. residents could not vote in presidential elections until the ratification of the Twenty-third Amendment to the United States Constitution in 1961.
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