101 things to love about Washington, D.C.

The District of Columbia has long been a city in its own right, existing as the heart, and in the backyard, of the federal government. Despite all the gloomy front-page and evening-news headlines these days, D.C. is much more than the political gridlock, unrelenting personalities, and byzantine bureaucracy many people think of when they hear “Washington.”

Once known as “Chocolate City,” D.C. has seen more than a decade of growth in population and scale. This has produced monumental racial, economic, and neighborhood changes for residents, even as the city’s growth rate now appears to be cooling. (Today D.C. is more like Latte City, and the soon-to-debut Amazon campus in nearby Northern Virginia could well mean greater changes—and challenges—yet to come.)

At least one thing hasn’t changed: The District still lacks equal representation in Congress, though its citizens pay federal taxes and have strong opinions about how their government should work. But hey, that, too, might not last forever. We’re certainly hoping it doesn’t.

While we wait, let’s count the ways—and the people—making D.C. the stately city it is.

1. D.C. is No. 1 when it comes to being green. In 2017, it became the globe’s first “LEED Platinum” city. Paris may have a climate accord, but it doesn’t have that.

2. Public libraries designed by noted architects. Ludwig Mies van der Rohe’s Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library and David Adjaye’s Francis A. Gregory Neighborhood Library are among the most notable. Check them out—and a few books while you’re at it.

3. The National Museum of African American History and Culture. The museum opened to great fanfare in 2016 and is the National Mall’s most recent addition. (Adjaye led the design.) It’s a hugely impactful, deeply personal project that’s been described as the “most impressive and ambitious public building to go up in Washington in a generation.” The museum has already won prestigious architecture awards and is one of D.C.’s major African-American history sites.

4. Wake up and smell the American Beauty roses. It’s the District’s official flower.

5. More than nine in 10 residents live within half a mile of a park. While some of its parks sit on land controlled by the feds, D.C. consistently ranks among the U.S. cities that have the best park systems.

6. The annual High Heel Drag Queen Race in Dupont Circle. All tea, no shade: It’s a blast. D.C. has long boasted a vibrant queer culture, including historic gayborhoods and Pride events spanning over four decades. About one in 10 residents identify as LGBTQ, and the queer scene remains strikingly diverse across the city.

7. Home Rule. Since the 1970s, D.C. has had independent governing authority over its own affairs (with a few anomalies). That means it has a mayor, an attorney general, and a 13-seat council. All are elected positions, as are hyperlocal seats on 40 advisory neighborhood commissions.

8. The eight-foot-tall statue of late “Mayor for Life” Marion S. Barry. Directly outside of the seat of the District government, Barry’s is currently the only statue of an African American on Pennsylvania Avenue. As mayor for four terms and a councilmember for 16 years, Barry helped shape D.C. into what it is today. He died in 2014, leaving behind a complicated but cherished legacy.

9. The eclectic food scene is finally, deservedly, getting international attention. In 2016, Bon Appétit named D.C. its Restaurant City of the Year, and Michelin published its first restaurant guide to the city. There’s so much more to the District’s hospitality industry than steakhouses and small-plates spots.

10. Wind us up, Chuck! Go-go music originated in the city in the early 1970s and is still going strong. Chuck Brown, the Godfather of Go-go, is memorialized around town.

11. Gallaudet University is a trailblazer of DeafSpace, a design concept that facilitates visual communication. In Northeast, the school was federally chartered and crafts all of its programs and services to accommodate students who are deaf or hard of hearing.

12. Embassies, embassies, and more embassies. And ambassadors’ residences. D.C. may be this nation’s capital, but other nations certainly have a robust presence here. Each May, the diplomatic missions are especially active for the annual E.U. Open House and the Around the World Embassy Tour, though some host exhibits and welcome the public year-round.

13. The Spanish Steps in Kalorama. The site’s two flights of steps are lined with greenery and separated by a lion-head fountain. It’s also the only D.C. public park that occupies a street. The steps are a popular spot for wedding photos and ceremonies—for good reason.

14. Metro. It doesn’t always run on time, and it’s been losing riders over the past few years (notice any correlation there?), but at least it doesn’t catch on fire as much as it used to. And it’s trying new things, some of which are actually old things. Oh, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority: What would D.C. be without you? Less colorful for sure.

15. The Uline Arena. The Beatles’s first American concert was at the Uline, less commonly called the Washington Coliseum. Since being redeveloped, the arena building now hosts an REI flagship store and a La Colombe coffee shop in NoMa, so you crunchy types can get your outdoor gear and caffeine fix in one stop.

16. The D.C. flag is simple and stylish. In 2004, it even won the distinction of best designed U.S. city flag, per the results of an online poll conducted by the North American Vexillological Association. (We looked up the definition of that word so you don’t have to.) The flag design is prevalent around town, and it’s a powerful symbol in the fight for statehood.

17. D.C. license plates tell it like it is: “End taxation without representation,” the newest version reads. Hopefully the “end” and the “-out” will get taken off soon enough.

18. The C&O Canal. A beautiful, 184.5-mile stretch—from Georgetown up to Cumberland, Maryland—the canal once offered public, mule-drawn canal-boat rides. You can still take a tranquil stroll along it in the morning or at night.

19. Catching a train at Union Station. Opened in 1907 as one of the country’s first union railroad terminals, today the station houses shops, a food court, and a notoriously hectic Amtrak concourse. It’s one of the District’s airiest structures, designed in the neoclassical style by Daniel Burnham, who helped shape D.C. at the turn of the 20th century (and Chicago, too).

20. Riding along the D.C. Streetcar provides a direct view of one of the District’s most dynamic corridors. Just behind Union Station, the 2.2-mile line opened in 2016 after years of delays. The two-way streetcar shuttles riders east-west along H Street and Benning Road NE and could eventually be expanded.

21. Plant lovers, rejoice! D.C. has one of the oldest continually operating botanic gardens in the nation, the U.S. Botanic Garden. Established by Congress in 1820 and now focused on sustainable practices, the garden makes a great place to unwind right in the middle of the city.

22. The decades-old drum circle at Meridian Hill Park. Be sure to catch the event on a Sunday during the summer. The park—also known locally as Malcolm X Park—is something of an oasis between the busy 16th and 14th street NW corridors. Bring a blanket, a book, or a ball and enjoy the fresh air.

23. Rock Creek Park is more than twice as big as New York’s Central Park. Spanning more than 1,700 acres, Rock Creek Park has a storied history that dates back to the 19th century. In the U.S., it’s the oldest urban park as well as the third-oldest national park, ranking behind only Yellowstone National Park and Mackinac National Park.

24. Take a hike! The D.C. region offers plenty of the great outdoors within driving distance, whether you want to venture to neighboring Virginia or Maryland, or stay in the District.

25. Film history. The infamous “Exorcist” Steps, which D.C. considers a historic landmark, are located in Georgetown. The steps feature prominently in the 1973 horror flick (no spoilers) and were honored with a commemorative plaque from the city in 2015. Spooky!

26. You can easily spend half a day in Georgetown whether you live here or are just visiting. Besides shopping on bustling M Street NW and Wisconsin Avenue NW, visitors can view a slice of history at the Old Stone House, D.C.’s oldest unchanged building. And with Georgetown GLOW, the neighborhood lights up during the winter in what’s become a yearly outdoor exhibition. (It’s free.)

27. Cupcake wars. Two often-busy spots to satisfy your sweet tooth in G-town are Georgetown Cupcake and Baked & Wired. Be sure to spread the sugary love around the city, at other places like the Sweet Lobby and the Cakeroom, while the cupcake craze is still happening in the District.

28. Dumbarton Oaks. This elaborate Georgetown mansion-turned-museum hosted a conference that led to the creation of the United Nations. It currently features exhibits and music events, and is even open for researchers.

29. But don’t confuse it with Dumbarton House. Another former home in Georgetown, the museum offers visitors an impressive collection of Federal-period furniture and decorative arts. The home can also serve as a graceful outdoor-indoor wedding venue.

30. Shared electric scooters and dockless bikes. They were first allowed in D.C. in late 2017, and they seem here to stay. Nearly a dozen micromobility firms have sought to enter the D.C. market, giving people more options for how to get around the city.

31. Dupont Underground. A former trolley station underneath Dupont Circle, this arts space offers interactive, large-scale exhibits; photography shows; and other programs every so often. This is to say nothing of the tunnels hidden beneath the city’s federal buildings, including the Library of Congress, the U.S. Capitol, and the Smithsonian Castle.

32. Cast-iron boxes as public artwork. First installed in the 19th century, these are call boxes that allowed the public to contact the fire and police departments in case of emergencies. While phones are no longer found inside them, many are now painted or house small sculptures.

33. All that jazz. The annual DC Jazz Festival draws tens of thousands of visitors each year, the National Gallery of Art hosts a free Jazz in the Garden concert series every spring and summer, and there’s a slew of lesser-known jazz venues around the city too.

34. A variety of architectural styles. Victorian, Art Deco, neoclassical, Brutalist—D.C. has them all. One style is especially local to the District: the Wardman style. The moniker refers to architect Harry Wardman, who built homes in Truxton Circle, Columbia Heights, and Dupont Circle during the early 20th century, and popularized D.C.’s iconic rowhouses.

35. Food halls. Union Market has been named among the best food halls in the country, and Eastern Market is on the National Register of Historic Places. There are also additional food halls in the works.

36. Museums in all shapes and sizes, literally. The Octagon House, in Foggy Bottom, is where President James Madison and his wife, Dolley, lived after British troops set fire to the White House during the War of 1812. The house has since been restored to its original appearance, and the American Institute of Architects Foundation administers the museum.

37. The Renwick Gallery. It became “Instagram famous” after its reopening in 2015. Down the block from the White House, the museum was designed by and is named after James Renwick Jr. Expect lines for splashy exhibits.

38. The Smithsonian Castle. Renwick also designed this majestic building, which is a national landmark that’s appeared in numerous films. It now hosts Smithsonian Institution offices on the National Mall.

39. Visiting the National Mall at night. There are fewer tourists and you can enjoy the quiet of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool by yourself. Or with a loved one.

40. Brunch. It’s no exaggeration to say D.C. residents are very serious about their brunching, with Monday-morning office talk riddled with mimosa memories of the weekend. Did someone say “bottomless”?

41. Titanic. Near, far, wherever you are—though actually in Southwest—a roughly 15-foot-tall granite statue honors the men who gave their lives on the sinking ship so the women and children aboard might survive. The statue debuted in 1931.

42. Capital Bikeshare. With more than 500 stations and about 4,300 bikes across the District, Virginia, and Maryland, it provides a robust, and growing, transportation network. Put the pedal to the pavement—and try out an electric bike while you’re at it.

43. The Big Chair. Head over to Anacostia and visit what was once considered the world’s largest chair, at 19.5 feet tall. Built in 1959, the chair is a beloved community landmark that remained untouched during the 1968 civil unrest after Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination.

44. The Frederick Douglass National Historic Site. Also located in Anacostia, the site is a true local treasure. Douglass—a formerly enslaved person who became a leading abolitionist and public intellectual—resided at the site from 1877 until his death in 1895. The historic house stands on a 50-foot hill amid eight acres of land, providing an under-appreciated vista of the Washington Monument and other monuments.

45. Stepping stones to D.C.’s past. Lining the boundary of the District are so-called boundary stones, 36 of the original 40 in all. The stones date back to 1792, meaning they are some of the oldest monuments in the country.

46. The Washington National Cathedral. It’s the fourth-tallest structure in D.C., was the site of Martin Luther King Jr.’s final sermon, houses the ashes of LGBTQ icon Matthew Shepard, serves as the burial place of Helen Keller, and features a grotesque of Darth Vader.

47. The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. Located in Brookland, the basilica is the tallest habitable building in D.C. as well as the largest Roman Catholic church in the nation. Boasting a 329-foot-tall tower, it’s also one of the 10 largest churches around the globe.

48. Put a stamp on it. Right across from Union Station, the Smithsonian’s National Postal Museum displays several must-see artifacts, like a 1931 Ford Model A postal truck and the largest stamp gallery in the world. It’s a great place to bring curious kids.

49. Outdoor public art is spread far and wide across the city. But you’ve got to look up from your phone to see it.

50. Sanctuary city. D.C. welcomes immigrants regardless of their documentation status, and local police can’t ask about a person’s status in most instances.

51. Regional cemeteries filled with famous people. President John Quincy Adams’s remains are at the Congressional Cemetery, while those of Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Upton Sinclair are at Rock Creek Cemetery, just to name two. Of course, the celebrated Arlington Memorial Cemetery is located across the Potomac River from D.C.

52. An award-winning, 200-foot-long walkable bridge in Navy Yard. The bridge offers wonderful waterfront views of the Anacostia River. The area also boasts a splash park that’s great for families to cool off in during the summer.

53. Independent bookstores. From Politics and Prose and Idle Time Books to Capitol Hill Books and Kramerbooks, these bookstores are like pilgrimage sites for the written word. Indulge in their carefully curated selections and fulfill your literary needs.

54. “Electronic Superhighway.” An eye-opening video installation by visual artist Nam June Paik is on display at the Smithsonian American Art Museum. First appearing in 1995, it includes 51 video feeds and neon lighting. The dimensions are large: about 5 feet by 40 feet by 4 feet. Just like the U.S., the installation is loud, lurid, and constantly moving.

55. ARTECHOUSE. This three-level, 15,000-square-foot digital art immersion space graces Southwest. It has featured an augmented-reality cocktail bar as well as massive installations that react to body movements. You can also dance there if you want to.

56. Winning sports teams. The Washington Nationals and the Washington Capitals have brought home the gold in the past two years, winning the MLB and NHL championships, respectively. Can they do it again? Fingers crossed.

57. A robust local news scene. Besides yours truly, if you want to stay up on local news, follow the Washington City Paper, the Washington Post, the Washington Business Journal, WAMU-88.5, DCist, NBC4, WUSA9, FOX5, WJLA, Washingtonian, the DC Line, the Washington Blade, the Afro, the Washington Informer, the Washington Times, WTOP, and neighborhood blogs. There’s enough love (and scoops) to go around.

58. Panda-monium. The Smithsonian’s National Zoo now attracts around 2 million (human) visitors each year. Giant pandas Mei Xiang and Tian Tian are often the stars of the show. Fret not if you can’t physically make it to the zoo: That’s what the Panda Cam is for.

59. 700,000 strong. The District officially reached that population in 2018, for the first time since 1975. Now only if we had two senators and a congressional representative with a House floor vote. Wyoming and Vermont do, and they’ve both had smaller populations than D.C. for years.

60. The Hope Diamond. Hosted at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History, the diamond is one of the most famous jewels in the world. It weighs more than 45 carats and has been on permanent exhibition at the museum since 1958.

61. Tiny homes that punch well above their weight. The D.C. area’s tiny homes have earned important accolades and helped students learn practical design skills. Like the District, they’re small but mighty.

62. The Heurich House. Also known as the Brewmaster’s Castle, this is one of D.C.’s best, lesser-known house museums. It’s a 19th-century building situated in Dupont Circle and an object lesson in style. The museum features hand-carved wooden fireplaces, original family furniture, and hand-painted ceilings. Its first owner, Christian Heurich, was believed to be the world’s oldest brewer at the time of his death; he was 102.

63. Chinatown. Whether it’s to attend the annual Lunar New Year parade or to feast on dumplings and noodles, D.C.’s Chinatown is a sight to see. City law even requires that businesses within the official Chinatown area display their names in Chinese characters.

64. Univer-city. The District boasts several major universities, including the University of the District of Columbia, George Washington University, Trinity Washington University, Howard University, American University, Gallaudet University, Georgetown University, and Catholic University. No wonder D.C. is one of the most educated places in the U.S.

65. Rad concert venues. Decades-old staples like Black Cat and the 9:30 Club coexist with more recent venues like Echostage and the Anthem. There’s also Capital One Arena (FKA Verizon Center), D.C.’s Entertainment and Sports Arena, and other sites throughout the region that host big-ticket concerts.

66. The $2.5 billion Wharf project. Located on the Southwest Waterfront, the Wharf is helping revitalize a long-neglected corner of the city. It debuted in 2017 and boasts several restaurants, concert venue the Anthem, architecturally notable apartment and office buildings, a water taxi, and a pretty promenade along the Washington Channel.

67. The Peacock Room. This blue-and-gold chamber has been on permanent display at the Freer Gallery of Art since the gallery opened in 1923. Ceramics collected here originate from Syria, Iran, Japan, China, and Korea, making the room one of D.C.’s most lavish interior spaces.

68. Pupusas. The stuffed Salvadoran flatbread is popular around the District, thanks to its large Salvadoran and Salvadoran-American population. And there’s plenty more Salvadoran cuisine to eat in the D.C. area where that came from.

69. Injera. The spongy sourdough flatbread with Ethiopian origins, generally served family-style with meats, vegetables, and spreads, is in abundant supply across D.C. The region is home to the largest community of Ethiopians outside of Africa.

70. The Shrimp Boat. This iconic building at Benning Road NE and East Capitol Street has been a local landmark at the east end of D.C. for decades. Just steps from the Benning Road Metro station, the Shrimp Boat mainly houses a carryout restaurant. It’s a focal point for the city’s Ward 7, and a kind of wayfinding device.

71. AFI Docs. Every June, the American Film Institute holds one of the most respected documentary film festivals in the nation. The festival takes place in both D.C. and Silver Spring, Maryland. Keep an eye out for reviews to guide your selections.

72. Jewish heritage sites. Among them, the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum delivers a powerful experience. The museum has seen more than 40 million visitors since it was dedicated in 1993. Currently, it offers online resources in 16 languages as well as a collections database with more than 270,000 records.

73. The National Cherry Blossom Festival. D.C.’s celebrated cherry trees, a 1912 gift from the then-mayor of Tokyo, tend to hit peak bloom in late March or early April. Brace yourself for throngs of people if you head down to the Tidal Basin, as the festival now draws more than 1.5 million visitors every year. A stroll along the basin can be made bearable by a beautiful day and a couple of friends.

74. The Islamic Center of Washington. Located on Massachusetts Avenue NW, the center is a stunning architectural achievement. It was designed by Italian architect Mario Rossi and opened in 1957 with a dedication by President Dwight D. Eisenhower. The site serves as D.C.’s oldest mosque and was the biggest mosque in the Western Hemisphere when it opened.

75. Women artists. The National Museum of Women in the Arts downtown is the only major museum in the world singularly focused on the achievements of women in the arts. Highlights include the works and lives of artists like Frida Kahlo and Mary Cassatt.

76. Dozens of public pools. The D.C. Department of Parks and Recreation operates indoor pools, outdoor pools, and spray parks. It even hosts an annual “Doggie Day Swim.” Ditch the traffic-snarled drive to Rehoboth or Virginia Beach and swim locally.

77. The National Building Museum’s summer exhibits are too big to forget. The museum’s large-scale, interactive shows have included Snarkitecture’s “The Beach,” Studio Gang’s “Hive,” James Corner Field Operations’ “Icebergs,” and Bjarke Ingels Group’s “BIG Maze.” Be sure to check out the museum’s thought-provoking exhibits during the rest of the year as well.

78. The clock tower at the Old Post Office Pavilion. It offers some of the best aerial views of the city. While the building is now primarily known for housing the Trump D.C. hotel, the tower is still open to the public. (And sometimes there’s eye-catching protest art downstairs.)

79. Group houses. They’re as close as D.C. gets to a rite of passage for newly arrived renters.

80. Each spring in D.C., haiku signs sprout up around downtown. They can be profound.

81. Biking. The District is small enough that getting around by bike is easier than doing so in other major cities. Whether you rent or own a bike, find a bike lane near you and cruise along.

82. Dorothy’s ruby slippers. They’re on display at the National Museum of American History, along with Julia Child’s kitchen, George Washington’s Bible, and other Americana. Basically, the museum has something for everyone.

83. Whether you’re religious or not, the Museum of the Bible dazzles. Its funders invested $42 million in cutting-edge technology, plus additional amenities like a restaurant and a theater.

84. Seeing a high-profile show at the Kennedy Center. If you can get tickets, that is. (Looking at you, Hamilton.) The center remains the country’s living memorial to President John F. Kennedy, who, before his death, described the then-pending project as “the most significant cultural undertaking in the history of this city.”

85. Eating a half-smoke at Ben’s Chili Bowl. The longtime U Street NW eatery celebrated its 60th anniversary in 2018 and has been a stalwart of the District. Don’t miss the iconic mural of African-American notables outside.

86. The ephemeral drama of motorcades. Sure, they cause traffic jams and can be pretty loud, but there’s something serendipitous about walking around downtown and suddenly witnessing multiple black SUVs drive by in a row.

87. The Old Patent Office Building’s fascinating history. Before hosting the Smithsonian American Art Museum and the National Portrait Gallery, the building—located in what’s now Penn Quarter—issued thousands of patents to famous inventors such as Alexander Graham Bell, Cyrus McCormick, and Thomas Edison. During the Civil War, it also served as a hospital where Clara Barton and Walt Whitman worked.

88. The impressive African American Civil War Museum and Memorial. Near U Street NW, the memorial commemorates the more than 209,000 African-American soldiers and sailors who fought in the Civil War. It includes a 9-foot-tall bronze statue, finished in 1997, outside the entrance to the neighborhood’s Metro station.

89. The expansive National Arboretum. It’s a 446-acre “living museum” that offers more than just beautiful views. It also features the columns that originally supported the old east portico of the U.S. Capitol as well as a nearly 400-year-old bonsai tree that survived an atomic bomb.

89. Various opportunities for seasonally appropriate physical activity. Sled at the U.S. Capitol. Jog around Theodore Roosevelt Island or East Potomac Park. Skate at the Anacostia Park Skating Pavilion or go ice skating at multiple venues in the area.

90. Watching a blockbuster movie at the National Air and Space Museum’s IMAX theater. It may be the most visited museum in the U.S.—attracting over 8 million annual visitors thanks to displays like a full-sized glider built by the Wright brothers and the Mercury Friendship 7—but the IMAX theater is its own draw.

91. Finding creative ways to beat D.C.’s muggy summers. (We do not endorse jumping into the Tidal Basin.)

92. The only publicly viewable painting by Leonardo da Vinci in the Western Hemisphere. The “Ginevra de’ Benci,” which depicts a 15th-century Florentine aristocrat and is among the earliest known “three-quarter-view” portraits in Italian art, hangs at the National Gallery of Art.

93. Gilbert Stuart’s world-famous “Lansdowne Portrait,” showing George Washington. The big oil-on-canvas painting rests at the National Portrait Gallery and dates back to 1796. According to the Atlantic, former first lady Dolley Madison famously saved a replica of the painting when the British set the White House on fire during the War of 1812.

94. Spies. (Okay, not that you’d recognize them in person.) The International Spy Museum hosts cool espionage artifacts like a lipstick pistol, a pigeon camera, and the Enigma cipher machine, which the Germans used to secretly communicate with each other in World War II.

95. Sculptures. Jeff Koons, Alexander Calder, and Auguste Rodin appreciators can discover works by these artists at the Hirshhorn Museum’s sculpture garden. Inside the museum itself, one of the National Mall’s most interesting buildings, pieces by Willem de Kooning and Damien Hirst also enthrall visitors.

96. Big slice. D.C. isn’t know for its pizza like New York or Italy, but it is possible to find some quality, gigantic pizza around town—especially after a night out.

97. Impressionism at the nation’s first museum of modern art. The Phillips Collection in Dupont Circle has showcased evocative paintings since 1921. It hosts must-see works like Pierre-Auguste Renoir’s “Luncheon of the Boating Party” as well as pieces by Vincent Van Gogh, Henri Matisse, Georgia O’Keeffe, Edgar Degas, El Greco, Mark Rothko, and Claude Monet, among other luminaries.

98. Honest Abe heritage. Ford’s Theatre, where Abraham Lincoln was shot, hosts a museum about the president and produces several shows a year. And east of Petworth, Lincoln’s Cottage, where he lived for about a quarter of his presidency, features well-attended events each year, such as a bourbon and bluegrass festival and the Lincoln Ideas Forum.

99. District of dogs. Few activities are more joyous than watching furry friends romp around the D.C. area’s myriad dog parks. Watch out for poodles at Swampoodle Park.

100. Free rides on the D.C. Circulator. The red buses don’t go everywhere around town, but they can get you across large swaths of it pretty quickly.

101. Punk’s not dead. The D.C. Public Library’s got an extensive punk-rock archive, showcasing original oral histories, zines, flyers, posters, video recordings, and other memorabilia from the city’s deeply influential scene. Fugazi!

This post was originally published in 2018 and has been updated.