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Forget everything you think you know about Washington. Yes, the capital of America is replete with monuments, museums and influential politicians. But there are not only monuments and politics, but also energy. Locals will tell you that the most liveable place is full of green parks, party markets and breweries, modern rock venues and tiny jazz clubs. Not to mention the boom of food culture in recent years. This is not the boring city that we see in American TV shows, but a real center of active life.
Dulles Airport is located 40 km from the District of Columbia in the suburbs of Virginia. It is the main international airport for the DC region. 40 airlines fly here, bringing passengers from 140 cities around the world.
At Dulles Airport there is a special access road that can be used to quickly get from the airport by car, taxi or airport shuttle. Washington Flyer taxis exclusively serve Dulles Airport. Taxi ranks are located outside the main terminal, and a trip to DC will cost around 60-70 dollars.
The metro does not reach Dulles Airport (although the construction of the Silver Line extension, which will include access to Dulles Airport, began in 2014), the Washington Flyer offers the Silver Line express bus, which stops at Wiehle-Reston East subway station approximately after 15 minutes of drive. The Silver Line Express Bus fare is $ 5 one way.
Thurgood Marshall Airport is located a bit further from Washington, near Baltimore, Maryland. But, if there were no better offers for the flight, you will get a long road to the city. But this is one of the most comfortable airports in the world. It serves more than 25 million passengers a year.
BWI Airport is located 50 km from the District of Columbia. The center can be reached by MARC or Amtrak trains from the airport. If you choose MARC, the cost will be about $ 10, and a little more than half an hour. The price of Amtrak can reach $ 45 if you buy at the last minute. But the train travels only 20 minutes and will get you to Washington with a little more comfort.
From the airport to the metro you can get by bus for $ 5. And then the cost will depend on the distance of the route. In addition, at the airport you can order Uber or Lyft, but this pleasure can cost from 50 to 100 dollars, depending on the distance, time of day and other factors.
From March to May, the weather is excellent, and you can also make a visit at the time of flowering of numerous cherries. The fall in Washington is also pleasant and warm weather - just for long walks.
Washington at first glance may seem expensive. The US capital is full of chic hotels and the most expensive restaurants. But at the same time, strangely enough, many of the best attractions that you can visit are free. Whether you are looking for family vacations, historic sites, a city tour or just a quiet walk through museums, in Washington you will find many cultural and recreational activities that are not worth a dime.
All tourist roads in Washington begin here. It is simultaneously a huge park area and a complex of museums and other historical places. Interestingly, almost all of them are free to visit.
Along the National Mall are the most important monuments and memorials for the United States. You can walk around the Smithsonian Institution, go to the National Art Gallery, the Museum of Aviation and Cosmonautics, and others. The main thing is not to rush to run around them all in one day, because it is simply impossible.
You should definitely look into the historical part of Washington to try to understand the American mentality. In Georgetown the formation of the US capital began. And Georgetown University was founded here in 1789, which is the country's oldest Catholic and Jesuit educational institution. Just wander around the luxurious campus amidst an abundance of green spaces and Gothic architecture. And then be sure to enjoy the surroundings with cobbled streets, designer shops, large parks and classic America in general.
One of the best baseball stadiums in America was built at National Park. Almost no one in the world understands what baseball is and how to play it, except for Americans. Therefore, tourists from other countries should definitely go for at least one match. The National Park Stadium is home to the Washington National Baseball Club, so finding a game here will not be difficult.
But besides baseball in the park it’s interesting and easy to walk. The US Capitol is clearly visible from here, and it’s just nice to walk along the promenade and listen to the conversations of local residents who like to make appointments here.
This is one of the most impressive and inspiring places in all of Washington. The huge Rock Creek Park was the third national park founded by the federal government in 1890. This is a great place for any family member: Nature Center and Planetarium, cycling and hiking trails, tennis courts and golf courses, horseback riding and concert venues, a historic fort and picnic places. And here is the Smithsonian National Zoo free to visit.
Center for the Performing Arts
Every day the Center for the Performing Arts give a free show. Or you can take tickets to one of the current shows. The center is known for experimenting a lot here, making it possible to stage the most unusual performances, discover new genres and try unusual stories.
In addition, you can climb the roof of the Center, enjoy a great cocktail on the terrace and watch the sunset on the Potomac River. Romantic and so American.
This market has been operating since 1873 without lunch or weekends. This is a historic monument and a favorite public place of the people of Washington. From the very moment of its foundation and today, the Eastern market has been very popular due to the variety of goods. Here you can buy fresh products, meat, cheese, pastries, and at the same time handicrafts of local craftsmen, decor, paintings, wander around the flea market, where real antiques from around the world are collected. And, of course, on the Eastern market you can taste delicious national food of different nations.
Special types of crab are sold in almost all major American cities by the ocean. In Washington, this is a blue crab that is caught off the coast of the Chesapeake Bay. You can order a whole crab or try the traditional crab pie, which is served in almost all restaurants on the coast.
For lovers of oysters, there is also something to try. When Europeans first arrived on these shores, billions of oysters lived here. There were so many of them that reefs with oysters protruded directly from the sea. Over the years, catch and pollution have done their job. Now there are no wild oysters here, but they are grown on numerous farms.
Here and there in Washington, you can find chicken wings in mambo sauce. Chicagoans argue that the sauce, something similar in taste to the barbecue, was born in their city. But residents of the District of Columbia long ago appropriated it to themselves and even made it a cultural phenomenon.
Smoked pork and beef are one of the most common dishes in Washington. And all over America. Each state makes smoking a special ritual with its own rules and spices. Here, sliced pieces of tender meat are served on a bun with pickled onions or chili.