Washington, DC

At a Glance

Washington, DC, the Nation’s capital, sits at the center of the region which is traversed by the Potomac River. The seat of the Nation’s government provides visitors with some of the worlds most famous landmarks as well as all the art, culture and cuisine one would expect from an international city that is the capital of the free world. Northern Virginia, including Arlington, Alexandria and the eastern portion of Fairfax County, west of the Potomac, lies closest to the District which is only minutes away by metro or car across one of several crossing points under and over the Potomac. East of the Potomac surrounding Washington DC, to the north east and south are the Maryland suburbs of Montgomery and Prince Georges Counties as well as nearby Baltimore and Annapolis.

Places to Stay

The region offers hundreds of lodging options, from grand hotels downtown to auto friendly hotels in the suburbs offering easy access to the area attractions by car or mass transit. Many are conveniently located just off I-95 and the Beltway (I-495). Check out the lodging section of the this guide or one of the links below for more information on Washington, DC area lodging. For a complete listing see the link below.

Places to Eat

Indicative of the multi-culturalism found in metro Washington, DC, the area offers many ethnic cuisines from around the world as well as more traditional fare and national chains. Check the links below to for access to dining in Northern Virginia. See the links below for dining choices in the area.

Places to Go

Some of the nation’s most famous landmarks including the U.S. Capitol, the White House, the Smithsonian Institution, and a plethora of monuments, museums and other attractions at the core of the Washington, DC.

Many of the Capital area’s most famous attractions are found in Northern Virginia, which is located just across the Potomac to the west of the District. These attractions include George Washington’s colonial estate, Mount Vernon, on the shore of the Potomac in southern Fairfax County, the site of one of the Civil War’s first conflicts at Manassas (Bull Run), Arlington National Cemetery, the Pentagon, the world largest office building and a symbol of the emergence after World War II of the US as the leading non-communist nation in the cold war and many more.

Today, the Washington,DC area is a high technology center spawned by military, medical and other governmental research. It has become a thriving international center developing new mediums for communicating and leading the nation into the 21st century. This growth has transformed a rolling tree covered rural farming area into a region that is home to over six million people who live and work in the metro area which maintains its links to its historic past.

Getting Around

By car, Washington, DC and the Capital Region are easily accessible from the I-95 corridor which dissects the area. I-95 becomes I-495 (The Capital Beltway) and encircles Washington, DC and the inner suburbs of Virginia and Maryland, providing easy access to Washington and suburban attractions. From I-95 (northbound) approaching from south of Washington, DC, I-395 runs from the Capital Beltway into downtown Washington, DC through the portions of Fairfax County, Alexandria and Arlington. Also from the west I-66, runs from the intersection of I-81 in the northwestern area of Virginia near Front Royal, through the Virginia suburbs (Arlington and Fairfax counties) to across the Potomac River terminating near the Lincoln Memorial on Constitution Avenue in downtown Washington, DC. Access to the area is also provided by US Routes 50 and 29 from the east and west and US Route 1 form north to south. It is highly recommended that visitors avoid these roads during rush hours during the week.

CityGuide Links

Need more? Try these links for additional information about Washington, DC.

The I-95 Exit Information Guide
“Flat out, the single best website for auto travelers on the Net” — Yahoo’s Internet Life Magazine