As part of Season 03 of CulturallyOurs which showcases Lifestyle and People, we are thrilled to share letters from locals all around the world as they take us along a virtual journey of their city, village or hometown. This is a way for us to get to know one another on a personal level without any ‘must see‘ lists or ‘Top 10‘ activities. Getting a local’s point of view is a fantastic way to get a glimpse into the lives of the people of a place, city or country.
Today we travel to Washington D.C. Stefanie Harrington, a maternity, birth, newborn and family photographer lives in the area and is taking us along a virtual tour of her city in our local’s point of view series.
From Stefanie,
Washington, D.C., the U.S. capital is an incredible place. What I thought would become my city for a short time after college has become my home over the many years I’ve lived here since. One of my favorite parts about the city is that buildings are height restricted by law so that the DC skyline remains low and sprawling. Visitors are always surprised by the amount of green space throughout the city. Full of culture, events, great restaurants, diverse people, DC is within easy driving distance of the Delaware beaches, Shenandoah National Park and other exciting cities like Philadelphia and New York City.
Despite the millions of tourists that visit every year, DC is a very community oriented city with a small town feel. Beyond the government and political scene, its neighborhoods are full of fresh-faced young professionals, active families, artists and athletes from all over the world. We love being able to walk everywhere like the kids’ school, shopping and restaurants.
Most tourists spend their time at the National Mall, monuments and memorials, the Smithsonian museums and the National Zoo, almost all of which are free to the general public. The Zoo and museums are always a favorite with my family for a quick visit. Now that the kids are older, we love to explore DC by bike, always ending our trip with delicious food. Because DC is so diverse, you’ll be able to find any type of cuisine, from fine dining to cheap eats. Every neighborhood has local favorites, and new ones are constantly popping up.
When you’re planning your visit, take advantage of the city’s clean and extensive metro system or its many bike shares to get a feel for the different neighborhoods beyond the National Mall. You could hike in Rock Creek Park, bike along the city’s bike trails or rent paddle boards and kayaks on the Potomac River for a different view of the city. A local favorite is Fletchers Boathouse just outside of Georgetown. Rent a bike in the city and bike along the C&O canal or hop in your car to get here. You could bring a picnic and make an afternoon of it by grilling on one of the many available grills and rent gear to paddle around on the river. You’ll feel like the city is hundreds of miles rather than minutes away. 
Life in DC can be as busy as you’d like with near daily events and festivals happening all over the city. Head over to Eastern Market or a neighborhood farmers’ market for local produce and crafts. Take some time to check out some of the breweries, distilleries and wineries located within the nation’s capital. You can participate in a tour and spend the afternoon relaxing as you sample while the kids (or you and your friends) play games. Some of my favorite neighborhoods for going out include the Wharf, the Navy Yard, Penn Quarter, Logan Circle, Dupont Circle and Adams Morgan. Or plan your day around one of the city’s local sports games: The Nationals (major league baseball), Redskins (football), the Wizards and the Mystics (basketball), the Capitals (ice hockey) and DC United (soccer) keep local fans and its visitors busy year around.
The stunning Cherry Blossoms along the Tidal Basin draw countless visitors to DC in the Spring, but every season is beautiful and exciting. Summer is typically hot, steamy and humid, but I still love it, especially for the free Friday Night Jazz in the Sculpture Garden or dancing at the Wharf. Research what events and festivals might be happening when you’re coming to visit – it’s also helpful to know in advance so that you can navigate around the street closures for festival, parades and races.
I promise, you’ll enjoy DC no matter the time of year you’re here.
Thanks you Stefanie for giving us a local’s perspective of DC. The museums are such an incredible resource for kids and adults alike and you can spend days just wandering around getting such a history lesson!
Have you been to Washington DC? Whats your favorite place in DC to visit and explore?
{Words by Stefanie Harrington; Website: Stefanie Harrington ; Instagram: @stefanieharrington}
It is so nice to see the city through your eyes 🙂
I visited once, but just for a weekend… a flight from Stockholm to Amsterdam brought us a lot of fog, and I missed the connecting flight. So I got rerouted to Detroit airport where I spend 10 hours. I missed my forst 24h in Washington, so I only had 1.5 days and a wedding to attend before I headed back to Sweden. Its kind of a blur 😀
It’s an expansive city, but so much of what you HAVE to see is within easy walking distance, and it makes this destination seem so compact. It just feels that because New York and Los Angeles have such dynamic personalities, that Washington has been able to keep a lower profile and that’s part of it’s charm.
I haven’t yet visited Washington DC, but would love to visit during the Cherry Blossoms along the Tidal Basin. Beautiful. x
I’m not a city girl, although know that it is an important perspective for a balanced traveller’s life. So being able to see a place through the eyes of a local is so important; to get to experience the real place and not just the tourist traps. Certainly had the experience validated this month after an insider’s view of a region of Italy.
Thank you, Stefanie, for sharing your view of this amazing city. It’s one of my favorites in all the world. We live in southeastern Virginia and head to DC every chance we get. We’ve learned how to use the Metro and LOVE to discover new places to go and see. We still want to go kayaking on the Potomac or in the Tidal Basin and need to get to the zoo as well. I can’t wait to try your suggestions. One of my favorites that’s off the beaten path is the National Cathedral. We look forward to going back to DC soon.
I love Washington, DC and will never tire of visiting! As a history lover and teacher, there is so much for me there! But I would love to visit more of the neighborhoods next time I go.
Lovely to see a city through the eyes of a local! I had never even thought of visiting but now I have added it to my list. 😉
Visited Washington years ago with my Mum. Loved exploring the museums, but didn’t really get to explore many of the neighbourhoods. Would love to return, let’s see what happens in 2020 🙂
Haven’t been here and I enjoyed reading this, and seeing it through your eyes. Definitely lots to explore but you have provided me with a good guide.
Exploring DC for bike or trolley sound like fun, I am happy to see other transportation options. The museums are incredible, I really need to go back for a visit.
One of my favorite cities! It is great to explore by bike, as you say. The mall area is flat. We did a sundown / evening tour by bike and loved it!
There is so much to do and see in Washington DC! I went a couple of years in a row to get it all done. I love spring and the blooming cherry blossoms in Washington DC
I just love this idea of letters from locals. I so want to campaign for “Bring back the letters”!. I loved this letter from Stephanie about the cultural city Washington DC.
I would love to visit Washington DC one day, it’s high on my list of places to explore in the US so it’s great to see the city through the eye of a local. I love this concept, I’m off to read some of the other letters from locals.
A great city indeed! DC has excellent museums, boat ride opportunities and even Cherry Blossoms in Winter. Rock Creek Park sounds like a good choice for hiking! 🙂
We finally made it to Washington DC and must admit to being surprised at how much we found to see and do. For a big city, we agree that it seemed very easy to get around on foot or by bike. Cherry Blossom season was indeed a great time to visit. But I would like to go back when one of the other festivals was on and explore some of the areas around the city core. Lots of reasons to go back.
Washington is on my travel list, for the sole purpose of visiting the city’s Holocaust museum. I think it’s important to further our learning about the past, in particular, human rights issues. This will be a good guide to see what else the city has to offer.