Off the Beaten Path

So you’ve done it all, right? You’ve seen the monuments, the White House, the Capitol, the museums, everything. You’ve toured D.C. backwards and forwards, and now you’re ready to go home.

Not so fast. I know for most people spending a few days in the District really means walking around the handful of blocks that comprises the National Mall. You marvel at all the pretty white buildings, and their history, grab a week-old hot dog from that sketchy stand in front of the Agriculture department, and call it a day.

But if you think back, did you really notice anyone who wasn’t a tourist? The abundance of fanny packs and long lens cameras should be a clue. D.C. is a city of more than 500,000 people, which swells to well over 1 million during the workday, so if you’re not seeing many folks who look like they’re from around here, maybe that means you should try exploring other parts of the city.

And here’s where I come in. Now, maybe I’m a bit jaded, but if you see the Capitol or the Washington Monument every day for 21 odd years, it becomes just a wee bit less impressive. There are, however, other parts of this city that never cease to amaze me.

Like the National Cathedral. Granted, it’s way up in the upper Northwest quadrant of the city, and surely isn’t Metro accessible, but its worth the extra effort. It is, hands down, the most impressive church I’ve ever seen. Not to sound all pretentious-like, but I just got back from London, land of the impressive church. When I saw Westminster Abbey, the first thing I thought was “Well, the National Cathedral kicks this thing's ass…" Seriously, not only is it HUGE (it can be seen from all points of the city if you’re up high enough), but its architecture is amazing. Go inside, and, after you almost pass out after looking up at the ceilings, just sit and stare at the stained glass windows. You could probably spend a whole afternoon just doing that. And you can even go to the top! Sigh…so amazing.

Churches give you the creeps? Well then lets try something else. Georgetown is a pretty happening part of the city, and people usually end up spending have of their life savings in the shops on M street, but when in Georgetown, I rarely spend money. If you find yourself with a free evening, walk to the Key Bridge at dusk. Best. Sunset. Ever. You get to see the huge buildings in downtown Arlington, the bustling of Georgetown, the serene waterfront and woods of Roosevelt Island, the kayakers on the Potomac, the Kennedy Center AND the Exorcist stairs…without having to turn your head! Can we say sweet?

Feeling like some fresh produce? Try hitting up the historic Eastern Market on the weekend. Not only do they sell groceries, but handmade crafts of all kinds, and enough shiny jewelry to captivate you for hours.

Whatever you find yourself doing in D.C., make sure its not just the “touristy stuff.” D.C. is a real city where people live, and if you travel off the beaten path, you can find something that will impress you just as much as the Lincoln Memorial.

Until next time…