Samantha Sault - Moon Washington DC

SAMANTHA SAULT

Oh, youre from Washington DC? Its changed so much. Its gotten so cool.

This common trope is pushed by residents, those whove come and gone and everyone whose kid interned on Capitol Hill, by media and Hollywood and glossy travel magazines and the Michelin Guide. Waxing poetic about the newest starred fusion restaurant where you cant get a reservation, or off-the-beaten-path gallery in a redeveloped neighborhood far from the tourist drags, is a sign youre a tastemaker, that youre in the know.

It misses the pointand its not true.

To say new, slick, high-tech concert venues and galleries and museums have made Washington DC a cultural center brushes aside the capitals rich history as a center of black theater and jazz before Harlem and Motown, of performance halls and parks and churches that have witnessed world-changing events. And sure, there are more restaurants now, but Washingtons always had a unique flavor, a blend of soul food and Ethiopian and sizzling Chesapeake Bay seafood served in the backrooms of classic steakhouses where history was made over martinis. And yes, celebrity chefs and slick shopping developments and scores of social media influencers have brought revenue and new visitors, but theyll never, ever be as influential as former residents like Frederick Douglass, Duke Ellington, Toni Morrison, Eleanor Roosevelt, Marvin Gaye, Langston Hughes, Katharine Graham, and Jos Andrs.

Never mind the intoxicating political intrigue, which has drawn so many to the capital, and enticed them to stay, not because they dont want to live anywhere else, but because they truly cant imagine a life without that pulse.

Yes, Washingtons changed so muchit changes every four years. But its always been cool, in its own way. And no matter which way the political winds blow, it always will be.

18th Street in Adams Morgan

Georgetown and Foggy Bottom

Womens March on Washington

Smithsonian Institution

Senate office building

Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial

Stroll the

Walk the Halls of Power: Ask your Member of Congress for a tour of the Building.

Experience the Magnitude of the : Visit the tallest structure in the city then ride the elevator to the top.

See the at Night: After the crowds have dispersed, the interior monument light casts a dramatic glow on the Great Emancipator.

Admire the Cherry Blossoms: Spring in DC means an explosion of cherry blossoms. Brave the crowds at the Tidal Basin to rent a paddleboat during the .

Take a Memorable Selfie: Make your friends jealous with a photo outside the

Walk in the Footsteps of : Visit the historic site of one of the countrys most important abolitionists, where he lived during the end of his life.

Visit : Find the Star-Spangled Banner, the Hope Diamond, Chuck Berrys red Cadillac, and a real lunar module at the Smithsonian Institutions museums and galleries.

Pay Your Respects at : Visit the Tomb of the Unknown Solider and JFKs gravesite.

Become a Washington Insider: Partake in in a Capitol Hill pub or a posh cocktail barand keep your ears open for political gossip.

THE BEST OF WASHINGTON DC

History, politics, powerand the worlds best free museums. To experience the best of Washington DC in a few days, stay downtown in a hotel like Penn Quarters Hotel Monaco, a short walk or just a few Metro stops away from the halls of power and the best restaurants and nightlife. You dont need a car; everything in this itinerary is accessible by Metro, a taxi or ride-share, or walking.

DAY 1: DOWNTOWN, PENN QUARTER, AND CAPITOL HILL

Start your day at Petes Diner, one block from the U.S. Capitol. Youll be joined by Hill staffers and perhaps a few lawmakers; former Speaker of the House John Boehner famously had eggs and coffee here almost every day.