The National Mall plays host to many events throughout the year, including the blossom kite festival. (Photograph by Mario Savva, My Shot)

Nat Geo’s Washington, D.C.

July 04, 2012
10 min read

Since it’s America’s birthday today, we thought it would be fitting to publish a special edition of I Heart My City to celebrate the best things about the nation’s capital and National Geographic’s home city.

There’s a little-engine-that-could we like to call “Team Lady” here at Traveler — otherwise known as Carolyn Fox, Andrea Leitch, Leslie Trew Magraw, and Sarah Polger (our fearless leader, Zain Habboo, is visiting family in Jordan). While we’re not as different as the four friends on Sex in the City, each of us brings a distinctive flair to the table. Here’s a mash-up of our favorite things about living in “the District.”

Washington, D.C. is Our City

The National Mall plays host to many events throughout the year, including the blossom kite festival. (Photograph by Mario Savva, My Shot)

The first place I take a visitor from out of town is the National Mall to tour the monuments and Smithsonian museums (they’re all free!).

When I crave pizza I always go to We the Pizza in Capitol Hill.

To escape the concrete city I head to the Shenandoah Mountains to go for a hike.

If I want to see a foreign, independent, documentary, or classic film I go to E Street Cinema.

For complete quiet, I can hide away in the Hirshhorn Museum’s Sculpture Garden.

See "The Needle Tower" in the Hirshhorn's sculpture garden. (Photograph by Sydney Liautaud, My Shot)

If you come to my city, get your picture taken at the Jefferson Memorial. It faces the Washington Monument and the White House and is especially lovely when the cherry blossoms are in bloom.

If you have to order one thing off the menu from Ben’s Chili Bowl it has to be the chili-cheese fries (ask for “the works”).

Georgetown Cupcakes is my one-stop shop for great dessert.

Locals know to skip Georgetown shopping and check out Eastern Market instead.

When I’m feeling cash-strapped I go have a picnic with friends in Meridian Hill Park (a.k.a. Malcolm X Park). It offers a spectacular overlook of downtown.

Check out the drum circle that gathers on Sundays at Meridian Hill Park. (Photograph by Jessica Stephens, My Shot)

For a huge splurge, I reserve a spot at the Passenger’s back bar, the Columbia Room, and sip on specialty cocktails and sample fancy olives.

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