10 minute read
OF POWER,BUT FAMILIARITY
WORDS ALLYSON PORTEE
There’s much more to Washington, D.C. than just politics
Acity of power and in uence, Washington, D.C. has been the centre of US domestic politics, international relations and global in uence for decades. Espionage lms, presidential movies and documentaries have all used the capital of the United States as the focal point of their screenplays. But the DMV (DC, Maryland and Virginia) as it is known, for the political façade that the world sees, has so much more to o er. It’s full of quaint neighbourhoods, top-notch hotels, impressive shopping, some of the best collegiate institutions globally, waterfront views, restaurants that would sweep any foodie o their feet, and activities to keep families and tourists occupied for hours.
Of power, yes, and in uence, yes, but Washington, D.C. can also feel like a small town with an air of familiarity. Here’s a mid-pandemic round-up of where to visit, stay and eat when visiting the US capital, which is slowly opening up and anxious for its usual hustle and bustle to return.
How to get to DC from the Middle East
Easy to access to from the Middle East, Emirates Airline operates four ights weekly to Washington, D.C. Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways also y directly to the US capital from their hubs, Abu Dhabi and Doha respectively and Turkish Airlines operates a daily service from Istanbul to Washington Dulles International Airport.
When to visit
e ideal time to visit is March to May when the weather isn’t hot or humid yet. Visit at the start of spring and the cherry blossom trees are without a doubt, the star of the show. You can also catch the National Cherry Blossom Festival, which this year took place virtually and in-person, from March 20 to April 11, 2021. Washington, D.C. is not the US’ rst capital, it is its ninth a er Philadelphia, Baltimore, Lancaster (Pennsylvania), York (Pennsylvania), Princeton (New Jersey), Annapolis (Maryland), Trenton (New Jersey) and New York City. Its central location between the southern states and northern states was key in establishing it as the nation’s nal capital city and because it was set up on cheap swamp land, its summers are humid and sweltering. at’s why a springtime visit is ideal. Autumn, around late September to November, is also doable, before the cold winter weather sets in.
Where to stay – the Mayflower Hotel
The luxuriously elegant Mayflower Hotel, located in downtown Washington DC at 1127 Connecticut Avenue NW in the Farragut North Metro area, is a great place to stay, primarily because it’s central, making it easy to get to major city landmarks.
A Marriott Autograph Collection property, it offers 581 rooms, is steeped in history (it’s almost 100 years old) and its fabulous design and amenities make you feel at home. Former US President Harry Truman called it the “second best address in Washington, D.C.,” (after the White House, of course) and it has also hosted guests such as former British Prime Minister, Sir Winston Churchill and former US President, Ronald Reagan. In 1933 former US President Franklin Roosevelt wrote his inaugural address the day before he gave his inaugural speech in room 776 and in 1957, the King of Morocco, Mohammed V, hosted a dinner for former US President Ike and Mrs. Eisenhower. Pre-COVID-19, the Mayflower was DC’s social hub, staging events every night of the week, including high-society galas, balls and receptions.
The hotel’s general manager, Kori Johnson, explains the role the hotel has played in US politics over the years, having seen many large policy reforms signed and sealed within its four walls.
“The GI Bill was signed here, the Peace Corp was developed here with the Shrivers [President Kennedy’s sister and her husband],” he explains.
“We had all the presidential inaugurations here in our Grand Ballroom until Reagan, before they just got too big, and the restaurant downstairs is named after J. Edgar Hoover, who ate here for 20 years straight when he was director of the FBI. A spy turned himself into Hoover when he was here dining.” The Mayflower’s historical narrative is unrivalled in DC, as far as hotels go. There’s even a story behind its name. The building firm went bankrupt during the hotel’s construction, so the insurance company stepped in, and one of its heads’ forefathers had sailed on the original Mayflower ship – the vessel that transported a group of English families, known today as the Pilgrims, from England to the New World in 1620. History and politics aside, there is another angle to the Mayflower – “scandal” – says Johnson, revealing: “The Monica Lewinsky and former NY Governor Eliot Spitzer incidences all happened in these hallways.” Today, the hotel hosts guests from all around the world, with the Middle East its fifth largest source market for business, prior to the Muslim travel ban imposed by the Trump administration. With this ban now overturned under the Biden administration and international travel slowly resuming, the Mayflower is hoping the Middle East market will bounce back.
The rooms and suites are spacious yet cosy, modern yet classic and the staff are friendly and helpful. What more could you ask for?
CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT:
Mayflower Hotel; The Mayflower Hotel’s grand lobby; Lincoln Memorial
How to get around
The easiest way to get around the DMV area is by the underground Washington Metro network, with maps available online and downloadable (wmata.com). Fare options include a one-day pass priced at US$13, a threeday pass ($28) and a weekly pass ($58). With trains running every five to seven minutes during the day, it’s the most affordable way to get from one monument or site to the next, hassle free.
What to see
The National Mall and Memorial Parks (nps.gov/nama/) is where the nation comes to remember and where history is made. As “America’s Front Yard”, the National Mall and Memorial Parks is home to many of the country’s most iconic memorials telling the story of people and events that shaped the nation. Each year, millions of people come to recreate, commemorate presidential legacies, honour its veterans, and make their voices heard. The Smithsonian offers 11 museums and galleries on the National Mall (plus six other museums and the National Zoo in the greater National Capital Area). They are all free to enter, but some special exhibitions are chargeable.
CLOCKWISE FROM
ABOVE: The view of the Capitol Building from National Mall; Washington Metro network; Arlington National Cemetery
During the pandemic, all Smithsonian museums and the National Zoo were temporarily closed, but the outdoor gardens and exhibitions remained open to the public with no passes required. The Smithsonian museums gradually opened on May 5 and are operating with free, but timed entry passes.
The Capitol Building – the most recognised symbol of democratic government in the world, where Congress meets to write laws and presidents are inaugurated – is currently closed, but worth a visit to take that ‘Insta-worthy’ shot.
A walk or a bike ride from there to another Instagram favourite, the Lincoln Memorial, is highly recommended. The Lincoln Memorial is a US national memorial built to honour the 16th President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln, located on the western end of the National Mall, just across from the Washington Monument, it was built in the form of a neoclassical temple and its architect was Henry Bacon.
Every memorial, including the Lincoln, Jefferson, Washington, Roosevelt, the Vietnam Veterans, the Korean War Veterans, War World II and Martin Luther King, Jr., are all free to visit and must-sees. Just as you go to Paris to see the Eiffel Tower, you go to Washington, D.C. to see all of these memorials. All located just off the National Mall, they are easy to access.
Arlington National Cemetery (arlingtoncemetery.mil) is a sight to behold and another must visit. Spanning some 630 acres, it’s the resting place of former US soldiers who served in the military. Former US president John F. Kennedy and his wife, former First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy, boxer Joe Lewis, and former president, William H. Taft, are also buried at this cemetery. It’s a moving and educational experience. The cemetery is open for tour busses to drive through and for tour groups to visit.
The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum (ushmm.org) is just as moving. The museum, which re-opened in May, tells the story of the six million Jews persecuted during World War II.
The White House and the Capitol Building are global must-visit icons, but due to recent unrest and riots, it’s not possible to get close to these magnificent edifices as they are blocked off by large fencing. Usually open for public tours, it will be a while before this is possible, but they are recognisable from mile-off distances.
United Station (unionstationdc.com) is the city’s largest train station with Amtrak services operating up and down the Eastern seaboard.
It’s a two-hour train ride to Philadelphia and a fourhour train ride to New York City. Even if you don’t have a rail journey planned, it’s worth visiting the station for the architecture alone and there are plenty of restaurants, shops and cafés too.
Where to eat
For breakfast, Ted’s Bulletin (tedsbulletin.com) is the place to go, serving the best American breakfast with omelettes, pancakes, grits, toast and its famous homemade pop tarts all on the menu. The wait can be long, but are well worth it, with good quality food and friendly staff (505 8th St SE, Washington, DC 20003).
Founding Farmers (farmersrestaurantgroup.com) is quintessential DC and an establishment in its own right. ABOVE: The Set up by American family farmers from White House places like North Dakota, the restaurant is BOTTOM: Don’t committed to all-natural ingredients and miss chicken and waffles meals made from scratch. at Founding Best-selling items on the menu include Farmers the fried chicken and waffles and the cornbread with honey butter as an appetiser (1924 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20006).
The White House Mezcalero Cocina Mexicana
and the Capitol Building are global (mezcalerodc.com) is the place to hit when you are hankering for antojitos, Mexico City-style street tacos, courtesy of Chef must-visit icons Alfredo Solis and his sister, Jessica, who have brought authentic Mexican cooking to DC’s Columbia Heights neighbourhood. The sibling duo’s second restaurant in the city after El Sol, Mezcalero offers burritos; enchiladas; gorditas – traditional corn tortillas stuffed with chicharron or carnitas, onions, cactus salad, queso fresco and cilantro; 15 varieties of tacos; and ceviche – fish marinated in lemon juice with onions and fresh habanero. Offering outdoor dining for warm summer DC nights, the restaurants draws large crowds of people wanting real Mexican food (3714 14th St NW, Washington, DC 20010).
Where to shop
For some retail therapy, Georgetown’s M Street (georgetowndc.com) and side streets are shopping hotspots, lined with a wide range of outlets, from boutique and quaint stores to retail giants such as J. Crew, GAP, Ralph Lauren, TJ Maxx and more. The area is bursting with restaurants and coffee shops too and is the place to catch the latest seasonal sales.
For more information on what’s open in Washington, D.C. and current restrictions in place, visit washington.org
