WASHINGTON, DC

Wendell Williams

Why I like living in Washington, DC

Wendell Williams, 68, is a vendor of Street Sense in the US capital. He says: “As I battled to right my life and stay sober, Street Sense gave me a vehicle to support myself and live independently. The papers helped keep a roof over my head and paid my living expenses while I went back to school.”

Not only is DC my home – I’m a fifth-generation Washingtonian and my family goes back to the 1860s in this area – but it is just a beautiful, lovely city. It is really easy to navigate and get around. For a visitor, you can see so many museums, performances and nature areas for almost nothing, if not for free. Not to mention the nearby mountains and coast only a short drive away. Best for tourists

Every visitor should spend at least a day or two walking the National Mall, which stretches from the United States Capitol in the east all the way to the Lincoln Memorial at the west. Adjacent to the mall are even more sights and destinations like the Holocaust Museum, the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the Corcoran Gallery, Constitution Hall, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial. George Washington’s Mount Vernon estate can be reached by a scenic river cruise down the Potomac, or it is also a short taxi ride from Alexandria, Virginia, near Reagan National Airport.

How to escape city life

Right in the middle of the city you’ll find Meridian Park (known as Malcolm X Park to some). This park is a miniature version of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. From here, you can see all of Washington, DC, from the monuments to the Capitol, to the views of northern Virginia and the airport. Also try the United States Botanic Garden, just southwest of the US Capitol. You feel like you’re in a tropical forest or jungle. Insider tip

Somewhere every visitor to the city should go to get a feel for DC and its people is Busboys and Poets. You can get a good sense of the mix of people who inhabit the DC area along with excellent food and drink. The owner makes a point of hosting events such as open mic nights, book talks, art exhibits and social justice forums. Best place to eat

G&M Seafood is between DC and Baltimore off the BW Parkway. It has what Maryland says is the best crabcake in the state at a very reasonable price. My favorite time of year in DC

7 7 7 In spring, DC is alive with colors and smells. There are hundreds of parks, both big and small, located in neighborhoods throughout the city as well as on official government property. With places like the Tidal Basin surrounded by the Japanese cherry trees, DC is awash with color in the spring.