D.C.’s neighborhoods are filled with beautiful historic buildings to delight the walking tourist.

Soak up the local vibe in Georgetown and Dupont Circle

Like most cities, Washington, D.C. is a collection of smaller neighborhoods, each having its own flavor and charm. Architecture and attitudes change from block to block and street to street, creating a cultural patchwork that can be fascinating for locals and tourists alike. If you’re planning a trip to our nation’s Capital, you might want to take the time to explore a few of the city’s more interesting and famous neighborhoods.

Two of Washington’s most picturesque neighborhoods are:

• Georgetown. An 18th century port that predates the building of the larger city of Washington, Georgetown is the home of the famous University of the same name as well rows of breathtaking brownstones, beautiful shopping boutiques and fine restaurants.

• Dupont Circle. A hip and trendy area of galleries, bookshops and pubs, Dupont Circle is also home to embassy row, with its stunning and eclectic examples of great architecture. A hundred years ago, the area was a place where the very rich built mansions for themselves, and it is many of these residences that have been turned into foreign embassies.

• Walking tours. The best way to get a feel for the character of these neighborhoods is on foot. Both are great areas to walk in, either as part of an official tour or at your own pace. The neighborhoods are rich with museums and historic streetscapes, and taking the time to gaze at priceless examples of many different architectural styles can give a visitor a sense of how the city changed and grew over the centuries. So if you’re looking for the real Washington, head for an area like Georgetown or Dupont Circle, and let your feet wander along the cobblestones, bricks and sidewalks.

D.C. Heritage
www.dcheritage.org

The National Park Service
www.nps.gov

Washington, D.C. Convention and Tourism
www.washington.org

D.C. Registry: Tourism
www.dcregistry.com