Washington Gift Cards

Since it is the capital of the United States, Washington, D.C. is part of most people’s general knowledge. It also rarely figures on the average person’s ‘places to visit’ list. However, there is no doubt that it has real potential to fascinate and engage its visitors. Commonly known as ‘D.C.’, ‘the District’ or just ‘Washington’, the city was declared the capital on July 16, 1790. Since then it has grown exponentially, and the Washington Metropolitan Area is now one of the most heavily populated regions in the country.

The Center of Power:  Washington DC is the official headquarters of all the three branches of the Federal Government of the United States – the Supreme Court, the President and the Congress. Largely due to its political significance, it is also the chosen headquarters of scores of trade unions, international organizations, professional associations, non-profit organizations and lobbying groups. Additionally, it hosts the foreign embassies of 176 countries.

Places to Visit:  Washington, D.C. is famous for its museums and national monuments. Most of these are situated in the region known as the National Mall. This two-mile neighborhood, flanked on either end by the Capitol building and the Lincoln Memorial, is invariably the first place on every tourist’s itinerary. While a thorough exploration of all the museums and monuments in the neighborhood could take a few days, a day tour could acquaint you with the major sites. These would typically include the Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial, the National Museum of American History, the U.S. Capitol Building and the Thomas Jefferson Memorial.

Eating out and Shopping:  Most people imagine that eating out in D.C. is elite, elegant and extravagant. After all, the restaurants here cater to powerful leaders and diplomats from around the world. However, it is best to avoid such a cliché. Like any other major city, D.C. has its elite, celebrity chef restaurants, but it also offers some fresh local fare at surprisingly affordable rates. Whatever your budget, you will also find a diverse array of cuisines available here.

Washington DC is also an excellent shopping destination. Whether you are after home furnishing, electronics, trendy garments, jewelry or casual sports wear, D.C. can give any other American city a run for its money. For clothes, Georgetown and Wisconsin Avenue are the places to begin, and if you are looking for art, used books, cool accessories or jewelry, Dupont Circle is definitely worth a visit. Finally, if home décor interests you, the Logan Circle at 14th Street is the place to start.

At the end of the day, do not make the common mistake of stereotyping D.C. In popular terms, it is most certainly a cool place to visit.