Guest Nomad: Six Great Places to Visit in Washington, D.C.

This week’s “Guest Nomad” is Sarah Van Auken from VolunteerGlobal.com.

Six Great Places To Visit In Washington, D.C.

I’ve wanted to live in Washington, D.C. for as long as I can remember. I imagined strolling along the National Mall, taking in the view from atop the Washington Monument, sitting on the stairs of the Lincoln Memorial, and working in the White House.

After living here for five years, my experience has been vastly different from what I thought it would be. What I’ve found is that this city is not just that stock footage we all see in movies. It’s a real-life-honest-to-goodness city, complete with its own dog parks, independent shops, and even – yes! People! There are 600,000 of us from all over the world, living in very distinct neighborhoods.

Because I want you to love D.C. as much as I do, below are six tourist friendly places you may not have considered, but that you really should visit, next time you’re here.

Meridian Hill Park

Meridian Hill

Located at 15th, 16th, and W Streets NW, this park is my favorite spot in the city. Meridian Hill is home to statues of Jeanne d’Arc (the only equestrian statue in the city to feature a woman), Dante Alighieri, and James Buchanan. Thirteen fountains on lower level of the park are situated along a series of stairs to an upper section flanked by two more fountains. The top of the hill is home to a dog park, where you can join games of ultimate Frisbee and a very popular drum circle each weekend.

KramerBooks

Kramer Books

We all love bookstores, right? Located on Connecticut Avenue just north of Dupont Circle, KramerBooks is The Bookstore to Visit in this city. Open 24 hours on weekends and late nights during the week, this tiny shop boasts publications on every subject, from fiction to travel to political satire. Stop by the Afterwords Café as well – this extension of KramerBooks offers daily happy hour specials at the bar and sit-down meals both inside and on the patio.

Roosevelt Island

Theodore Roosevelt Island is situated on the Potomac River and is accessible by a footbridge near the George Washington Memorial Parkway. You’ll have to hoof it though – no bikes or cars are allowed out there, but dogs are permitted if they’re on a leash. This small bit of land is considered a National Park, and is currently listed in the National Register of Historic Places. If you ever wondered why there were no memorials to this president on or around the National Mall, it’s because the man was so completely awesome that he deserved his own island. Just look at that statue!

The National Cathedral

Washington National Cathedral in Washington, D.C.

Yes, I’m sure you’ve heard of the National Cathedral, which is located on Massachusetts and Wisconsin Avenues, NW. I’m going to tell you some cool things about it though.

First of all, there’s the Space Window – a stained glass window displaying a moon rock commemorating the lunar landing in 1969. The design of this window outlines the trajectory Apollo 11 took from the earth to the moon and back.

There’s also the statue of Darth Vader. You’ll need good binoculars to see it, but it’s generally accepted that this is the only religious building in the world featuring a Darth Vader gargoyle.

Speaking of gargoyles and grotesques, you’ll also find an elephant; a monkey; a computer; a robot; a crooked politician; a grotesque of one of the stone carvers, complete with overalls and a stiletto; and finally, an angel holding an Oscar statuette commemorating Marjorie Hunt’s 1985 documentary “The Stone Carvers.”

HR-57

Rocking at HR-57

Located on Q and 14th Streets NW, this club derives its name from House Resolution 57, which declared jazz to be a “rare and valuable national American treasure.” On weekends, HR-57 is a smoky, dark, hidden-away jazz club that showcases aspiring and professional musicians in Washington, D.C. – and always gives a great performance. During the day, they host lectures, workshops, and exhibits for nonprofits, universities, and individuals.

Eastern Market

Eastern Market

Open every weekend, this market is located at the Metro stop bearing the same name, and includes arts and crafts, a flea market, and a farmers’ line. During the week, only the South Hall Merchants shops (produce and flowers) are open for business. The Eastern Market building reopened this summer after a fire badly damaged the structure in 2007, and now features nearly 200 exhibitors and handmade products. Stop by the adjacent cafes for Sunday brunch, and then spend your afternoon browsing this favorite spot among D.C. locals.