Washington: The Home Of Politics

By Author: Bonny Kominek
Total Articles: 230
Comment this article

Washington DC on the north-eastern coast of the United States is a city that is synonymous with politics, in fact, it is a city that is so entirely devoted to politics that at weekends it seems a long way from being the capital of one of the most powerful nations on earth.

Washington is also a fantastic tourist destination, though often put in the shade by New York just down the coast. It is a five hour flight from the UK, and flights across the Atlantic are remarkably cheap.

Whilst Washington has many great things about it, there are two in particular that will strike you from the moment that you arrive. The first is how surreal it is to actually see ''in the flesh'' some of the buildings that are so incredibly familiar to us all. The White House, the Washington Monument and Capitol Hill are instantly recognisable around the world, and to see them close up is staggering.

The second is the incredible scale of the city. The buildings are enormous, often clad in white marble with pillars deliberately reminiscent of ancient Rome and you genuinely feel dwarfed in their presence. The Supreme Court building in ...
... particular is immense, and more than worth a view.

The one exception to this rule is the White House, which is actually surprisingly small. The police presence is extremely heavy and you can only get a really good view of the building from the direction of the Mall, but if you go round to one side through the gates you can see the Oval Office itself.

To really make the most of visiting Washington it''s a good idea to do a little planning in advance. You can apply to go on tours of the White House and the Capitol, and you can also get a free tour of the National Archives (which is worth it for the opportunity to see the original document of the Declaration of Independence if nothing else).

As well as its enormous buildings, Washington also has enormous green spaces, and they are littered with famous buildings. One particularly nice route is from the Washington Mall, along the shores of the Potomac to the Jefferson Memorial and then back through the War Memorials to the Lincoln Memorial. It really is beautiful and utterly unforgettable.

Washington is a city that is good for all seasons. Its appeal is in its incredible scale, and with the raft of Smithsonian museums running down the mall there is enough to keep you occupied indoors for weeks. As a city made for politics it also has incredible hospitality, the hotels are fantastic, though it can be a little difficult to find a restaurant in the centre of the city. Washington is a great place to visit, and if you do, you''re guaranteed a holiday you''ll never forget. This guide to holidays in Washington was written by Bonny Kominek after a roadtrip around America. For great deals on Washington hotels visit the Octopus Travel website.