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WASHINGTON, D.C.
The U.S. capital is a compact city on the
Potomac River, bordering the states of
Maryland and Virginia. It's defined by
imposing neoclassical monuments and
buildings - including the iconic ones
that house the federal government's
3 branches: the Capitol, White House
and Supreme Court - but also its
museums and performing-arts venues
such as the Kennedy Centre. It was
named after George Washington (who
picked the location), while the District of
Columbia was named after the explorer
Christopher Columbus.
WHERE TO STAY: One of the best
areas to stay is DuPont Circle as it is less
than a mile walk to the White House
which then leads you on the main sights
of the city. Bistros, bars and boutiques
line the streets that come together at
DuPont Circle, the meeting place of
this cosmopolitan neighbourhood. The
largest concentration of international
embassies sits just northwest of the
circle, giving an extra dash of global
flavour. Arts and entertainment collide
with restaurants, shops, hotels, quaint
B&Bs, galleries and museums (The
Phillips Collection, The Textile Museum,
Woodrow Wilson House and National
Geographic Society's Explorers Hall, to
name a few).
WHAT TO SEE: The walk between
Capitol Hill and the Lincoln Memorial is
probably the best sightseeing walk you
can do. At 2 miles long it takes you from
Capitol Hill along the National Mall,
past the Washington Monument, past
the reflecting pool and ends at the feet
of the Lincoln Memorial. Take a right
turn at the Washington Memorial and
you will be able to walk the 1.6 miles of
parks and gardens straight to the White
House.
THE WHITE HOUSE: George
Washington oversaw construction of
the White House, but never lived in
it. John and Abigail Adams became
the first occupants of the presidential
mansion on November 1, 1800. After
capturing the nation's capital during
the War of 1812, British troops set
fire to the White House, U.S. Capitol,
several federal buildings and private
residences on August 24, 1814. First
Lady Dolley Madison, who had refused
to leave the White House until only a
few hours before the British arrived,
secured the full length portrait of
George Washington and a copy of the
Declaration of independence on her
way out. Unfortunately it is not possible
to simply buy an entrance ticket to tour
the White House. It has to be arranged
in advance by special appointment
through the British Embassy in
Washington DC.
CAPITOL HILL: The United States
Capitol, often called Capitol Hill, is
the seat of the United States Congress
and the legislative branch of the U.S.
federal government. It sits atop Capitol
Hill, at the eastern end of the National
Mall in Washington, D.C. While still
under construction, the United States
Capitol held its first session of Congress
on November 17, 1800. Visitors are
welcome to enter the building through
the Capitol Visitor Centre, located
underground on the east side of the
Capitol. You can begin your Capitol
experience at the Visitor Centre by
visiting the Exhibition Hall, perusing gift
shops or dining in the restaurant.
THE LINCOLN MEMORIAL: In a city
of icons, the Lincoln Memorial is truly a
highlight. A visit here while gazing over
the 2,000ft (600m) Reflecting Pool is a
defining D.C. moment. It anchors the
west end of the National Mall, perfectly
balancing the long axis of the Mall,
its back fronting the Potomac River. A
visit here also serves as a respite from
visiting museums, while still retaining
the D.C. experience.
WASHINGTON MONUMENT:
Prominent 555-foot-high classical
obelisk where visitors are whisked by
elevator to an observation deck for
spectacular views of America's capital.
NATIONAL MALL: An open area
of gardens, fountains, trees and
monuments stretching nearly two miles
between the Capitol and the Lincoln
Memorial.
THE NATIONAL AIR AND SPACE
MUSEUM is one of the most popular
museums in the world, attracting, on
average, more than nine million visitors
each year.
The bright lights, sights and shopping
delights beckon to create the buzz that
is Manhattan - the memory of which
stays with you for a long time afterwards.
Think of Central Park, 5th Avenue, The
Empire State Building, Times Square,
the Statue of Liberty, Wall Street, Macy's,
Tiffany's, NYPD, Yellow Cabs, Broadway
and the Rockefeller Centre. These are
the ingredients which come together
in whirlwind of sights, sounds and
experiences. Christmas and New Year
are a magical time in New York with
the Christmas tree at the Rockefeller
Centre, ice skating in Central park and
magnificent shop displays on 5th Ave. On
New Year's Eve everyone gathers in Times
Square to count in the New Year in and
watch the silver ball drop.
The main tourist centre is situated in an
area called Midtown - immediately below
Central Park. It is laid out in a grid of
streets which run from west to east and
avenues which run from north to south.
The very southern tip of Manhattan is
known as Downtown where the layout
of streets become a bit more muddled
around Wall Street, the Brooklyn Bridge
and the Freedom Tower (Ground Zero).
Midtown is generally bordered by 59th
Street in the north running along the
southern edge Central Park and 34th
Street in the South. Times Square is in the
middle of it all where Broadway crosses
7th Avenue and 42nd Street.
GETTING AROUND- Because there is
so much to see and do in this area - the
best way to get around is on foot as one
thing leads onto another. Walking within
the Midtown area is achievable but can
be tiring if you are on the go all day. For
other sights and attractions outside of this
area then yellow cabs or the subway are
good ways to get around. Unfortunately
the subway routes are not as straight
forward as the streets. On any given
route there are a number of lettered
trains which stop at a different selection
of stations. Up trains run from South to
North while down trains run from North to
South, local trains stop at all stations while
express trains stop at a small selection of
main stations. Unlike London you pay the
same fare whether it is a one stop journey
or a ten stop journey.
SHOPPING & SIGHTSEEING:
We recommend combining both activities
at the same time in a sweep from North
to South starting in Central Park after
breakfast and before most shops open
at 10am. The following are 'Must Do':
Central Park including the Bethesda
Fountain & Strawberry Fields memorial.
Walk along 5th Avenue from Central Park
for a spot of top class shopping; check
out the Art Deco Rockefeller Centre
on 50th Street and pop in to view the
magnificent interior of Grand Central
Station on 42nd Street & Park Avenue.
Just a couple of blocks south at the
southern edge of the Midtown area on
34th Street you will find Macy's, Madison
Square Garden sports arena, the Empire
State Building and a great range of shops.
Hop on the subway down to 23rd Street
at Madison Square Park to visit the
Flatiron building then carry on down to
the Ground Zero site, the Freedom Tower
and Wall Street. Visit Battery Park at the
Southern tip of Manhattan and take
some photos of the Statue of Liberty. If
you have time - hop on a boat tour via
the Statue of Liberty to the museum on
Ellis Island. The Empire State Building at
sunset is perfect for magnificent views
across the city as the lights twinkle on.
Finally visit Times Square at night before
seeing a show on Broadway.
A New attraction is the Highline Park.
This is a public park built on a historic
freight rail line elevated above the streets
on Manhattan's West Side. It runs from
Gansevoort Street in the Meatpacking
District (13th Street) to West 34th Street,
between 10th and 12th Avenues. This
offers a great opportunity to view the
lower west side with great views, water
features, flowers beds and lawns.
NEW YORK CITY
THE POLITICAL CENTRE THE FINANCIAL CENTRE
