turkishemily

Connecticut Avenue is another major thoroughfare in DC. Great shopping towards Chevy Chase! The only place you can eventually end up at Tiffany’s or Saks. Don’t worry, there are less expensive stores further towards Tenleytown. Some good food on the street, as well as a Safeway hidden away. Also, the bus lines and Metro run up and down the street!

Rhode Island Avenue is a major thoroughfare in DC through to the northeast. I’ve driven on it many times (and gotten lost just as many times). Not the most exciting place, nor the safest. Best to venture here in the daytime if you must. Definitely not anywhere to go at night!

Like most of downtown DC, K Street buzzes with activity on the weekdays but is absolutely dead on the weekends. Not even tourists, I mean. Food in this area is decent (again, on weeknights), but it’s not exactly full of night life. Lots of high-powered suits worn in this area, so beware of attitudes.

I think everybody knows who lives at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW, right? The White House is one of the major attractions here. During the day, it’s all tourists and lobbyists. At night, lots of homeless people, so it can be kind of scary to get hit up for change in Lafayette Park.

Constitution, along with Independence, are two of DC’s main drags. Here, you’ll find all the Smithsonian Museums on the Mall, as well as the major federal buildings. Food around here is ok, but mostly for tourists, so beware overpriced entrees. The Mall is really nice to walk the entire length if you have the time and the weather is nice.

I lived on South Washington Street for about a year and I miss it so much! At one end (way far down), it dead-ends at George Washington’s house. At the other end, it feeds you into Washington, DC. Traffic can be a bit obnoxious at times, but people are generally pretty decent. Definitely THE route to take to get to the airport or across into the District.

All of Alexandria is quaint, but King St. is probably the cutest street. Loads of good shops (I used to work in one) and restaurants. If you walk down towards the waterfront, you’ll get really nice views of the Potomac. King St. further west isn’t as exciting; once you cross Washington Street, traffic worsens.

If you want to listen to a great band, head down to U Street some night, although I wouldn’t suggest going alone (especially if you’re a girl). The major clubs (ie, 9:30 Club and Black Cat) are a couple blocks from the Metro station, so it’s wise to have an escort at night – gets a little rough out there, but worth it to hear great music!

Ward Circle is the start of the Tenleytown shopping district in northwest DC. American University’s shuttle stops around here, so you have a lot of college students and stores that cater to them. In recent years, a Best Buy and Container Store have moved in (alas, too late for me to take advantage of). St. Ann’s Church is very pretty inside.

I lived on Mass Ave (as it’s known colloquially) for about three years during college. Mass Ave is really the heart of DC, as far as I’m concerned. Up in the NW quadrant, Mass Ave. is basically a thoroughfare lined with expensive apartments and embassies. Great for trick-or-treating on Halloween! The embassies give out great candy!