Washington Mall

You can't live in Washington, DC and not love the National Mall. Sure, you can hate some of the tourists (goodness knows I do.. the annoying ones anyway with loud kids anyway), but there is always something fun to do here, and if it doesn't suit your liking, you can bring your own fun (picnics or frisbee golf anyone?) If you time it right, you can get a spot here on a gorgeous summer day, eat and play the day away, and then watch a classic movie with a bunch of tourists as part of the area's Screen on the Green program.

When you have your fill of outside fun, there is plenty to do indoors. Learn something at a museum or go have a drink and a bite to eat somewhere. And believe it or not, there is quite a bit of very affordable housing in neighboring areas. A friend of mine lived over in Waterfront a couple years ago, for almost dirt cheap, and we were able to walk to the Mall for 4th of July fireworks in 5 minutes. We got a spot right in front as a result.

In short, this area is marvelous, and well deserving of its fame. You are guaranteed to love it, especially if you have a touristy streak.

I have lived in the Washington D.C area for over 15 years and never get tired of visiting the Washington Mall. In general, this neighborhood runs from the Potomac River to the bounds of the U.S. Capitol and from Constitution Avenue N.W. to Independence Avenue S.E. It also extends past the White House. Here you will find amazing museums, gardens and national monuments that are open to the millions of visitors every year at no cost In addition, there are numerous government buildings here that see thousands of workers commute into the area during the work week. Although classified as a neighborhood, very few people actually live here with the exception of the first family.

There are four Metro stations within the footprint of the mall that provide excellent public transportation options to workers and visitors alike. There is some crime here, but overall it is safe because of the heavy heavy Police presence. Traffic is bad pretty much everyday, but in the springtime during the Cherry Blossom Festival it is really bad. Food and stores are pretty much geared and priced towards tourists, so beware. When walking around pay attention and you might see Marine 1 landing or taking off from the White House. Soon it will be time to go ice skating at the Sculpture Garden!

The National Mall. Just the mention of this lovely part of Washington puts every potential tourist in awe. The Mall is where all sorts of things happen: the Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial, and the White House. It was here that Martin Luther King JR delivered his “I have a dream” speech, and the fireworks rise over the Potomac every year on Independence day. It is also a mecca for tourism every year. Sometimes it gets so choked with people that you can hardly breathe. And, it is a popular protest site.
If you like to be in the middle of everything, to go out your door and be able to get everything you need, and if you have loads of money, you might be able to live on the Mall. There aren’t too many places to live, but for the right person it can be pleasant. Nothing is really big enough for families though, and anyhow with all the crowds I’m not sure I would recommend that anyway. Too easy for a kid to get lost. Nonetheless, there are plenty of services here. The crime rate is fairly low, mostly crimes of opportunity. Any time you have enough tourists, someone will be unable to resist the opportunity to steal things.