Dreamscapes Travel & Lifestyle Magazine
Issue link: http://read.dreamscapes.ca/i/821088
DREAMSCAPES SPRING/SUMMER 2017 34 spending bills are passed, this city on marshy lowlands is the seat of the greatest economic and military power in the world. The star-spangled banner reigns over the city's 176 square kilometres. Bodyguards in suits and sunglasses march on sidewalks, talking into microphones on their crisp sleeves. Black sport utility vehicles roll through lanes while flashing red-and-blue lights. Military helicopters fly in procession. These are everyday scenes in this capital. Then, there are lively families strolling through the city and thousands of tourists pouring into monuments and museums armed with maps and cameras, trying to get the perfect photo before twilight. These vis- itors from across the nation and around the world give D.C. the distinction of being the second-most visited city in the U.S. This is Washington, D.C., a unique global city that is definitely worth a visit. DS by the south lawn's wrought-iron gates, as a handful of protesters tried to get their mes- sage across the great divide. Good photos from this location would now be a rarity, as the adjacent street is restricted from public access and large trees hide most of the south lawn's view. The overwhelming security presence manifests how this famous house has evolved into a fortress over time. COOL NEIGHBOURHOODS D.C. is an amalgamation of geometry and art, with its wide boulevards, grid pattern and extensive collection of outdoor sculptures. Alongside federal government buildings, D.C.'s tree-lined streets caress row houses, boutiques and restaurants. The row-house neighbourhoods are stitched well into the urban fabric as they create the bulk of city- centre housing. D.C. neighbourhoods are also well known for their tree canopies, some of which are over 150 years old. Due to height restrictions, there are no skyscrapers so monuments tower over com- mercial structures. Washington, D.C., has a more than 200-year history; the federal city that was planted on the shores of the Potomac River now enjoys a sphere of influ- ence stretching far beyond the nation's shorelines. It has gallantly undergone urban development and now stands among the world's most recognizable cities. UNIQUE CHARACTER D.C. is more than a collection of buildings and monuments; it represents the very idea of American democracy. Justitia omnibus—justice for all—is the motto for the metropolis. With the nearby 236-hectare Pentagon military headquarters and its Capitol Building where trillion-dollar TOP: Take a stroll along the Tidal Basin in the spring to catch a glimpse of the Jefferson Memorial and the iconic blossoming cherry trees. BELOW LEFT: Walkable row-house neighbourhoods are stitched into D.C.'s urban fabric. BELOW RIGHT: Diners enjoy an evening meal at one of D.C.'s many fine restaurants. Courtesy washington.org For more information, visit washington.org. T R A V E L P L A N N E R