Travelers flying into D.C. will soon also rejoice upon arrival: The Dulles Metrorail Project – Silver Line is nearing completion on the Dulles Corridor Metrorail project, connecting Washington Dulles International Airport to downtown DC (for now, only rideshare, bus and taxis are available to/from the airport). Operated by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, the 11-mile extension, which will include 11 new stations, is expected to open this year.
C&O Canal (Photo by: washington.org)
From Union Station, I made a beeline to Georgetown, a highbrow neighborhood bordering Dupont Circle (the “gayborhood”) just outside the capitol’s main landmarks. Georgetown, founded in 1789, has an unmistakable residential feel, home to centuries-old rowhouses known for commanding Federal and Georgian architecture, sprawling parks, D.C.’s most famous shopping street (M Street) and a diverse community of political types blending with college students (Georgetown is home to Georgetown University). I loved wandering along the Chesapeake and Ohio (C&O) Canal, an incredibly charming and historic canal, photogenic especially at sunset when all of D.C. is mirrored on the water’s surface. The canal is a sort of life line through the area, a magnet to locals taking scenic shortcuts or visitors taking breaks on one of many arched pedestrian bridges. A stroll will connect you to quiet streets and alleyways that branch off to major attractions or parks like the recently redeveloped Georgetown Waterfront Park (one of the oldest areas in Washington) hugging the famed Potomac River.
