5 things I love about Washington DC

It should hardly come as a surprise that the United States' capital, Washington DC, gives off a feeling of grandness--after all the President's official residence (White House) and US' congress (US Capitol Hills) are located in town.

Adjectives such as epic, magnificent, and opulent are few words that easily come to mind when describing the country's "seat of power."

I got the chance to visit Washington DC for three days (not nearly enough time to roam the city!) last week and already, I cannot wait to come back. The city is simply enchanting and possesses a unique quality that has endeared itself to me.

Here are five things (there are more, but it's perhaps best to leave some offline. Ha!) I love about the city:


1. City of the free
          There's the magic word right there--free. In the three days that I was in the city, I was able to visit the Washington Monument, the Jefferson Memorial, the Martin Luther King Memorial, the White House, and the US Capitol Hills, among others--at no charge at all! There were also dozens of Smithsonian museums--such as the Museum of American History and the Air & Space Museum--that charges nothing for patrons who want to enter the premises. 

2. Attractions are clustered
          Many of the attractions there are walking distance from each other, which saves a lot of time and money for tourists (and also a fabulous way of clocking in some cardio time while you're at it). With careful planning, one can get to so many places in one afternoon, as long as you have the energy to walk around (of course, there are other options to get from Point A to Point B).

3. Tourist-friendly DC
          As a tourist, I never once felt lost while in the area. They had signage of where the attractions are; maps are available in the streets; and even tourist personnel stationed in busy area ready to assist whenever help is needed. Brochures and free publications are aplenty, so I was able to quickly build an itenerary once I got there. 

4. Highly effective public transport system
          New York's subway has nothing on DC's. For one, the trains in DC are clean and easy to get familiar with because they had managed to keep simple. There are day passes ($9 each) available that allows card holders to ride the train the whole day without limit. One of the best train systems out there, no doubt.


5. That European feel
          My first impression when I started walking in the streets of DC was: "This feels like Europe." Later, while reading some of the visitor information brochures I got, I learned that the city was, in fact, patterned after France a long time ago. That explains the grand architecture that dots the city left and right.