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Washington, D.C.

Washington is in the District of Columbia, a district that is run by the federal government. Citizens have no representatives in Congress, hence the motto (on all D.C. license plates) "Taxation without representation." The D.C. budget needs congressional approval, but day to day governance of the District is handled by the Mayor and the city council. The D.C. government's web site is very informative and offers information on neighborhoods, schools, taxes and D.C. history. The interactive mapping tool is especially good for finding directions in the District.

The District of Columbia is divided into four quadrants: Northwest, Northeast, Southeast and Southwest. D.C. borders Maryland to the north and Virginia to the south. Specifically, it borders Montgomery County, MD to the Northwest and Prince George's County, MD to the East. Across the Potomac you have Arlington County, VA to the Southwest and Alexandra, VA to the South. Many people who work in the District live in these surrounding areas that are considered part of the Washington Metropolitan area.

Area Attractions (Beyond the Mall)

If you move to D.C. it may be more expensive than other parts of the county, but you may never need to spend money for entertainment again. The Library of Congress, the Smithsonian's various museums (Hirshorn, the Freer and Sackler galleries, etc.) the National Gallery of Art, various embassies, and nonprofits all sponsor free concerts, movies, dance performances, craft demonstrations, and events for children. The big event is the Smithsonian Folklife Festival, held every year around the Fourth of July.

The monuments and the Mall are amazing but there is so much more to see. Bike trails lead to Mount Vernon and Bethesda. Teddy Roosevelt Island is a miniature nature preserve located on the Potomac between Rosslyn, VA and Georgetown. Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historic Park starts in Georgetown and goes all the way to Cumberland, Maryland. All of the museums run by the Federal Government in the District of Columbia are free.

Local Media

The District of Columbia has two daily newspapers, both of which have daily free commuter papers. The major alternative news weekly paper is the Washington Citypaper. As many of know you know, this is a good place to find apartment listings and concert listings, where to go out dancing, and that sort of thing.

Climate

The Washington area has four seasons of varying severity. It snows in the winter, but not too much, and the average temperature in January is about 42 degrees Fahrenheit. Spring tends to be rainy and mild with many, many things blooming besides the famous cherry trees, which bloom in early April. Allergy sufferers may have a hard time once the oak trees start spreading their pollen in late April. Spring can often be very short, with Summer-like weather starting in May. Washington summers are very warm and very humid and there are frequent thunderstorms in the afternoons or at night. The average July temperature is about 88 degrees Fahrenheit.

Fall is another beautiful season with warm, summer-like weather that may last well into October. Leaves change color in starting late October. Visitors to Washington should always pack their rain gear.