Washington D.C. Travel Guide – Best Places to Visit and Eat At

If there’s any city where you can feel the activism and sense that change is possible at every corner, it’s Washington, D.C. But true locals know this place isn’t all about politics. Go beyond the tourist stops at the National Mall, and you’ll discover a bustling metropolis boasting a formidable food scene, some of the country’s most stunning waterfront areas, and unforgettable (and largely free) museums. D.C. has evolved immensely over the past decade alone, with new hotspot neighborhoods emerging like 14th Street and The Wharf. Here, get to know the capital’s real highlights, beyond what the news or Schoolhouse Rock told you.

Planet Word

What does a museum wholly devoted to the English language look like? In the case of Planet Word, housed in D.C.’s Franklin School, it’s interactive, voice-activated (the world’s first-ever museum to do so), and the kind of hands-on experience so fun and engaging, you’ll forget it’s educational. Exhibits are organized by floors, and whether you’re learning about how many words in the English language have French origin (near 30 percent, BTW) or why Taylor Swift’s use of anaphora makes “Shake It Off” work so well lyrically, each thematic room will get you thinking more critically about the words you hear in your own life. This is a very manageable museum that can be done within an hour or two. If you’re hungry, head next door to Immigrant Food or cross the street and get a coffee and pastry…