Photo by Kevin
Arbitrary rankings time! Washington earned the top spot in Lonely Planet’s “Best in Travel 2015.” The accolades keep piling up for proverbial “cool” city Washington as one of the best in the world. Washington, that is. Not D.C.
Indeed, the District has been highlighted as a top destination in the country for things that represent but a small fraction of the city. In their write-up for why it’s the best place to travel to, Lonely Planet name drops José Andres, Georgetown shopping, the Smithsonian Museums, and the Willard Hotel as reasons why the city is so great. Oof.
I’m not saying these things aren’t great reasons to visit D.C. for a lot of people—there’s a reason why they’re top tourist attractions—but they’re very representative of one side of the city: This Town. Don’t agree? Lonely Planet even says that our “official religion is national politics.” Come on.
Most people that live here—and have for some time—know that there’s two sides to the city, Washington and D.C., and that a lot of what Lonely Planet lists as great reasons to visit the city are classically Washington attractions (everything mentioned is in Northwest, and a small section of it!).
Of course, Lonely Planet isn’t completely off the mark. They do mention the city’s “vibrant gay bar scene,” the “incredible ethnic eats thanks to thriving immigrant communities,” and highlight the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum as a “life-changing experience.” These are all things that, to people who live here, are part what make the city unique and special. But there’s a lot more—from the diverse and thriving local music, theater, and arts scene, to the city’s unique outdoor beauty, distinctive architecture, fascinating museums not on the National Mall, and a million other things—to D.C. than what typically gets written up in rankings like this.
Of course, D.C. isn’t perfect. Like any major city, it’s facing many problems—like the increasing lack of affordable housing that’s driving many longtime residents out, mismanaged and a lack of shelters for homeless residents, great racial disparities in drug-related arrests, and more—but it’s still seen rapid growth and development in recent years that’s made it a top tourist destination.
The point is, D.C. is a great city, but not for the typical reasons rankings like these list. Explore other parts of the city and you’ll see for yourself.
