Capitol Hill, Washington, DC

Washington, DC is the nation’s capital, and the epicenter of this behemoth multi-faceted institution is Capitol Hill, where big government and big tourism collide.

Sightseers and history lovers swarm “The Hill” to see historic buildings like the Capitol, Union Station, and the Supreme Court, while college-aged summer interns ferry giant stacks of newly-stamped legislation between Uncle Sam’s institutions.

During the day, The National Mall explodes with pedestrians, protestors, politicians, and picnickers lounging on the grass, all surrounded by the dozens of iconic sites within the Mall’s boundaries – the Smithsonian museums, the Washington Monument, and the Lincoln Memorial – which attract millions of visitors every year.

Also calling Capitol Hill home are roughly one-third of the members of Congress and a slew of high-profile lobbyists and political pundits who reside in the stately Victorian homes on the tree-lined streets, while other areas that had been largely undeveloped for decades continue to grow thanks to major revitalization efforts.

Although Capitol Hill isn’t exactly known for its raging weekends, there is a solid Happy Hour scene around the Capitol Building, and the Eighth Street strip that runs south of Eastern Market – aka Barrack’s Row because of its proximity to the Marine barracks – features a five-block stretch packed with more than thirty restaurants and several independent shops.

Classy new fusion restaurants owned by big-name DC entrepreneurs have also sprung up in recent years, while neighborhood pubs, piano bars, and the country’s oldest lesbian bar keep Eighth Street busy all week long.