Washington D.C. is known for its magnificent public buildings and museums. But there’s so much more to this vibrant, beautiful city that Canadians should know about.
Destination D.C. tourism officials were in Toronto on 28JUN to talk up everything from the city’s A-1 cuisine to its magnificent hotels, spacious parks and festivals. They also noted next year D.C. will host World Pride (May 23 to June 8), marking only the second time World Pride has been in a U.S. City.
D.C. Tourism’s Lindsay Hill, Associate Director, Visitor Experience and Group Tour, manned the city’s tourism booth at Toronto Pride on Canada Day weekend.
“We’re expanding our presence in key international markets like Toronto,” said Kyle Deckelbaum, Destination D.C.’s domestic media relations manager.
“We couldn’t be more excited to be here, he said. “More than 250,000 Canadians visited DC last year, up six per cent from pre-pandemic figures.”
In addition to offering FAM trips, Destination D.C. has a Special Agent Academy to train travel advisors.
“The program is designed to train and engage our agents to become a master-of-influence,” the Destination DC website says. “Be trained in what makes Washington, D.C. so captivating to travellers. Master the art of matching travellers’ special interests and travel styles with a personalized D.C. experience. Gain access to open future FAM opportunities and entry to win special prizes.”
Deckelbaum told assembled media at the 28JUN event that the city’s slogan is “There’s only one D.C.”
“You can take in a Martin Luther King monument in the morning and go kayaking on the Potomac River in the afternoon. And in the evening have a cocktail at a rooftop bar.”
The Washington D.C. zoo is free, and they’ll be getting a pair of two-year-old pandas from China later this year.
"Washington is the only place in the world you can see pandas for free,” Deckelbaum said.
He also said the city has 19 new or renovated hotels. The former Mandarin Oriental has been redone and is now the Salamander. The city also is getting its first boutique Arlo hotel.
The Willard InterContinental Washington D.C. has hosted every U.S. President since the 1850’s, and I can personally endorse the historic and elegant Hay-Adams hotel.
Here’s a link to some great summer hotel experiences in the city.
World Pride will be in Washington DC from 23MAY to 08JUN next year. Some two million visitors are expected, and this notes only the second time a U.S. city has hosted World Pride.
The city will host celebrations in 2026 to mark the 250th anniversary of the birth of the United States.
Deckelbaum said D.C. has more than 25 free museums, which is quite something. I’ve been to a few over the years and most recently visited the National Museum of African American History and Culture, which is both sobering and amazing.
The National Gallery of Art is home to more than 141,000 works of art from around the world and throughout time. Among the pieces is the only Leonardo da Vinci in the Americas. The gallery is free to enter.
The National Museum of Women in the Arts is said to be the world’s first museum solely dedicated to female artists and has more than 5,500 works by some 1,000 artists.
The Folger Shakespeare Library in D.C. houses the world's largest Shakespeare collection and features a Tudor-style theatre where drama enthusiasts can watch a collection of professional productions among the impressive lineup of shows.
The city also hosts many yearly festivals, including cherry blossom and jazz festivals.
If you’re a foodie, Washington, D.C., has a larger concentration of Michelin-starred restaurants than any city in the U.S., Deckelbaum said. D.C. restaurants offer cuisine from around the world, including Thai, Italian, Indian, classic French, casual barbeque, and southern soul food. A few years ago, I had a terrific food tour of the Georgetown area, including excellent Korean dishes, followed by a fun kayak ride on the Potomac.
Since opening in 1933, Martin's Tavern has been a local favourite among presidents and diplomats and has been the setting of major debates, landmark decisions and iconic moments, like JFK’s proposal to Jackie Onassis.
