Washington DC isn’t really a tourist destination. Judging by the standards of most capital cities around the world, DC is a rather laid back city. Even though the world’s gaze is constantly turned towards the city because of the fact that it is seat of the U.S. administration for a better part of the year, hearing someone say that they are visiting DC still begs the average person to ask “why”. We examine some of the reasons that explain why people go to Washington DC.
For official work
Being the heart of the American government, Washington DC gets an overwhelming number of visitors that flock to the city solely for a work-related reason. Elected officials of course have to be in the city to serve their function while a vast majority of travelers to the city arrive here to meet with a senator or one of their representatives. Lobbyists are another major traveler group along with school and college groups that visit the city on official trips.
To protest and to participate in rallies
A place where you find the top politicians of the country is also likely to be full of protestors opposing bills, schemes, provisions and other government decisions as well. Washington DC is no different. Rallies on the National Mall have become something of a regular feature in the city and there are even rallies that are organized on a regular basis in support of various causes like anti-abortion and causes related to American POWs/MIAs.
For sightseeing
Washington, D.C. offers many points of interest for sightseers including the White House, the Smithsonian Institution, the United States Capitol, the Washington Monument, the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, the Lincoln Memorial, National Air and Space Museum, the National Museum of Natural History, the International Spy Museum, the National World War II Memorial, the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial among many other attractions.
