Autumn in Washington, D.C., is a favorite time of year. The weather cools off a bit, the foliage throughout the city starts to display a hint of orange and gold, and this year, there’s a brand new memorial drawing visitors to the National Mall.
The Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial officially opened on Aug. 28, taking its place alongside such iconic landmarks as the Lincoln and Jefferson memorials and the Washington Monument.
This unique memorial is infused with symbolic imagery. The entry portal is a large boulder representing the Mountain of Despair from King’s famed 1963 speech, demonstrating the struggle through life. Visitors pass through the boulder and emerge into the open freedom of the plaza, where a solitary stone, the Stone of Hope, contains an impressive 30-foot carving of King gazing over the Tidal Basin.
The Inscription Wall is engraved with 14 of King’s most notable quotes, and more than 180 Yoshino cherry blossom trees are planted along the Tidal Basin. Poetically, the peak blooming period for the trees coincides with the anniversary of King’s assassination on April 4.
Of course, there are numerous other reasons to visit D.C. this season. At Destination DC, we work with industry partners in the city and the region to ensure that all visitors — from our neighbors in surrounding counties to tourists from all corners of the globe — have a wonderful time while in Washington.
Here are just a few more reasons to make a trip to D.C. this fall.
‘Civil War to Civil Rights’ honors D.C.’s role in American history.
D.C. played a pivotal role in the American struggle for freedom and equality. From Abraham Lincoln’s tide-turning elections and inaugurations to Dr. Martin Luther King’s soul-stirring “I Have a Dream” speech at the Lincoln Memorial, Washington, D.C., has served as a powerful backdrop for catalyzing moments in the Civil War and civil rights movement.
The ongoing “Civil War to Civil Rights” commemoration brings together D.C.’s cultural attractions and historic landmarks in honor of the 150th anniversary of the Civil War. The program includes a tour of Lincoln’s Cottage, a peek inside a Civil War-era spy’s life at the International Spy Museum and walking tours from Cultural Tourism DC.
Fall is the perfect time for fitness.
The Brookings Institution named D.C. the country’s most walkable city in 2009, and it’s easy to see why. With awe-inspiring architecture and beautiful monuments and memorials, a stroll in D.C. comes with a great view.
The fall season celebrates this with several high-profile events. The Army Ten-Miler on Oct. 9 and the Marine Corps Marathon on Oct. 30 attract thousands of runners to the streets of D.C. for races that honor our military men and women. The Capital Criterium, an event for serious cyclers, also creates an opportunity for fitness enthusiasts and spectators alike to visit D.C. And with more than 800 miles of trails in the region, you can bike, walk or cycle this season, too.
Fall also means football, and the Nation’s Classic featuring Howard University and Morehouse College (Sept. 10), Notre Dame vs. University of Maryland faceoff (Nov. 12), Army-Navy Game (Dec. 10) and Military Bowl presented by Northrop Grumman (Dec. 28) will give sports fans some great tailgating opportunities, along with regular season Redskins games.
New exhibitions and performances showcase D.C.’s arts scene.
D.C. is rich in culture, and that includes its many museums and theaters (second only to the Big Apple in the number of seats). This fall, the city welcomes a number of new exhibitions, including “Warhol: Headlines” at the National Gallery of Art (Sept. 25–Jan. 2), “Degas’s Dancers at the Barre: Point and Counterpoint” at The Phillips Collection (Oct. 1–Jan. 8), “Seeing Gertrude Stein: Five Stories” at the National Portrait Gallery (Oct. 14–Jan. 22), and “The Black List Photographs by Timothy Greenfield-Sanders” at the National Portrait Gallery (Oct. 28–April 22).
Performances include “Fela!” at the Shakespeare Theatre Company (Sept. 13–Oct. 9), “Othello” at the Folger Theatre (Oct. 18–Nov. 27), “Jersey Boys” at The National Theatre (Nov. 10–Jan. 7) and “Cirque du Soleil: Quidam” at the Verizon Center (Nov. 16–20).
Staying Power Packages offer great discounts for D.C. visitors.
Whether you want to have a power lunch at a restaurant run by a celebrity chef or make a power play for fun by taking in the city’s awesome attractions, Destination DC’s ongoing Staying Power Packages help visitors create their own “Power Trip.” Rates start as low as $99 per night and offer a 30% savings on a three-night weekend stay (including a Thursday or Sunday night). Participating hotels include St. Gregory Hotel and Suites, Grand Hyatt Washington and The Fairmont Washington.
Elliot Ferguson is president and CEO of Destination DC (www.destinationdc.com), the lead destination marketing organization for the nation’s capital. He can be reached at 202-789-7016.
