Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia, also known as just Washington or just D.C., is the capital city of the United States.It is located on the east bank of the Potomac River which forms its southwestern and southern border with the U.S. state of Virginia, and shares a land border with the U.S. state of Maryland on its remaining sides. The city was named for George Washington, the first president of the United States and a Founding Father, and the federal district is named after Columbia, a female personification of the nation. As the seat of the U.S. federal government and several international organizations, the city is an important world political capital.It is one of the most visited cities in the U.S., seeing over 20 million visitors in 2016.

Washington, D.C., is located in the mid-Atlantic region of the U.S. East Coast. Due to the District of Columbia retrocession, the city has a total area of 68.34 square miles (177 km2), of which 61.05 square miles (158.1 km2) is land and 7.29 square miles (18.9 km2) (10.67%) is water. The district is bordered by Montgomery County, Maryland to the northwest; Prince George’s County, Maryland to the east; Arlington County, Virginia to the west; and Alexandria, Virginia to the south. Washington, D.C., is 38 miles (61 km) from Baltimore, 124 miles (200 km) from Philadelphia and 227 miles (365 km) from New York City.

The south bank of the Potomac River forms the district’s border with Virginia and has two major tributaries: the Anacostia River and Rock Creek. Tiber Creek, a natural watercourse that once passed through the National Mall, was fully enclosed underground during the 1870s. The creek also formed a portion of the now-filled Washington City Canal, which allowed passage through the city to the Anacostia River from 1815 until the 1850s. The Chesapeake and Ohio Canal starts in Georgetown and was used during the 19th century to bypass the Little Falls of the Potomac River, located at the northwest edge of Washington at the Atlantic Seaboard fall line.

The highest natural elevation in the district is 409 feet (125 m) above sea level at Fort Reno Park in upper northwest Washington. The lowest point is sea level at the Potomac River.The geographic center of Washington is near the intersection of 4th and L Streets NW.

The district has 7,464 acres (30.21 km2) of parkland, about 19% of the city’s total area and the second-highest percentage among high-density U.S. cities. This factor contributed to Washington, D.C., being ranked as third in the nation for park access and quality in the 2018 ParkScore ranking of the park systems of the 100 most populous cities in the United States, according to the nonprofit Trust for Public Land.

The National Park Service manages most of the 9,122 acres (36.92 km2) of city land owned by the U.S. government. Rock Creek Park is a 1,754-acre (7.10 km2) urban forest in Northwest Washington, which extends 9.3 miles (15.0 km) through a stream valley that bisects the city. Established in 1890, it is the country’s fourth-oldest national park and is home to a variety of plant and animal species, including raccoon, deer, owls, and coyotes. Other National Park Service properties include the C&O Canal National Historical Park, the National Mall and Memorial Parks, Theodore Roosevelt Island, Columbia Island, Fort Dupont Park, Meridian Hill Park, Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens, and Anacostia Park. The D.C. Department of Parks and Recreation maintains the city’s 900 acres (3.6 km2) of athletic fields and playgrounds, 40 swimming pools, and 68 recreation centers. The U.S. Department of Agriculture operates the 446-acre (1.80 km2) U.S. National Arboretum in Northeast Washington

Washington, DC is a great place for lovers of the outdoors and nature with many parks and recreation areas. Mitchell Park is a neighborhood park with a field & court for multiple sports, plus gardens & walking paths. Meridian Hill Park is a 12-acre urban park including a cascading fountain, statues & a tradition of Sunday drum circles. Dumbarton Oaks Park has green space designed by landscape architect Beatrix Farrand, with naturalistic & scenic gardens. Montrose Park is a woodsy park offering foot paths & stretches of open lawn as well as tennis courts & a playground. Lady Bird Johnson Park is part of the George Washington Memorial Parkway, this park on Columbia Island has trails & memorials. Rawlins Park is a green space named for a Civil War general, with a fountain, benches & a seasonal magnolia display. Rock Creek Park is an urban oasis with hiking trails, tennis & golf, plus ranger-led wildlife programs & an amphitheater. Stanton Park is a tree-lined neighborhood park with a playground, walkways & a statue of war hero Nathanael Greene. Fort Lincoln Park is a former Civil War rampart atop a ridge with playgrounds & sports areas, game tables & amphitheater. Crispus Attucks Park is known for its secluded feel, this popular urban park includes lots of green space, benches & trails. Kalorama Park is a 3-acre park featuring a recreational center, community garden & green space in an urban setting. Stead Park is a cozy park offering a playground plus basketball courts, multi-use field & a recreation center. Barnard Hill Park is a small grassy area features secluded picnic tables & several shade trees at the top of a hilly ridge. Benjamin Banneker Park is known for its architecture, this small urban park features sitting areas, a fountain & river views. Lincoln Park is an open public green space with statues of Abraham Lincoln & civil rights activist Mary McLeod Bethune. The Yards Park is a sizable park with a waterfall, performance venue & open grassy areas, plus a riverfront boardwalk. Garfield Park is a recreational area that offers a playground, picnic spots & tennis, basketball & bocce courts. Bartholdi Park is a 2-acre garden featuring a range of unique plants & flowers, plus a dramatic cast-iron fountain. Girard Street Park is a petite urban park featuring a playground & splash fountain, a basketball court & game tables. Fort Slocum Park has forests & open fields for walking & picnicking plus a historic marker honoring Civil War history. Washington Canal Park is once a bus parking lot, this modern park now has interactive fountains, landscaping & a restaurant.

Kenilworth Park & Aquatic Gardens is a tranquil preserve with short trails including a boardwalk through a pond & marsh, plus picnic spots. Upper Senate Park has a tree-lined lawn next to the Capitol with a wide paved plaza & an elaborate central fountain. Turtle Park, 5 turtle statues adorn the play area of this park with spaces for basketball, tennis & baseball. Lower Senate Park is an urban greenspace with trees & grass offers paved walking areas, fountains & a reflecting pool. The President’s Park is home to the White House, this iconic national park boasts a visitor center, tours & historic sites. James Monroe Park is a leafy green space next to George Washington campus offering benches, walks & a decorative pool. 11th and Monroe Street Park is originally used by streetcars, the site has a playground, seating & tables to play chess & checkers. Georgetown Waterfront Park is a tranquil grassy area featuring a promenade for walking & biking, plus scenic views & overlooks. Rabaut Park is a stone-paved pocket sanctuary for strolling & sitting amid landscaped greenery. Fort Bayard Park, this grassy park was the site of a Civil War fort that protected a major route into the capital. East Potomac Park is a 395-acre park with a golf course, fishing & picnic areas, plus tennis courts & ball fields. Upshur Park is a neighborhood green space with a baseball field & basketball courts, plus open, grassy areas. Lansburgh Park is a green space that provides interconnected metal-domed pavilions, a stage, seating areas & shade trees. Walter Pierce Park is a greenspace with a community garden, playground & dog park, plus chess tables, sport courts & fields. Hancock Park is a pint-sized, urban green space featuring an open lawn with a walking path & large trees for shade. West Potomac Park has greenspace that is home to iconic landmarks, including the Lincoln Memorial & Washington Monument. Franklin Park is a broad tree-shaded park, site of the first wireless message, with a statue of Commodore John Barry. Anacostia Park is a waterside park offering trails, a roller skating rink, picnic sites, golf, fishing & sports areas. Glover Archbold Park is a forest parkland offering miles of trails for runners & walkers through canopied trees. Soapstone Valley Park is a forested parkland offering a modest walking/biking path, wildlife & stream crossings. Edward J. Kelly Park is a city park known for a sculpture called The Discus Thrower, also featuring a tennis court. Constitution Gardens is a compact garden featuring a variety of relaxing spots, as well as a pond & island. Southwest Duck Pond is a circa-1972 urban oasis with shade trees & green space known for its pond with four fountains. Folger Park is a historical park with a cast-iron fence from 1881, plus ornamental trees, pathways & unique benches. Fort Dupont Park is a historical park with a cast-iron fence from 1881, plus ornamental trees, pathways & unique benches. Lamont Plaza is a small paved city plaza featuring trees & benches, hosting a weekend farmer’s market & other events. Francis Scott Key Memorial is a small, shaded park with exhibits & a bust memorializing the author of “The Star-Spangled Banner. The Park at LeDroit is a quaint green space offering a playground, benches & walking paths, plus a fenced-in area for dogs. Washington Monument Grounds is an outdoor theater & a friendship garden in parkland surrounding the landmark Washington Monument. Pershing Park is a plaza honoring General Pershing with benches & a pool basin. Battery Kemble Park is a 1861 park that has remnants of a Civil War battery that held a parapet & 100-pound Parrott rifles. Anniversary Park is a compact park at George Washington University featuring a garden, benches & grills. Fort Totten Park is a former Civil War fortification area, featuring green space & pathways through forests. Alethia Tanner Park is a compact green space by the Metropolitan Branch Trail, with a play area, a dog park & vibrant murals. Farragut Square is a compact park named for a Union admiral featuring lawns & benches, as well as daytime crowds. Melvin C Hazen Park is a popular jogging/hiking trail bisects this forested green space with a creek & wildlife sightings. Lafayette Square is a storied park with large statues set north of the White House is a National Historic Landmark. Shepherd Parkway is an urban park that features a wooded corridor with wildlife & the remains of 2 Civil War-era forts. Volta Park Recreation Center is a lush garden with a pool & tennis & basketball courts mark this full-block park that dates to 1769. McPherson Square is a compact, grassy urban park with paved pathways, shaded benches & a statue of General McPherson. Samuel Gompers Memorial Park is a small, triangular park with trees & paths, featuring a memorial to a Victorian-era labor leader. Harrison Playground has a basketball court, baseball field, mist station & playground are draws to this urban play area. Theodore Roosevelt Island is an island boasting miles of wooded trails and is a living memorial to President Theodore Roosevelt. 

Washington, DC is home to a number of colleges and universities including The George Washington University, Georgetown University, American University, Howard University, Gallaudet University, The Catholic University of America, Trinity Washington University, University of the District of Columbia, George Mason University, University of Maryland, Bowie State University, Strayer University, Potomac College – Washington DC.

Great schools are another feature of living in Washington, DC. Highly rated schools in Washington, DC include Aiton Elementary School, Amidon-Bowen Elementary School, Anacostia High School, Ballou STAY High School, Bancroft Elementary School, Bard High School Early College DC, Barnard Elementary School, Beers Elementary School, Benjamin Banneker High School, Bunker Hill Elementary School, John Burroughs Elementary School, Burrville Elementary School, C.W. Harris Elementary School, Capitol Hill Montessori School @ Logan, Dorothy I. Height Elementary School, Drew Elementary School, Duke Ellington School of the Arts, Dunbar High School, Eastern High School, H.D. Cooke Elementary School, H.D. Woodson High School, Hardy Middle School, Hart Middle School, Hearst Elementary School, Brent Elementary School, Brightwood Elementary School, Brookland Middle School, Browne Education Campus, Bruce-Monroe Elementary School @ Park View, Cardozo Education Campus, Cleveland Elementary School, Columbia Heights Education Campus, Coolidge High School, Alice Deal Middle School, Eaton Elementary School, Eliot-Hine Middle School, Excel Academy Public School, Garfield Elementary School, Garrison Elementary School, Hendley Elementary School, Houston Elementary School, Hyde-Addison Elementary School, Ida B. Wells Middle School, J.O. Wilson Elementary School, Janney Elementary School, Jefferson Middle School Academy, Johnson Middle School, Kelly Miller Middle School, Ketcham Elementary School, Key Elementary School, Kimball Elementary School, Martin Luther King, Jr. Elementary School, Kramer Middle School, Lafayette Elementary School, Langdon Elementary School, Langley Elementary School, LaSalle-Backus Elementary School, Lawrence E. Boone Elementary School, Leckie Education Campus, Ludlow-Taylor Elementary School, Luke C. Moore High School, MacFarland Middle School, Malcolm X Elementary School @ Green, Mann Elementary School, Marie Reed Elementary School, Maury Elementary School, McKinley Middle School, Military Road Early Learning Center, Miner Elementary School, Moten Elementary School, Ben Murch Elementary School, Nalle Elementary School, Noyes Elementary School, Oyster-Adams Bilingual School, Patterson Elementary School, Payne Elementary School, Peabody Elementary School, Phelps High School, Plummer Elementary School, Powell Elementary School, Randle Highlands Elementary School, Raymond Elementary School, River Terrace Education Campus, Ron Brown College Preparatory High School, Roosevelt High School, Ross Elementary School, Savoy Elementary School, School Without Walls @ Francis-Stevens, School Without Walls High School, School-Within-School @ Goding, Seaton Elementary School, Shepherd Elementary School, Simon Elementary School, Smothers Elementary School, Sousa Middle School, Stanton Elementary School, Stoddert Elementary School, Stuart-Hobson Middle School, Takoma Elementary School, Thaddeus Stevens Early Learning Center, Thomas Elementary School, Thomson Elementary School, Truesdell Elementary School, Tubman Elementary School, Turner Elementary School, Tyler Elementary School, Van Ness Elementary School, Walker-Jones Education Campus, Watkins Elementary School, West Elementary School, Wheatley Education Campus, Whittier Elementary School, and Woodrow Wilson High School.

 Washington, DC is known as a great place for foodies and is full of great restaurants including Lavagna, Morris American Bar, Founding Farmers DC, Estadio, Cuba Libre Restaurant & Rum Bar – Washington, D.C., SUCCOTASH, The Capital Grille, Commissary,  The Dabney and Yardbird Table & Bar.

Washington, DC is a great location for shopping with destinations including CityCenterDC, DC USA, Rhode Island Avenue Shopping Center, Spring Valley Shopping Center, Gallery Place, Washington Square, Cady’s Alley and Shops at Dakota Crossing.