African Americans currently compose about 60% of the District's population, but have long made their home in the nation's capital, richly contributing to the District's history, culture, personality, and identity. African-American museums, monuments, memorials, musical venues, and other landmarks all over town herald their achievements, individually or as a group. Naturally, all of this makes D.C. a compelling destination for African Americans or anyone interested in their culture. From the Smithsonian Anacostia Neighborhood Museum and Center for African American History and Culture; to Benjamin Banneker Park; to the jazz clubs along U Street, where Duke Ellington and Cab Calloway once catted; to the African-American Civil War Memorial and Museum; to the Mary McLeod Bethune House, Washington's black-American heritage is here to discover. Check out the Washington Convention and Tourism Corporation's website, www.washington.org, and peruse its calendar for annual events, like the Black Family Reunion in September and the Black History Month activities in February. Browse the Cultural Tourism DC website, www.culturaltourismdc.org, to review its database of 98 sites on the African American Heritage Trail. (You can also order a copy of the booklet or find out where in Washington you can pick one up free.) The Cultural Tourism DC site lists guided tours that follow an African-American theme, for instance the Black Broadway tour of U Street, but you can also create your own tour with the information provided. Coming in 2008: the dedication of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Memorial on the National Mall.
For sources outside of Washington, you might go to Black Travel Online (www.blacktravelonline.com), which posts news on upcoming events and includes links to articles and travel-booking sites. Soul of America (www.soulofamerica.com) is a comprehensive website, with travel tips, event and family-reunion postings, and sections on historically black beach resorts and active vacations.
Agencies and organizations that provide resources for black travelers include Rodgers Travel (tel. 800/825-1775; www.rodgerstravel.com) and the African American Association of Innkeepers International (tel. 877/422-5777; www.africanamericaninns.com).
Washington Travel Experiences
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Washington, D.C.
2008-12-10This was our departure day from New York City and we both reluctantly headed downtown with our luggage to Penn Street Station t... Continue reading »
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Traffic, Heat, and Fireworks
The heat was getting to me as I parked my car (likely illegally) after quickly getting lost in the downtown D.C. area. I was coming... Continue reading »
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Washington DC
We arrived in Washington DC at 7am after a 9 hour train journey. We both managed to get about 5 hours sleep each which was a bit surprisi... Continue reading »
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Afternoon at the Capitol
Took the Metro to Washington DC on a very hot and rainy day. The Metro was flooding and many museums closed that evening, but we got to t... Continue reading »
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Sightseeing Day 1
Sightseeing day one – When everyone was done showering and primping (not just me – the older boys), Teddy and Erica made and... Continue reading »
Popular Washington Hotels
- The Ritz-Carlton, Washington, DC
- Willard InterContinental Washington
- Sofitel Lafayette Square Washington Dc
- Embassy Suites Washington D.C. - at the Chevy Chase Pavilion
- The Fairmont Washington D.C.
- The St. Regis Washington, D.C.
- Homewood Washington DC Downtown
- Embassy Suites Washington Convention Center
- Hampton Inn Washington DC Convention Center
- The Hotel George
Popular Washington Things to Do
- Farragut Square
- Frederick Douglass National Historic Site
- Kramerbooks and Afterwords
- Ireland's Four Provinces
- Nightclub 9:30
- Local 16
- National World War II Memorial
- Thomas Jefferson Memorial
- Vietnam Veterans Memorial
- Lincoln Memorial
Popular Washington Restaurants
- Oyamel
- Aditi
- Citronelle
- Spices
- Grill from Ipanema
- Gerard's Place
- Cafe Atlantico
- Ristorante Tosca
- Etrusco
- City Lights of China
