Avoid Georgetown??
MSN travel writers from 28 cities, including Washington DC, write about popular tourist areas in their respective cities and why you should avoid certain places in this recent MSN Travel article. Rachel Lianna Davis lists Georgetown as the place to avoid in DC.
I must admit, that I sadly agree with her. I recall Georgetown as a cool, fun place with funky shops, eclitic nightclubs and independently-owned resturants. But many of my favorites have closed over the past 5 years and have been replaced by franchise chains. Unfortunately, it’s turned into what I call “the suburbs in the city”. Similar to a suburban shopping mall with all the typical mall stores (Gap, Victoria’s Secret, Starbucks, Ben & Jerry’s, etc.), but with tougher parking.
While there are still some great clothing stores on Wisconsin Ave. north of M St. (Stoller Shoes for men is a favorite of mine) and some fun resturants in the area, the neighborhood has been taken over by coprorate outlets that you can find at any American mall.
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The Worst Thing About My City
Washington, D.C.: Georgetown
Some city neighborhoods start as funky, hip alternatives to the mainstream, but as rents in attractive spots go up, their magnetic qualities often disappear. Decades of high-class residents and boutiques have taken their toll on Georgetown, shutting out all but a few quirky shops in the once-independent port city that predates Washington, D.C.
Georgetown today is mostly a difficult-to-access riverfront and pricey outdoor shopping mall. Although the shops are encased in some of D.C.’s most historic architecture, the selection of stores on M Street N.W. is largely the same as you might find at home, with horrid parking to boot.
Your best bet, if you choose to go to Georgetown, is to walk through the cobbled side streets, then across the Key Bridge into Virginia, where you’ll get a stunning view of the rocky Potomac and lower D.C.
But if you seek authenticity, leave Georgetown to the tourists and dive into a nearby neighborhood like Dupont, Cleveland Park or Adams Morgan to visit one-of-a-kind shops. Or skip air conditioning altogether and pop over to Eastern Market on Capitol Hill for fresh veggies, inexpensive antiques, and hand-made cards on the weekends.
—Rachel Lianna Davis
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Photos: Georgertown street photo - Flickr, Third Edition - personal collection.
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POSTED IN: City History & Information
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