Intern Reflects on Washington

Gorgeous architecture, provocative politics and history abound in the nation's capital. I spent seven months interning in Washington, D.C., and learned a thing or two about getting around the city. While the Smithsonian and other tourist hot spots are must-sees at least once, remember that D.C. is more than museums and monuments. Below are some of my suggestions for exploring by Metro:

1. Adams Morgan, located between 18th Street and Columbia Road: This young, hip-and-happening neighborhood hosts a plethora of bars and clubs, thus, it gets very busy on the weekends. It's also located only about a mile away from the Adams Morgan/Woodley Park Metro stop on the red line. Most places only allow the 21 plus crowd. During the day, the multicultural (largely immigrant) neighborhood is alive with delicious smells and interesting sights. Editors of the Washington Post City Guide recommend stopping by the Amsterdam Falafel Shop or Cashion's Eat Place for good food. I recommend Madam's Organ for a cool place to play.

2. Meridian Hill/Malcolm X Park, located between 16th and 15th Streets and Euclid and W Streets: Meridian Hill Park, maintained by the U.S. National Park Service, will have you in the heart of Northeastern D.C. and Columbia Heights, which also happens to be the nearest Metro stop on the green line. The park was crime-ridden in the 1980s, but community action largely has changed that. On the weekends, the park comes alive with sports games and music. On Sunday evenings, good weather permitting, a community, drum circle forms and entertains large crowds. Locals call the park Malcolm X Park, in part because some of the drummers began playing to commemorate Malcolm's death. I recommend taking along a buddy and not going into the park after dark, as crime still can be a problem.