I think it’s fair to say that Washington, DC is one of the best cities in the country to grow up and live in. In all honesty, DC is a very special place to live; it’s not easy to find a city where you can spend hours walking through nationally-protected parks and then take a 20 minute bus ride to the largest collection of museums in the world. 

The Smithsonian Institution alone holds over 20 museums, not to mention the numerous other privately owned galleries and exhibits, many of which are free and open to the public. DC is also home to many famous monuments and beautiful memorials, the most popular of which, the Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, Jefferson Memorial, etc., are all within walking distance of each other. 

Spending our childhoods in a city as distinct as DC has made all of its quirks and unique experiences commonplace to us, but it’s crazy to think about the number of historically significant sites we walk past every day. 

Not only is it the political center of the country, but it’s also a great food city with virtually any kind of cuisine you could ever want, whether that be a Michelin Star meal or a somewhat sketchy three AM sweet treat from Insomnia Cookies. 

If DC’s food scene has anything, it’s range. The contrast of a luxury restaurant next to a 90 Second Pizza and 20 yards from the nearest bus stop, can probably be found dozens of times throughout the city. 

While I know some people may not like using public transit, let’s take a second to admire our extensive and easy-to-navigate subway system, as well as the much more confusing, but still useful, bus system.

And yes, the fare will cost you as much as Five Guys’ fries, but JR students can’t complain about that since we all have access to Kids Ride Free cards.

Additionally, DC boasts countless sports teams that used to be good (shoutout the Wizards and the Nationals!), a few teams that are still dominant (Go Capitals!), an excess of National Guard troops, and frequent sightings of political figures that you may vaguely recognize. 

But despite all the attractions inside the city, there are also plenty of activities nearby. You could spend a day shopping at Tysons Corner Center, an hour of which will be wasted trying to find parking.You could take a day trip to Great Falls or one of the many hikes surrounding the city. You can even make your way out to Northwest Stadium during football season to watch a Commanders game.

The point I’m trying to make is that DC is diverse in many ways: the people, the environment, the cultural experiences, and many other things. That’s why it’s such a great city to live in at any stage of your life, and why we should all appreciate DC just a little bit more. •