Southwest/Waterfront
Where: Southwest of the National Mall to the Washington Channel
What’s in a name: The waterside neighborhood bears the name of its quadrant, the smallest in DC.
Thumbnail: Southwest DC went through its first wave of urban renewal in the 1950s. It’s now a hotspot for development once again, with the arrival of Mandarin Oriental in 2004 and the opening of the Nationals Ballpark nearby and the expansion of the 50-year-old Arena Stage scheduled to open in fall 2010. Seafood lovers won’t want to miss a visit to the waterside fish market.
Calling cards: Sample fresh seafood creations at the Maine Avenue Seafood Market or indulge in a multi-course tasting menu at CityZen at the Mandarin Oriental. Hop on board a sightseeing cruise for an unforgettable view of the monuments from the water. Honor the men who died on the doomed Titanic at one of DC’s most unusual memorials.
Getting there: Take Metro to the Southwest/ Waterfront station
Explore the Neighborhood
Get to know the history of this waterfront neighborhood through River Farms to Urban Towers: Southwest Heritage Trail, a self-guided tour of one of the first planned urban communities in the country.
Trail highlights include:
- Wheat Row, home to some of the most historic homes in DC
- A memorial to Benjamin Banneker, the African-American astronmer who played an integral role in DC's design
- Fort McNair, DC's first military installation
