I arrived in Washington D.C. two days after former US President Donald Trump was shot in the ear during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. Two days after I left, President Joe Biden withdrew from the 2024 presidential race after concerns continued to mount in the Democratic party and the voting electorate about his health and ability to win the election. All in all, amidst the turmoil, it was a fascinating time to visit the capital city of the United States. With the intensity of political proceedings in the country, a visit there could very well be spent in a hotel room glued to CNN because watching America right now is like watching a political thriller unfold on a movie screen. We can’t bear to watch but we can’t bear to look away either.
However, despite the drama, a country of over 330 million people is still churning away beneath the media circus. It’s a country that continues to work and move and constantly shifts with its political and societal tides. Cities are bustling with business, culture, entertainment and music and Washington D.C. is one of them. As an Irish tourist looking at their list of ultimate American cities to visit, Washington may not top the list. New York, Boston, Orlando and Los Angeles often take centre stage on travel plans, with the capital used as a quick stop on the map, but I discovered that Washington D.C. offers a unique blend of history, culture, and political significance that makes it a must-visit destination.
Locals will tell you many visitors spend two days in the city, utilising it as a weekend getaway, but in my opinion, 48 hours is not enough. To truly get a sense of Washington and what makes it spark, you need time and lots of it. Although the hub of the US government, the pace of the city is somewhat slow. It’s an early-to-bed, early-to-rise metropolis. People don’t rush like their New York counterparts. With a population of just over 670,000 people, Washington is small in stature. Its pastures are green and with a federal rule that limits most D.C. buildings to about 13 stories, it feels open and unrestricted. Even in the 38-degree summer heat, I didn’t feel confined as you would in a skyscraper-filled city.
Writing about it now, with the extreme temperatures and unrelenting political drama, my time in Washington sounds quite stressful. Thankfully, my lodgings were a cool and calm retreat. The Hay-Adams is one of the most historic and luxurious hotels in Washington D.C. Originally designed and built as a residential hotel in the 1920s, the hotel now has 124 refined guest rooms and 21 deluxe suites. Its location is also prime and it boasts panoramic views of the White House, Lafayette Square and St. John’s Church.
It’s the type of hotel where staff pre-empt your needs and deliver your desires before you even decide what you want. The rooms are classically designed, keeping old-world elements with elegant furnishings and timeless décor. The beds are exquisite and each room feels presidential. It was the perfect home to return to after a long day of gallery and museum visits.
Meanwhile, Forbes chose the hotel bar, aptly named Off the Record, as one of the World’s Best Hotel Bars and for good reason. Locally, it is known as downtown Washington D.C.’s best place “to be seen and not heard.” The bar is surrounded by caricatures of the city’s political elite and it’s no surprise that many White House employees make their way to the hotspot for an after-work cocktail. The drinks are delicious and the people watching is even better.
For me, the Hay-Adams is one of the best hotels I have ever stayed in and if you are planning a trip to the city, make it your vacation address.
And so, I came away from Washington D.C. positively stuffed, educated and stimulated having absorbed a wealth of history, culture and unforgettable experiences.
I also departed the United States feeling more hopeful. Despite the political upheaval and uncertainty, the nation’s spirit endures, and every time I think America can’t surprise me, it proves me wrong.
Because Washington D.C. is the heart of the US and it continues to beat loudly and true. It’s a city of many tales and I got to experience all of them. The world keeps watching and we can’t bear to look away, but I believe that very soon it will be for all the right reasons.