At Short Term Stay D.C., we want to help introduce you to one of the most important cities in the world. Washington, D.C. is the capital of the United States and is a place rich in diversity and culture. This is very much reflected in the city’s neighborhoods. Washington offers a variety of neighborhoods that showcase the people and architecture that make Washington so unique.

Georgetown
There is an air of preppy youth to be found in Georgetown, with the streets usually crowded with students from Georgetown University. One of the oldest neighborhoods in the city, Georgetown is known for its many shops and lively nightlife scene. Still, even with the younger demographic that is prevalent in the neighborhood, the red-brick sidewalks and townhouses help Georgetown maintain a sense of its older days.

Capitol Hill
While most people often associate Capitol Hill with politicians, there is a growing residential feel encompassing the neighborhood. There are houses with stunning architecture to be found in the neighborhood, and the nearby parks are perfect for walking, jogging or spending time with the family. In addition, there is a growing, youthful LGBT scene emerging in the neighborhood as well. People looking for short term rentals in D.C. will be very pleased with this neighborhood.

Dupont Circle
Dupont Circle is considered to be the heart of Washington, D.C.’ss LGBT community. Centered around a large traffic circle, Dupont Circle is full of bookstores, clubs, cafes and bars. There are also a few art galleries around the neighborhood to check out. Overall, Dupont Circle is a nice place for anyone looking for furnished apartments D.C.

Bethesda
Like Georgetown, Bethesda is a neighborhood favored by the younger crowd. Even so, the night scene tends to be more low-key, though there are a few pubs around the area. The traffic tends to be less congested in Bethesda than in some of the other neighborhoods, as well. There are numerous restaurants around to help satisfy almost anyone’ss hunger. This is another good choice for younger people looking for furnished apartments in D.C.

Pentagon City
Known for its high-rise apartments and many office buildings, Pentagon City is in sharp contrast to Georgetown. While Georgetown still gives off a sense of its age, Pentagon City gives off a feeling of being new. The neighborhood has seen lots of development over the years, and there seems to be plenty more to come.

Arlington
With a nice view of Washington from across the Potomac River, Arlington is known for its many new high-rise apartments and dense population. With over 200,000 residents in Arlington, this is a place for someone who enjoys being around other people.

Rosslyn
Anyone looking for a D.C. furnished apartment in Rosslyn will have some competition, as furnished apartments are in high demand in this neighborhood. Skyscrapers are found all around the busy business section, giving Rosslyn an urban feeling. In fact, Rosslyn is where you find some of the tallest condominium buildings in the D.C. area. Rosslyn is also where you find the Iwo Jima Memorial.

Foggy Bottom
Named for the fog that often blankets the neighborhood from the Potomac, Foggy Bottom is a good choice for people looking for short term rentals D.C. A mainly residential neighborhood, Foggy Bottom has many homes, offices and restaurants. This is the neighborhood where you’sll find the State Department and Watergate Building.

Penn Quarter
Penn Quarter is a neighborhood with a very active nightlife, and is very centrally located within the Beltway. You will find many popular restaurants, theaters and sporting events in the neighborhood. Tourists and residents frequently pack the streets, creating a lively atmosphere. People looking for furnished apartments D.C. are going to want to give this neighborhood a close look.

Crystal City
With extensive underground corridors that connect the many local office and high-rise buildings, Crystal City comes across almost like an underground city. It is a neighborhood favorable for those looking for short term rentals D.C. Crystal City houses offices for many of the important agencies in the U.S., including the Labor Department and the EPA.

At Short Term Stay D.C., we want to help make it easier for you to get around Washington. Washington is a city infamous for its horrid congestion and difficult driving conditions. However, it is also known for having a very good public transportation system. Those travelling into the city by air will land at one of the area's three major airports.

Public Transportation:
For a city that experiences as much traffic congestion as Washington does, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (also known as the WMATA, but more commonly referred to as "the Metro") is often a lifesaver with its bus and rapid transit services. In particular, D.C's rapid transit service is highly-regarded for its efficiency and cleanliness. The five rail lines service much of the city itself as well as the surrounding suburbs. Unfortunately, Georgetown and Adams Morgan are not serviced by the Metro. Depending on how far you travel, fares for the Metro can start around $1.70 and can go as high as $5.75. Service hours are generally 5 am to 12 am for the week and 7 am to 3 am for the weekend.

In addition to the WMATA, DC Circulator also offers bus services around the city. At $1 per trip, you can hitch a ride to neighborhoods such as Dupont Circle, Georgetown, Rosslyn, Union Station, Woodley Park and Adams Morgan. They also offer all-day passes for $3, three-day passes for $7, weekly passes for $11 and monthly passes for $40.

Taxis:
If you don't want to travel by Metro or bus, taxis are another way of getting around D.C. Those seeking short term rentals in D.C. have plenty of cab companies to choose from. Some of them include:

• DC Flyer Cab Association
• Washingtonian Cab Company
• National DC Cab Company
• Yellow Cab Company of DC
• Georgetown Cab Association
• MATS Taxi Cab

Cab service in the D.C. area charges a few extra fees. If you have more than one person with you, the extra fee is $1.50 for each extra passenger. If you have luggage with you, the extra fee is $2 for each piece.

Driving:
Washington is a very driver-unfriendly city. The layout of the city's roads is often confusing to drivers with its traffic circles, one-way roads, and many street direction changes. This makes it difficult to navigate, and often causes heavily congested traffic that makes trying to get anywhere a nightmare. The rush hours are by far the worst, which usually take place from 6 am to 10 am in the morning and 4 pm to 8 pm in the evening during the week. Try to avoid the roads at these times, if you can. If you have to get around by car, then some of the major highways include the I-66, I-395, I-495 and Dulles Tollway. The I-66 and I-395 are the roads you take to get to Virginia and back. For getting around to the surrounding suburbs, the I-495 (also called the Capital Beltway) is your best bet. Note that there are tolls on some of the lanes on the Beltway that vary depending on what time of day it is and how much traffic there is on the road. The Dulles Tollway takes you to Dulles Airport from the Beltway and requires E-Z Pass to pay the tolls.

Airports:
With over 24 million people served per year, Washington Dulles International Airport is Washington's largest airport. It is located about an hour outside the city in Dulles, Virginia. You can drive to the airport using the Dulles Tollway. You can also take the bus, though the 5A Metro Bus is currently the only WMATA bus that services the airport. As an alternative, you can ride one of the Super Shuttles that head to the airport.

Two other airports that people looking for furnished apartments D.C. should know about are the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and the Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport. The National Airport is closest to Washington and handles mostly domestic flights. The Thurgood Marshall Airport is about an hour's drive from Washington and handles both domestic and international flights. If you are looking for a cheaper alternative to Dulles, this airport is a good bet.

Whether you are the outdoors type, interested in sports, or interested in art and theatre, Washington provides plenty of ways to get in some recreation. In a busy city like Washington, having ways to take a break is always welcome.

Outdoor Activities:
People seeking short term rentals D.C. may want to check out Rock Creek Park for a day with the family. While there you can check out the Rock Creek Golf Course and the Rock Creek Horse Center. You might also try hiking, bicycling, kayaking or boating along the C&O Canal. If you find yourself around Capitol Hill, head on over to the U.S. Botanic Garden, which is sometimes described as a living plant museum. You also want to check out West Potomac Park, where you can find historic landmarks such as the Lincoln Memorial, the Jefferson Memorial, the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial, and the Korean War Veterans Memorial. If you visit the Constitution Gardens, you can take a moment to reflect and pay your respects at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

A bit more of a light-hearted, family outing can be had at the Smithsonian National Zoological Park, which is also simply called the National Zoo. There are also several parks and nature trails to explore, such as the George Washington Carver Nature Trail, Lincoln Park, Logan Circle Park and Great Falls Park. Pay a visit to Lafayette Square in President’s Park and you may just get a peek of the White House.

Sport for Spectators:
While taking advantage of the D.C. furnished apartments, you may find yourself in the mood to take in some sports. Fortunately, Washington has quite the variety of spectator sports, with professional teams in all the major sports (football, baseball, basketball and hockey). During the NFL season you can head out to FedEx Field to watch Robert Griffin III and the Washington Redskins. During the hockey and basketball seasons, you can head downtown to the Verizon Center to see Alexander Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals take the ice or rising star Bradley Beal and the Washington Wizards on the court. During the baseball season you can head to Nationals Park and watch Stephen Strasburg and the Washington Nationals.

Arts & Culture:
Looking for a trip through history? Interested in seeing some spectacular art? Hoping to catch a show to close out your evening? Washington has all that covered with a large number of museums, art galleries and theaters for anyone taking advantage of D.C. short term rentals to visit.

Those interested in history and art will want to check out the following museums and art galleries:

• Smithsonian American Art Museum
• The National Portrait Gallery
• National Gallery of Art
• National Museum of American History
• The Corcoran Gallery of Art
• National Air and Space Museum
• Phillips Collection

Meanwhile, anyone interested in taking in a show for the evening will have plenty of theater choices to choose from:

• The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
• Ford’s Theatre
• Warner Theatre
• National Theatre
• Shakespeare Theatre Company: at Sidney Harman Hall
• Shakespeare Theatre Company: at the Lansburgh Theatre
• Atlas Performing Arts Center

Dining:
Those looking for a D.C. short term rental in Washington have plenty of restaurants to choose from. You can find restaurants of almost all kinds in Washington. CityZen is a popular restaurant found in the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in the Capitol Hill neighborhood. They serve mostly American dishes. Plume is a popular French restaurant in the Dupont Circle neighborhood. Other popular choices for French cuisine include Marcel’s and Adour. Oyamel is a popular place for Latin American food and can be found in the Penn Quarter of Downtown. Cashion's Eat Place, Johnny's Half Shell and Birch and Barley are popular places for American dishes. Pizzeria Paradiso in Dupont Circle is a popular pizza joint. For Italian food, Cafe Milano, Posto and Tosca are popular choices.

Nightlife:
Washington is a city just as much alive at night as it is during the day. There’s plenty for anyone staying at a furnished apartment in D.C. to do once the sun goes down. Bourbon is a bar in Glover Park (just north of Georgetown) that allows people to bring in black & white photos of their family to put on display on the walls. ChurchKey is a popular bar in Logan Circle that is known for its laid-back atmosphere. CoCo. Sala, found in Penn Quarter, is a bar where almost all the food and drinks have an element of chocolate to them. For the gay and lesbian crowd, Cobalt, Gazuza and J.R.'s Bar and Grill are all popular establishments.

Of course, bars are not the only way to enjoy Washington’s nightlife. The 9:30 Club in the U Street Corridor is a popular place to catch live musical acts. Performers such as Jimmy Eat World, Tony Bennett and Sonic Youth have all played there. Bohemian Caverns is a popular jazz joint in the U Street Corridor that often hosts live jazz acts. Blues Alley in Georgetown is another popular place for live jazz performances. Some other popular nightclubs in the D.C. area include U-topia, Madam's Organ Restaurant and Bar, and HR-57.

Shopping:
Those looking for a short term rental in D.C. are also going to want to find places to shop. Washington has a number of large malls and plenty of shops to make it easy to fill your shopping needs.

Not only is Union Station the city’s major train station, it is also one of the largest and most popular malls in Washington. With around 130 stores to choose from, there is plenty to find at Union Station Mall. DC USA is a popular, three-storied shopping center in the Columbia Heights neighborhood. You will find many of the large retailers here, such as Best Buy, Staples and Bath & Beyond. The Old Post Office Pavilion (as it is commonly known, despite being renamed Nancy Hanks Center in 1983) found in the Downtown neighborhood is one of the most historic buildings in Washington. The 10-story building has a number of retail stores to shop around at, as well as a food court for when you are hungry. Some other popular malls in Washington include Gallery Place, Georgetown Park and The Shops at National Place. Eastern Market in Capitol Hill is a popular farmers market. You will find fresh produce, baked goods, meat, dairy, poultry and other products on sale there.

Georgetown is generally one of the best neighborhoods for shopping in Washington. You will find shops up and down the streets selling everything from boutiques to jewelry and antiques. Dupont Circle has numerous bookstores as well as clothing stores and gift shops. Penn Quarter is the place to go if you are looking for some of the major, national retailers.

For some of the smaller shops, Brass Knob Architectural Antiques in Adams Morgan is a good bet for antiques. Politics and Prose Bookstore is a two-story bookstore and coffeehouse found in Chevy Chase. Meeps Vintage Fashionette is a fashion store for both men and women in Adams Morgan. Some other places to shop include Cote Jardin Antiques, Torpedo Factory Art Center, Piccolo Piggies, Cady's Alley and Keith Lipert Gallery.

Health, education and religion are some of the more important aspects of life. Fortunately, Washington has all three covered very well. Excellent hospitals, great schools and plenty of places to worship that cover most beliefs are very easy to find in the city.

Hospitals:
Those looking for furnished apartments in D.C. are going to want to know what hospitals and clinics are in the D.C. area in the case of an emergency. The major hospitals and clinics around the city are:

• Washington Hospital Center
• Sibley Memorial Hospital
• Children's National Medical Center
• Whitman-Walker Clinic
• DC Immediate and Primary Care
• Washington Center for Health
• Washington, D.C. VA Medical Center
• George Washington University Hospital

Schools:
For those looking for short term rentals in D.C., education for your children is another factor. Fortunately, Washington has a number of fine schools at all levels to choose from.

Elementary Schools:

• Moten Elementary School
• J.O. Wilson Elementary School
• H D Cooke Elementary School
• Capitol Hill Day School
• D.C. Preparatory PCS - Edgewood Elementary
• Murch Elementary School
• Miner Elementary School

Middle Schools:

• Ballou Stay
• Winston Education Campus
• Hart Middle School
• Stuart-Hobson Middle School
• Hardy Middle School
• Two Rivers PCS
• High Road Middle School of Washington

High Schools:

• Benjamin Banneker High School
• Maya Angelou PCS - Evans High School
• Richard Wright PCS
• Woodson H D High School
• Dunbar High School
• Coolidge High School
• McKinley Technology High School

Colleges & Universities:
In terms of colleges and universities, Washington has several big-name, high-quality schools to choose from. There's the University of the District of Columbia, George Washington University and Georgetown University, where you have a number of studies to choose from. For some of the more specific studies, you can choose from Corcoran College of Art and Design, Bennett Career Institute, Pontifical John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family and Wesley Theological Seminary.

Places of Worship:

Washington also offers plenty of places for people seeking furnished apartments in D.C. to worship. Christianity, Judaism, and Islam are all very well represented.

Churches:

• East Washington Heights Baptist Church
• First Rock Baptist Church
• Georgetown Lutheran Church
• Augustana Lutheran Church
• Georgetown Presbyterian Church
• Lincoln Temple United Church
• Lincoln Park United Methodist
• Asbury Methodist Church
• Kidane Mehret Ge'Ez Rite Church
• Howard University Newman Center

Synagogues:

• Tifereth Israel Congregation
• Adas Israel Congregation
• Temple Sinai of Washington, DC
• Kesher Israel - The Georgetown Synagogue

Mosques & Islamic Centers:

• Association of Latin American Muslims
• The Islamic Center of Washington D.C.
• Masjid Ush-Shura
• Jammat Al-Qawiyy