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WASHINGTON, DC
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Washington, DC has so much to offer each and every attendee. Whether you enjoy a night at the theater, a brush with history, a stroll through picturesque landscapes or visiting a local bar, Washington, DC will exceed your expectations.
CLASSIC WASHINGTON
The National Mall is the main Washington, DC attraction for visitors and the best place to start sightseeing. You can walk through the open-air national park for almost two miles from the U.S. Capitol to the Lincoln Memorial with stops along the way to visit numerous Smithsonian Institutions, which are FREE to the public.
The White House is one of the nation’s most popular tourist destinations. You can stroll around the Ellipse or schedule a tour via your Congressperson prior to your arrival. [Note: White House tours are scheduled on a first come, first served basis. Requests can be submitted up to six months in advance and no less than 30 days in advance. You are encouraged to submit your request as early as possible since a limited number of tours are available. All White House tours are free of charge. For the most current tour information, please call the 24-hour line at 202-456-7041. Please note that White House tours may be subject to last minute cancellation. If you wish to visit the White House and are a citizen of a foreign country, please contact your embassy in Washington, DC for assistance in submitting a tour request. A list of embassies may be found here.]
The U.S. Capitol serves as the seat of the U.S. Congress, the legislative branch of the United States federal government. Our host hotel is a few blocks away and offers a stunning view of the Capitol dome. Directly behind the U.S. Capitol is the U.S. You must make a reservation for a tour in advance. Click here to book your tour now.
Supreme Court building, which will have a new justice joining the bench around the same time as our conference.
Spend a couple of hours touring the chambers of the judicial branch of our government or swing by the neighboring Library of Congress, the largest library in the world and a repository for our nation’s history.
Mount Vernon is the most popular historic estate in the U.S. and is located only 8 miles south of our host hotel. Due to its close proximity, the IGBO Mid-Year Committee will be organizing a group trip (with transportation provided) to this exciting tourist spot. The bus will leave from the host hotel at 10 a.m. on Saturday morning and will return by 2:30 p.m., which will give you plenty of time to bowl in the SD5 or T6 shifts that evening. So, plan your bowling shifts accordingly in order to enjoy a relaxing Saturday morning visiting our first President's historical estate, Mount Vernon.
Of the many theaters in DC, The Kennedy Center is the most famous, hosting state events, theatre and opera performances and live entertainment year-round. Not everyone realizes how much Washington, DC is a hotbed for performing arts. Located within walking distance of the Renaissance Hotel are the Folger Shakespeare, Woolly Mammoth, National, Ford's and Warner theatres. Washington has the second largest number of theater seats in the country.
CONTEMPORARY DC
Steps from the Renaissance Hotel is the trendy Penn Quarter neighborhood with its main cooridor being 7th Street.
Go undercover and discover the new International Spy Museum and The Museum of Crime & Punishment, both just a short walk down 7th Street. You can come face-to-face with historical figures and celebrities at Madame Tussaud’s newest location. If you’re in a playful mood, you need not go any further than Gallery Place at the corner of 7th & H Streets. Gallery Place features Urban Outfitters, Aveda Spa, Regal Cinemas and upscale bowling and entertainment center Lucky Strike.
Millions flock to the Verizon Center each year for popular concerts and touring events, as well as Washington Wizards, Capitals, Mystics and Georgetown basketball games.
Speaking of Georgetown, the historic, tony neighborhood is a short cab ride away and offers world-class dining and shopping. Renowned brands such as American Apparel, Apple Store, Betsey Johnson, Club Monaco, Diesel, Ed Hardy, Ralph Lauren and Steve Madden all have Georgetown locations.
If you’re a "foodie," come find out why DC is one of the most exciting restaurant towns in the country. There's a reason why the latest season of Bravo TV's Top Chef is based in DC. Some of the world’s leading chefs have set up shop in DC. Celebrity chefs like Eric Ripert, Wolfgang Puck and Laurent Tourondel have joined local culinary talents Jose Andres, Michel Richard and Top Chef contestants Spike Mendelsohn and Carla Hall in opening restaurants in the nation's capital.
When the sun goes down, DC sizzles with great options for nightlife and entertainment. The DC music scene is best experienced live, and there are plenty of top-notch venues to check out. 9:30 Club packs in crowds nightly and earns its reputation as the best live-music venue in the country, according to Esquire. In Georgetown, Blues Alley has hosted musical greats and is the nation’s oldest jazz supper club.
North of the Convention Center, the U Street/Shaw neighborhood was once known as "Black Broadway," a popular stop for jazz legends like Miles Davis, Cab Calloway and DC native Duke Ellington. Today the neighborhood is a must-see for music history buffs and jazz fans.
Downtown pulses with its own nightlife scene, drawing fashionable crowds to restaurants and lounges like Helix Lounge, Lima and k street lounge for cocktails, mellow music, dancing and conversation.
Root, root, root for the home team as you watch the Washington Nationals take the field at the new, state-of-the-art Nationals Park in southeast DC. And you can take Metro (subway) to get there.
