World-class museums, delicious global cuisine, endless outdoor adventures, and shopping excursions fit for royalty (and you may even rub shoulders with them) all make the nation’s capital a great place to live. The expression “Good things come in small packages” captures this small (only about 68 square miles), thriving city.
Whether you call the capital city your home for two weeks or two years, if you’re one of the young women (ages 18-34) who resides at Thompson-Markward Hall, you’re part of a city that’s brimming with possibilities. Your new home in the safe, historic, walkable, and lively Capitol Hill neighborhood is the perfect location for exploring and experiencing the city.
Young, single people make up the city’s largest age group—about 40 percent of the total population. The gender split is nearly even, and 70 percent of the total population is single, so if you’re looking to meet new friends in your age group or looking for love, you’re in the right place!
Although the cost of living in D.C. is high compared to other cities, many attractions, events, and activities are free. And with your new home’s reasonable rates, which include room and board (main meals) and light housekeeping, you’ll have more spending money available to enjoy some of the fantastic things D.C. has to offer.
Capitol Hill Attractions
Your new locale is home to some of the government’s most influential and majestic structures—the U.S. Capitol, the Supreme Court, and the U.S. House and Senate—and the popular area is flush with attractions and activities worth visiting. Take in the Italian-Renaissance style architecture of the Library of Congress, visit the Folger Shakespeare Library, which houses the world’s most extensive collection of bard’s work, or find tranquility in the U.S. Botanic Garden. Explore the colorful Eastern Market, one of the area’s favorite community hubs since 1873. And don’t miss out on Capitol Hill’s vibrant nightlife and dining scene. Once you’ve taken in all there is to do and see in your neighborhood, the rest of the city has plenty of great offerings.
Culture
One of the great advantages of living in D.C. is having access to many wonderful arts and cultural opportunities. Eighty-one of the county’s best museums call D.C. home, including the National Portrait Gallery and the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, and the free 11 Smithsonian museums. The city is also home to 65 music venues offering music of every genre. There’s also an abundance of theatre in the city, from the Shakespeare Theatre Company to Broadway-bound productions, cutting-edge drama to classical musicals.
Outdoor Adventures
There are multiple ways to enjoy the great outdoors in D.C. The capital city boasts 14 national parks that offer a diverse range of activities to choose from, such as running trails, paddle boats, and access to the National Arboretum and Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens. With more than 44 hiking trails to explore, it’s easy to forget you’re living in a busy metropolis. A range of outdoor events, including the D.C. Bike Ride and several marathons and races, are also part of the many options.
Enjoying outdoor activities in D.C. isn’t only for athletes. Annual festivals, including the Cherry Blossom Festival that heralds the spring season and the Independence Day festivities on the National Mall, top the list of a schedule of fun events.
Food Lovers
The Capitol is a foodie’s dream come true, a veritable melting pot of delectable cuisine from all corners of the globe. The nation’s capital has one of the most diverse restaurant scenes in the country, from Afro-Caribbean and Filipino spots to Southeast Asian and Middle Eastern restaurants.
Sports Scene
Sports fans in D.C. have a lot to cheer about, From D.C. United, one of the most successful soccer teams in the country, to the Washington Football Team (formerly known as the Washington Redskins), the Washington Wizards and Washington Mystics basketball teams, to the Washington Capital’s battling it out on the ice. The D.C. sports scene also goes beyond professional action. Georgetown University’s basketball team, which plays in the Big East Conference, calls the Capital One Arena home, and George Washington University takes the floor at the Charles E. Smith Center as part of the Atlantic 10 Conference.
Another great place that will help you make the most of living in D.C. is your new residence. Since 1833 Thompson-Markward Hall has been a place where life-long friendships are born. As a temporary home to women from all 50 states and more than 36 countries, bonding with other residents over a meal, in the recreation room, the piano room, or in the back garden is a wonderful way to be part of this unique D.C. community.