Capital Region USA Copy Points

Index: • Regional Overview • Gastronomy • Wineries, Breweries & Distilleries • Shopping • Neighbourhoods • Free Things to Do • LGBT • Scenic Byways • Urban Adventures • Small Towns • Outdoors • Professional Sports • Nightlife • Travelling to the Capital Region

Regional Overview Copy:

50 words Inspiring monuments and remarkable museums define a visit to Washington, DC. But journey beyond the capital city’s major attractions and discover natural escapes, urban adventures, exciting nightlife, distinctive cuisine, world-class shopping and culture-rich cities and small towns across and Maryland that are as diverse as America itself.

150 words Celebrate an authentic American experience in the Capital Region USA America’s ultimate hometown, Washington, DC offers visitors world-class museums and monuments, unique neighbourhoods, top-rated restaurants, gorgeous parks, and endless performing arts options. Where else in the world can you visit with a 19-foot President Lincoln, read the real US Constitution, see Dorothy’s ruby red slippers and admire internationally acclaimed art?

Across nearby Virginia and Maryland, follow a scenic byway and discover the charms of the Chesapeake Bay or the serenity of Shenandoah National Park, two of America’s greatest natural wonders. Along the way, quaint small towns like Williamsburg and Annapolis will surprise and delight. History buffs will marvel at the region’s collection of historic attractions and Civil War driving trails, while those with a foodie focus can enjoy farm to table cuisine paired with wine from one of the region’s more than 300 wineries.

450 words Welcome to the Capital Region USA Immerse yourself in the authentic American experience by visiting the Capital Region USA. From the memorable monuments of Washington, DC to the beautiful beaches and majestic mountains of Maryland and Virginia, history and natural beauty abound.

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Begin by checking out the inspiring memorials and hip and historic neighbourhoods of Washington, DC, where history is made every day. Feel the power in the seat of America’s government, marked by the striking architecture of its monuments and museums. A visit to one or more of the famous Smithsonian Museums is a must, and with free entry, it’s no wonder the world’s largest museum complex is one of DC’s top attractions. Across DC, sample the work of some of the country’s most celebrated chefs and afterwards, cap off the evening with an after- dinner drink in one of the city’s high-energy clubs.

In neighbouring Virginia and Maryland, significant US historic landmarks and cultural attractions converge with awe-inspiring natural beauty, from warm sandy beaches and lakes to national parks and majestic mountains. Follow a scenic byway and discover Maryland and Virginia’s treasured collection of quaint towns and the majestic Blue Ridge and Appalachian Mountains, where echoes of colonial life and Civil War heritage coexist with artful contemporary culture.

Just one-hour north of DC, Baltimore’s buzzing Inner Harbor is the city’s focal point and location for top attractions such as the National Aquarium and the American Visionary Art Museum. Just a short water taxi ride away is Fells Point, the historic cobbled neighbourhood that’s a legacy to Baltimore’s British nautical roots.

In Virginia’s capital city, Richmond, more than 400 years of history live on through magnificent architecture, monument-lined cobblestone streets, and world-class museums. Encounter the blending of this history and Colonial charm with the distinctive indulgences of the modern era – from trendy restaurants and upscale shopping to world-class art and stirring attractions.

The Capital Region gazes at its reflection in the famed Chesapeake Bay, America’s largest estuary, spanning 200 miles from the Susquehanna River to the Atlantic Ocean. It offers a stunning diversity of experiences, from sandy beaches to swimming, boating, watersports and authentic waterside villages. The area is known for some of the best blue crabs, oysters and clams you’ll find anywhere. Further east, the Atlantic Ocean resorts of Virginia Beach and Ocean City offer fun in the sun just four hours from downtown DC.

You’re never far from one of the region’s 300+ wineries - earning awards and accolades from visitors and critics around the world. Wine trails, festivals and local brew pubs make it easy to plan your own tour and tasting itinerary.

Come and enjoy a taste of the Capital Region USA.

Thematic Copy Points:

10 Must-Have Culinary Experiences

The bounty of fresh seafood from the Chesapeake Bay, southern-style comfort food and sophisticated Washington, DC restaurants all combine to make the Capital Region a world-class destination for your palate.

1. Guided Tours - Get a taste of the region with DC Metro Food Tours, Coastal Food Tours of Virginia and Charm City Food Tours in Baltimore. 2. Historic Haunts - Dine at some of the most historic eateries in the US, from Virginia’s Hanover Tavern to Old Angler’s Inn in Potomac, Maryland. The Old Ebbitt Grill in DC was founded in 1856, and the list of former patrons reads like a who’s who list of American history — counting Presidents Ulysses S. Grant and Theodore Roosevelt among them.

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3. Sensational Seafood - Sample oysters at Rappahannock Oyster Bar in DC’s Union Market and the more-upscale Rappahannock Restaurant in Richmond, or crack crabs at Cantler’s Riverside Inn right on the water in Annapolis. 4. Food Truck Following - Find a meal on wheels at Baltimore’s travelling food truck festival The Gathering, he HUB Food Truck Park in Virginia Beach or DC’s monthly extravaganza Truckeroo. 5. Global Eats - Tap into the area’s diversity with Ethiopian cuisine at Dukem in DC and Addis Ababa in Silver Spring. For Vietnamese, make a trip to Eden Center in Falls Church. 6. Celebrated Chefs - Spanish chef José Andrés based his ever-expanding empire in the region, and the likes of Wolfgang Puck and Daniel Boulud offer culinary magic with restaurant locations in DC. At Washington Dulles International Airport, an outpost of DC institution Chef Geoff’s is a Concourse C destination, while Bar Symon — from “Iron Chef” Michael Symon — serves craft beer and burgers on Concourse D. 7. On the Farm - Feast on fresh fare right at its source at locations such as The Restaurant at Patowmack Farm in Lovettsville, Virginia; White Marsh, Maryland’s Richardson Farms; and riverfront Pleasure House Oysters’ farm in Virginia Beach, Virginia. 8. Signature Dishes - Don’t miss a half-smoke (a local sausage delicacy) at Ben’s Chili Bowl in DC. Other local staples: mint juleps at DC’s Round Robin, Berger Cookies in Baltimore and Virginia’s peanut soup at the Mount Vernon Inn. 9. Culinary Culture - In DC, gain historical insight at the National Museum of American History’s exhibit “FOOD: Transforming the American Table 1950–2000” or try Mitsitam Cafe’s Native fare at the National Museum of the American Indian. 10. Epic Tasting Menus - Multi-course tasting menus provide an ideal way to sample the Capital Region’s signature dishes. Treat your taste buds at establishments like Minibar or Komi, both in DC. The elegant Restaurant Eve in Alexandria and Baltimore’s Charleston also highlight this format.

Sip Your Way Through the Region

Explore the region’s more than 400 wineries, breweries, cideries and distilleries, starting with this sampling of some of the region’s finest.

1. Bluejacket - With three temperature zones, calibrated to serve each draft at its ideal temperature, you can tell Bluejacket’s brewers are serious about flavour. Taste 20 of their cask ales and lagers at The Arsenal, the brewery’s restaurant and barroom. Washington, DC 2. Early Mountain Vineyards - Nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains less tha