A welcome fit for a globetrotting diplomat awaits visitors to one of D.C.’s oldest districts, where grand governmental buildings, art galleries, and theater venues line the streets.
When Foggy Bottom started out as an 18th-century outpost, it was named for the morning mists that rise off the Potomac River. Skip forward a couple of centuries and the fog still rolls in, weaving around the federal offices, foreign embassy buildings, and upscale residences that characterize this stately neighborhood. While most of Foggy Bottom’s operations occur behind the closed doors of governmental buildings, there’s still plenty to see – even if you don’t happen to be a traveling dignitary.
To see where some of the most important matters of the state are settled, check out the exterior of Foggy Bottom’s important federal headquarters. These include the imposing U.S. Department of State and the offices of the President and Vice-President. If you know your political history, you might recognize some more governmental landmarks in this neighborhood. Remember Watergate? Yep, that happened here. You can still see the Watergate complex that set the stage for President Nixon’s downfall.
Foggy Bottom might seem like all work and no play, but don’t be fooled. The district has a buzzing student population, thanks to the George Washington University campus that is located here. You can find cafés and bars tucked into the ground-floor levels of office buildings, which lure local workers and students holding out for happy-hour specials.
Looking for date ideas in Foggy Bottom? Here’s a tip – catch sunset views from the rooftop lounge above the W Hotel or check out free nightly performances at the Millennium Stage. The Kennedy Center for Performing Arts presents a huge program of events and performances, while the Cocoran Gallery of Art has a collection of American artworks spanning three centuries.
It isn’t just Foggy Bottom’s professionals who have connections; the neighborhood is easy to access via Georgetown or the National Mall.