For health emergencies, George Washington University Hospital (http://gwhospital.com/Home) is on Washington Circle in Foggy Bottom, adjacent to the Foggy Bottom Metro station. This is where former Vice President Dick Cheney went in 2004 for his irregular heartbeat, and where the President would go in event of a medical emergency. Other hospitals in the city include Howard University Hospital (http://huhealthcare.com/), Georgetown University Hospital (http://georgetownuniversi...), Washington Hospital Center (http://whcenter.org/), and the Children's National Medical Center (http://childrensnational.org/). If you are looking for a quick walk-in clinic, try Farragut Medical & Travel Care, 815 Connecticut Ave NW, â +1 202 775-8500, (http://farragutmedical.com/). M-F 10AM-5PM.
While Washington rivaled other U.S. cities for the Murder Capital of America title in the early 1980s-1990s, violent crime has since fallen dramatically. Even though Washingtonians regularly warn against forays into parts of the Northeast and almost all of the Southeast sections of the city, the average traveler has little to fear. Certain neighborhoods in these areas especially public housing projects are the main contributors to D.C.'s high murder rate, but as a visitor to the city you are extremely unlikely to be victim of a homicide—the vast majority of homicide victims in the U.S. are acquainted with their murderer long before the crime. Moreover, many if not most of the neighborhoods with an eastern address are simply quiet, residential neighborhoods with very low crime of any sort.
The trickiest aspect of staying safe in D.C. lies in the fact that the most dynamic neighborhoods, sporting great nightlife, dining, and diversity, are home to the majority of the city's muggings. Muggings are a minor problem in the north central neighborhoods of Shaw/U Street and Adams Morgan-Columbia Heights, in stark contrast to the popular belief that "gentrification" has somehow made the area safer. That's not to say that visitors should avoid these areas—on the contrary, it would be a shame to miss out on them—but that visitors should be vigilant. In particular, avoid walking at night on side streets—stick to the well-lit main commercial strips, travel in groups, and maintain a basic level of sobriety, and you won't run into trouble.
An area of particular concern, especially around the Colombia Heights, Gallery Place/Chinatown and U Street areas, and in and around their associated Metro stations, are iPhone and iPod snatchings. Theives work alone and in groups around the Metro stations, and come from behind, typically targeting victims who have their devices in their hands or at their ear. The best bet to avoid becoming victim of a snatching is to keep aware of your surroundings. Avoid displaying devices near Metro doors, and avoid using them while entering and exiting Metro stations.
Smoking is banned within almost all enclosed public spaces, including shops, restaurants, bars, clubs, and so on. Most, but not all, restaurants allow smoking in patio seating if there are no ashtrays, ask for one to double check. There is always a bit of talk of sidewalk laws, which would require smokers to wander a certain distance from the bar door, but that remains just talk. Businesses relying principally on tobacco sales are exempt, so there are still tobacco shops, cigar bars, and hookah bars, but with the exception of the hookah, they're rare in this anti-tobacco town.
Talking on your cell phone while driving carries a $100 fine, and unlike in the rest of the country, that law is strictly enforced within the District. Pull over and put your car in park. Hands free devices are permitted, but if you get pulled over for another violation while using one, expect a hard line from the police, who are sick of dealing with accidents caused by distracted drivers.
contact
As in most of the U.S., Internet cafes are a rare phenomenon. However, the D.C. government operates a network of free, public WiFi hotspots across the entire city (http://dcatlas.dcgis.dc.g...). WiFi is also available at D.C. public libraries and many local coffee shops which are also nice places to relax. The libraries have public terminals for non-wireless Internet access as well. Failing that, you can also just hang around outside a hotel or even inside the lobby and take advantage of the WiFi provided to guests.
The one telephone area code throughout the District is 202, although you will also see a lot of Maryland 301 and 240 and Virginia 703 and 571 area codes. Pay phones are nearly extinct, with one handy exceptionâall Metro stations have at least one.
security
Note that when visiting federal buildings and museums, you will pass through metal detectors and have your bags inspected. Some buildings such as courts, etc. even ban mobile telephones and recording devices. To tour federal buildings, such as the Capitol Building and the White House, you will usually have to go through the hassle of arranging an appointment or tour in advance at least they're free!. Tours of the Capitol Building and the White House can be arranged by contacting the office of a Congressman or the Capitol Visitor Center (http://visitthecapitol.gov/).
Security here has no sense of humor. If you so much as utter the word "bomb," you will be in for a bad time. You give implied consent for your property and person to be searched when entering a government building or public event sports, music. If you are not comfortable with the searches, you can always elect not to enter.
If all this security and procedure is starting to wear you down, get out of the city center and unwind. You'll find a slower pace on the waterfront, especially on Capitol Hill or Georgetown. As far as parks go, the Dumbarton Oaks gardens in Georgetown as well as Roosevelt Island just east of the Key Bridge in Arlington are both great getaways. Better yet, leave the city altogether and take a leisurely stroll in Old Town Alexandria, followed by a relaxing meal.
Embassies
D.C. is home to more embassies than any other city in the world, and any country without one will have consular representation one way or another. Most are housed in beautiful old buildings or impressive modern ones, especially those most prominently located along Embassy Row on Massachusetts Ave through Dupont Circle and Woodley Park. If you just want to visit one for the heck of it, try ringing the buzzer of one from a small, lesser-known countryâthey may well let you in and give a little tour! Each May, dozens of embassies open their doors to the public for the Passport D.C. festival (http://culturaltourismdc....), which showcases the buildings themselves, as well as exhibits, talks, and performances.