If someone mentions the US Capital Region, politics, monuments and museums normally spring to mind.
But the new waterfront developments in the area – which span across Washington DC, Maryland, and Virginia – is hoping to transform the Capital Region into a destination for a younger, hipper crowd.
As it stands, the areas have all been partly redeveloped, with new accommodation, restaurants, water taxi services and water-based activities.
So while you can still visit all the usual tourist spots during the day, theres also a vibrant nightlife to enjoy.
Im always interested in checking out potentially cool locations so I flew into the bankside cities to see if the improvements were really as good as they sounded.
The National Harbor development in Maryland was my first stop and it did not disappoint.
Its great for families and couples, with plenty to do during the day and at night, but its worth venturing out to nearby Oxon Hill Manor and National Colonial Farm, too.
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Oxon Hill Manor, a neo-Georgian mansion, has a special place in the history of the area – it reportedly hosted Franklin D Roosevelt and Sir Winston Churchill.
In contrast, National Colonial Farm, which takes up around 200 hundred acres of Piscataway National Park, is a living farm museum.
Its populated with all the animals youd expect to see on a normal farm, but the twist is, some of the workers dress like they did around the time of the American Revolution to show visitors what life was life then.
The Capital Wheel is not to be missed.
Situated on the National Harbour pier, and measuring 180 feet (54.9 m) tall, its basically the London Eye but much quicker.
National Harbour comes alive in the evenings.
At the family-friendly Gaylord Hotel, you can dine, enjoy the pool or just take in the impressive views of Waterfront Street.
Or if you want to take a gamble, theres a MGM casino on the strip. In the same building, there are also restaurants, rooftop bars, shops and a concert hall – you neednt feel like you have to gamble.
Where to eat in National Harbour:
Bond 45: a New York-style Italian kitchen and bar with happy hour and weekly live music.
Rosa Mexicano: a Mexican restaurant with a big list of agave-based drinks.
Ginger: an Asian restaurant offering Chinese, Thai, Vietnamese, Korean and Japanese dishes.
For a more traditional waterfront experience, head to Alexandria in Virginia where the architecture dates back to the 18th and 19th century.
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I took the scenic route there – on a water taxi from National Harbour, which took around 30 minutes.
Theres no shortage of things to do in Old Town Alexandria, which has 200 independent restaurants and boutiques, with many located on King Street.
The Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum and a paper shop called Penny Post are definitely worth a visit.
Theres also the Torpedo Factory Art Center, which is filled with cool artwork. And yes, it did store torpedos back in the day.
The waterfront in Alexandria is also being redeveloped and looks pretty sweet so far.
Nearby, theres Mount Vernon, the former home of George Washington. Its just 30 minutes away in Fairfax County and well worth a visit – but be sure to budget at least a morning.
You could say I saved the best until last with Washington D.C. but that would not be fair on the other destinations, so well just call it different.
I stayed at the Intercontinental, which was right beside the waterfront and was a bit more hectic than National Harbour and Alexandria.
The re-developed waterfront has just opened for its first summer season.
There are lots of water-based activities, including canoeing and paddle boarding, which visitors can try. Check out Boating in DC for details of activities and prices.
Of course, you couldnt visit DC and not see the monuments – at least on your first time.
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Its easy to see landmarks like the Lincoln Memorial and Martin Luther King Jr Memorial on bikes – and its even better when its sunny.
Bike and Roll do a good tour, and you have a guide explaining the history behind each of the monuments you stop at.
In terms of the nightlife, most of the action takes place on U street and 14th Street.
Whatever style of music youre into – hip hop, RnB, house or jazz – theres a spot to go to.
Theyre all close enough to walk – in fact, I went to a few places in a single now. Yes, there were sore heads the next day.
Where to eat in Washington DC:
Kith and Kin: a brilliant mix of food from Nigeria and Jamaica.
Where to stay in the Capital Region and how to get there:
Harborside Hotel is based at the National Harbor and prices start from $209 (£164.56) per night.
The recently renovated Kimpton Lorien Hotel & Spa is on the edge of Old Town Alexandria. Prices start from $189 (£148.81) per night.
Intercontinental Washington DC, The Wharf is an urban resort by the water and prices start from $350 (£275.57) per night.
Virgin Atlantic flies daily from London Heathrow to Washington DC, with return fares from £595 per person.
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