Let’s face it: One of the nice things about residing in or near the nation’s capital is that, well, it’s the nation’s capital. There’s a certain amount of prestige that accompanies living in the lengthy shadow of the Washington Monument and sharing a ZIP code with the president.
Remember your escalator etiquette. Walkers on the left, standers on the right. Tourists? They usually just stand wherever they want.
But, the metro area offers so much more than monuments, museums and law makers. D.C. reigns as America’s most political, most powerful city, to be sure. But, here’s a look at five, lesser-known – though not necessarily insignificant – superlatives attached to our beloved metropolis and its suburbs.
America’s Most Vertiginous Escalator: At 230 feet, the escalator at the Wheaton Metro station isn’t just the longest in the country; it’s the longest in the western hemisphere. Moving at roughly 90 feet per minute, this vertigo-inducing beast is actually slower than most mall escalators. Its “speed” (I use that word loosely), coupled with its length, means it takes just under three minutes to reach the bottom – enough time to email your boss that you’ll be late for work thanks to the western hemisphere’s longest escalator. Fortunately, because of the way the station was designed, you can’t spy the platform from the escalator. Thus, you are spared the heartache of seeing your train pull away as you inch downward … even though you know it totally is. Sigh.
World’s Most Well-Stocked Beer Cooler: You’ve heard the song, “99 Bottles of Beer”? Well, D.C.’s The Brickskeller has that beaten by, oh, several hundred cases. This curiously named tavern has been a fixture of the DuPont Circle neighborhood since 1957 and houses a veritable library of bottled beers – 1,032, to be exact. According to “Guinness World Records,” that number represents “the largest selection of commercially available beers” at any bar in the world. And, they’ve got beer from all over the world. Looking for that Scaldis Special Ale from Belgium? They’ve got that. Ukrainian Obolon Lager? Got that, too. Surely, you can’t get a bottle of Kenya’s Tusker? Shipment just came in. If you fancy yourself an ale aficionado, then visit The Brickskeller the next time you’re in DuPont.
Forget that beer picnic you've been planning. Instead, grab your best pair of socks and join your fellow suds-lovers down at The Brickskeller.
America’s Snazziest County: Despite what you may have seen on “The Real Housewives of Orange County,” the wealthiest county in the nation isn’t out west. It’s right here at home: Loudoun County, Va. According to a 2007 survey by the U.S. Census Bureau, Loudoun’s median household income of $107,207 is the highest among U.S. counties, edging neighbor Fairfax County ($105,241) for the top spot. Loudoun owes its financial windfall in part to its proximity to Dulles Airport and its courtship of high-tech companies like Verizon Business and satellite-maker Orbital Sciences Corporation, both of which have headquarters in Loudoun. However, the county holds firm to its rural roots, too: There is a bustling equestrian industry, highlighted by Morven Park, where national equestrian events are held each year, and the county is home to more than 20 wineries. Treat yourself to a Sunday drive through Loudoun and count the Bentleys.
America’s Skinniest Regional Park: Skinny, heck. Stretching 44.8 miles long but just 100 feet wide, Washington & Old Dominion Railroad Regional Park is the supermodel of area parks. This Northern Virginia park, which snakes from Shirlington to Purcellville, is home to the Washington & Old Dominion Railroad Trail, an asphalt rail trail that runs the length of the grounds and provides a bucolic escape for city-dwelling hikers and bikers. The trail is well-appointed for extended excursions: There are several bed & breakfasts along the route, dozens of historical sites and museums to check out, plus wildlife that you won’t find in the city. For horse-lovers, a 32-mile, public-use bridle path runs alongside the trail.
World’s Most Out-of-Place Memorial: If you’ve ever wondered how it can be that our nation’s thriving lobster industry has yet to be immortalized by way of a giant, bronze statue, allow me to set your mind at ease. Introducing, The Maine Lobsterman. Located (appropriately enough) just off Maine Avenue in Southwest, D.C., the Lobsterman memorial is not a triumphant depiction of the Justice League’s most obscure superhero. Rather, it’s a tribute to the hard-working, hard-living lobstermen of Maine … you know, in downtown D.C. Which, the last time I checked, is crab country not lobster land.
