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Dupont Circle

Map of Dupont Circle

Fashionable, vibrant Dupont Circle has a cosmopolitan air owing partly to its many restaurants, shops, and specialty bookstores. It's also home to the most visible segment of Washington's gay community. This neighborhood is especially popular in the warmer months, when 17th Street becomes a scene -- witnessed by drinkers and diners enjoying the strip's countless outdoor eating and drinking establishments -- and the round green in the middle of Dupont teems with sunbathers, chessmasters, and musicians. The exclusive Kalorama neighborhood to the northwest is a peaceful, tree-lined enclave filled with embassies and luxurious homes. For a glimpse of that "beautiful view," look down over Rock Creek Park's 1,800 acres of green, where there's a planetarium, an 18-hole golf course, and equestrian and bicycle trails.

At a Glance

SIGHTS

RESTAURANTS

HOTELS

ENTERTAINMENT

SHOPPING

1. Anderson House
See how a wealthy diplomat lived at the end of the 19th-century.
2. Dupont Circle
Grab a coffee and a City Paper and take in the scene around the fountain.
3. Gallery Hop
First Fridays of every month, Dupont Circle's art spaces are open late, free, and often with bars.
4. National Geographic Society
Learn about world geography and see where the magazine comes to life.
5. Phillips Collection
Admire headturning masterpieces by Renoir, Degas, Matisse and other masters.