Washington DC

Here's the thing about DC that nobody really tells you - it's not just a government town. Sure, you've got the White House and the Capitol and all those marble monuments you've seen in every civics textbook. But that's kind of like saying New York is just the Statue of Liberty.

The real DC? It's this weird, wonderful mix of power and neighborhoods. You can spend your morning at the Smithsonian (all free, by the way - seriously, every single one), grab lunch at a James Beard Award-winning restaurant, and then stumble into a go-go music show in Shaw. The city welcomed 19 million visitors back in 2013, and that number's only grown since.

And here's what gets me - over 100 free things to do. Not "free with an asterisk" or "free if you don't count parking." Actually free. The National Gallery, the Air and Space Museum, the African American History Museum (though you'll want to snag timed passes for that one). Even the monuments are open 24/7. Try doing that in most major cities.

But DC's also got this edge to it now. The Wharf transformed the waterfront into this buzzing scene with restaurants and live music. Neighborhoods like Adams Morgan and U Street have this energy that feels nothing like the buttoned-up federal image. The food scene? Chef José Andrés basically made DC a culinary destination, and he's not alone.

The Metro makes getting around pretty straightforward, though locals will tell you it's had its ups and downs. Still beats driving - parking near the National Mall is basically a blood sport. Most visitors stick to the red line corridor or hop between Gallery Place and the Smithsonian stop.

One thing that surprises people: how green it is. Rock Creek Park cuts right through the city. The Tidal Basin with those cherry blossoms in spring. Even the National Mall is basically a two-mile lawn.