DC Regional Waterfront Partnership Announced by Washington, DC, Virginia and Maryland Tourism Organizations

(Washington, DC) – Destination DC (DDC), the official tourism organization for Washington, DC, today announced a joint effort to promote its waterfronts along the Potomac and Anacostia rivers in collaboration with regional destination marketing organizations and stakeholders in Virginia and Maryland.

The new waterfronts landing page on washington.org features guides to Capitol Riverfront, Georgetown waterfront and The Wharf, in Washington, DC; Old Town Alexandria and Arlington waterfronts in Virginia; and National Harbor in Maryland. The content also includes an interactive map, waterfront activities, tours and boating excursions. Inspiring images will be shared on social media channels through #dcwaterfronts.

“DC now boasts one of the nation’s greatest collection of riverfront communities. With the recent openings of The Wharf in DC and MGM National Harbor in Maryland, and with expanded water taxi service from Potomac Riverboat Company, visitors can access more waterfront experiences than ever before,” said Elliott L. Ferguson, president and CEO, Destination DC. “Our new landing page connects visitors to the incredible variety of waterfront activities, from luxury experiences to free events, active excursions to relaxing meals. Exploring the region is easy by water taxi or public transportation.”

The many standout waterfront offerings in each destination include:

• Capitol Riverfront: Fish on the Anacostia River; visit the award-winning Yards Park and Canal Park, home to splash pads, free concerts, outdoor movies and free fitness classes; access Nationals Park, home of the Washington Nationals; DC United; DC’s first winery, District Winery.
• Georgetown waterfront: Run, bike or walk along the C&O Canal Towpath or Capital Crescent Trail, kayak and stand-up paddle board from Key Bridge Boathouse and Thompson's Boat Center, dine at one of the many riverfront restaurants, and take advantage of seasonal activities including winter ice skating and light displays, and free summer splash pads, outdoor movies and fitness classes in the park.
• The Wharf: Dine at more than 20 local or regional restaurants, see live music at venues of all sizes, stay at one of three hotels, enjoy parks and four public piers, buy seafood from the Municipal Fish Market, peruse iconic shops, maximize a year-long calendar of events, play on the water by kayak or boat.
• Old Town Alexandria waterfront: Shop and dine at more than 200 independent boutiques and restaurants along King Street, visit the bustling marina and embark on a sightseeing cruise, browse the Torpedo Factory Art Center and meet artists at work, and explore history in museums like the Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum.
• Arlington waterfront: Experience Theodore Roosevelt Island in the Potomac River, featuring a 17-foot statue of Roosevelt, go birding at Roaches Run Waterfowl Sanctuary to view nearly 200 bird species, boat, kayak and paddleboard from Columbia Island Marina, catch a great view from The Observation Deck at CEB Tower.
• National Harbor: Explore 350 acres along the Potomac River, home to 40 restaurants, Tanger Outlets and another 85 shops in the Waterfront District, and eight hotels, including MGM National Harbor, with onsite gaming and concerts. Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center welcomes groups of all sizes with a 19-story glass atrium. Catch a sunset from a waterfront restaurant or ride The Capital Wheel, the region’s only observation wheel.

Visitors can also see the region from the water itself by taking a scenic cruise, such as the Odyssey’s bottomless mimosa brunch or an excursion to George Washington’s Mount Vernon on Spirit Cruises or Potomac Riverboat Company. For private tours, Embark DC offers guided trips for small groups.

Transportation

Operated by Potomac Riverboat Company, the first water taxi fleet serving the region includes service to the National Mall, The Wharf, Georgetown and Nationals Park in DC; to Old Town Alexandria and George Washington’s Mount Vernon in Virginia; and to National Harbor in Maryland.

• Washington Metropolitan Airports Authority’s Metrorail and Metrobus serves the region.
• Capital Bikeshare bike sharing is available throughout DC, Maryland and Virginia.
• The Wharf offers a free Southwest Shuttle connecting visitors to the National Mall and Metro.
• Alexandria’s free King Street Trolley brings visitors from the King St - Old Town Metrorail station to the waterfront.
• The National Harbor Circulator is $5 and stops at major attractions in National Harbor.

Upcoming

• Alexandria: The new King Street Park at the waterfront opens in fall 2018 in Old Town Alexandria, featuring pop-up programming and welcoming the Tall Ship Providence as a permanent attraction in June 2019.
• Capitol Riverfront: Audi Field, DC United’s new soccer stadium, opens on July 14, 2018. It is two blocks from Nationals Park and seats 20,000 fans.
• Georgetown: Georgetown Sunset Fitness and Georgetown Sunset Cinema, a free outdoor fitness and movie series, begin June 6 and July 10 respectively in Georgetown Waterfront Park. Guapo's Restaurant opens this summer at Washington Harbour.
• The Wharf: Phase II breaks ground in 2018 with projected completion in 2022.

The working group of waterfront collaborators include: Arlington Convention and Visitors Service; Capital Region USA; Capitol Riverfront Business Improvement District; Destination DC; Entertainment Cruises; Georgetown Business Improvement District; National Harbor Convention and Visitors Association; Peterson Companies; Potomac Riverboat Company; Southwest Business Improvement District; The Wharf; Visit Alexandria.

Regional promotion is especially important to overseas visitors, who tend to stay longer and are likely to stop at more than once city when they travel. Destination DC, Virginia Tourism Corporation, Maryland Office of Tourism Development and the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority also partner to promote the region through Capital Region USA (CRUSA) to conduct international sales and media missions promoting visitation.

About Destination DC: Destination DC, the official destination marketing organization for the nation’s capital, is a private, non-profit membership organization of 1,000 businesses committed to marketing the area as a premier global convention, tourism and special events destination with a special emphasis on the arts, cultural and historic communities. washington.org.