Places to avoid in Washington DC?

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M G

I just wonder how many of you that are talking about where not to go, have ever been to any of those places. You can go generally anywhere in DC if you have good sense. There are beautiful parts of SE and SW, hell the whole waterfront is in the south. So are the ritzy high scale waterfront apartments.

You wouldnt know, unless you went over there. Use common sense. Dont go wandering down the street at 4 am ANYWHERE you arent familiar with. But if there is somewhere you want to go, or something you want to see (like the BIGGGGGGGGG chair-Its huge!), then do down and look at it. Noone is going to snatch you out of your car.

Dont be fooled by a false sense of security. SERIOUSLY CONSIDER THIS and look up news stories if you dont believe me. The majority of the incidents in SE SW are in the most "urban" areas amongst themselves (e.g. people killing, fighting the people they have specific problems with. The one thing about black on black crime, it is rarely random. No mass shootings. They kill those they intend to kill or whatever. But if you search the suburbs you hear about young white women getting molested jogging through the beautiful parks of NW outside of DC. (Never happened in Prince George's).

Last year everyone was in an uproar because people in beautiful safe DuPont Circle were getting mugged every other day. They also do alot of children snatching and molesting in VA. This stuff is always on the news. Remember the machete murders in Fairfax?

This is really directed at the people who live here. Those who never venture outside their artifically safe areas. And about Prince George's, it is the most affluent predimently black county in THE COUNTRY. So if you said stay out because of that, then fine. But I bet you've never driven by the million dollar lakeview houses, been in their phenominal library system, utilized their awesome community services, or jogged in the beauiful parks, where you never hear about streakers. Because it is black, the best food in the area is there.

Werent there a bunch of people getting mugged walking to the metro in VA last month?

If you come just check tripadvisor.com or some where and read the reviews. If you dont plan or renting a car, stay close to a metro stop. If you use the sense you would use in any large city in the world, you will be fine.

Midoria

If you had asked me this same question a week ago, I would have been able to give you a list of places. But a girl I work with was robbed in a really nice area in Northwest DC last week and last year a man was stabbed in Georgetown, which is as ritzy as you can get.

So I will say that DC has it's problems, but the tourist areas are safe and always swarming with cops. Everything you will probably want to see is in touristy areas. Don't miss out out anything because it's in an area that you've been told is unsafe. 'Unsafe' is often in the eye of the beholder. Years ago, I saw a terrified Midwestern family hungrily staring into a Popeye's Chicken place. They were obviously scared to go in because there were a lot of Black people inside. Just then a local guy (who was White) walked in with his wife and kid. All their worrying was for nothing.

So....stop worrying about Southeast, Southwest, etc. Just enjoy your trip and have fun!!! I won't even speak against Southeast because Eastern Market (a cool open air market that sells all kinds of odds and ends) is in Southeast and it's popular with locals of all ethnicity's and economic groups. If you feel unsafe in an area, then leave. Listen to your gut. Don't let labels keep you from enjoying all this city has to offer.

just_treva

Avoid the Southeast quadrant, then. That's where most of the "danger" is. Everything tourists want to see is in the Northwest quadrant. So, you'll be fine.

Search for hotels by zip code. Look at 20036, 20009, 20007
I recommend booking a hotel in DuPont Circle.
Restaurant recommendation: L'auriol Plaza.

Maria

There's no place that I would say you should completely avoid, but there are some areas of Northeast and Southeast Washington that can be dangerous, particularly the "Trinidad" area of N.E. (near New York Avenue). I'd say just relax and have fun, but as a tourist, I'd recommend that you not travel alone. You should always be cautious in any strange city. Take the subway rather than the bus if you can (it's harder to get lost). When in doubt, find a cop. Have fun!

Someone

Avoid climbing the fence and running toward the white house like a madman.

Amy H

Check out the Metropolitan Police Department's website. You can enter in addresses and get detailed crime statistics for that area, along with of a map of where the incidents occurred. For example, within 1000 feet of 1353 H Street NE and within the last month, there were 5 violent crimes and 13 property crimes. The site is specific as to what type of crime and where exactly the crime occurred.

http://crimemap.dc.gov/presentation/query.asp

tbugs

Yes, You can easily get mugged in Washington DC. Pick a name brand hotel in Northwest DC. If you have the money, go for the Hay-Adams. Great views. The JW Marriott is also excellent. It is in prime location and probably the safest area. Do not go to hotels on 14th or 15th Streets as they are by all the hookers and drug dealers.

By all means, the JW Marriott is the best if you want to feel the safets - and it is a very nice hotel, too.

Andrew G

Avoid the Southeast area (anywhere on the Green line below the Blue/Orange lines' intersection at L'Enfant Plaza) and the Northeast beginning at New York Ave/Gallaudet University and on up. I'd also recommend you avoid Prince George's county and visit Western/Northwest Washington, plus Virginia, and the surburbs in Montgomery County, Maryland.

andy c

Yeah, there are some dangerous parts of DC. Being a resident and all, there's parts that I don't even go to. The only part of DC you would ever want to is N.W. DC. N.W. DC is the part of the city where all the sights are. The main part of the city is also in N.W. The other sections, especially S.E. Anacostia, is a crime-ridden area, and you wouldn't want to visit their anyways. If I were you book your hotel accommodations in:
Georgetown: safe, vibrant, lots of bars and stuff, also really safe at night.
. There's also Chinatown, and Dupont Circle which are also safe. (maybe not as safe as Georgetown at night)

Mike R

Generally, Southeast and Northeast DC have the worst crime rates (especially violent crime). Northwest DC is the safest. Any of the "tourist" areas (near the Mall/ Smithsonian areas) are pretty safe, although of course going anywhere after dark on side streets it is worth being with someone.

Theresa

I live in the suburbs and that is where I would suggest you stay! The city can be dangerous and if you stay in Bethesda, MD you'll only be a few minutes away but safe! There are plenty of hotels in Bethesda and you can take the metro anywhere you need to go. Bethesda is only about 2-3 miles from the DC line, but a world away as far as safety is concerned.

14 Year Old Know It All

SE area. By means necessary. DON'T GO OVER THE ANACOSTIA RIVER!

mbarite

It's not exactly a rumor.

The South East region of DC (SE) is generally considered sketchy, as well as North East (NE) and the area around North Capital and Route 50.

Basically Washington DC is a diverse, multicultural city. If you are used to being in a real city, where you need to be careful in general then you should be fine. Try not to look like you don't know where you are going.

If you are staying at a hotel, they will probably be happy to direct you to tourist friendly areas. You can stay just outside of DC in Montgomery county. The Red Line, of the metro runs right into DC and meets up with the other lines for easiest access. Make sure to keep an eye on your person and your belongings. Same as any other populous city.

*Politeness is appreciated.

ktray1275

the projects`

David E

Draw a line from Union station to the river along side of the memorials. Now draw a line from there to Georgetown across from Alexandria. Complete the trapezoid. Anywhere in there (near the government and commercial.parts of DC) is Ok. Anywhere else is suspect, especially to the South. (There are some good areas to the North but they are not as convenient for tourism.

My best bet would be to stay just across the river in Alexandria (near a metro stop). The Washington subway is one of the cleanest, safest, economical, and efficient anywhere on the planet.

*Nick*

First off, I live twenty minutes away from DC, so I definitely konw what I am talking about.

the East side in general is pretty sketchy, so don't go there. There really isn't anything over ther anyway. Also, the National Aquarium is the worst aquarium you will ever go to. It is an embarrasment to our country. Baltimore's is qiute nice, though.

~Chris~

Well, best idea is just not to go to Washington. Second best is to not book your hotel online. I did that once, and ended up staying in a slum with a hobbo passed out on the sidewalk right outside of my hotel. That happened in Charleston, South Carolina, not Washington.

2fitornot2fit

That big white house at the end of the block where George lives....dont go there,hell tax ya....seriously...most areas..when you get off the soon as you get off the plain its horrible...even George lives in the hood...

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