Those studying and living in Washington D.C. will find it an exciting place to do both. With its charming balance of leisurely Southern and faster-paced Northern lifestyles, the city sees an eclectic mix of residents and visitors. Extremely accessible, the public transportation system consists of excellent Metrorail and Metrobus systems. From its importance as the capital to its impressive museums and monuments to its diverse neighborhoods and parks, the city offers an active setting for learning.

Washington D.C. boasts an impressive selection of schools for adults seeking to continue their studies. Georgetown University is actually older than Washington D.C. itself, having been founded in 1789. It is the nation's oldest Catholic and Jesuit university and today is an international research institution that continues to pursue its founding principles of "the diversity of our students, faculty, and staff, our commitment to justice and the common good, our intellectual openness, and our international character." ( http://www.georgetown.edu/home/about.html )

The largest university in the capital is George Washington University. Located in Foggy Bottom, one of the city's many historic districts, GW was originally founded by an act of Congress in 1821. Another university established by Congress in 1893 was American University. The fulfillment of George Washington's dream, American University was chartered as a national university with a mission to "prepare the public servants of the future to effectively serve their country."

Among the other universities and colleges in D.C. are Howard University, the University of the District of Columbia, National Defense University and the Catholic University of America, each with its own distinctive offerings to students.

WASHINGTON D.C. LOCAL FAVORITES

Tidal Basin
Originally part of the Potomac River, the popular Basin is a great place to rent a paddleboat and chill out. The cherry blossoms we mentioned in our events section (LINK) are incredible during spring.

Adams-Morgan
If you're looking for nightlife, the offbeat bars, clubs and electic restaurants of this great neighborhood are sure to call to you. It's also a great place for unique shopping.

Georgetown
What started as a maritime warehouse district today provides the city residents with bustling restaurants, bars, boutiques and nightclubs.

The Mall
This park serves as a connecting fabric for many of D.C.'s fine museums and monuments. It is also a meeting place, a jogging place, a fireworks place and many other things throughout the year as many of the capital's festivals and events encompass the area.

National Zoological Park
A fascinating array of man-made natural habitat resides in the National Zoological Park. From South American rainforest to African desert to Asian highlands, the park allows visitors to meet animals and explore landscapes from around the world. For example, China gifted the zoo with two beautiful pandas, Hsing-Hsing and Ling-Ling, in 1972. This is just one part of the Smithsonian Institute described more fully in our history section. ( http://www.educationforadults.com/washington-dc/history.html )

Sources:
( http://www.whitehouse.gov/easter/2006/ )