
Well, we all know Foggy Bottom – we’ve seen the memes and on a near-daily basis we let out a half chuckle every time we see the Foggy Bottom metro stop pop-up on the metro’s destination board.
Now, there’s no doubt that it’s a unique name that sounds a little goofy, but it turns out that there’s a lot of history in this neighborhood of the capital city and the story behind its name is a bit more obvious than you might expect!
The story behind the name of Washington, D.C.’s Foggy Bottom neighborhood
As we said, the story behind the Foggy Bottom name might be a little more straightforward than expected – the neighborhood gets its name from the iconic fog that frequently rolls in from the Potomac River as a result of the area having a uniquely low elevation compared to other parts of D.C. around it.
Since it’s a rather low-lying area and tends to experience foggy conditions quite often, the area became known simply as Foggy Bottom to locals because of those conditions, which stuck and is still used today!
So why is Foggy Bottom so well known?
The Foggy Bottom area of D.C. has a special historical significance but remains a major cultural hotspot today!
Located in the northwest quadrant of the capital city, located directly alongside the Potomac River, The White House’s grounds, and the National Mall, which makes this one of the busiest areas in the district.
Dating back to the Civil War era the area was strategically used as a significant military base, which went by the name of Camp Fry, by the Union troops, now the area has developed significantly housing the campus for George Washington University and the headquarters of the U.S. State Department.
What are the best things to do in Foggy Bottom?
1. Catch a show or performance at the Kennedy Center
The Kennedy Center is considered the U.S.’s preeminent National Cultural Center and hosts shows and performances of a wide range of performing arts, including live music of all sorts, live theatre, dance performances, and so much more!
Even if you can’t catch a show or see a live performance while you’re in the area, the area and architecture of the building itself make this one of the most beautiful spots in the capital!
2. Take a moment to relax at Rock Creek Park
One of the oldest and longest urban parks in the country, Rock Creek Park begins at the border between D.C. and Maryland and extends down into the heart of the capital, right on the border between Georgetown and Foggy Bottom, where the creek ends as it flows into the Potomac.
The 12-mile-long trail makes for an incredible hike that cuts directly through some of the city’s busiest areas, making it a unique oasis amidst the capital’s chaos.
If you take a break here, particularly during a clear day, you’ll see one of the most breathtaking views of the Potomac in D.C.
3. Go on a walk through the campus of George Washington University
A nice walk through the campus of GWU is a nice way to see a unique side of D.C. – lots of unique public art, several large open green spaces, and of course its iconic Textile Museum, which we think might be one of the more underrated in the city.
4. Take a tour of the Watergate Complex
While political scandals are a darker side of American history, they remain an incredibly interesting and important lesson for us all to learn from so that we can collectively do our best to ensure history doesn’t always repeat itself.
Of all the tours of Washington, D.C. you can take, a tour of the Watergate Complex, which is right next to the Kennedy Center, might be one of the most interesting.
5. Check out some of the local shops and restaurants
There are some great local businesses and opportunities to shop scattered throughout Foggy Bottom, you can check out Western Market or the Watergate Complex for some great stores if you want to shop in just one spot.
If you want to try a bite to eat around Foggy Bottom there’s so much to choose from that we don’t think you can go wrong, but as a general rule, the places right alongside the White House tend to be a bit more touristy.
Here are a few in the area that we love:
- Founding Farmers – a great farm-to-table style restaurant that has a particularly great brunch.
- Kingbird – an incredible high-end restaurant in the Watergate Hotel, famous for its tea service amongst other things.
- CIRCA at Foggy Bottom – A great trendy spot that has ‘New American Fare’ and some killer cocktails to enjoy on their patio.
- Tazza Cafe – A great spot along the river by the Kennedy Center that has quality Mediterranean meals!
- Pisco Y Nazca – Admittedly, this is right on the border of Foggy Bottom, so not quite in the right neighborhood, but it was recently ranked one of the top 100 restaurants in the country!