Travel + Leisure loves monuments, but says we’re ugly, boring

Travel + Leisure’s poll on America’s Favorite Cities brought some good and a lot of bad about Washington.

The good news — we’re ranked No. 1 in museums and No. 2 in historical sites and monuments, which makes us at Monumental Thoughts.com very happy. Not sure we should have finished second to Philadelphia in monuments, though.

The poll also said Washington is No. 6 for family vacations and public transportation and walkability.

Conversely, we’re the second worst if you want a wild weekend behind Salt Lake City? Really? I mean, we’re not throwing beads to women walking Pennsylvania Ave., but I didn’t think we were all at Bible meetings.

Some other random stats:

Visitors say we’re the fourth worst in attractiveness. Translation – we’re ugly. Even worst, locals rank us second? What? They must be thinking Barney Frank and Nancy Pelosi are from here.

We’re the nation’s fourth worst drivers. OK, I’ll give that one. Third worst in being proud of our city. That’s nuts.

Tourists say we’re No. 11 in intelligence. Locals say we’re No. 1. We’re right.

Washington ranks 27th in singles scene. OK, I’m an old guy who has been married 31 years so I have no idea about this.

Our barbecue is fifth worst in the nation? Behind Las Vegas and Portland, Maine? Those people must have eaten off food trucks. Our coffee was 26th? What, we have the same Starbucks as everyone else.

Tourists say the best time to visit is 4th of July. Wrong. The best time is the fall – mid-September to late October. I live for those weeks.

Finally, we’re 31st in romantic escapes. What, the Oval Office worked well for Bill.


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