Washington D.C. can be a tough town to visit as a tourist. This summer, however, Washington was in the news again, after the President ordered National Guard troops into the city, ostensibly to address crime. Continue Reading Article After Our Video Recommended Fodor’s VideoThis year, when I visited, I sidestepped Washington into Northern Virginia. The local bus is free in Alexandria but the routes aren’t particularly sensical, but the D.C. buses also run here and they’re $2.25. During the Civil War, Alexandria was the first city captured by Union troops (all they had to do was cross the river).