These D.C. challenges will help you explore the city
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Illustration: Brendan Lynch/Axios
If you've ever dreamed of starring in your own version of "Man vs. Food" or "The Amazing Race" without leaving a 60-mile radius, we've got an activity for you: Meet the D.C. challenge.
Why it matters: It's been a hard month-ish for many in the District. It's a good reason to get out and remember why our city is so awesome.
State of play: A D.C. challenge is any kind of competition that gets you out and about in the city, visiting spots or doing activities specific to the 202.
- Think about the dude who ran through every street in the city. Or the guy who hit up every Capital Bikeshare docking station. Or the friend group that tried to visit every Metro station in one day. (💭 Mimi's thought bubble: Dear God, why?)
- Each year, there's a 50 States Ride meet-up for folks to bike through all of the D.C. streets named after states, inspired by one person's own D.C. challenge.
Meanwhile, a comedian filmed himself walking the entire perimeter set by the historic boundary stones outlining the District.
- And then there's the Reddit user who posted about eating at every Andy's Pizza within the DMV across 24 hours. (May the force be with their intestines.)
The intrigue: Users took to a recent thread on the Washington, D.C., Reddit page to post ideas for their own unique D.C. challenges. Some of our faves included:
- A "Tri-Jurisdiction Day," aka breakfast in D.C., lunch in Maryland and dinner in Virginia.
- Bike to every D.C. Public Library location, or cross each bridge spanning the Potomac.
- Eat at each local José Andrés restaurant in a month.
- In the spring or summer, try to make a D.C. United, Caps, Nats and Wizards game in 24 hours.
💭 Our thought bubble: We here at Axios D.C. came up with some D.C. challenge ideas of our own:
- Hit up every single DMV Tatte in one day.
- Run up the Dupont Circle Metro escalator backwards without losing a limb.
- Find a full meal in downtown D.C. for less than $10. (No fast food!)
- Pet one of the pandas at the National Zoo without getting tased.
- Pull a Lorde or RFK, Jr. and swim in the Potomac or Rock Creek Park without being plagued by a previously undiscovered strain of bacteria.
We want to know: What are your suggestions for D.C. challenges? Or have you done one of your own?
- Email [email protected] and let us know!