Washington DC has never been one of my favorite cities. It might be perfect for what it is--it'sjust not my idea of a really good.... Washington DC has never been one of my favorite cities. It might be perfect for what it is--it'sjust not my idea of a really good city. It's missing at least one obvious major component- a downtown.

Washington does have many components other cities can't match. Art, for one. That said, if I were to move to the Washington area, I think nearby Baltimore might be a better choice, still leaving the art within easy reach.

On this trip I visited Alexandria, Virginia, a place I hadn't been since a teenager. Should I need to be in Washington, it seems Alexandria would also be an excellent option. What Washington does have is great little "urban" suburbs like Alexandria and Georgetown. The commuter rail system makes living in these places practical. In Pittsburgh living in such a suburb, say Sewickley, would present a nightmare of an auto commute. Of course Sewickley is not comparable to Alexandria. The lack of good commuter rail in Pittsburgh impedes the formation of these great little "urban" suburbs.

Places like Alexandria were cities in their own right before they became suburbs of other cities. Other commuter rail suburbs built as such present a similar "urban-esque" environment because everything is accessible on foot. Having everything accessible on foot means to have employment also accessible without a car. (This more often than not means to have downtown accessible on foot.) This kind of urban suburb is only possible in places that have commuter rail service.

I know first-hand it took me less time to get from Alexandria (the Eisenhower station) to the National Mall (no silly, not a shopping center) by Metro than it did by car. It's hard to beat Washington's Metro system and the great "urban-suburbs" serve as evidence.

PS: If you're in DC, don't miss the America On The Move exhibit at the American History Museum. There's a great display on Los Angeles; a simulated streetcar ride (if you're lucky enough to live in a city that still has streetcars, you can skip this); a neat chance to learn about tug boats; an engaging exhibit on the Port of Oakland and even a San Francisco cable car.

PPS: The flight simulator at the Air and Space Museum should study the food line at the same museum to learn how to move people through in an orderly and efficient manner.