How Amazon has helped make Arlington, Virginia, a hotspot for US Capital Region visitors, and a destination in its own right

When Amazon opened its second headquarters next to Washington DC in Arlington, Virginia, the area’s dining scene grew as ‘Amazonians’ started looking for lunch

An arty park, the Potomac River, proximity to the first US president’s home and competitively priced hotels make it a place to see and a base for exploring DC

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Amazon’s campus at the grand opening of Amazon HQ2 in Arlington, Virginia, on June 15, 2023. The opening of the complex has helped the area develop into a cultural hub that attracts tourists for whom the proximity to Washington DC previously wasn’t enough. Photo: Getty Images

Published: 6:15pm, 26 Dec 2023

There are moments during my behind-the-scenes tour of Amazon HQ2 in Arlington, Virginia, when I’m reminded of The Internship, the 2013 comedy film about interns honing their craft at Google’s headquarters; whether it’s the way employees are known as Amazonians or in-house quirks such as the dog parking area – rows of colourful kennels to one side of the open-plan offices designed for those staff members’ pets who prefer a little privacy.

But Amazon’s presence – it opened its second global headquarters in this United States city in June 2023 (its first is in Seattle) – hasn’t just benefited those who have been employed by the e-commerce and technology giant.

My Amazonian guide explains that HQ2’s common spaces, such as the staff cafe, can accommodate only a fraction of the workforce, a deliberate design feature to encourage workers (and their dogs) to patronise local businesses, many of which are new and have benefited from the US$35 million Amazon has invested in Arlington’s non-profit organisations, community groups, public schools and businesses.

HQ2 is in National Landing, a neighbourhood that derives its name partly from its proximity to the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and is the most developed area of Arlington, an urban county covering 25 square miles (65 square km). A fraction of the size of the national capital, Washington, which is just across the Potomac River, Arlington is increasingly being used as a base by visitors exploring the Capital Region.

The employee pet dog wall inside Amazon HQ2. Photo: Tamara Hinson

Like pretty much everything else, hotels are cheaper in Arlington than they are across the river. Hop on the metro at Crystal City station and you’ll be in central Washington in 15 minutes.