In 2015, more than 19.3 million domestic tourists visited Washington DC and tourists spent 7.1 billion dollars in the district. So it’s safe to say that you are going to see many tourists if you are ever out and about in Washington DC. Here are 13 surefire ways to always spot a tourist in Washington DC.

1. They are asking for directions to the White House.
Flickr/Diego Cambias
Most people who live in DC know where the White House is and they don’t go there.
2. They are asking how to get to Georgetown.
Flickr/Kevin Oliver
There’s no metro to Georgetown. You have to take the bus.
3. They don’t realize you have to swipe your metro card on the way out of the metro.
Flickr/RJ Schmidt
You swipe on your way in and on your way out. It cuts down on people skipping the fare. You will slow down the line if you can’t find your card.
4. Speaking of the metro, you know they’re a tourist when they don’t have a SmarTrip card.
Courtesy of Wikimedia/Ben Schumin
Logically, it just makes sense to get a SmarTrip card. Day passes are for suckers. You swipe on your way in and on your way out. It cuts down on people skipping the fare.
5. They are on a segway.
Flickr/woodleywonderworks
No self respecting DC local would be on a segway.
6. They have a selfie stick.
Flickr/brownpau
And they are posing in front of a monument.

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7. They are wearing matching t-shirts.
Flickr/Mulvenna Family
We all know you’re here for your family reunion.
8. They are standing on the left side of the escalator.
Flickr/oatsy40
You stand right and walk left! Everyone knows this.
9. They are excited about the Motorcade.
Flickr/Connect 2 Canada
The tourists think they might see the president. The locals know they are going to be late to that meeting.
10. They are trying to figure out how to get places with a map.
Flickr/Pedro Riberio Simoes
Or a guidebook. If they have a guidebook, you can bet they are not from around here.
11. They’re asking about “Taxation without Representation.”
Flickr/How I See Life
Or they don't know that DC is not a state.
12. They have an accent.
Flickr/torbakhopper
If you say "y’all" you are not from here.
13. They are eating at chain restaurants.
Flickr/sikeri
There are so many great DC local restaurants and you go to the chain one?

Even though it is full of tourists, locals know Washington DC will always have their heart.

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