Ultimate Travel Guide to Washington DC
So little time, so much to do. That was the case for us during our most recent trip to the capital city of the United States of America, Washington DC. I had a 4-day work conference and took a “weekend” vacation after nearly a week of training, meetings, and speaker presentations. Sean flew out on the last day of the conference so that we could play hard after working hard. This was my first time EVER in Washington DC and the city was truly a Disneyland for adults.
While I loved that I could run miles on end at the lower elevation, I was not prepared for the extreme humidity that induced a constant glisten on my forehead. For three days straight the weather was overcast, dreary and HUMID. On my honor, I will never complain about the dry mountain air – even if my hair and nails hate me. Without further adue, here are my tips for your next trip to Washington DC!
Getting Around
The main attractions in Washington DC span for miles on miles. While walking is nice to get exercise and culture at the same time, humidity, rain, snow, or pure exhaustion can prohibit walking around this entire city. Ubers and Lyfts are around each corner and this is a very convenient way to transport yourself around DC. However, this can cost you a pretty penny when you add up the trips and surge rates. Try these modes of transportation instead:
- Washington Metro
- The metro is SO clean, efficient, and the website has a great trip planner tool to make it easy on you!
- Capital Bikeshare
- $2 for a single trip, or $8 for 24 hours!
- If you’re planning ahead, bring a bike lock so you can lock up the bikes together right outside a museum and they’ll be there when you’re ready to hop back on.
- Lime or Bird Scooters
- This was our favorite way to get around and so convenient! You can pause the ride, that way no one can take the scooter while you’re touristing.
Sleep
A brand new up-and-coming area of Washington D.C. called The Wharf sits along the Potomac River just across from the Reagan Airport, which is technically located in Virginia. The riverside strip is home to dozens of delicious and inviting restaurants featuring a range of cuisine. There are also three hotels with riverfront views of the yacht dock, river, and airplanes in the close distance. The Wharf is only a five-minute drive from the National Mall and main attractions and was preferable to us rather than dealing with constant traffic noise, sirens and bustle downtown by all the monuments and buildings.
We stayed at the Hyatt House in a riverfront facing King Suite, complete with breathtaking river views, a kitchen and living room with a separate bedroom. Although we didn’t spend much time in the room, it was so convenient to have a division between the bedroom and area to relax or work.
Complimentary breakfast was provided, complete with a made-to-order omelets station, assortment of pastries, oatmeal bar, and an array of hot breakfast items like sausage, waffles and scrambled eggs! I’m a sucker for a solid hotel breakfast spread and the Hyatt House did not disappoint.
The gym, rooftop pool, lobby bar, and business center were all ancillary amenities that made the overall experience feel like we were in our own home, just across the country.
Of course, Air B n B and a laundry list of other hotels are available in every niche neighborhood across DC.
Drink
Washington DC is littered with hip bars, funky bars, nightclubs, and historic digs that make you wish the walls could talk. Don’t miss out on these famous spots:
Just steps from the White House across the street, Old Ebbitt’s is the OLDEST saloon in Washington DC. I can only imagine the people, business deals, brawls and momentous meetings that must have occurred in this spot! The restaurant is packed full of character, complete with a deep mahogany bar surrounded by hundreds of relics and antiques. Old Ebbitt’s is always busy, so your best bet is to find a spot at the bar or make a reservation far in advance. Don’t miss the wings and a traditional martini or old-fashioned cocktail. Cheers!
Dress to impress if you’re headed to the famous POV rooftop bar at the W Hotel, Washington DC. This bar and restaurant offer the absolute best views of the city below and the monuments scattered throughout. POV is most famous for its unique view gazing down on top of the White House just a few streets away and if you look closely, you just might see a secret service agent or sniper! Don’t miss the duck tacos or any one of their decadent hand-crafted cocktails!
This iconic bar is also just a block away from the White House, located in the Willard InterContinental hotel. The short, narrow hallway that leads you to the main bar area, which is quite literally a stunning mahogany round bar is lined with sketches of America’s greatest. We hit this spot for an apres-dinner beverage, but if you can swing it, check out their monthly “History Happy Hour.” Cost is $49 per person and includes 3 drinks and light appetizers. Sit back, enjoy a cocktail from the famous bartender Jim Hewes and listen to the stories writers, historians, and politicians while you learn a bit about mixology, too.
The Canopy Central Bistro & Bar
Down at The Wharf, there are dozen of restaurants with bars to choose from. The Canopy is one of them and in my personal, opinion, a hidden gem that isn’t overcrowded by people. Enjoy a local beer on top or a unique hand-crafted cocktail. Sip while you sit on their upstairs patio and watch planes fly over the Potomac river. Relax to the rhythm of the jazz artist playing saxophone practically at your table.
If you’re looking to bump into the who’s who in Washington DC, look no further than a cocktail at the Monocle on Capitol Hill. Amidst offices and buildings of our nation’s leaders and decision makers is this historic spot where you’re bound to see someone that holds a position of decision making for our country. Members of Congress flock here for meetings, happy hour or a private dining experience in the room upstairs. Grab a drink here and keep your eyes peeled! Oh, see those black SUVs in the picture below? Attorney General Jeff Sessions casually arrived with his entourage just as we were leaving!
For a great late night cocktail, head to The Hamilton just around the corner from Old Ebbitts. The bartenders’ pride and joy is a menu full of cocktail recipes that predate the Prohibition era. Here you’ll find classy patrons cheersing post a show or evening dinner, tourists popping in for a gander, and the locals of DC too. After 11pm sushi rolls are 1/2 priced! A mouthwatering late night dinner menu is available as well. Must try: the Ricotta Doughnuts – to die for!
See
If I could give you only one single recommendation about visiting Washington DC, it would be to request a White House or Capital Building tour months prior to you visit. How can you swing that? Reach out to your Member of Congress, depending on what area of the country you live in, this varies. Fill out a request form online. For Colorado, I visited the website of Representative Jared Polis and requested my tour on the “Visit Washington” page linked here. Due to the volume of requests they receive, it is so important to do this far in advance for your best shot of locking down a tour. Tour requested can be submitted up to three months in advance, and no tour requests will be accepted within 21 days of your hopeful tour date.
If you are so lucky to get a White House tour, my biggest tip of advice is to read the fine print on what you can and cannot bring. As well as entrance directions. Sean and I overlooked the fine print and ended up on the wrong side of the White House with a large bag and a camera with a lense longer than 3-inches. Fortunately, the lovely bellman at Willard InterContinental (same spot as Round Robin) was so kind to hold our items for us – crisis averted. The White House self-guided tour begins with an extensive multi-checkpoint security screening process by the President’s secret service agents. Pretty cool! Once inside the White House, you’re free to roam in the allowed areas. We worked our way down a long hallway with pictures of past presidents and decades-old history. We saw the library and many different colored rooms, each which served a purpose for different types of entertaining.
A trip to the Capitol Building should not be overlooked. The building sits atop a small “hill” which is often referred to Capitol Hill. When facing the building, to your right is a collection of buildings where House Representatives work and to the left, the Senate. As mentioned previously, you can reach out to your representative ahead of time to try and arrange a private guided tour. Public tours are also available free of charge and advance reservations are highly recommended. The coolest part about Capitol Hill is there is an underground network of walkways that take you from the Senate to the Capitol to the House. When you’re standing anywhere on Capitol Hill, just think about the hundreds of people walking below you!
One could spend DAYS exploring the National Mall, which fun fact, is considered a National Park. The classic tourist spots along the mall of course are the Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial, Reflecting Pool and at the far end the Capitol Building. Make a point to visit at least a few of the nineteen Smithsonian museums, most of which can be found along the sides of the National Mall. We loved the Air and Space Museum especially.
Keep in mind each museum can take 2-3 hours to visit and most close around 5 or 5:30 pm. My recommendation is to start museum visits early in the day so you don’t run out of time like we did!
The Holocaust Museum is a hard pill to swallow and not easy to walk through. It is eye opening and historical, with doors, trains, even shoes from the time period. There are videos that will make you choke up, images you can’t erase from your mind, and stories from survivors that put in perspective that yes, this really did happen. I won’t spoil the rest by further explaining what you’ll find, but what I can say is make the visit, you won’t regret it. The United States Holocaust Museum a couple blocks away from the National Mall so wiggle it into your itinerary and of course keep in mind, museums do close early! Recommended time at the Holocaust museum is 2.5-3 hours.
The quaint and charming neighborhood of Georgetown is home to historic buildings, houses, and Georgetown University. Explore the many retail boutiques and big-name stores that line the main street and hidden back alleys. Georgetown also boasts cozy cafes, delicious restaurants – and you must try a macaroon from a local shop while you’re at it. We had an absolute BALL zipping around this neighborhood on Birds “ooo-ing” and “aahhh-ing” at the cutest little condos that lined the streets, each with a bright colored door. Last but not least, find Greenworks Florist and take a picture in front of the cutest pink building you’ve ever seen!
So, word to the wise, Arlington National Cemetery is a walking ordeal. We scooted our way over to the cemetery, parked the Birds out front and shuffled inside. We were on a time crunch and arrived just in time to see the changing of the guard. Imagine our disappointment when the docent told us it was a mile walk to see the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Since we had a flight to catch and needed to get to the airport ASAP, we missed the changing of the guard, but managed to see the sight a bit. Next time, we’ll be prepared!
The Wharf is THE new hot spot in town and buzzing non-stop. The Wharf lines a one mile span of the Potomac River and reestablishes Washington DC as a riverfront city and destination. Live music scatters the strip and reservations are HIGHLY recommended at any restaurants down by the water – otherwise prepare yourself for a minimum two hour wait! There is a theater with live shows and music, shopping, fitness studios and more! Check out The Wharf’s full offerings here.
Eat
So if you ask me, I’d like to think I saved the best part for last. Washington D.C. is a true foodie town and I ate like a QUEEN and debatably had some of the best meals of my life. There are so many options to choose from, you can’t possibly go wrong, but here are a few I tried first-hand and recommend to all.
A restaurant with a limited menu for refined taste, Kith and Kin is sure to please. Located at the Intercontinental Hotel on The Wharf, Kith and Kin is a reservations-recommended spot that gets packed with business professionals, visitors and locals alike. Watch out for the pepper sauce they bring out with the pre-entree bread bun, it will light your mouth up and ruin your tastebuds for at least 5 hours. No, I’m really, most definitely not speaking from personal experience..
If you’ve been keeping up with the times lately, you’re probably aware that avocado toast is kind of a big deal these days. Side note – I have three fun avocado toast recipes on the blog for you to try! Toastique serves up gourmet avocado toast heaping with toppings, smoothies, juices açai bowls, and small t0-go options like a zesty quinoa salad. Located one block off the wharf, Toastique is the perfect fast-casual dining option that is health conscious, too!
If you’ve just found this blog and you’re getting to know me, there’s one thing you should know. I. Love. Beer. Well, and so does Sean. So, how perfect was it when we found a restaurant in DC that have 555 beers on their menu. No need to go back and re-read that number, it was not a typo. Five-hundred and fifty-five beers in one restaurant. Needless to say, we were in heaven. The main attraction is the beer and the food is just an added bonus! With a menu offering just about everything for whatever your palette might be, choose from NOLA BBQ shrimp, duck, lamb sausage, flatbreads, or if you’re feeling basic, a classic burger. If you’re thinking this place couldn’t get any better, it does – head to Birch & Barley for Saturday and Sunday brunch. Nothing like a good ole breakfast beer for your Sunday Funday!
A local market since 1873, Eastern Market is a local hot spot for a quick bite, fresh fruit, meat straight from the butcher, and cheese of all varieties. The market is in the heart of historic Capitol Hill where jewelry, artisan, potters, photographers, sculptors, and more flock each weekend in the outdoor space. We loved the indoor vendors too, especially the Fine Sweet Shoppe for a quick, easy, and mouthwatering bagel and lox! You won’t need more than an hour here, but be sure to come hungry!
One thing that surprised me about Washington DC was the abundance of fresh seafood around every corner. I guess in my geography disorientation I forgot about our proximity to the East Coast – which I’ve heard has the best seafood. But as a West Coast gal, I’m not so sure I agree. Regardless, when Sean flew in, we headed downstairs from the Hyatt and plopped in a seat at Hank’s Oyster Bar on The Wharf. I thought it was beyond adorable the waitress brought us a bowl of Goldfish crackers instead of traditional bread and butter! Hank’s is a chain but you wouldn’t know it! Hit happy hour at the bar from 3 – 7 pm for $1.25 half oysters – mmmm!! Ps. Get a rez. We waited two hours one night to have dinner here.
Ever heard that phrase, “hair of the dog?” Well, if you read the “Drink” section of this blog, you can probably imagine how we felt some mornings. Boy oh boy was Sean excited when his bloody mary came on a self-serve platter where you put the pieces together yourself! Leopold’s has a glass case full of baked goods, but the must-try in Georgetown DC is a macaroon! The restaurant is tucked away down Cady’s Alley and a flight of stairs, but is the perfect brunch or sweet treat spot.
A Rake’s Progress at The Line Hotel
I still cannot get over this restaurant. On our last night in town, we realized at 8:30 pm that – we had no dinner plan! Very unlike us to not be thinking about food. Naturally, Sean hopped on the google and found us a killer spot, A Rake’s Progress. By the time we debated about where to eat and decided to Uber nearly 25 minutes to the restaurant, we arrived minutes past 10 pm and were told that dinner service had just ended. Well, what now I thought, McDonalds? Okay, that was a bit dramatic but boy was I overjoyed when the kind hostess said they’d make an exception for us! The restaurant is on the second floor of the Line Hotel with a donut-like open concept that overlooks into the lively bar area below. Even though it was 10 pm on a Tuesday night the place was buzzing and every table was full! We ordered a couple of cocktails and started out with oysters, of course. But the cherry on top was the log-smoked trout! The chef brought it out still sparklig and crackling on the log, returned to the kitchen, and came back with the trout beautifully displayed on my plate. Take a look at the pics, and do not miss this restaurant!
Alright readers, if you’ve made it to this sentence, I really must commend you! Thank you for reading along and I hope you have started to create a mental bucket list for your next trip to Washington DC!
Did I miss anything that is an absolute must-do? Let me know in the comments below! And if you’re on Pinterest, be sure to save this blog for your next getaway!
