I'm proud to call Washington D.C. my East Coast home. Having the opportunity to live on Capitol Hill for 2 years was a once-in-a-lifetime experience exploring and embracing the culture of this beautiful city.
DC has so many incredible sites to visit and it's important to plan your day(s) properly to see as much as you can! Below are specific categories for some of my favorite things to do and see but please remember that being able to visit a handful of monuments/memorials can take up an entire day including your travel time on the metro. Make sure to plan your must-sees, create a list/schedule of your goals and review the Metro schedule ahead of time to ensure you know which lines/transfers you may need. If you have any questions or need any advice, please feel free to reach out!
EATERIES:
If you enjoy delicious food, you're in luck! DC welcomes so many incredible food options -- check-out my food blog to see some of my favorite restaurants across the United States but below is a DC specific list which will continue to grow! In addition to those, I highly recommend checking out:
Eastern Market - a public market on Capitol Hill featuring fresh meat, cheese, produce and baked goods. The market also hosts a weekly Farmer's Market as well as holiday and seasonal events.
During the summers, make sure to enjoy the incredible Truckeroo Food Truck festival at Nationals Park! Speaking of National Park, I'm a Nationals Fan (GO NATS!) and being able to walk/take the DC Circulator bus to National Park is a great way to enjoy a beautiful day of baseball.
Favorite Restaurants in Washington, D.C. Tunnicliff's Tavern Vapiano Hill Country BBQ District Taco Goodies Frozen Custard & Treats Ted's Bulletin
ENTERTAINMENT:
Tour of Ford's Theatre - located in NW DC, this historic theater is still actively producing beautiful theatrical works written by American authors. The theater is famous for being the site of the assassination of Abraham Lincoln and includes incredible tours of the complex led by the National Park Service. I highly recommend taking a tour of the theater and the Petersen House across the street. Prior to your tour, you can enjoy a delicious inexpensive breakfast across the street at Lincoln's Waffle Shop!
Washington DC is home to many incredible regional theaters including Shakespeare Theatre Company, Arena Stage, Folger Theatre, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company, Round House Theatre and Ford's Theatre. I highly recommend checking out these theaters and witnessing the impeccable talent that DC has to offer! If you want to see incredible National Tours, you can always check out the Kennedy Center (Shuttles available from the Foggy Bottom Metro Stop) as well as National Theatre! Both of these incredible theaters include a wide-array of history and community events.
Military Concerts/Events - during the summer months, I highly recommend visiting the Marine Barracks at 8th & I to see their Friday Evening Parades. They are conducted on Friday evenings from May-August. If you are unable to get a spot for the Evening Parade, you can also visit the Marines at their Sunset Parades located at the Marine Corps War Memorial. You'll be able to enjoy a one hour performance including "The Commandant's Own", The United States Marine Drum & Bugle Corps and precision drill by the Marine Corps Silent Drill Platoon. In addition to the Marines, you can enjoy concerts featured by the U.S. Navy Band, U.S. Air Force Band and U.S. Army Band. Events take place at the United States Capitol and respective military memorials throughout the week.
MUSEUMS:
Free Museums through the Smithsonian! DC is the home to the Smithsonian Institution which offers free entry to countless museums, galleries and the National Zoo! Museums/Galleries including the National Air & Space Museum, National Museum of African American History & Culture, National Museum of American History, National Museum of the American Indian and the National Portrait Gallery. I HIGHLY recommend checking out the National Zoo which includes the Giant Panda Habitat (on loan from the China Wildlife Conservation Association). If you go early in the day, you can walk through the zoo before it gets busy and enjoy watching the orangutans crossing over visitors via the "O Line".
SIGHTSEEING:
Free Tours! If you're making a trip to DC, make sure to contact your Congressional Representative or Senator to help coordinate tours for you! Tour requests can include the White House, Library of Congress, United States Capitol and Bureau of Engraving and Printing. Additional sites you can visit include Arlington National Cemetery, Supreme Court, Pentagon, Kennedy Center and the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.
Monuments/Memorials - When living in DC, I would make a point to walk through the National Mall area every 2 weeks. My recommendation: take the Blue/Orange line to the Smithsonian Station. From there, I would walk through the National Mall to the Washington Monument/White House. You can continue walking through the World War II Memorial, Vietnam Memorial, Reflecting Pool, Lincoln Memorial, Korean War Veterans Memorial, Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial and FDR Memorial. If you go a little further, you can visit the Jefferson Memorial. If you visit at the right time of year, this is the perfect routing to witness the beautiful Cherry Blossoms & attend the Cherry Blossom Festival!
UNIQUE EVENTS
DC hosts a series of fun events that happen once a year or during a specific season. Below are some special events to be on the lookout for!
Opera in the Outfield -- are you an opera AND baseball fan!? If so, Opera in the Outfield is an incredible opportunity to set up a picnic on the Nationals Outfield and watch the Washington National Opera project one of their operas on the high-definition NatsHD scoreboard! The Washington National Opera continues their yearly partnership with the Washington Nationals on an annual presentation where the entire family can enjoy a night out at the park! Seating can be on the outfield green or in the stands!
Screen on the Green - While DC hosts a series of outdoor movie events throughout the summer, one of my favorites was Screen on the Green! I had the opportunity to watch amazing classics such as The Karate Kid & E.T. while overlooking the Capitol Building or the Washington Monument. While it was cancelled in 2016, Screen on the Green was an incredible opportunity to sit on the National Mall and watch a classic film on a theater-size portable screen every Monday during the months of July and August. Be on the lookout to see if this program returns or whether other movie nights appear throughout the DC/Arlington area!
Presidential Inauguration - this can be its own blog post in itself but if you are in Washington, D.C. during a presidential inauguration, it can be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I had the opportunity to experience President Obama's 2nd Inauguration on January 21, 2013. I was also fortunate to be a contest winner and received a ticket for a ticketed-only location for his Swearing-In Ceremony which can be made available from local establishments or Congressional/Senate members to their constitutes. Just remember, the city around the Capitol/White House/etc. will shut down during these periods including Inaugurations, State of the Unions, etc. so plan ahead if you're in the area and trying to get around.
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