What To Do In Washington D.C.
Probably the number one travel-related question I get from people is, “What should I do in Washington D.C.?” I get it so much that for years, I’ve had a list saved on my computer that I just forward to everyone who asks. Well today, I decided to share it with all of you. I also get to share photos I've taken over the years.
I fell in love with Washington D.C. the first time I visited many years ago. What my family has been through to live in America is never lost on me, and I remember standing in front of the U.S. Capitol Building the first time (and every time since), feeling so grateful to be there. The city just has a special vibe about it. Whether you’re walking past the White House, sitting in traffic and watching the President or some other dignitary’s motorcade pass you by, or watching all the people in business suits running around, you just know you’re in important territory. Then one day, I became one of those people in a business suit running around when I was working on a special project in D.C. that lasted over two years. Even then, the vibe never diminished and the buzz never quieted. D.C. will always be one of my favorite cities and I feel like everyone should experience it at least once in life. There is not enough time to see everything D.C. has to offer in one trip, but I’m rounding up my “tourist must do’s” in this post.
What to See in D.C.
Let me share some good news… the majority of attractions in D.C. are free! That is the best. You get to learn a ton and take in so much history at no cost. That makes for a great family trip.
The first thing on my list of what to see is the U.S. Capitol Building which I also call, “my favorite building in all the world.” Visit the majestic Capitol Building’s Visitor Center and sign up for a tour. It’s so worth it! History abounds inside. See where Abraham Lincoln’s desk sat when he was “Representative from Illinois” before he was President. Visit the Capitol Rotunda where Presidents like JFK have lain in state. Make a wish on the lucky Capitol star which is said to be the very center of Washington D.C. where all four quadrants meet. Stand on the steps of where Presidential inaugurations happen. Learn all about the Capitol’s history and you can even observe the Senate or House if they’re in session and so much more.
The Smithsonian has 19 museums in D.C. and I say go through the list before you go and pick the one(s) you want to visit. There’s no way to get through them all in one trip. You could spend days in even just one. So, pick your top interest and save the rest for a future trip. All Smithsonian museums are free to enter. The newest is the African American museum and I can't wait to visit it on my next trip.
While the Smithsonian museums will keep you busy, I do suggest one more museum to visit. The Newseum is the “most interactive museum in the world.” This one does charge a fee (it’s not in the Smithsonian Institution) but the $24.95 entrance fee gets you entrance for two days. That alone tells you there’s so much to see you may need more than one day. My favorite exhibit is the one with all the Pulitzer Prize winning photographs. They will take your breath away at how they’ve captured major events in our history, and emotional moments through the years. I caught myself clutching my heart at many of them. That’s when you know it’s a good picture!
There’s also an exhibit at The Newseum dedicated to 9/11 with one of the now-melted antenna from the twin towers and all the headlines plus videos and photos from that fateful day. Let me just say, there’s no wonder there’s Kleenex boxes in the exhibit.
Monuments on the National Mall, of course, are a must see. Start at Lincoln Memorial and from there you can walk to the Vietnam Wall, Korean Memorial, and WWII Memorial in a loop without backtracking. They’re all beautiful at night too. I’ve done the monuments by moonlight many times and love it. The monuments are so poignant, there’s no real way to describe them in words. Go see them!
Arlington Cemetery is a must visit for history buffs and anyone wanting to pay their respects to fallen service members, visit the gravesites of President John F. Kennedy and Jackie O., and see the changing of the guards at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The changing of the guard happens every hour on the hour in an elaborate ritual which is one you will not soon forget.
A visit to the Tidal Basin includes Jefferson Memorial, FDR Memorial and Dr. Martin Luther King Memorial, around the Potomac River, plus a great view of the Washington Monument. The Tidal Basin is my favorite place to just sit and reflect or to walk at sunset. Here’s one more thing – if you’re able to go during Cherry Blossom season, the Tidal Basin trumps all things. Truly. Japan gifted 2,000 cherry trees to the U.S. and they bloom for a short time each year. I watch the forecasts and try to make it to see the flowers in bloom whenever I can. The season brings international tourists in droves and it is just gorgeous at the Tidal Basin during that time.
What to Eat in D.C.
There is such good food in the city but I narrowed down my top 3:
Founding Farmers is 3 blocks from, and an easy walk to, the White House. They serve fresh food, farm to table, in an awesome setting. Everything is made in-house, even the juices and sodas. Everyone that I’ve taken has loved it. My favorite things to eat there are fried green tomatoes, cornbread, and chicken and waffles. They've also got a great meatless menu.
Maine Avenue Fish Market is a local hidden gem. Locals come down here to pick up seafood to cook at home. If you’re a seafood lover like me, get down to the wharf and order fresh seafood. It’s so fresh that you’re literally buying them off boats floating in the water. My favorite order: freshly shucked oysters, large peel and eat shrimps and clam chowder. Be warned, this is no fancy restaurant. It’s an outdoor fish market and there’s only a handful of tables where you can stand and eat your food. That’s part of the allure of the local joint. My favorite thing is to take my order to go and eat at the nearby Tidal Basin. On family trips, we’ve also picked up a bushel of crab (that they will cook on the spot for you) and brought it back to our hotel to have a seafood feast in our suite. So delicious!
How to Get Around D.C.
Metro (subway) is the D.C. way! You can download the Metro app on your smartphone (itrans DC). D.C. is only 68 square miles so it is definitely a walking city but Uber can also be very helpful when your feet are tired and you’re trying to get to national monuments without walking miles in between.
When to Go to D.C.
Cherry Blossom season in the Spring is really the best time to go because it’s such a unique experience to see those trees in bloom as well as the other flowers and trees around the city. It's a photographer's paradise. That’s usually beginning of April. Careful though, the blooms don’t last long so it takes careful planning to make sure you catch them. I would say the second choice would be the Fall when the leaves are changing and the air is crisp. I would avoid the winter snow months lest you get snowed in at your hotel or airport (story of my life every winter there). Also avoid the hot and humid months in June and July because the sticky weather can wear you down moving through all the outdoor monuments. Whenever you go though, there’s so much to do and see, and experience.
D.C. is such a special place for me. I’m so grateful to have left my footprints all over the city. I hope my tips are helpful for when you get there too!
I fell in love with Washington D.C. the first time I visited many years ago. What my family has been through to live in America is never lost on me, and I remember standing in front of the U.S. Capitol Building the first time (and every time since), feeling so grateful to be there. The city just has a special vibe about it. Whether you’re walking past the White House, sitting in traffic and watching the President or some other dignitary’s motorcade pass you by, or watching all the people in business suits running around, you just know you’re in important territory. Then one day, I became one of those people in a business suit running around when I was working on a special project in D.C. that lasted over two years. Even then, the vibe never diminished and the buzz never quieted. D.C. will always be one of my favorite cities and I feel like everyone should experience it at least once in life. There is not enough time to see everything D.C. has to offer in one trip, but I’m rounding up my “tourist must do’s” in this post.
What to See in D.C.
Let me share some good news… the majority of attractions in D.C. are free! That is the best. You get to learn a ton and take in so much history at no cost. That makes for a great family trip.
The first thing on my list of what to see is the U.S. Capitol Building which I also call, “my favorite building in all the world.” Visit the majestic Capitol Building’s Visitor Center and sign up for a tour. It’s so worth it! History abounds inside. See where Abraham Lincoln’s desk sat when he was “Representative from Illinois” before he was President. Visit the Capitol Rotunda where Presidents like JFK have lain in state. Make a wish on the lucky Capitol star which is said to be the very center of Washington D.C. where all four quadrants meet. Stand on the steps of where Presidential inaugurations happen. Learn all about the Capitol’s history and you can even observe the Senate or House if they’re in session and so much more.
The Smithsonian has 19 museums in D.C. and I say go through the list before you go and pick the one(s) you want to visit. There’s no way to get through them all in one trip. You could spend days in even just one. So, pick your top interest and save the rest for a future trip. All Smithsonian museums are free to enter. The newest is the African American museum and I can't wait to visit it on my next trip.
While the Smithsonian museums will keep you busy, I do suggest one more museum to visit. The Newseum is the “most interactive museum in the world.” This one does charge a fee (it’s not in the Smithsonian Institution) but the $24.95 entrance fee gets you entrance for two days. That alone tells you there’s so much to see you may need more than one day. My favorite exhibit is the one with all the Pulitzer Prize winning photographs. They will take your breath away at how they’ve captured major events in our history, and emotional moments through the years. I caught myself clutching my heart at many of them. That’s when you know it’s a good picture!
There’s also an exhibit at The Newseum dedicated to 9/11 with one of the now-melted antenna from the twin towers and all the headlines plus videos and photos from that fateful day. Let me just say, there’s no wonder there’s Kleenex boxes in the exhibit.
Monuments on the National Mall, of course, are a must see. Start at Lincoln Memorial and from there you can walk to the Vietnam Wall, Korean Memorial, and WWII Memorial in a loop without backtracking. They’re all beautiful at night too. I’ve done the monuments by moonlight many times and love it. The monuments are so poignant, there’s no real way to describe them in words. Go see them!
Arlington Cemetery is a must visit for history buffs and anyone wanting to pay their respects to fallen service members, visit the gravesites of President John F. Kennedy and Jackie O., and see the changing of the guards at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The changing of the guard happens every hour on the hour in an elaborate ritual which is one you will not soon forget.
What to Eat in D.C.
There is such good food in the city but I narrowed down my top 3:
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| My family and I with Mrs. Virginia Ali, the owner, who is often still at the restaurant. It's a bonus when you get to meet her. She's so sweet and a D.C. icon. |
Ben’s Chili Bowl serves simple comfort food in a no frills diner that has been the same since the 1950s. They are best known for their chili dogs (including vegetarian) but it’s really the history of this restaurant that makes it wonderful. Ben’s is a D.C. landmark. By the way, the hot dogs they use, “the half smoke (half beef, half pork)” can only be found in D.C. There are now three locations (H Street, U Street, and the Reagan National Airport in the main concourse.) U Street is the original location, and had a beloved role in the Civil Rights movement. Go to that one if you can!
How to Get Around D.C.
Metro (subway) is the D.C. way! You can download the Metro app on your smartphone (itrans DC). D.C. is only 68 square miles so it is definitely a walking city but Uber can also be very helpful when your feet are tired and you’re trying to get to national monuments without walking miles in between.
When to Go to D.C.
Cherry Blossom season in the Spring is really the best time to go because it’s such a unique experience to see those trees in bloom as well as the other flowers and trees around the city. It's a photographer's paradise. That’s usually beginning of April. Careful though, the blooms don’t last long so it takes careful planning to make sure you catch them. I would say the second choice would be the Fall when the leaves are changing and the air is crisp. I would avoid the winter snow months lest you get snowed in at your hotel or airport (story of my life every winter there). Also avoid the hot and humid months in June and July because the sticky weather can wear you down moving through all the outdoor monuments. Whenever you go though, there’s so much to do and see, and experience.
D.C. is such a special place for me. I’m so grateful to have left my footprints all over the city. I hope my tips are helpful for when you get there too!
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