Our Recent Vacation to Washington, D.C.
There are so many things to do in Washington D.C that you probably won’t be able to get to all of them in a weekend trip. However, you probably don’t want to spend more than three nights there because most of what you’ll do is walk around museums and government buildings. Even for those who love that stuff, like us, we’re not sure we can recommend staying longer than that.
Definitely bring comfortable shoes. You will be walking.
List of 5 Things You Must Do in D.C.
#1: Arlington National Cemetery
This was the highlight of our trip. We spent close to five hours walking around and probably could’ve spent more. There are so many graves, facts, stories, and beautiful rolling hills, that you need at least a couple hours just to take it all in.
The Changing of the Guard happens every hour in the offseason (October through March) and every half hour from April to the end of September. We were also lucky enough to see a couple flower ceremonies that were different than the normal show. Stay for two. You will not regret it.
#2: Lincoln Memorial
It wasn’t quite raining when we walked across the Arlington Bridge from the Arlington National Cemetery, but it was threatening to and starting to drizzle. So we didn’t go through the self-guided informational tour underneath the monument because it was jam packed.
Luckily, you don’t need to be in that tiny museum for the full experience. This is more about staring up at Lincoln, reading his speeches on the wall, and looking out at the National Mall.
#3: Library of Congress
Mike is a little bit of a library buff. He knows that’s weird. But he doesn’t care what you think.
So, of course, the Library of Congress was a must do for us in DC and it did not disappoint. The architecture and art were stunning. However, the tour was something you could skip (more on that below).
#4: Supreme Court
There isn’t necessarily a ton for you to see here. They have a nice display and a description of the history in what is considered the basement, all with very interesting facts. There are also some videos playing that revealed the perspectives of the different justices.
But, with so many other things to do while you’re in D.C., this is a relatively quick self-guided tour through. Definitely stop for the architecture and sheer size of the building and you can fit it in before or after the capital building and the Library of Congress.
Plus, if peeking into the courtroom doesn’t scare the crap out of you, you’ve probably never been in that much trouble.
#5: Smithsonian Air and Space Museum
Yes, you need to see this. There is so much cool shit and information packed into this museum, it’s easy to kill half a day. Longer if you’re the type of people that can handle that many hours there. We’re not.
Plus, there actual models of planes, rockets, and space capsules hanging from the ceiling. There’s a reason why everyone talks about visiting this place when they go to DC. There are also plenty of interactive games and things for the kids. Don’t make the mistake of skipping this.
5 Things We Wish We Did
#1: Capitol Building
Of course, we both wanted to tour the Capitol Building, but we knew it was going to be busy and we both wanted to leave our schedule open for just strolling around and sitting in the National Mall and not feeling rushed during lunch and dinner and drinks.
You can book your tour up to 90 days in advance, which I would highly recommend. Also, the hours are a little funky, especially on weekends. So if you book in advance you can base the rest of your day off that.
#2: Washington Monument
Unfortunately, when we DC in the spring of 2018, the Washington Monument was still closed for renovations for updating and modernizing the elevator. While we would’ve loved to have gone, this did save Mike the embarrassment of his fear of heights leading to burping fits in a national monument.
#3: FBI
This is something we both wanted to do, but unfortunately, we didn’t think about how difficult it would be in advance. Hopefully you’re reading this with plenty of time before your trip, as to schedule a tour with less than 20 people, you have to contact your congressional representative.
There are other restrictions to tour the FBI, but based on the little I remember from my tour in 8th grade, and based on the reviews of friends and family who have been there, it’s a must-see.
#4: Georgetown
One of Jess’s coworkers goes down to Washington D.C. fairly often and always stays in Georgetown and recommended a few places we should go to, including some of the bars and restaurants along the river to people watch, one of our favorite hobbies. But, with only 48 hours, we simply didn’t have enough time for everything we wanted to do.
Next time we’ll definitely walk around this neighborhood and explore some of the food options and get a general feel for it.
#5: Holocaust Museum
Mike has been here before, but Jess hasn’t. Before our trip we discussed whether we should go or not and ultimately decided that we shouldn’t.
It’s a powerful museum and one that I would recommend to everyone. But, it’s just as heavy as you’d expect. Plus, you’ll dedicate at least half a day to it, which, if you’re only doing a weekend trip, is a good percentage of time. And, you’ll need an hour or two and a couple drinks to return to some semblance of normal.
Things to Avoid
Guided Tour of the Library of Congress
You should most definitely go to the Library of Congress. The architecture is unbelievable, as are the attention to detail and beautiful pieces located all around.
The same cannot be said about the volunteer tour guides.
And I don’t want to be mean because they are volunteers. But I’ve always thought that tour guides should be people trying to be actors or from Mastermind groups. Or at least have to go through some type of screening process.
The first lady we had was very small, maybe 4’8” and 80 pounds. Maybe. Jess thinks I’m being generous. I couldn’t hear a word she said, and I was very eager to learn all about the library.
After a couple minutes, we left that group and joined another, where the tour guide was a middle-aged man who we could hear, he just wasn’t that interesting.
Overall, he gave some interesting tidbits of information, but they should just come up with a better plan, such as the awesome self-guided audio tour they had at Alcatraz when we visited San Francisco.
Our Favorite D.C. Restaurants
Ben’s Chili Bowl
Yes, it’s famous, which usually means the food is mediocre at best. Luckily, this is one of the few places that didn’t disappoint.
The chili has just the right amount of heat without being spicy. And, you can get it in a bowl or on just about anything. We shared chili fries, chili dog, and a chili burger. Of course, we left feeling gross, but it was well worth it.
Hank’s Oyster Bar
This part of town (Dupont Circle) was packed with bars and restaurants, so needless to say we fit right in. Like many places in this part of town, it looks like they renovated a house into a bar and restaurant, which gave it a homely feel, but also meant it was pretty crowded with tables.
Instead of bread, they give you a bowl of goldfish. And, being one of the few people in the world apparently that don’t like Goldfish, I would’ve preferred bread, but I got over it.
The menu is simple and they got everything right. Jess got the short ribs, which were moist and fell right off the bone. Mike got the crab cakes and they were just as good as expected. If you’re looking for great seafood and you’re staying in this part of town, make sure to eat here.
Kramerbooks and Afterwords Café
This place combines two of our favorite things: food and books. Normally, we believe that when businesses try to do too many things, they don’t do anything well (restaurants especially). But Kramerbooks and Afterwords Café was the exception that proved the rule because they did both very well.
After we got off the train and checked into the hotel, this was where we went for lunch based on a recommendation from a colleague at work. It was perfect for a nice lunch and a couple drinks. The food was good, with big portions, and delicious fries.
Quarterdeck Restaurant
You should definitely stop at those other restaurants, but this place stole the show. It’s probably just a little too far (and uphill) for normal people to walk to from Arlington National Cemetery, but, as you’ve probably realized, we’re not normal people. And, the walk back to the cemetery and then across the Arlington Bridge to the Lincoln Memorial really helped digest all the food we stuffed ourselves with.
Mike, the researcher for all of our trips, found this place online a week or so before our weekend getaway to DC and saw that it didn’t get a single bad review. We walked in at 3 o’clock after we’d spent the morning and early afternoon at the cemetery and when we walked in the hostess asked if we’d be done by 5 o’clock because they had a full restaurant already reserved at that point.
And, while we sat there for an hour and a half, this hostess turned away many callers trying to make a reservation. Moral of the story? Make a reservation, even if you’re going at a weird ass hour like 3 o’clock.
You could tell they cared about the food and the casual atmosphere was just what we were looking for. They make everything fresh, so you will have to wait a little while for your crabs, but it’s well worth it. And, if you know food and you like crabs, you’d much rather wait and get quality than get the defrosted shit from Joe’s Crab Shack.
Knowing we were going to share crab legs, we got three appetizers: hush puppies (based on online reviews), peel and eat shrimp, and the mussels. All of it was amazing. Even if for some reason you don’t have time to go spend half a day at Arlington National Cemetery, make the trip to Arlington for this place. Just make sure you call ahead and make a reservation.
Washington Nationals Ballpark
Having never been to Nationals Stadium, we decided to go see a game on Friday night. It was too far to walk from our hotel, so we took a cab and got stuck in what the cabdriver claimed was bad traffic. I guess he’s never tried to get into Manhattan at 8 o’clock on a Tuesday morning, because it was about twenty minutes.
He dropped us off a couple blocks away so we could walk around a bit and we’re glad we did because they had a cool surrounding area. There’s even a rooftop bar where you can watch the game, similar to Wrigley Field in Chicago without the history. There’s also a large outdoor drinking area with food trucks and live music called The Bullpen.
Inside the stadium was just as beautiful and accommodating as outside. There wasn’t a bad seat in the house and the fans were really into the game. And the food, while not quite as expensive as Yankee Stadium, was pretty expensive, but good.
We didn’t stay for the whole game (something we would never do at Yankee Stadium or any team Mike is a fan of). But it was the Nats vs. the Phillies and there was a half hour rain delay, which extended the game. So, after the 7th inning stretch, we left.
If you get a chance and you’re a baseball fan, you should definitely check out the stadium and spend some time in the surrounding area.
Plan Your Trip to D.C.
We stayed in a very clean part of town and we had a blast. There is so much to do, but because things are so big, and the distances are deceiving, you’re either going to do a lot of walking or a lot of hopping in and out of cabs. We like to walk, so it wasn’t a big deal, but between the museums and government buildings, the National Mall, and just walking around the neighborhoods, you should definitely wear comfortable shoes.
Have you been to D.C. recently? Share your thoughts and experiences below!
