Travel with Rebecca

Washington D.C. is a great city for a weekend trip. Accommodations are relatively affordable and almost all activities are free. 

Things to do

The National Mall is probably the main attraction. You can explore on foot but the monuments are spread out. We recently rented electric scooters and we were able to see so much in a short period of time. There’s also options to rent bikes. Another great way to explore is heading to the top of the Washington monument. Tickets to the Washington monument can be booked in advance online. Alternatively, you can stop by the bookstore nearby and see if they have extra tickets available. It is best to stop by in the morning to take advantage of this option.

There’s a museum for almost any interest in DC. The Smithsonian is such an awesome group of well curated museums. 

There’s plenty of opportunities for the history buff. You can tour the Capitol Building. You can look at the Declaration of Independence and the constitution in the National Archives. There are also plenty of other interesting documents to discover in the archives. The Library of Congress is a stunning example of architecture. It also has exhibits of maps of the country and has a centuries old copy of the Bible. 

For the gardener, there’s the US Botanical Garden. It’s relatively small but a great quick stop next to the Capitol Building. 

For the art lover, there are several art museums. I certainly haven’t been to all of them. The National Portrait Gallery has all of the presidential portraits. The Hirshhorn Museum specializes in modern art. Currently there is an exhibit by the famous artist, Yayoi Kusama. Tickets to that exhibit must be reserved in advance. The exhibit ends in Spring 2023. The Renwick Gallery is a folk art museum located next to the White House. We saw a bunch of sculptures including a piece by Dale Chihuly. 

The pop culture junkie would love the Museum of American History. You can see displays of costumes from all of your favorite movies and tv shows like the Ruby Slippers from the Wizard of Oz. 

The National Zoo is a great option in the spring and summer. It is perfect for children. 

The one activity that charges admission that I highly recommend is the International Spy Museum. I went as a child and again as an adult and I found it so interesting to see all of the spy equipment. They recently built a new building at a new location. I am sure that the exhibits are better than ever in their new space. 

Restaurants

Iron Gate

The Iron Gate is a multi room restaurant in the DuPont Circle area. The restaurant has a Mediterranean menu. There’s an option to order individual items or off the tasting menu. The tasting menu includes a bunch of small plates, a few sides, one entree and one dessert. It was plenty of food for a couple. They also have a variety of wines from the Mediterranean area. I had never seen Greek wines on a menu so it was fun to try a new variety of wine. This is the perfect restaurant for a special date or birthday. 

Anju 

Anju is a Korean restaurant in DuPont circle area. It’s best to make a reservation because it’s very popular. This restaurant could be great for a couple or a family. They seemed to accommodate groups too but advance planning would be needed. We started with the dumpling. They were great. Then, we had a sampling of three side dishes. I had the beef bibimbap. The portion was huge. 

Le Diplomate 

Le Diplomate is a popular French bistro restaurant. It definitely made us feel like we were in Paris again. We started with the warm shrimp salad which was different from a typical salad. For my entree, I had the Steak Frites. My husband has Steak Au Poivre. For dessert, we had the Profiteroles. Everything was great. 

Founding Farmers 

Founding Farmers is a popular Foggy Bottom brunch spot. It is perfect for families. They have a variety of fresh foods. I had the breakfast tacos. We have been a few times and we will continue to come back each trip! 

Pearl Dive Oyster Palace

Pearl Dive is our favorite oyster bar in the city. They have a daily happy hour that we love to take advantage of. What’s better than discounted oysters and dirty martinis? It’s conveniently located across the street from Le Diplomate so it’s the perfect spot for pre-dinner drinks. If you like the Mermaid Inn in NYC, this is the spot for you!

Old Ebbitt Grill

The Old Ebbitt Grill is a DC classic. Located across from the White House, it’s a popular spot for government employees to lunch. You can feel the history with the many paintings on the wall and wood paneling. They have a diverse American menu and are open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. They also have an oyster happy hour. If you like the Grand Central Oyster Bar, this is the spot for you!