Washington, DC
TRIP GUIDE:
Day 1: Getting There
While you can drive directly there and fight for parking, I recommend utilizing the metro system to get around. It’s one of the best we have in the US. You can absolutely just use rideshare platforms to get around (as you can anywhere), but you will save money by using the Metro without losing much time. Archives (Green/Yellow line), Smithsonian (Blue/Orange/Silver), L’Enfant Plaza (Blue/Orange, Yellow/Green/Silver), Federal Triangle (Blue/Orange/Silver) and Capital South (Blue/Orange/Silver) are all metro stops that feed into the National Mall with limited to no walking (in the case of Smithsonian).
Day 2: Exploring the National Mall
There’s a litany of iconic monuments you’ve got to see! The White House obviously, the Jefferson Memorial, the Lincoln Memorial, the Washington Monument, The WW2 Memorial, The MLK memorial, the Capitol and so many more. The National Mall is laid out as a giant park and you can take your time strolling through and seeing it all, or take a guided tour by Segway! There’s so much to do and see.
Day 3: Hitting the Museums
There are so many amazing museums to see in DC! For art lovers there’s the National Gallery of Art, The National Portrait Gallery, The Hirschhorn museum and sculpture garden to start. There are tons of smaller galleries throughout the city as well. The Smithsonian and Museum of Natural History could easily take up a whole day to get through and there are dozens more museums worth seeing. Whatever your interests are, there’s a museum for that in DC.
Day 4: Inside, Outside, and Everything in Between
If you’re a museum enthusiast you could easily spend two or more days of the trip in them. If you prefer to get outside and gets some fresh air, there are ways to do that as well. The DC zoo is free to enter and has a wide array of different animals from across the world to see. Great for the kids after dragging them through the National Mall and museums. The United States Botanic Garden and Arboretum are also amazing places to visit: hundreds of different gorgeously arranged flowers to stop and smell and a great place for photos. Nationals park is one of the better baseball parks in the country for those who love baseball. For those looking to get a taste of something other than museums and history, head for either Adams Morgan, Dupont Circle, or Georgetown for great bars, restaurants, and nightlife. With over 100 Michelin Star restaurants to choose from, DC has some of the best eats in not only the country, but the world.
Day 5: Baltimore
As part of a more ambitious trip, I would recommend making the hour or so drive north up to Baltimore after taking in what you desire from DC. Baltimore is an equally historic city that I believe has a lot to offer as a day trip destination. You could take in some of the historical sites like Fort McHenry, The B&O railroad museum, The Babe Ruth birthplace and museum and the Edgar Allen Poe House. I really enjoy Mt. Vernon and the Midtown area. You can see and ascend the “original” Washington Monument (built before the big one in DC) in Mt. Vernon Square. Next to it is the Peabody Institute Library and the Walters Art Museum. If you’re looking to see more of the water you can head down to the Inner Harbor and walk along the marina. There are waterfront parks around the city. There are tons of places to eat and drink between Mt. Vernon/Midtown, the Inner Harbor, Fells Point, and Canton.
Day 6: North Beach or Harpers Ferry
As a nice way to cap off the trip to the DC area, I recommend closing the trip with a relaxing nature destination. North Beach is a nice, relaxed spot about an hour from DC where you can get in the water and soak up the sunshine. While many flock to Ocean City each year, the four and a half hour drive isn’t something we’re up for at this point in our trip. There’s a boardwalk to walk on and enough places to eat and drink for a relaxing finale. For those more interested in hiking and history, there’s Harpers Ferry, where Virginia, Maryland, and West Virginia meet on the map. Harpers Ferry is a time capsule town preserving the image of 19th century America. There are quaint shops and museums to show what life was like at that time. There are also walking and hiking trails along where the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers meet. You can also hop on the Appalachian Trail and hike that in the area.
