Washington DC offers a plethora of
notable historical landmarks, museums, monuments and other architectural masterpieces. Beyond the traditional historical sites, museums and monuments, there are no dearth of other captivating attractions, ranging from
thriving nightlife to outdoor activities. You will be delighted to explore the city's exquisite gastronomy in its many
fine restaurants, refreshing farmer's market and spend a beautiful evening perusing the city's scenic beauty from the Washington Monument to catching up a mesmerizing show at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Get ready for an unforgettable 48 hours trip to Washington DC.
Image by Mary Ann Reitano via Wikimedia CommonsExciting Day 1 DC Tour!
Breakfast at 8:00am
Fuel up for a long and exciting day at Lincoln’s Waffle Shop (504 10th St NW). You can enjoy a traditional American breakfast here - waffles, eggs, pancakes and more. Another great spot to have breakfast is Ted’s Bulletin (Capitol Hill, 505 8th St SE) and must try the homemade poptarts.
A dash of History and Art! The National Mall Tour at 9:30am
Fondly known as 'America's front yard' - The National Mall encompasses numerous museums and monuments. You will be delighted to wander and explore the 1.9 mile stretch green heart of the US. Almost all museums do not charge any entry fee and generally open from 10:00 am to 5.30 pm. The must visit sites in The National Mall, include-
Washington Monument: This is the tallest structure in DC at 555 feet and 5 inch. The glass encased elevator ride up to the top observatory deck will let you explore the breathtaking 360 degree vistas of the city and beyond.
Address: 2 15th St NW, Washington, DC , USA
www.nps.gov/wamoNational Museum of Natural History: Kids love this museum in particular. That said, adults will equally enjoy the exciting display of the museum. From the giant elephant in the lobby to mummies to collection of stuffed animals from around the globe, to the interesting insect room - this venue will definitely amuse you and your children.
Address: 10th St & Constitution Ave NW, Washington, DC
www.mnh.si.eduLincoln Memorial: Head towards the mall's west end to explore Lincoln Memorial- a stunning Greek temple design building. You will be simply awe-struck to see the gorgeous architecture and history buffs will love to trace the history. You'll find the malls etched with Lincoln's powerful speeches.
Address: 2 Lincoln Memorial Circle NW, Washington, DC
www.nps.gov/lincVietnam Veterans Memorial: This place will evoke your emotions. You will find the wall inscribed with the names of those numerous brave hearts who had perished in the Vietnam War. pay your tribute to the war veterans in this moving venue.
Address: 5 Henry Bacon Dr NW, Washington, DC
www.nps.gov/vive
Lunch at 1:00pm
Time to take a lunch break! For some really yummy sandwiches and soup, drop by
White Apron Specialty Sandwiches (445 11th St NW). Another local's favorite spot to relish delicious Mexican delight is
District Taco (1309 F St NW). Fro fresh seafood platter, visit
Luke's Lobster (Penn Quarter, 624 E St NW)
Duration from the National Mall: 1.7 miles or 6 minutes drive
Library of Congress at 3:00pm
You must not miss a visit to Library of Congress - the nation's biggest library. The state of the art architecture and embellishments of the building is simply splendid. Here, you will find the accumulation of world's knowledge, a great combination of the past heritage with the new era.
Address: 1st St SE, Washington, DC
Website:
www.loc.govDuration from lunch venues: 1.5 miles or about 7 minutes drive
Shopping at 4:00pm
Shopping is a great stress buster. And you ought to indulge in some retail therapy at
National Harbor Shopping - shopping with entertainment center. With over 150 specialty shops and notable brand name stores - this is where you can feed your shopping desires.
Address: 165 Waterfront St, National Harbor, MD 20745
www.nationalharbor.com Another venue you must explore is the
Union Station, nestled in the train station. There are more than 100 specialty shops, an outdoor market, restaurants and a 9-screen movie theatre for you to shop and have fun.
Address: 50 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington, DC 20002
www.unionstationdc.comDuration from Library of Congress: 0.6 mile or 13 minutes drive
Political Satire! The Capitol Steps Comedy Show at 6:00pm
Laughters make you healthy! For fresh and crispy comedy based on the politicos and the hot trending political topics, you can swing by The Capitol Steps Comedy Show. This club is founded by a a group of Senate staffers.
Address: Alexandria, VA 22314
Phone: (703) 683-8330
www.capsteps.com
Dinner at 8:00pm
Enjoy great food and ambience at
Founding Farmers (1924 Pennsylvania Ave NW). The food here is deliciously fresh, and comes with its vast choices of farm breads. Another spot to drop by is
Rose’s Luxury (Capitol Hill, 717 8th St SE), that serves delectable cuisine, such as - Pork Sausage, Habanero & Lychee Salad, Whole Grilled Quail, Malpeque Oysters and lots more.
Jazz and Dance at 10:00pm
You need to unwind and relax in one of the city's cool nightlife spots. Stop at
U Street Music Hall - A sizzling dance club with outstanding sound system with toe-tapper music. It has a spacious dance floor to shake your legs and swing to the DJ spins and live concerts.
Address: 1115 U St. NW, Washington, DC
Another head turner club in DC is
Bohemian Caverns, that will transport you back to the 1920s. Come here to see the performances of many renowned artists and soak in as much jazz as you can. You can enjoy great dinner while watching your favorite performance.
Address: 2001 Eleventh Street NW, Washington, DC 20001
www.bohemiancaverns.com
Day 1 Tour Map of Washington DC
Fuel up for Day 2 DC Tour!
Breakfast at 8:00am
French Toast, Buttermilk Pancakes, Scrambled Eggs, Toasted English Muffin are what await you at
Tabard Inn Restaurant Brioche (Dupont Circle, 1739 N St NW). For a more exotic and heavier breakfast, you can stop at
Old Ebbitt Grill (675 15th St NW). From steak and eggs to summer frittata to Bagel & Cream Cheese and Blueberry muffin - the choices and food will delight you completely.
The Capitol at 9:00am
If you're interested to witness politics inaction, you ought to be at the Capitol. The magnificent building has the north, south wings and circular centerpiece. Make sure you make reservations well ahead to have a complete tour of the Capitol outside the Capitol Visitor Center. You don't need to pay any touring fee. You can visit the Capitol Visitor Center from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (Monday to Saturday)
Address: 100 Constitution Avenue Northeast, Washington, DC 20002
Website:
www.loc.gov/index
White House at 11:00am
Not to mention, White House is the most famous homestead in the US, that is home to the US president. You can participate in a tour that leads you to explore the House's Green Room, East Room and the Blue Room and the State Floor. Make sure to contact House representative or Senator office, well in advance inorder to book a tour.
Address: 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue | Washington, DC 20500
Website:
www.whitehouse.gov
National Archives at 12:00pm
A visit to the National Archives will simply amuse and enlighten you to see the United States' founding documents. You will get to see the Constitution, the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights. The place is like a treasure house filled with significantly priceless documents and there are scores of things to do here. This is a thought provoking and captivating place that you cannot tick off from your must visit list.
Address: 700 Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest, Washington, DC 20408
Website:
www.archives.gov/dc-metro/washington/index
Lunch at 1.30am
You can stop at
Tortilla Cafe (Capitol Hill, 210 7th St SE)for a delicious Latin American and Mexican fare. Pizza lovers need not look further than
Matchbox Capitol Hill (Capitol Hill, 521 8th St SE). And for some seriously delicious burgers, you must visit
Tune Inn (Capitol Hill, 331 Pennsylvania Ave SE)
Arlington Cemetery at 6:00am
Visit the Arlington Cemetery to pay tribute to the brave hearts who fought in the US war from from the Revolution to Iraq and Afghanistan. This is a moving venue that echoes the bravery and patriotism of the veterans who served the country. Also you will see the famous eternal flame atop JFK's grave. This hilly immaculately landscaped cemetery is still in active use even today.
Website:
www.arlingtoncemetery.mil
Georgetown at 3:00am
While in DC, you ought to visit the historic neighborhood, Georgetown, which is located along the Potomac River, in the northwestern region of DC. You will find a multitude of things to do in this entertainment and commercial district. Shops, bars, restaurants flock the cobblestone streets of the district.
Visit the
Georgetown Waterfront Park - a stunning multi purpose urban park. The park encompasses - a promenade, a fountain plaza, bike trail, shade and flowering trees, an arbor etc. You can enjoy the view of boat races and the spectacular waterfront vistas from the river stairs. Explore the charming shops around the park.
Also swing by the US oldest Catholic and Jesuit private research university,
Georgetown University. You will see the much talked about University's Healy Hall, built in the Romanesque revival style.
Take a 45 minute
Capitol River Cruise that provides narrative historical sightseeing tour of the city. Bask on the spectacular city vistas from the Potomac River. Capitol River Cruises depart from
Washington Harbour.
Address: 31st & K Streets, NW,Washington, DC
Phone: (800) 405-5511 and (301) 460-7447
John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts at 7:00pm
Spend a beautiful evening watching a spectacular show in John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. This architectural masterpiece is home to the Washington National Opera, the National Symphony Orchestra and the Washington Ballet. The convenient location along the Potomac River's bank, the state of the art design, the captivating performances and the rich and lively atmosphere will totally awe struck you.
Address: 2700 F Street Northwest, Washington, DC 20566
Website:
www.kennedy-center.org
Dinner at 9:00pm
Farmers Fishers Bakers (Washington Harbour, 3000 K St NW) is an exquisite place to enjoy a scrumptious meal- American fare with a sushi bar. This is where you savor fresh, delicious food in a great location and perfect atmosphere. For a slice of Italy, stop at
il Canale (Georgetown, 1063 31st St NW ). You can enjoy a beautiful and delicious Spanish fare in
Bodega Spanish Tapas & Lounge (3116 M St NW). Explore yummy tapas and beyond.
Live Music at 10:00pm
Outstanding live music, great food and drinks are what you can expect in
Blues Alley - a gem of the nightlife spot in Georgetown. Themed in the 1920s and 1930's era, the place will transport you back to the past retro time. Even the names of the entrees served here are all jazzed up - named after jazz legendary. The club takes its artists and live music quite seriously and expects you to be respectful during the performances
.
Address: 073 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, DC 20007
Phone: 202-337-4141
www.bluesalley.com
Decadent indulgent! Red Light Bar at 11:00pm
End your day indulging your sweet tooth, paired with heavenly cocktails.
Red Light's outstanding cocktails and decadent desserts are all you need to wind up a perfect day before you retire to your cave. A bite of Mexican chocolate tart or goat's cheese custard or drunken drumstick with a sip of outstanding cocktail - Sinfully good!
Address: 1401 R St. NW, Washington, DC
Phone: 202-234-0400
Day 2 Tour Map Guide of Washington DC
