A Day Trip Guide to Washington, DC – Hoboken Girl

The Hoboken Lady has a problem, in the event you’re up for it. Go to Washington DC and do completely nothing having to do with politics. Actually, we problem you to not even deliver it up in dialog. Typically, the remainder of what Washington has to supply will get misplaced within the noise of headlines, politics, and speaking heads. There may be a lot to see and do in all seasons, and issues that deliver a one-of-a-kind perspective primarily based on town’s wealthy historical past and proximity to energy. This journey gained’t be something like your eighth grade subject journey — the agenda is stuffed with award-winning eating places, stunning structure, local-approved retail, and boutique accommodations which can be definitely worth the journey. Learn on to plan a not-your-typical journey to Washington DC.

The place to Keep

Eaton DC | 1201 Okay Avenue NW

Eaton Workshop is a hospitality firm that’s in it to vary it. What meaning for visitors is that not solely are the rooms stunning and stuffed with eclectic artwork and literature, the constructing is a lot greater than a resort. It has a Home which is a co-working area together with a podcasting studio; a Wellness space made up of a beautiful spa facility, gymnasium, and yoga studio; and the Meals and Drink facilities deal with locally-grown elements and showcasing totally different cultures by the menus and the paintings. All that being stated, it’s a vibrant, bustling place to remain and is well-liked with locals for the eating places, rooftop bar, and wellness areas in addition to vacationers in search of a singular keep. It’s the form of place the place visitors may bump right into a visitor lecturer within the foyer, or discover themselves consuming breakfast with an artist-in-residence.  It’s situated in downtown DC, inside strolling distance of three metro stops and a number of other bus traces. This resort is pet-friendly.

Riggs Resort | 900 F Avenue NW

(Picture credit score: @riggshotel)

Like lots of buildings in Washington, the Riggs has lived many lives. Whereas it’s now a boutique resort with 181 visitor rooms and suites, it began life over 100 years in the past as a financial institution. The Riggs Nationwide Financial institution was a longtime native financial institution in Washington based by, you guessed it, Mr. Riggs. The financial institution was acquired in 2005 however the constructing had been just a few various things earlier than then, together with a nightclub. The recently-renovated Riggs Resort had its grand reopening in February 2020. The financial institution theme is a enjoyable motif all through the constructing — the foyer has an old-timey financial institution really feel, and Cafe Riggs takes benefit of the excessive ceilings and Corinthian columns. The resort has two bars — the Riggs Rooftop, and Silver Lyan, a speakeasy within the basement that makes use of the unique financial institution vault door because the entryway. The situation in Penn Quarter offers visitors easy accessibility to a number of downtown points of interest just like the Nationwide Portrait Gallery and the Capital One Middle, in addition to the Chinatown/Gallery Place and Metro Middle metro stations. This resort is pet-friendly.

The Graham Resort | 1075 Thomas Jefferson Avenue NW

(Picture credit score: @grahamhotel)

This boutique resort has appeal in buckets. Beginning with its brick, Federalist-style exterior, the constructing blends in seamlessly with the traditional Georgetown rowhomes of the neighborhood. Depart the Graham in a single course, and visitors are straight on M Avenue, Georgetown’s fundamental road full of retailers, eating places, and bus traces to go elsewhere within the metropolis. Depart the resort within the different course, and visitors will cross over the restored C&O Canal, which was as soon as a part of Washington’s thriving port-based financial system. In hotter months, the Nationwide Park Service has a duplicate canal boat to indicate guests what the canal was once like. Hold strolling and visitors will discover themselves on the Georgetown Waterfront, a busy space with a park, eating places, an embassy, and workplace buildings straight on the river. Water Taxis and different riparian adventures choose up and depart right here, and the numerous native school rowing groups observe on this a part of the river. Again on the Graham, visitors will discover a number of the 57 rooms geared up with Peloton bikes. The rooftop on the Graham is a small however vigorous bar the place visitors can take pleasure in a sundown joyful hour over the river.

The Line Resort | 1770 Euclid Avenue NW

(Picture credit score: @thelinehotel)

The Line Resort in Adams Morgan is many issues. It’s housed in a 100+ year-old church with lots of the authentic fixtures in place and even featured within the area. It has a podcasting studio. The food and drinks choices are informal neighborhood hangouts in the primary foyer, but additionally award-winning venues which can be locations on their very own. Most of all, it’s a resort the place visitors can stay like locals. Company can use the resort’s bikes to discover the Adams Morgan neighborhood and might get a picnic to-go to take pleasure in whereas out and about. Pets are welcome, so along with your individual pet, you’ll see locals popping in to get espresso on their approach to or from the close by canine parks. The all-day restaurant No Goodbyes is a neighborhood favourite the place you’ll see college students learning, folks on dates, and common folks having fun with the area and the choices. The Line Rooftop has top-of-the-line views in Washington, overlooking all of Adams Morgan and straight over the Mall. There are regularly particular occasions and themed choices so sustain with the Line on social media for the most recent. This resort is inside strolling distance of two metro traces and a number of other bus traces.

The Tabard Inn | 1739 N Avenue NW

(Picture credit score: @tabard_inn)

Three Victorian-era townhomes make up The Tabard Inn and the tip result’s unforgettable. There are 35 visitor rooms, every with a singular format and decor scheme, grand staircases all through, wood-burning fireplaces, and a brick-lined courtyard. Washingtonians love The Tabard Inn for its lounges and restaurant, the place stay music is performed on the weekends and brunch is a reservation-worthy affair (don’t miss the donuts). The Dupont Circle location is prime: walkable to the Metro and a number of other different related locations, like The White Home. Each the restaurant and the resort persistently win awards yr after yr, and the restaurant has a Michelin Star. This resort is pet-friendly.

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Issues to Do

Discover the Potomac + the Anacostia at Boating in DC  | 3500 Water Avenue NW; Potomac Avenue SE + First Avenue SE; 700 Water Avenue SW

(Picture credit score: @boatingindc)

Even in the event you’re a complete newbie to paddlesports, you’re in good palms with the Boating in DC crew. There are guided excursions, courses, particular occasions, and gear for hire at this boathouse, with a number of areas alongside the Potomac. As soon as it will get nearer to summer season, preserve a watch out on social media to see the particular choices at every location. For instance, dock yoga at Key Bridge, or the jitney obtainable on the Wharf. The Excursions take visitors across the river whereas they study concerning the Potomac and the Anacostia’s historical past and totally different wildlife close by. The Fourth of July paddle-out is really the very best seat in the home for fireworks over the monuments.

Dupont Farmers Market | 1600 twentieth Avenue NW

Since 1997, this market has been holding Washingtonians in recent produce year-round. At this time, the Sunday morning market has grown to over 75 distributors together with meals vans and carts promoting meals to take pleasure in proper on the spot. Attractive flowers, jewel-like produce, recent cheeses, and connoisseur meats are simply a number of the selections obtainable. Along with getting improbable produce, there are sometimes stay music performances and chef demonstrations happening. One of many Dupont Market’s largest followers is a star chef and humanitarian Jose Andres, who is commonly noticed on the market, chatting with distributors and tasting the produce. The market is a festive reminder that actual folks stay and work in DC, not simply speaking heads and politicos.

Hillwood Property, Museum + Backyard | 4155 Linnean Avenue NW

The tagline of this museum is ‘the place fabulous lives,’ and as soon as guests step onto the grounds in all is sensible. Hillwood is a personal residence become a museum. It was owned by Marjorie Meriweather Publish, a girl who was an avid artwork collector, the spouse to an Ambassador, and the heiress to the Publish Cereal firm. Mrs. Publish purchased the property afterward in her life and designed it to be a museum of her collections and her life-style. She has one of many largest non-public collections of Faberge eggs, and her assortment of Russian sacred artwork is museum-quality. There are sometimes particular reveals within the outbuildings and seasonal programming that’s open to the general public. Meriweather Cafe, the on-site cafe, serves sit-down meals in addition to picnics to take pleasure in on the grounds. Whereas the collections are stunning, the house affords an attention-grabbing vantage level of how a millionaire would stay within the Nineteen Fifties and Nineteen Sixties — the kitchen particularly affords a curious mixture of ‘fashionable’ conveniences and old style instruments.

Library of Congress | 101 Independence Avenue SE

(Picture credit score: @librarycongress)

This isn’t your native library department. The Library of Congress (LOC) is made up of three buildings and holds over 40 million major supply supplies. Particularly, we’re headed to the Thomas Jefferson Constructing, which opened in 1897. It’s a beautiful instance of the Beaux-Arts type that which many buildings within the Capitol complicated are designed. The constructing is manufactured from granite and marble, and the inside is richly decked out with mahogany, brass, and numerous artworks. The outside has fountains and statuary. Guests can discover the power and luxuriate in numerous occasions which can be open to the general public. There are reveals on show with frequently-changing matters, drawn from the LOC’s huge assortment. American music, artwork, and literature coexist with governmental information and presidential archives. Timed entry passes are required however are free.

Sports activities

Consider it or not, DC is a large sports activities city, and we’re not speaking concerning the Washington Soccer Crew. DC has many different skilled sports activities groups on the town, so relying on the timing of your go to, you possibly can absorb a number of video games. As a result of so many DC residents are transplants, the visiting groups are all the time well-represented, so in the event you don’t need to don the house group’s shade, you’ll most likely discover some compatriots within the stands.

Catch a Washington Nationals Sport | 1500 South Capitol Avenue SE

(Picture credit score: @nationals)

As enjoyable as it’s to observe a baseball sport, a go to to Nats Park is sort of a draw. Gamedays begin with a go to to the Bullpen, a beer backyard, and a efficiency area, to take pleasure in a tailgate ambiance. Go into the stadium and see what promotions are occurring at that sport — it may very well be a bobblehead giveaway, a university’s alumni evening, or another enjoyable factor. There are ballgame classics like scorching canines and dippin’ dots in addition to native favorites like Ben’s Chili Bowl obtainable on the park. The Racing Presidents come out within the 4th inning and everybody roots for Teddy.

Attend a Washington Wizards Sport | Capital One Area, 601 F Avenue NW or a Washington Mystics | Leisure and Sports activities Area, 1100 Oak Drive SE

(Picture credit score: @washmystics)

DC is a city that loves superlatives, so in fact, that features sports activities groups. The Wizards are one of many oldest groups within the NBA (since 1961), and the Mystics are one of many winningest groups within the WNBA (2019 WNBA Champions). The video games are all the time enjoyable and vigorous, with frequent giveaways and theme nights. The Mystics’ residence area seats simply 4,200 folks, so visitors will stand up shut and private with the gamers. There are three present Olympians on the Mystics’ roster.

Watch The Washington Capitals Play | Capital One Area, 601 F Avenue NW

(Picture credit score: @capitals)

The Caps are the 2018 Stanley Cup Champions and the group remains to be having enjoyable. Lots of the gamers have been with the group for 5 or extra years, and star Alex Ovechkin has been with the group since 2004. The world is straight on prime of a Metro station so it’s straightforward to get to, and the video games are loopy enjoyable.

Get Tickets to See DC United | Audi Subject, 100 Potomac Avenue SW

(Picture credit score: @dcunited)

DC United is a four-time MLS Cup champion, and the group performs proper in DC. The brand new Audi Subject is a stadium designed particularly for MLS video games and it opened in 2018. Whereas watching the sport is enjoyable, one thing distinctive about DC United is its organized fan teams. These fan teams are formally acknowledged by the group and have longstanding traditions. The largest and oldest is La Barra Brava, made up of many South American nationalities. Audi Subject is accessible by the Inexperienced Line.

The place to Eat

Baked + Wired | 1052 Thomas Jefferson Avenue NW

(Picture credit score: @bakedandwireddc)

This quirky spot has been caffeinating DC since 2001. It’s family-run and lots of the recipes are named after members of the family or staff, just like the Tessita, named after the proprietor’s daughter. There are vegan and gluten-free objects as effectively. The espresso bar is scrumptious and inventive and the baked items are out-of-this-world, each candy and savory. There’s a core menu of issues which can be obtainable year-round, however there are seasonal and limited-time selections that get swapped in typically. For instance, in springtime, a cherry blossom cupcake is added. There isn’t a lot area to eat inside so plan on getting your goodies to go. Totally different native artists are featured every month and DC’s cutest pups in some way all find yourself exterior the store. Our favourite order is an OMG bar (a graham cracker crust layered with do-it-yourself caramel, marshmallow, and bittersweet chocolate glaze) with a unclean chai latte.

Bantam King | 501 G Avenue NW

(Picture credit score: @bantamkingdc)

From the surface, this ramen-and-fried-chicken store doesn’t appear like a lot and the menu is a little bit quirky. However, there’s a purpose why this spot is so well-liked: the whole lot is so good. The fried hen is ready to perfection, and the number of ramen dishes means it’s really customizable. The noodles are custom-made for the store in Japan whereas the whole lot else is made in-house, together with the broth which is simmered for at least six hours. There’s a vegan choice with each vegan broth and noodles. There are few issues extra comforting than a giant, slurpy bowl of ramen. HG tip: though the ‘hen drippings over rice’ aspect dish sounds wild, don’t skip it. It’s super-rich and savory.

Beau Thai | 3162 Mount Nice Avenue NW + 1550 seventh Avenue NW, Unit A

(Picture credit score: @beauthai)

Chef Aschara Vigsittaboot is the smiling face behind this native favourite. Chef Aschara shares her household recipes at Beau Thai, the place the whole lot is created from scratch. Neighbors love the laid-back ambiance paired with world-class meals and cocktails. The menu is filled with acquainted Thai classics, and the ‘kitchen specialties’ part of the menu options Chef Aschara’s creativity. Vegan and gluten-free objects can be found. Beau Thai has gained many awards, together with being voted Washingtonian Reader’s Favourite Thai restaurant in 2021. We just like the shrimp cake appetizer, the inexperienced curry, and the Beau Thai hen.

KC Cafe on the Kennedy Middle | 2700 F Avenue NW

This selection is a little bit out-of-the-box however keep it up. It is a fast-casual, cafeteria-style restaurant on the rooftop of the Kennedy Middle. It has the whole lot from snacks and pastries to a scorching bar, the restaurant serves beer and wine, however the level of going right here is to stand up to the rooftop. There aren’t a ton of rooftops in DC and the low constructing heights imply that almost each view is unobstructed. The vast rooftop deck on the Kennedy Middle permits a view of the Potomac River, its bridges, and far of DC. Between the beautiful views and the pre-show folks watching, that is an sudden selection that can repay.

Timber Pizza Co. | 809 Upshur Avenue

(Picture credit score: @timberpizzaco)

There are such a lot of nice eating places in DC, so a pizza place making this listing needs to be price it. There’s not a lot to the formulation at Timber Pizza Co. — a wood-fired pizza oven, high-quality elements, and inventive minds behind the menu. The menu has a seasonal small plates choice, salads, pizzas, and dessert. The pizzas are divided by pink, inexperienced, and white, signifying the totally different bases. Purple is tomato sauce, inexperienced is pesto, and white is a provolone and Mozzarella cheese mix. The dessert is a seasonal ice cream and cone platter: vanilla ice cream with cones, seasonal house-made jam, granola, recent fruit, and chocolate. It’s a DIY affair in contrast to every other. Timber is a Michelin Bib Gourmand choose.

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The place to Store

Hill’s Kitchen | 713 D Avenue SE

(Picture credit score: @hillskitchendc)

Washington native Leah Daniels opened Hill’s Kitchen in 2008 and it’s since turn out to be the go-to spot for cookware, items, and devices. Along with promoting virtually each line of cookware and bakeware obtainable, courses and demonstrations are carried out in-store. The Capitol Hill store’s stock is ever-changing, so be looking out for seasonal objects. One thing you’ll all the time discover in inventory is a cookie cutter within the form of each state within the US, besides Hawaii. Everybody wants a cookie cutter within the form of their residence state, particularly New Jerseyians.

Correct Topper | 3322 Wisconsin Avenue NW

(Picture credit score: @propertopper)

Anna Fuhrman opened Correct Topper in 1990 and the store has stayed recent and related because of her tasteful eye. Consumers will discover ladies’s and youngsters’s clothes and accessories, jewellery, books, crops, and different present objects. The inventory is all the time altering, however the two finest issues to maintain a watch out for are fanciful hats for women and men, and child items that can have you ever be robotically the favourite Auntie or Uncle. Many objects within the store are from small makers. There are many DC-centric ins and outs as effectively — no have to deliver residence a cheesy magnet when there are refined, handmade objects to recollect your go to.

Kramers | 1517 Connecticut Avenue NW

(Picture credit score: @kramerbooks)

That is the Scholastic Guide Truthful of our collective youth, however for adults. Sure, it’s a bookstore with a bar in it. Kramers is a longtime staple of the DC literary scene and the Dupont Circle neighborhood. Since 1976 this bookshop has hosted occasions, stay music performances, and has been the scene of tons of of lazy afternoons searching the cabinets. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, espresso, pastries, and a full bar can be found. And, since many DC residents are the authors of books offered in-store, you might end up elbow to elbow with the writer.

Nationwide Constructing Museum Reward Store | 401 F Avenue NW

(Picture credit score: @nationalbuildingmuseum)

This isn’t the present store in your thoughts — no mass-produced t-shirts right here. The Nationwide Constructing Museum is housed in an allegedly-haunted, historic constructing that when housed the Pension Workplace. The Museum’s mission is to coach the general public concerning the constructed setting — together with structure, vitality effectivity, design, and concrete planning. The Museum itself has each everlasting and rotating reveals, in addition to particular occasions, lots of that are geared towards youngsters. The constructing itself is beautiful — the primary atrium has 75-foot tall Corinthian columns which can be authentic to the constructing, amongst different particulars. However the present store is filled with stunning structure books, artistic toys for teenagers, uncommon residence items, and all types of attention-grabbing stuff that gained’t be discovered elsewhere. 

Store Made in DC | Many Areas

(Picture credit score: @shopmadeindc)

This store sells the very best of the very best of issues made in DC. The tip result’s a boutique stuffed with handmade, high-quality objects like meals, cocktail syrups, paintings, kitchen objects, and extra. The shop works completely with small, native makers to make sure a artistic and seasonal assortment of things. Every location has its personal vibe and hosts pop-ups and different particular occasions. Artists typically host digital occasions by the Store.