Washington, D.C
America at 250: Why Washington, D.C. Is the Trip That Matters Right Now – Orlando Magazine
The Line Hotel entrance in D.C. Photo by Catherine Walters.
WE’VE MADE WASHINGTON, D.C. A REGULAR STOP OVER THE YEARS. Sometimes it’s a quick 48-hour break between bigger destinations like New York or Ocean City. Other times, it’s the main event. And every single time, I find myself adding new favorites while returning to the places I already love.
This isn’t a sponsored list. No one invited us. No one comped a stay or a meal. These are simply the places we keep going back to, the ones I recommend without hesitation because I’ve experienced them firsthand.
Let’s start with where you stay, because in D.C., your hotel can shape your entire trip.
Our view from The Hay-Adams Hotel; a peek inside Perry’s restaurant. Photo by Catherine Walters.
One of my favorite finds is The Line Hotel in Adams Morgan. Housed in a converted 1912 neoclassical church, the property blends historic architecture with modern sensibility. Towering ceilings, original pews and intricate detailing remain, but the space has been reimagined for today’s traveler. It feels creative, grounded and distinctly local. The first time we walked in, I remember looking up and just stopping. The ceilings soar. You can still feel the bones of the old church it once was. It’s dramatic without being stuffy, and modern without losing its history.
What I love most is that it feels like part of the neighborhood, not separate from it. Adams Morgan is one of those areas where you can just wander. We’ve spent entire afternoons there, popping into shops, grabbing drinks, and finding great food without ever needing a plan.
If you want something more classic, more “this is Washington,” then The Hay-Adams is hard to beat. Located just steps from the White House, it offers not only impeccable service but also a direct connection to history. The site once hosted the homes of John Hay and Henry Adams, figures deeply embedded in American political and intellectual life. Today, the hotel balances that legacy with modern comfort. Rooms are elegant, views are unmatched and the dining experience is exceptional. Even room service feels elevated. It is the kind of place where you pause, look out toward Lafayette Square and understand the weight of the city around you.
Incredible room service pancakes from The Hay-Adams.
We splurged on a stay there, and I still think about it. Waking up and seeing the White House just steps away changes the way you experience the city. It’s not just proximity, it’s perspective. There’s a quiet elegance to everything. The service is seamless, the rooms are beautiful, and I still talk about the room service like it was an event. It arrived like a performance, and somehow it tasted even better than it looked. Once you’re settled, the beauty of D.C. is that so much of it is right there waiting for you, and most of it is free.
Every time we visit, we walk the National Mall. It never gets old. You think it might, but it doesn’t. The scale of it, the history tied into every monument, the way people gather there, it all hits you a little differently each time. One trip, we spent an entire morning just moving from monument to monument, taking our time, sitting when we felt like it, not rushing anything. That’s when it clicked for me. D.C. isn’t a checklist city. It’s a soak-it-in city.
The interior of our room at The Hay-Adams.
The museums are a big part of that.
The Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum maintains the world’s largest and most significant collection of aviation and space artifacts, encompassing all aspects of human flight, as well as related works of art and archival materials. A quick tip from experience: get your timed tickets in advance and show up early. We learned that one the hard way. The line forms well before your entry time, and you don’t want to spend your day waiting outside.
An exhibit inside The Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum.
If you need a break from museums, or you’re traveling with kids, the National Zoo is one of my favorite resets. The zoo’s history dates back to the late 19th century and reflects a long-standing commitment to wildlife preservation. Over the decades, it has played a role in protecting endangered species and advancing scientific understanding. Walking its paths, you see more than animals. You see the evolution of conservation itself.
We’ve gone on days when the weather was perfect, and it ended up being one of the highlights of the trip. It’s beautiful, it’s relaxed, and the fact that it’s free still surprises people. You can feel the history there too, but it’s lighter. It’s a good balance to the more structured museum experience.
A Roseate Spoonbill at the National Zoo.
Now let’s talk about food, because D.C. does not get enough credit for how good it is.
a peek inside Perry’s restaurant.
In Adams Morgan, we went to Perry’s Restaurant, and it immediately made my “we’re coming back here” list. It’s been a staple in the neighborhood since 1984. Here, there is no wrong answer; we love everything on the menu. Located in Adams Morgan, Perry’s has been a mainstay of the D.C. dining scene since 1984, renowned for its Japanese comfort food and a long-standing Sunday drag brunch. Owned by restaurateur Saied Azali, the restaurant has evolved over nearly 40 years, modernizing its menu under Chef Masako.
Then there’s Old Ebbitt Grill, which is less about discovery and more about tradition. The first time we went, I remember thinking, this feels like Washington. Close to the White House, Old Ebbitt Grill provides a different kind of culinary connection. The Old Ebbitt Grill, founded in 1856, is Washington, D.C.’s oldest saloon and began as a boarding house that hosted notable figures, including several U.S. presidents. Over time, it moved locations and evolved into a prominent dining and social institution in the city. After facing financial struggles in 1970, it was purchased at auction by the owners of Clyde’s of Georgetown, marking the start of its modern revival. Today, it stands as a historic landmark at its current location, preserving its legacy while remaining a popular destination. The history is everywhere. You can almost feel the generations of people who have passed through. It’s lively, it’s classic, and it delivers exactly what you want it to. This is one of those places I recommend to anyone visiting for the first time because it captures the spirit of the city so well.
And then, of course, Ben’s Chili Bowl. You can’t go to D.C. and skip it. We’ve been more than once, and it never disappoints. The counter, booths and stools are all original from 1958; the fresh homemade chili, half smokes and banana pudding are still made with love, using the same recipes, and service and quality are guiding principles.
Between meals and museums, take time to explore the city’s neighborhoods. Georgetown offers cobblestone streets, waterfront views and a blend of historic charm and modern retail. Dupont Circle provides a mix of galleries, cafes and cultural spaces. Each area reveals a different side of Washington, one that extends beyond politics and policy.
Those are the moments that make the trip feel personal.
Transportation is straightforward. The Metro system is efficient, and many of the city’s key attractions are walkable. Ride shares and scooters add flexibility, making it easy to navigate between neighborhoods.
And that’s really what this city is about, especially right now.
For those of us in Orlando, it’s a completely different kind of experience. We’re used to movement, energy, entertainment. D.C. has its own version of that, but it also asks you to slow down a little, to pay attention.
And I think that’s why I keep going back.
Every trip feels slightly different. I notice new things. I revisit old favorites. I leave with a better understanding of the place, and maybe even a little more appreciation for what it represents.
So if you’re thinking about where to go next, especially this year, I would put Washington, D.C., at the top of your list.
Go for the history, but stay for everything else.
Stay somewhere that enhances the experience. Eat at places that tell their own stories. Give yourself time to wander without a plan.
And most importantly, take it in.
Because this isn’t just another trip.
It’s one that stays with you.
(NEWS FROM THE STATES) – Visitors from across the United States traveled to the National Mall Thursday for the opening day of the Great American State Fair, a days-long event that is part of President Donald Trump’s Freedom 250 celebration of the nation’s semiquincentennial.
States and territories showed off cultural and agricultural exports at exhibits stretching nearly a mile. Attendees snapped photos on the small Grand Ole Opry stage in the Tennessee booth, kids tried putt-putt at Indiana’s miniature golf course and cowboys rode horses at Montana’s rodeo.
A 110-foot Ferris wheel slowly turned at the center of the freshly manicured lawn, framing the Washington Monument and the U.S. Capitol in the distance on either side. Nearby stood a model of Trump’s controversial “triumphal arch.”
People collected swag from each state — drawstring bags from Ohio, stickers from South Dakota, snacks from Tennessee — and could receive a stamp on state fair passports.
The fair is part of the larger Freedom 250 programming and kicked off Wednesday night with a rally on the mall featuring a speech from the president that closely resembled his remarks along the 2024 presidential campaign trail. The festivities will continue over Independence Day, when Trump will deliver a second speech followed by what is promised to be an impressive fireworks display.
The president will visit North and South Dakota as part of his Freedom 250 tour for the opening of the Teddy Roosevelt presidential library and Independence Day eve fireworks above Mount Rushmore.
Freedom 250 then extends into August with a high school athletic competition in Washington, D.C., dubbed the “Patriot Games” and a Freedom 250 INDYCAR race around the National Mall.
The administration’s celebration is separate from the America250 commission, created by Congress a decade ago, and which has its own nationwide programming this year.
From Lake Erie to the Ohio River
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine and first lady Fran DeWine greeted guests in Ohio’s pavilion. The couple posed for photos in front of a map of the Buckeye State.
“We wanted to see on the wall all the different things, from Lake Erie to the Ohio River, all the different fun things you can do in Ohio,” the Republican governor said, adding the state has local celebrations and initiatives planned for the 250th anniversary, including “Movies in Ohio” for community showings of films that feature the state.
Ohio’s first lady showcased a children’s literacy exhibit on the opposite wall and touted the roughly 427,000 participants in the state’s partnership with the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, a program that mails free children’s books monthly to households with kids under age 5.
“We’ve mailed out 27 million books. We know that a child’s brain is 80% developed by age 3, so we want to get them those books early,” she said.
Reflecting on America’s milestone birthday, the governor said, “We’re always a work in progress, Ohio’s a work in progress, this country is a work in progress.”
“I think you know the thing we need to keep in mind, all of us, is there’s some essential core principles that we all believe in. … We may disagree about different policies, but the core principles are the same,” he said.
Cartwheels on the lawn
People from various states walked from exhibit to exhibit, while stopped in the nation’s capital during road trip vacations.
Tanya Geders, 43, of St. Louis, Missouri, did a cartwheel in the mall lawn, trying to persuade her son to join in. The family stopped at the state fair on their way to Virginia Beach.
“We’re like, well, if we go to the ocean, we can go to D.C. and what a better time to be here than the 250th anniversary,” Geders said.
Robyn Toman, 71, of Severn, Maryland, escorted her 12-year-old grandson Miles to meet DeWine and grab a photo with the governor.
Toman said she remembers the country’s bicentennial.
“I was a kid about his age, and I came in 1976. I said, ‘We’re gonna go, let’s go down to D.C. for a couple days and see this,’” she said.
“We’ve enjoyed it. We went over to the archives yesterday, and saw the Constitution, and the Declaration of Independence, and the Bill of Rights. And, oh, that was so nice, that was fantastic.”
Not all states are there. A spokesperson for Washington state’s lieutenant governor’s office told States Newsroom the administration declined to join because of “the costs to the state associated with participating.”According to news reports, Connecticut, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Vermont did not contribute exhibits, though many are still represented by flags outside the individual booths.The state officials did not immediately respond to States Newsroom for confirmation.
All states that reportedly did not participate, with the exception of Vermont, are Democratic-led.
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Washington, D.C
DC reaches settlement with man detained while protesting troops with Darth Vader song
The District of Columbia has reached a settlement agreement for an undisclosed amount of money with a resident who claims police illegally detained him for following an Ohio National Guard patrol while playing Darth Vader’s theme song from “Star Wars” on his phone — an act of protest against the Trump administration’s federal law-enforcement surge in the nation’s capital.
A court filing late Thursday says the plaintiff, Sam O’Hara, will drop his lawsuit’s claims against the District and four Metropolitan Police Department officers within three business days of receiving the settlement payment. The filing doesn’t specify a dollar amount for the deal between the district and O’Hara, who is represented by the American Civil Liberties Union of the District of Columbia.
In an email on Friday, an ACLU spokesperson referred to the settlement’s financial terms as “a significant amount” that O’Hara “is pleased with” but said they aren’t disclosing the dollar figure to protect his privacy. A spokesperson for D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb’s office declined to comment on the settlement.
O’Hara’s agreement with the district doesn’t resolve his related claims against an Ohio National Guard member. Attorneys for the Guard member, Sgt. Devon Beck, have asked a judge to dismiss O’Hara’s claims against him.
“He was there because that was his assigned duty,” Beck’s lawyers wrote. “This was not an accidental encounter or a one-time disagreement on a public sidewalk.”
An earlier court filing, in February, said O’Hara had reached a settlement agreement “in principle” with the district. In response, a judge agreed to suspend the case while they negotiated terms.
O’Hara sued the district last October, claiming police officers violated his First Amendment rights to free speech and his Fourth Amendment rights against unreasonable seizures and excessive force.
The ominous orchestral music of “The Imperial March” from Star Wars movies was the soundtrack for O’Hara’s peaceful protests against President Donald Trump’s ongoing deployment of Guard members in Washington. Millions of TikTok users have viewed O’Hara’s videos of his interactions with troops, according to his lawsuit.
A series of major events tied to the nation’s 250th anniversary celebrations promise to bring big crowds and heightened security. On the News4 Rundown: That security is likely to include more National Guard troops as a new report says there’s a limit to their impact on safety in D.C.
O’Hara, an artist who works in the hospitality industry, says he didn’t interfere with the Guard troops during their Sept. 11, 2025, encounter on a public street. One of the troops summoned Metropolitan Police Department officers, who stopped O’Hara and kept him handcuffed for 15 to 20 minutes before releasing him without charges, according to the lawsuit.
“The law might have tolerated government conduct of this sort a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away. But in the here and now, the First Amendment bars government officials from shutting down peaceful protests,” the suit says.
Trump, a Republican, issued an executive order declaring a crime emergency in Washington last August. Within weeks, hundreds of Guard troops and federal agents were helping police patrol the city. The surge inflamed tensions with residents of the heavily Democratic district. Hundreds of Guard members remain deployed in the district nearly a year later, with no clear end in sight.
The overhaul is the first in more than a decade and comes in response to feedback that it’s hard to find information on the current site without being efficient at using Google or other search tools.
The D.C. government’s website is getting a complete revamp, a step city leaders hope will make it easier for residents, visitors and business owners to access the help they need.
The District unveiled a beta version of the new DC.gov — beta.dc.gov — and plans to have the redesigned site ready to launch before the end of the year.
The website’s overhaul is the first in more than a decade. It comes in response to feedback that it’s hard to find information on the current site without being efficient at using Google or other search tools.
“This website, it’s really going to eliminate the alphabet soup that you have to remember every day,” said Stephen Miller, the District’s chief technology officer. “So, do you need to know that it’s DPW that’s picking up your trash, or you just need to know that it’s dc.gov?”
The site is built on Drupal 11, which the city said has stronger built-in security features. It includes an integrated calendar and sections for seasonal government services.
Popular searches, based on site traffic data, will also be featured prominently on the main page.
“It’s going to show you, here’s popular services today, based on being a resident, based on being a new resident, based on being a job seeker, based on being a business owner, or based on just being a general resident of the city,” Miller said.
The project cost about $500,000 in dedicated funds.
“We’re setting this up so that you can just go in, say, ‘My trash was missed,’ and it’s going to tell you exactly how to fix that problem,” Miller said.
D.C.’s Office of the Chief Technology Officer is collecting feedback. Residents can leave comments on the beta site and at events at Haynes Senior Wellness Center and Eastern Market, among others, in the coming weeks.
An artificial intelligence-powered search tool, built using Google’s AI technology, will be included on the new DC.gov site after its official launch.
The District, Miller said, is “trying to clean up our content, because what we want to make sure is when we put AI into this site, it’s giving you the right information.”
“We see a lot of future use with AI,” Miller said. “I’d love to get to a point where it’s, ‘Hey Siri, renew my driver’s license,’ and we’ve laid out the foundation for something like that to happen in the future.”
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