Washington DC in a Day

Washington DC, the nation's capital, while it may seem like a small area it is jam packed with fun and exciting things to do. With this, our blog post is going to be a little different this time. We actually had spent a couple days in DC, so with this we are going to divide our posts into different days, so this post is a "Choose your own Adventure". Pick and choose from the ideas below to really get into the city, as some sights may not be up to your liking, but we tried a lot of DC.

When planning your trip to DC it is important to notice all the differences in airports. DC technically has three different airports, Ronald Reagan National Airport, Dulles International Airport, and Baltimore-Washington International Airport. We found out that if you are coming internationally Dulles will have better flights, but it is about a 30-40 minute drive outside the city (it's located in Virginia). Baltimore Washington International Airport is about a 30 minute drive north of the city(located in Maryland), so again you will need to have a taxi or a way to get into the city. Ronald Reagan National is located in Arlington, VA and is very close to DC. It is your closest option. We flew into Reagan, and the airport is very aesthetically pleasing. It is smaller than the other two airports too.

Bus option -- Circulator

Bike option -- Capital Bikeshare

DC Metro System

Direction signs

Ticket dispenser

Getting around DC is extremely easy, and there are multiple options. DC has a metro train system. There are multiple lines and they run pretty regularly. During the week you can expect a 5 minute wait between trains at the most, but on the weekends expect a 7-10 minute wait between trains. DC offers deals where you can buy a reduced card for a limited amount of uses. With this said, we will now break into our two different versions of the day.

Family-Friendly(or Time Crunched) DC in a Day

DC has some of the best museums and attractions anywhere in the United States. When you are in DC with the family you will probably be heading out a little early. Our first suggestion is to make your way to Gravely Pointe Park. Located right next to Reagan National Airport, this large park will amuse kids and adults a like. The planes fly right over you!! Plus it offers amazing views of the Potomac River, and the monuments. If you are traveling with children, it might be best to drive to this attraction, or just be prepared to walk. The Mount Vernon trail allows easy access by bike, walking, or running to stop by and enjoy the views.


After you go by the park, the next spot to take the family would definitely be the museums! Traveling to the National Mall(where the Smithsonians are) is easily done by walking or metro. If you are traveling from Gravely Pointe, walking to the Crystal City metro might be easiest. The walk to the National Mall from this point is around 1.5 miles.

Once you make it to the National Mall, be sure to see the monuments! The Lincoln Memorial, Washington Moument, World War 2 Memorial, and the Capitol are all on a straight line. If you are crunched for time, it may just be worth seeing these as they are all in the same area. The Jefferson Memorial is located at the Tidal Basin, as well as the Martin Luther King Memorial, and the FDR Memorial. If you come in the end of March, to early April you may get lucky enough to see the Cherry Blossoms! Expect to see large crowds, but the views are gorgeous. If you can plan your trip, it's definitely something worth seeing. The Tidal Basin is maybe a 10 minute walk away from the National Mall.

At this point in your day, it is probably close to lunch time. Depending on the group you are with, you have multiple options. If you want something quick and easy(and close to the National Mall), try one of the cafeterias in the Smithsonian Museums. The Air and Space Museum has a McDonalds and other chains, the Natural History has it's own cafe, and the American History has the Stars and Stripes Cafe(we don't particularly recommend this one, but it wasn't horrible). Union Station is also close by if you want a huge variety of quick food. If you are looking for more of a nice sit down place, try Pi Pizzeria. It is around a 10 minute walk away from the National Mall. Serving great pizza, it will keep you full and happy!


After lunch, pick your favorite Smithsonian. There are many to choose from, and each have exhibits to keep kids and adults happy. The Air and Space has a great new exhibit on the dynamics of flight that offers a lot of interactive options! The Natural History has some awesome interactive games for history fans, as well as the Giant Squid! Finally, the American History museum has the original American flag that inspired the National Anthem. The American History museum might be best put as saying it is an "up and coming museum", as they are still working on a lot of the exhibits there.

After visiting the museums, you have a lot of options. If you only have one day, you need to prioritize what is most important to you. Want to see the Capitol Building or the White House, stop by there! You can schedule tours for both places, or just walk around the outside. You can also go see the Library of Congress! They offer some great exhibits on a wide range of subjects. If shopping is more your style DC has you covered. You have two options: CityCentre and Georgetown. CityCentre is a new high end shopping, and outdoor mall literally in the center of DC. It is close to Chinatown, and pretty close to the White House. There are lots of nice restaurants, and a delicious Gelato shop here too. Plus a whole restaurant dedicated to cake...yes that exists!

Georgetown is such an experience in itself that we have put all that information into it's own blog post! Check out the post on Georgetown in an Afternoon! Below is the map of the city that we used. Feel free to pick and choose from our adventure! Check out our other post Washington DC in Two Days, coming soon, to see if you like any of those options better.


What did you do in DC that we missed in this post? What restaurants do you like? Leave any comments below. If you want to see more pictures be sure to check out our Instagram, @americainaday. Be on the lookout for our next America in a Day Post...We are going to Boston!

Blue skies,
L&K
#americainaday

Georgetown in an Afternoon

Why does Georgetown have it's own section you ask? Well Georgetown is quite the place to experience. Filled with fantastic shops, restaurants, and sights to see, it is an attraction in itself. Georgetown is a little out of the way of the other popular attractions in DC though(like the National Mall, the monuments, etc), so you have to factor in some time for it. Some ways to get to Georgetown are by metro(Foggy Bottom/GW Stop) and then its a 10-15 minute walk, you could drive yourself(parking is horrible and VERY expensive though), or you could take an Uber(rates will vary depending on where you start, plus beware rush hour in DC).

If you go to DC in the spring or summer be sure to check out Dumbarton Oaks. The museum features some interesting artwork from the Byzantine, Pre-Columbian art, and European masterpieces. It is a nice museum to see, that offers free admission! Plus this can be a great option if you want an escape from the DC heat.

 After you check out the museum, be sure to go to the gardens. The house and gardens is actually seated in the highest point in Georgetown(as said on their website), and has some amazing views of the city. The grounds feature a beautiful pool, tons of flowers, and gardens that feature different fruits and vegetables being grown. Walking around, it feels like you are in a real life Alice in Wonderland movie! There are tons of great photo opportunities here!

Once you walk around Dumbarton Oaks you will probably be hungry! At this point, it is in your best interest to head on down to M Street where all the shops and restaurants are. Visit the wide selection of stores to shop until your heart is content! A cool place to see is Dean and DeLuca, a unique and upscale grocery store! Featuring great food, and a large bakery, this is definitely a fun spot to visit.

Dean and DeLuca has some great sandwiches, if you are in that type of mood, but if you want a sit down spot there are many options. If you want a sleek European style restaurant, try Kafe Leopold. This unique mix of European cuisines is great for brunch, and lunch. There is a nice Vietnamese place called Pho Viet and Grill. The pho was very good, and can be a nice change. There are lots of restaurants in Georgetown though, so really look around; you won't make a bad choice. The last event that no day in Georgetown would be without, would be for cupcakes! Try some Georgetown Cupcakes(as seen on TLC), but be aware that there can be a long line. A tip would be to order your cupcakes ahead of time! This lets you skip the line, and go right inside to pick them up. Another cupcake place that is worth a visit is Baked and Wired. The line here is pretty long as well, but the cupcakes are DELICIOUS! Plus this place comes up with funny names for their cupcakes, so even if you are waiting in line you can admire the interior and laugh at the names.

                         Baked and Wired Cupcakes                   Georgetown Cupcakes(Photo Cred: R Khatri)

      Canals in Georgetown(Photo Credit: R. Khatri)

Photo Credit-R. Khatri

Georgetown is definitely something to see. Whether you go and see Georgetown University, Dumbarton Oaks, or just walk around M Street and experience the shopping. Georgetown is a great way to spend an afternoon. What did we miss in Georgetown that you would have done? Let us know in the comments below! If you want to see more pictures from our Georgetown adventure check out our Instagram @americainaday!

Blue skies,

L&K
#americainaday