How to Enjoy a 3 Day Weekend in Washington D.C.

Washington D.C.

Washington D.C. may be famous for the White House and the many monuments that fill the National Mall but the city is home to so much more.  Between the always busy restaurant and nightlife scene and the many museums, there is never a shortage of things to see, do or try. Continue reading for the perfect Washington DC three day itinerary!

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Top 5 Things to do in Washington D.C.

1. Explore the National Mall
2. Visit the Smithsonian Museums
3. People watch in Georgetown
4. Try food from all over the world
5. Explore Dupont Circle and Embassy Row

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Know Before You Go

• If you are interested in touring inside either the White House or the Capitol Building, you need to take the necessary steps to plan in advance. Capital Building and White House tours can be arranged in advance with your State representatives. The Capitol Building Visitor Center website can also help with scheduling a tour of the Capitol building!

• Determine ahead of time if there will be any events in town that could impact your trip to include concerts, festivals, sporting events, rallies, and protests.

• Make reservations at any of the restaurants that you are interested in visiting! Popular restaurants in the city tend to book up quickly. If you are planning your trip at least one month in advance, book a reservation for Maydan on your second night to avoid having to wait in line outside the restaurant in order to try and secure a table.

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Day 1: White House, National Mall, Georgetown

National Mall

After arriving in Washington DC, check into your accommodations and immediately set out for the White House. Capture a picture of the White House from Lafayette Square on H ST. NW. After walking around the White House, head towards the Washington monument on the corner of Constitution Ave NW and 15th St NW. Consider joining either an electric car, scooter, Segway or guided walking tour in order to absorb all of the history around the mall.

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If you’re on foot, begin your walking tour at the Washington monument and head towards the Lincoln Memorial. Stick to the path along Constitution Ave in order to see the WWII, and Vietnam memorials on your way. On your walk back towards the Capital, observe the Korean War memorial and from a distance spot the Jefferson memorial across the tidal basin. If you were unable to secure a tour the Capital ahead of time, the Visitor’s Center may have same day tickets available. The Library of Congress and Supreme Court buildings are located across the street from the Capital.

After touring the National Mall, grab lunch from any of the local food trucks or Smithsonian museum food courts and enjoy it on the Mall.

Dinner and Shopping in Georgetown

Head into to Georgetown for dinner and shopping. Not only is Georgetown home to Georgetown University but it is also a bustling nightlife and shopping district. Check out Made in DC on Wisconsin Ave NW for a unique store featuring goods from local DC artists! There are a ton of restaurants to choose from, both hidden amongst the shops and along the Georgetown waterfront. Popular restaurants include farm to table restaurant Farmers, Fishers, Bakers and old school Italian restaurant Filomena.

Inside Tip: If you enjoy cupcakes, try Baked and Wired on Thomas Jefferson St. instead of the well known Georgetown Cupcakes on M St NW. you won’t be disappointed!

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Day 2: The Waterfront, Smithsonian Museums, 14th St. NW

The Wharf

Begin your second day in Washington DC by heading to the Wharf. Enjoy brunch at any of the amazing restaurants lining the water and make sure to walk around and explore the fish market and shops. If you didn’t make it into Made in DC while in Georgetown, stop into their Wharf location for unique gifts and souvenirs that are all made by local DC residents. Don’t forget to try a donut from District Doughnuts. Depending on the season, the Wharf boat rental rents kayaks and paddle boards if you want to get on the water!

Smithsonian Museums

After finishing up brunch and exploring the Wharf, head back to the National Mall to explore any of the Smithsonian Museums. In order to effectively explore all that the various museums have to offer and depending on what time your dinner plans are for, consider choosing two different museums to explore. If time allows, visit a third! You’ll never get tired of all of the interactive and historical exhibits.

If you are interested in visiting museums other than the Smithsonians, consider either the International Spy museum or the Holocaust Museum.

Inside Tip: The Smithsonian museums are all free while other popular museums like the International Spy Museum, Holocaust Museum and Artechouse all have an entrance fee.

Dinner on 14th St.

After visiting the museums of your choice, head back to the hotel to get ready for dinner. If you were unable to make a reservation at Maydan ahead of time, hop in an Uber and try to get in line outside the restaurant by 4:15. Maydan opens at 5:00 pm and will seat as many as they can before reservations start coming in. If you have to wait an hour or two for a table, walk next door to Franklin Hall and enjoy a beer or cocktail while you wait. Trust me, it is worth it.

If Maydan isn’t in the cards for you, there are plenty of other bars and restaurants along the 14th St corridor to choose from. Check out Estadio for outstanding Spanish style tapas, Ted’s Bulletin for modern American, Matchbox for relaxed specialty pizza vibes and Le Diplomate for French cuisine. If Miss Pixie’s vintage furnishings store is is open, wander through the aisles while you wait for your table.

After enjoying an amazing dinner, bar hop between all of the inviting restaurants and bars for a variety of cocktails, beers and wines. Try Red Light on the corner of 14th and R, or Colada Shop on the corner of 14th and T.

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Download the Roadmaps and Restaurants Washington D.C. Bucket List to ensure that you don’t miss any of the incredible attractions, restaurants or experiences during your three day weekend in Washington. D.C.!

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Day 3: Eastern Market, Arlington National Cemetery,

Start your last day in D.C. with a trip to Eastern Market, a popular indoor and outdoor food, arts and flea market. There are multiple food venders throughout the market but the best breakfast at Eastern Market is inside from the Market Lunch. If you like pancakes, they are known for their Blueberry Buckwheat pancakes with authentic maple syrup. Grab takeout from Market Lunch, pair it with a cold brew coffee from the Cam’s Kettle Coffee Co. stand and grab a spot on one of the many benches nearby. After grabbing breakfast, peruse the many booths throughout the market. Personal favorites include the authentic vintage map collection and all of the paintings of the city!

Insider Tip: There are great views of the Capital Building from the median on 7th St. SE and Pennsylvania Ave. SE right outside the south entrance to Eastern Market.

After enjoying breakfast at Eastern Market, jump on the Blue line towards Franconia Springfield at the Eastern Market Metro stop and head towards Arlington National Cemetery. Spend time strolling the cemetery and paying respect to the thousands of who have given their lives for the United States. Must sees include:

• The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
• The gravesite of JFK
• The United States Marine Corp. War Memorial

Insider Tip: Try and visit the Tomb of the Unknown Solider for the changing of the guard ritual. The ceremony takes place every hour from October through March and ever half hour from April through September.

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Transportation Options: 

• Uber/Lyft: Both Uber and Lyft are prominent in DC and the surrounding areas.
• Metro: DC has an expansive Metro with 6 different lines. Traveling by metro can be both time and cost efficient due to the traffic surrounding most tourist spots and the limited and costly parking options.
• Scooter: Motorized scooters are everywhere in DC. Popular brands include Skip, Lyft, Lime and Bird. After you download any of the applications, you can geolocate all of the available scooters throughout the city and find one to ride. They are a great alternative to walking and are very cost efficient!
• Walk: The city is very walkable and often times, many sites can be walked to from one another. 

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Must Visit Restaurant: