The National Mall is a roughly two-mile long park that is home to many monuments and memorials. It is bookended by the Lincoln Memorial on the west and the U.S. Capitol on the east, with the Lincoln Reflecting Pool, Washington Monument, Vietnam War Memorial, World War II Memorial, Korean War Memorial, Constitution Gardens and other points of interest within or surrounding it. Visit anytime, but nighttime walks can be especially breathtaking, as tourists are rarer and the monuments are lit up.
The Tidal Basin is a designed reservoir set off from the Potomac River and just south of the National Mall. The strip of land surrounding it is home to the Jefferson Memorial, FDR Memorial, MLK Memorial and the annual Cherry Blossom Festival in the spring. It's also where we got engaged! Similar to the Mall, sites are open anytime, but nighttime visits are best to avoid crowds.
Part of the Smithsonian Institution, the National Gallery is a sprawling art museum housed in two buildings adjacent to the National Mall and not far from the Capitol. The West building features more classic art (Renaissance, Dutch Masters, Impressionists, etc.) while the East building is home to the modern collections. We tend to prefer the West building, but both are architecturally stunning and undoubtedly worth a visit. Where else can you see a da Vinci painting for free?
The National Portrait Gallery and American Art Museum is a hidden gem among the Smithsonian Institution museums. It’s located in Chinatown, several blocks from the National Mall, home to most other Smithsonians. The Portrait Gallery’s main attraction is — shockingly — the gallery of presidential portraits! Barack Obama’s is very cool. But beyond the portraits, the museum has a strong collection of modern and classic American art, from Civil War battlefields to a hall of athletes.
Home to an impressive collection of artifacts representing the natural world: dinosaur fossils, the Hope Diamond, taxidermy mammals (way less creepy than it sounds), an IMAX theater and more. The dinosaur hall is recently renovated and especially impressive, even to those of us who didn’t spend our childhood memorizing dinosaur facts.
Go see where the magic (or whatever you want to call it) happens! Capitol tours are available through the Capitol Visitor Center on a walk-in basis; alternatively, guests who will be around during the week and know when they’d like to visit the Capitol can usually schedule a personal tour through their Congressional representative’s office. Even if you’re not a political junkie, the history, art and architecture of the Capitol building make it a worthy use of a couple hours.
The National Zoo is a little bit out of the way compared to many of our recommendations, but it’s still easy to access via Metro or cab. The giant pandas get the lion’s share of attention — show up to their enclosure early if you try to visit on the weekend — but the Zoo is home to elephants, buffalo, gorillas, seals, Komodo dragons, lions, tigers, bears (oh my!) and more. As part of the Smithsonian Institution, it’s free of charge. It’s a sprawling property on a hill, so bring your best walking shoes, as well as strollers for any little ones.
Situated on the bank of the Potomac River not far from the Lincoln Memorial, the Kennedy Center is D.C.’s most famous destination for live theater and classical concerts. Even if you don’t have the time/money/inclination to go see a play, the impressive lobby and bust of namesake John F. Kennedy make it a worthwhile stop if you’re in the area.
Come see the 2019 World Champion Washington Nationals! We have no idea yet whether they’ll be home around the wedding, but if they are, we’d recommend catching a game. We’ll update this space closer to the wedding if it looks like there’s a good series in the week before or after the wedding.
Georgetown is a neighborhood in Northwest D.C., located along the Potomac River and just west of Rock Creek. It’s home to Georgetown University — where the groom attended school (twice) and worked for five years — as well as plenty of shopping, restaurants, beautiful houses and a riverfront boardwalk. Georgetown’s days as the nightlife epicenter are long gone; today, you won’t find the thriving bar scene depicted in ’80s and ’90s movies set in D.C. But it’s still a lovely place to visit, particularly if you’re interested in seeing the university or taking in some quiet old cobblestone streets.
Georgetown’s quintessential college bar. Head over during the daytime or evening for solid food (buffalo chicken sandwich, crab dip and nachos are the highlights), or at night to knock back pitchers of Coors Light and show off your best dance moves for the college crowd. The Tombs doesn’t take reservations, so be prepared for a short wait at peak mealtimes — or a long wait at peak going-out times.
Best traditional pizza slice in D.C. Also has locations in Foggy Bottom, the Navy Yard and Rosalyn, Va. Tastes especially good at 3:30 a.m. or so.
One of D.C.’s better breweries, Bluejacket opened in 2013 in the Navy Yard under the guidance of the same team behind ChurchKey. All beers are made on-site, and the draft list always features plenty of options for different palates (though their specialty is undoubtedly hazy New England-style IPAs). Bluejacket also features a full-service restaurant with good upscale bar food. Like ChurchKey, the tater tots are the highlight. There is a chance we do a Sunday afternoon sendoff at Bluejacket — stay tuned for more details.
Classic French bistro on 14th Street, and the bride's favorite restaurant. It's hard to go wrong, but the steak frites and cheese board come especially highly recommended.
New Yorkers love to trash the D.C. pizza scene, and while a decent classic slice is harder to find than we would like, it should be noted that the District does Neapolitan-style very well. Etto, a casual spot on 14th Street, is the bride's personal favorite.
Irish restaurant and pub that is among the bride's favorite places to spend a Friday night. Live Irish music every night, imperial pints of Guinness and good wings -- all a stone's throw from Union Station, making it an ideal first or last stop in town.
Hipstery food hall in Northeast D.C., with plenty of interesting and tasty food stands and shopping opportunities. Not particularly close to any of the wedding events, but worth a stop if you’re in town for several days — particularly if you’re looking for a jumping-off point for a distillery crawl (talk to the groom for more detailed recommendations if you’re doing this).
Dark, cozy cocktail bar on the northern side of the Dupont Circle neighborhood. Well-made drinks at fairly standard city prices ($12-14) and with absolutely none of the pretentiousness of the stereotypical modern cocktail bar. McClellan’s was the bride and groom’s first stop on the night of their engagement. Best enjoyed as a couple or small group for happy hour or a nightcap.
Relaxed basement bar with pool, darts, great sandwiches and a solid beer list. If you stick around until Monday and still have the energy, it’s worth the trek for trivia night. Get there by 7:30 and tell Christian we sent you!
Enter at your own risk.
Local coffee and gelato chain with locations throughout the city, including 14th Street and Dupont Circle. This location, in an upscale pedestrian mall/shopping complex called City Center, is between most hotels/venues and most museums.
George Washington’s estate, which is now a museum and historical site, is located on the Potomac River about 15 miles south of the District. While the tour leaves a bit to be desired in comparison to Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello (go see this if you’re in the area for awhile — it only didn’t make this list because it’s 2+ hours away), Mount Vernon is absolutely worth seeing if you’re a history buff and spending any meaningful time in the area.
Alexandria was a thriving port long before the city of Washington even existed, and while much of the city is suburban today, the Old Town district remains a charming architectural time capsule. Start on King Street and walk towards the water to explore the area: You'll find small shops, pubs, the waterfront, cobblestone side streets and the towering George Washington Masonic National Memorial. If the weather's good, there are worse ways to spend an afternoon than riding a water taxi from D.C. to the Alexandria waterfront.
If you're only in town for the weekend, don't concern yourself with this; there are several breweries within city limits that are excellent and easy to get to. But if you've got some time and want an excursion into Virginia, Port City is one of our favorites. They keep things fairly simple -- no peanut butter stouts or coconut IPAs here -- but absolutely nail everything they make. Bonus: There are always lots of babies and puppies around.
Boutique on 14th Street selling housewares, books, candles, bar supplies and other #millennial essentials. Among the bride's regular weekend shopping stops.