Jennie & Matt
When in DC
National Mall & Smithsonian Museums
The National Mall is home to more than 100 unique monuments and memorials, including Lincoln, MLK, FDR, World War I and II memorials, and the Washington Monument. Many of the Smithsonian museums are located on the National Mall. All Smithsonian museums are free to enter, but due to their popularity some do require tickets (African American History, Air & Space, and Holocaust Memorial) that you can request on their respective websites. The Washington Monument is open and costs $1 to reserve a ticket online (tickets go fast). Please note that the National Mall is much larger than many visitors anticipate and requires a lot of walking. Dress comfortably and bring water. Bicycles, e-bikes, and electric scooters are available to rent. There are not many food options available on the National Mall, and we would strongly advise you do not purchase food from the food trucks as they have predatory business practices and many do not carry valid food licenses.
Oyamel Cocina Mexicana
A two-minute walk from the National Mall, this Jose Andres restaurant is Jennie's favorite restaurant in the DMV. She recommends you try the tamal verde and the quesadilla de chicharonnes. Get off at the Archives/Navy Memorial Metro station on the Green or Yellow lines. Street parking is quite difficult to find in DC's Penn Quarter neighborhood and most garages charge ~$30 to park in, so we recommend you Metro or Uber/Lyft.
Matt & Tony's All Day Kitchen + Bar
Aptly named; this is Matt's favorite restaurant in the DMV. He recommends the corn flake-crusted French toast with the crispy chicken. This restaurant is about a 15-minute walk from the Braddock Road Metro stop on the Yellow/Blue lines, and street parking is generally easy to find.
Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center
It's not Metro accessible, but it puts the Air & Space Museum in DC proper to shame. Some of the most important aircrafts and space shuttles in American history reside in this hangar, including the space shuttle Discovery, Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird, a Concorde, and the Enola Gay. The museum is free to attend (as all Smithsonian museums are), but parking is $10.
Eastern Market
If you're here over the weekend, Eastern Market is a must-see. Grab a bagel at either Bullfrog Bagels (our personal favorite) or Call Your Mother Deli (a DC classic) and peruse the farmer's market, then stop by Capitol Hill Books. Take the Metro to the Eastern Market station on the Blue, Orange, or Silver lines. Street parking is available on Capitol Hill, but we would recommend that you take the Metro or Uber/Lyft there. The Capitol building, Supreme Court, and Library of Congress are about a fifteen-minute walk away.
Alexandria Historical District
Fall in love with historic Old Town Alexandria the way we have. The area is very walkable, street parking/garages are generally available, and the King St trolley is free to use. May we recommend Virtue Food & Grain or The Majestic for dinner or a night cap, Old Town Books, exploring the fun shops and restaurants on King St, and enjoying the waterfront's early fall evening ambiance.
Alamo Drafthouse Cinema DC - Crystal City
A fun option for a night out, the Alamo Drafthouse in Crystal City combines a full-service restaurant with a movie theater for a uniquely entertaining experience. The food and drink selection is excellent, and the atmosphere is perfect for movie lovers, offering a more elevated and thoughtfully designed experience than typical theater chains. It’s easily accessible via the Crystal City Metro stop on the Yellow/Blue lines, and there’s garage parking nearby as well.