Molly & Dave
Things to Do in DC!
The National Mall
The Hotel Washington is right near the White House and the National Mall. If the weather permits, all you need is a sensible pair of walking shoes to visit all the monuments, museums, and hot dog stands you'd like. Zoom in on the map above and you'll see a purple star - that's us at the Hotel Washington! Visit the Smithsonian Institute website linked below for information about visiting the different museums. You may need tickets ahead of time for some of them! Even if you can't get into every museum you wish, the Mall is a beautiful place to walk around and all the monuments are free! Definitely check out the Tidal Basin (where MLK Jr., FDR, and Jefferson Memorials are located), as well, which is just south of the Washington Monument.
The Wharf
The Wharf is about a 10-15 minute drive, 25 minute Metro ride, or a 40 minute walk (again, with some sensible shoes) and has some great restaurants, bars, and views of the water. It could be a fantastic way to spend your day before the celebration begins! If the weather is nice, we suggest grabbing brunch/lunch at one of the restaurants, then walking back along the Southwest Waterfront and across the Mall to make it back to the hotel!
National Zoo / Adams Morgan
The Zoo is in NW DC, so not quite as close to the hotel as the Mall; however, it's right near our old stomping grounds: Adams-Morgan. You can take the Metro to the Woodley Park-Zoo/Adams-Morgan Metro stop and go to the Zoo, walk around Rock Creek Park, and check out 18th St in Adams Morgan which is filled with lots of great bars and restaurants.
Le Diplomate / 14th & U Street Corridor
Dave's #1 favorite restaurant in the city. If you love oysters (like Dave), cheeseburgers/fries (like Molly), wine, and want to be planted right in the middle of a really lively area of town, this is a perfect spot! Recommend you get a reservation ahead of time. If you can't, don't worry - there are about a million great restaurant choices on 14th Street as well as in what is called the U Street Corridor. We're happy to offer other suggestions!
Personal Recommendations!
Click the link to see some favorite restaurants, bars, and other establishments sorted by either genre or location!