3 Days in the Nation’s Capital
Disclaimer: We are not paid to promote any restaurant, hotel, activity, product, or attraction. All opinions are subjective and based on our personal experience. Your experience may be different.
I recommend anyone interested in history, politics, architecture, and/or art, must put a trip to Washington D.C. on their bucket list. The National Mall is home to an amazing assortment of world class museums, galleries, and of course, stunning monuments dedicated to influential historical figures and events. I took many roadtrips here during my time living in nearby Pittsburgh and Philly. I really love walking the National Mall and exploring the wonderful Smithsonian museums. Below is my sample 3 day weekend itinerary for exploring the Capitol Hill neighborhood of D.C.
Of course, a full week would be preferable to really take in all the historical sights. Note: there is so much to see and do, and thus, this list is not by any means all inclusive, but rather a helpful guide to some of what I consider to be the best attractions within the city.
Day 1
3:00pm: Check into the Capitol Hill Hotel. This wonderful moderately priced 3.5 star hotel is located within walking distance to the monuments. Nothing too fancy, but the price is right. Amenities include a complimentary breakfast, 24/7 coffee and tea, a complimentary wine hour, and bike rentals. Decor is pretty simplistic, yet aesthetically pleasing. Staff is friendly and willing to help with any trip recommendations.
5:00pm: Head down to the lobby for a cup of coffee or glass of complimentary wine. Light appetizers are also available.
6:00pm: Grab an early dinner to beat the crowds. Several restaurants are located within walking distance if you would like to keep things stress-free your first night. If you like Chinese, Hunan Dynasty is a nice quiet local choice, serving authentic Chinese food in an attractive tranquil dining room. I love the design and big fish tank. Other popular choices nearby include We the Pizza (pizza by the slice) and Acqua al 2 (authentic Italian).
7:00pm: One of the must-do’s while visiting D.C. is viewing the monuments at night. They look even more spectacular lit up at dusk, plus the crowds are pretty much non existent, and the weather much more tolerable (during the summer season). At minimum, check out the WW2 Memorial, the Washington Monument, and the Lincoln monument. It’s nice that all the monuments are connected via a walking path. The area is heavily patrolled, and feels completely safe at night. If you are not up for putting in thousands of steps, opt for a night time trolley tour. Note: The full route from the Capitol Hill Hotel to the Lincoln Memorial is about 2.5 miles each way.
