... visit unique markets and festivals, indulge at your favorite patisserie, and enjoy nights at rooftop bars ...
A water taxi at The Wharf neighborhood development Image credit: Ceri Breeze/Alamy Stock Photo
DAY 2: SAMPLE tHE HISTORY AND CULTURE
The atrium of the Old Post Office Building, which now houses shops and a food court Image credit: Travelwide/Alamy Stock Photo
Head back toward The White House to The People’s House: A White House Experience for interactive exhibits that highlight daily life in the Executive Mansion.
Day 1: Discover the Nation's Capital
Feeling hungry? You’ll find D.C.’s Little Ethiopia in Shaw. Try the Michelin-recommended Chercher Restaurant. Then explore Meridian Hill Park, once the site of President John Adams’ home and a campground for Union soldiers during the Civil War. Today, D.C. residents can be seen picnicking with friends or joining the rhythmic Sunday afternoon drum circle, a tradition since 1984.
DAY 3: CELEBRATE D.C.’S DIVERSITY
Image credit: Shutterstock
NEIGHBORHOODS
Image credit: Shutterstock
Eat & Drink
Shop
10 a.m.
12 p.m.
3 p.m.
10 A.M.
12 P.M.
10 A.M.
12 P.M.
Treat yourself to a power lunch at Le Diplomate, a French-themed brasserie serving one of the city’s best burgers. Keep your eyes peeled for presidents, vice presidents, and other bigwigs who dine here regularly – you never know who will pop in.
Start your day with a guided tour of the U.S. Capitol for a behind-the-scenes look at the Crypt, National Statuary Hall, and the Rotunda. The grounds lead out onto the National Mall, a roughly two-mile-long green space lined with free Smithsonian Institution museums, art galleries, and sculpture gardens.
Just south of the National Mall, the International Spy Museum offers displays featuring the world’s most famous spies – fictional and real – and their gadgets. See James Bond’s car collection from the 007 films (through September 2025) and test your spy skills by completing undercover missions around the museum.
Indulge in a filling lunch at Martin’s Tavern in Georgetown. Try to nab Booth #3, where then-senator John F. Kennedy proposed to Jacqueline Bouvier in 1953.
Meet your guide from DC Design Tours in Dupont Circle for a two-hour architectural history walk through Embassy Row, filled with the residences of international ambassadors.
Explore the culturally diverse communities of Shaw and U Street, north of downtown D.C., which are home to some of the city’s best international eateries and public murals. Join a Black Broadway in Washington, D.C. walking tour with journalist and author Briana A. Thomas to learn about the neighborhood Duke Ellington once called home, and where jazz legends Louis Armstrong, Miles Davis, and Billie Holiday delighted audiences.
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The spires of Georgetown University can be seen beyond Francis Scott Key Memorial Bridge Image credit: Bill Perry/Shutterstock
Image credit: Shutterstock. Maroon Bells and Maroon Lake are roughly ten miles from Aspen
Beyond serving as the political heart of the nation, the U.S. capital boasts diverse neighborhoods, a rich arts scene, and dynamic green spaces
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At Martin’s Tavern in Georgetown, try to nab Booth #3, where then-senator John F. Kennedy proposed to Jacqueline Bouvier in 1953
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Known for its iconic landmarks, world-class museums, and key government buildings, Washington, D.C., is a lively political, historical, and cultural hub.
Grab pre-dinner cocktails at Off the Record, an old-school downtown bar. Then surround yourself with Victorian-era vibes by dining at Old Ebbitt Grill, D.C.’s oldest saloon, founded in 1856. End your day with a walk along the National Mall to see the monuments and memorials lit up at night.
7 p.m.
While in Georgetown, spend some time admiring the gardens at Dumbarton Oaks. If time allows, visit the on-site museum, home to an impressive collection of Pre-Columbian and Byzantine art.
3 P.M.
After a short walk along the Georgetown Waterfront, dine at the delightfully designed River Club, where delectable meze-style plates feature Lebanese, Spanish, and Italian flavors. Finish your day by listening to live music at Blues Alley Jazz, a lively old-school supper club known as “The House that Dizzy Built,” or see what’s playing at the Kennedy Center.
Across town, Shakespeare Theatre Company’s 2025 lineup includes Uncle Vanya, starring Hugh Bonneville of Downton Abbey fame, Frankenstein, and Duel Reality, an acrobatic reimagining of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. Indulge in a nightcap at The Watergate Hotel, with city views at Top of the Gate or a bourbon-based cocktail at The Next Whisky Bar.
7 P.M.
For dinner, Compass Rose’s Tour of the World prix fixe menus feature international dishes. Then head to the U Street area, a hub for live music. See who’s playing at the Lincoln Theatre, the 9:30 Club, The Atlantis, or the Howard Theatre.
7 P.M.
Head back toward The White House to The People’s House: A White House Experience for interactive exhibits that highlight daily life in the Executive Mansion.
3 p.m.
12 P.M.
Indulge in a filling lunch at Martin’s Tavern in Georgetown. Try to nab Booth #3, where then-senator John F. Kennedy proposed to Jacqueline Bouvier in 1953.
3 P.M.
While in Georgetown, spend some time admiring the gardens at Dumbarton Oaks. If time allows, visit the on-site museum, home to an impressive collection of Pre-Columbian and Byzantine art.
3 P.M.
While in Georgetown, spend some time admiring the gardens at Dumbarton Oaks. If time allows, visit the on-site museum, home to an impressive collection of Pre-Columbian and Byzantine art.
Feeling hungry? You’ll find D.C.’s Little Ethiopia in Shaw. Try the Michelin-recommended Chercher Restaurant. Then explore Meridian Hill Park, once the site of President John Adams’ home and a campground for Union soldiers during the Civil War. Today, D.C. residents can be seen picnicking with friends or joining the rhythmic Sunday afternoon drum circle, a tradition since 1984.
12 P.M.
Start your day with a guided tour of the U.S. Capitol for a behind-the-scenes look at the Crypt, National Statuary Hall, and the Rotunda. The grounds lead out onto the National Mall, a roughly two-mile-long green space lined with free Smithsonian Institution museums, art galleries, and sculpture gardens.
Just south of the National Mall, the International Spy Museum offers displays featuring the world’s most famous spies – fictional and real – and their gadgets. See James Bond’s car collection from the 007 films (through September 2025) and test your spy skills by completing undercover missions around the museum.
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