From Philadelphia, let us move to the United States’ present capital Washington, D.C. which is a popular neighborhood side trip from New York. It is not surprising why and you will agree with me at the end of this blog. There were so much to see without spending a lot of money. So staying a few days was not a bad idea at all. For this trip we rented a basement home through Airbnb. It included a free parking spot in front of the house. Accordingly, it is hard to look for parking space in DC and is expensive. Thus, we used public transportation.
This guide allows for a little over 2 days in Washington DC. It highlights the top tourist attractions ensuring that a first timer be able to see as much as possible. Also, I will mention some restaurants we have tried (and liked of course).
So, without further ado…
Day 1: Capitol Hill
Depending on the time, I begin to explore either the nearest or the farthest from my accommodation on my list. We were lucky enough to have stayed in Capitol Hill, a historical but vibrant neighborhood. We walked our way to the US Capitol, Supreme Court and Library of Congress.
Guests are welcome to enter the Capitol Building through the Capitol Visitor Center located underground on the east side. You may also book a tour on their website visitthecapitol.gov. The Capitol Visitor Center is open from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, Monday through Saturday. There is no fee to take a tour. Recommended time allowance is at least 90 minutes.
Meanwhile, just walking around at the regal Capitol Building was enough for us. We were lucky to catch a DC sunset against the building.
If there will be next time, I will take a tour of this incredible architecture.
Both the Supreme Court and Library of Congress are accessible to the public as well.
Nearest Metrorail Station: Capitol South
Just two blocks behind the Capitol towards Pennsylvania Avenue, you will find a strip of restaurants and bars. As we could feel our feet hibernating (already), we got in to the nearest restaurant we have eyed. It is called Let’s Mix Bibija, a casual asian fusion restaurant with the atmosphere of a cafeteria, but clean, quiet and decent. You can get any dish to your specification. I was happy with my bowl of seafood noodles. It tasted simple and I liked it that way.
Day 2: The Mall
The Mall is not a shopping district. It is a national park home to iconic buildings, monuments, memorials, and museums. The National Mall is a 2-mile stretch that actually includes the Capitol at the east end. So prepare for a lot of walking to get around.
First stop was at the most famous house in the world. Yes, a visit to the White House is a must when in Washington DC. Do not expect though to get a closer look. As you would expect, security is tight. So keep it light when visiting here. Tour is allowed, but it is not easy specially for international visitors, and it has to be planned in advance like 3 to 6 months. The building seemed smaller than on TV. Needless to say, it still looked beautiful.
Nearest Metrorail Station: Federal Triangle
From the White House on the north side, we walked to the Washington Monument. It is located at the center of the National Mall between the US Capitol and Lincoln Memorial standing as the world’s tallest freestanding stone structure. The beauty of this monument is its simplicity.
Tip: World War II Memorial is next to it.
You are near the museums if you are by the obelisk. So we went our way to our pre chosen ones to save time.
Tip: You may take the DC Circular (bus) National Mall Route for USD 1 (PHP 50) per ride. Exact change is required. The bus runs around The Mall.
We went back to Pennsylvania Avenue, Capitol Hill looking for a spot to eat (still by foot). The place was not much to look at outside, but I love Thai so I convinced them to go in Sanphan Thai Restaurant. The atmosphere is a little dark with simple setting. There are lots of options in the menu. The food was good and very filling. Everything we had was awesome.
Day 3: Lincoln Memorial and Georgetown
The Lincoln Memorial was my favorite. It is as grand as seen on TV. Located on the western end of The Mall, you would get a fantastic sight of the Reflecting Pool and Washington Monument. We sat down and took it all in for a while. If you have time, read the immortal words of Abraham Lincoln on the walls.
Nearest Metrorail Station: Foggy Bottom-GWU
Tip: Vietnam Veterans Memorial and Korean War Veterans Memorial are next to it
To satisfy our retail craving, we headed to Georgetown. It is not easily accessible via Metro. From the Lincoln Memorial we took the Circulator. Georgetown is the shopping district. You will surely pop into some of the charming boutiques at M street.
Serving authentic Italian cuisine is Il Canale. Even the servers are Italian (I could say). It was full when we got in. So I expected great food which did not disappoint. It even exceeded my expectations. Food and service were incredible. The pizza was to die for.
Tip: Avail of SmartTrip Card at any Metrorail station as you can use it on Circulator, Metrorail and Metrobus.
If you have noticed, we did not spend a penny for the attractions. Accommodation, food and transportation may vary per traveler while shopping remains optional. Indeed, 3 days is not enough to see everything in Washington DC. There were some that I have not ticked on my list. Depending on your time, pick the memorials or museums you don’t want to miss and be sure to hit them first.
Thank you for reading!
With Love,
Sugar
