Washington, DC

East Coast Road Trip, North America, Travel, Uncategorized, Washington DC

October 22, 2020

Visitors Guide To Washington D.C.

Just a heads up, I am no expert when it comes to the D.C. area, but I can definitely share some things along my journey that helped along with some fun things to do.

STAY

In regard to an ideal neighborhood that is close to the National Mall and steps away from the Capitol Building, I highly recommend staying in the Capitol Hill neighborhood. The neighborhood is very nice and safe.

Per my budget, we stayed at a decent Bed & Breakfast in the Capitol Hill neighborhood that was around $54/night which I split with Winnie. We stayed at Capitol Hill B&B by FOUND. Another positive thing about traveling with others is splitting costs! Of course, this place was livable but was very mediocre. It was no luxury stay but it was still a good time. The guests were nice and so was the house manager, Keisha. I think that the B&B could have been maintained a little better with some repairs and more thorough cleaning but it was manageable overall.

PARKING

Parking is typically free on weekends in DC. However, weekdays are parking permit only or free 2-hour parking. I HATE paying for parking but luckily my friend had guest parking at his apartment complex. Then, I would take the Metro back to the B&B. This was very inconvenient but I would rather choose that option over the ridiculous $24/day charge at the UNION STATION PARKING GARAGE (USPG).

My absolute favorite app to find FREE PARKING in any city would have to be SpotAngels. It is an absolute game-changer.

NEARBY ATTRACTIONS

FREE
★ National Mall – includes monuments, iconic government buildings, and museums
★ Sculpture Garden
★ U.S. National Arboretum (USNA)
★ Arlington National Cemetery
★ The Pentagon
★ The Library of Congress
★ Vietnam Veterans Memorial
★ U.S. Botanic Gardens
★ Smithsonian Museums – includes the National Zoo

PAID
★ ARTECHOUSE – $24 – ART + TECH + HOUSE = AMAZING!

AREAS TO EAT & DRINK

THE WHARF – A great dining area by the water
NAVY PIER – Offers an eclectic mix of DC’s finest restaurants, breweries, wine bars, and specialty retailers
U Street, Adams Morgan, K Street – Other hot areas to grab a drink or enjoy happy hour. There’s definitely a popping scene here.

THE NATIONAL MALL

The National Mall consists of a large majority of the DC monuments and government buildings that are all located in within close vicinity such as Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument, the White House, US Capitol Building, the Supreme Court, and others. You can take a whole day to walk around and see everything. A car isn’t necessary and parking would be a challenge. If anything, you can rent an electric scooter to get around.

ARTECHOUSE

ARTECHOUSE DC combines art and technology to produce an interactive and visually engaging exhibit. During our visit, the CRYSTALLINE exhibit was displayed. This exhibit was inspired by the Pantone Color of the Year 2020 Classic Blue. The exhibit itself is not that big, but it is fun to look at and take some pictures for the gram.

National Zoo

The National Zoo is part of the Smithsonian Institution and is completely FREE. While it was neat seeing the animals, I really wanted to see the panda exhibit. Apparently, one of the Panda’s there had just given birth to some baby cubs. Unfortunately, they had closed quite a few exhibits due to maintenance/renovation which included the Panda exhibit. Nevertheless, the zoo was something nice to do during the day and was free.

United States National Arboretum

The USNA is another free place to visit in DC. It has an arrangement of various plants, trees, and shrubs as well as several gardens. I was most looking forward to the National Capitol Columns that are distinctly located on the property. They were actually once a part of the Capitol Building but were placed there due to a design oversight. The columns were placed there in the 80s and are now a distinguishable landmark of the arboretum as well as a great photo spot.

National Portrait Gallery

The National Portrait Gallery is a part of the Smithsonian Institution. It is most known for holding portraits of the presidents and other important figures in American history. It is located within the same building as the Smithsonian American Art Museum.

Okay, but I was obsessed with the portraits of Michelle and Barack Obama. While most presidents opted for more traditional oil portraits, their portraits had a more contemporary and progressive feel – sort of how our generation is with politics. Their portraits definitely stood out! Michelle’s portrait was painted by Amy Sherald while Barack’s portrait was painted by artist Kehinde Wiley.

Smithsonian American Art Museum

This museum features work from all different kinds of American artists and features different styles. Also, be prepared for how enormous this museum is. There are so many rooms and gallery areas!