Going to DC for a long weekend at the end of the month. Let's get an updated thread started for places to eat/drink, sites to see outside of the usual memorials and museums.

Also, any decent shopping? Going with the GF so there will be a little of this. We are staying in Logan Circle.

also +1 for coffee shops

10/13/2017 2:18:58 PM

Old Town Alexandria. /thread

10/13/2017 9:20:39 PM

if you're only there for a weekend, I wouldn't prioritize old town, despite it being cool. farmers fishers bakers at the georgetown waterfront is the best brunch you'll have. SEI is amazing sushi - be adventurous here and order the more avant garde stuff. rasika is easily one of the best indian spots I've ever had. the chinatown location is better with a bigger menu, but you'll be hard pressed to get a table. the food quality is the same at both.

I hate shopping so take my recommendations with a grain of salt, but if you're tryna ball out, check out tysons corner now that the silver line goes there. If you want something closer, check out pentagon center

10/14/2017 11:42:41 AM

I usually just hang out with EMCE when I'm in town.

10/14/2017 7:43:55 PM

i like staying in old town because there are a lot of hotel options, a free trolley that runs up and down king street so you can head down to the waterfront for free, and its a short metro ride into DC. if the weather is nice you can take a water taxi to DC if you want to try something different. The Torpedo Factory is a cool place to check out and there are a couple resteraunts right on the potomac

but Jeepin said he is staying in DC, I don't think old town is worth venturing out of the district to explore on a short weekend trip

10/15/2017 2:02:10 PM

Hey there, EMCE's girlfriend here. I live in in Alexandria.

You should not go to Old Town Alexandria if you're staying in Logan Circle. That's a waste of money. If you want to see a waterfront area, Georgetown and The Wharf will do you fine. If you're staying in DC, there's a lot to see and do without venturing out.
For shopping, you could try the National Harbor outlet, but otherwise , the shopping is the same as anywhere else.

Eating and drinking: Jojos, Boquirea for brunch, U street and Adams Morgan for nightlight. If you want to trek out to H street, there's Dangerously Delicious Pies and a host of other bars and restaurants. Other hot spots include Dupont Circle, NoMa, Columbia Heights.

10/15/2017 10:34:20 PM

Thanks for the suggestions. Yes, this trip will be focused more on the main sites around the national mall. My GF has never visited DC so we're doing all the major POIs. Hopefully with a trip over to Georgetown too.

10/16/2017 11:20:51 AM

If you're in Georgetown, you could take a water taxi to Old Town Alexandria. $10, one way.

[Edited on October 16, 2017 at 4:33 PM. Reason : $$]

10/16/2017 4:33:19 PM

Highlights from my last trip:
1 - Rooftop bar at the W hotel overlooking the South Lawn (and seeing Marine One land there)
2 - Rooftop bar at Whisky Charlie overlooking the Wharf/waterfront
3 - Greek food at Kapnos on 14th. Getet the lamb, steak, fried califlower and brussel sprouts
4 - Adams Morgan is a very cool neighborhood. Madam's Organ is fun as hell and can also recommend Johnny's Half Shell. Great happy hour!

Any other Happy Hours that shouldn't be missed?

6/20/2018 11:13:27 AM

I moved to the DC area last July from Raleigh and my girlfriend just moved here in May. Done most of the general touristy stuff, but still need to check out a lot of the individual areas (DuPont, Adams Morgan, Wharf, etc.). Been a big fan of Georgetown and Navy Yard (at least what's close to Nats Park).

Favorite brewery I've found is Port City in Alexandria.

6/20/2018 5:22:46 PM

Get ready for a potential move to DC/Rockville area.

10/4/2018 4:28:55 PM

^ oh shit

10/4/2018 5:15:05 PM

hi

my wife and i have a trip planned to DC at the end of February. i, being very financially responsible and incredibly forward looking, booked the hotel at a non-refundable rate in order to save a probably insignificant amount of money.

so my question is - how much could we miss out on if the government is shutdown in 2.5 weeks?

maybe those washington fat cats can strike a deal to keep the government open!

2/11/2019 8:24:45 AM

https://freetoursbyfoot.com/visit-dc-government-shutdown/#closed

2/11/2019 8:56:31 AM

^^ if it does shut down, i can't imagine it will stay down for long this time.

also it sounds like congressional negotiators came to some sort of an agreement last night. only q now is if trump will sign it.

2/12/2019 11:03:38 AM

I went to DC during the Obama-era shutdown.

BEST BELTWAY TRAFFIC IN AGES.

2/12/2019 12:11:32 PM

the traffic was unusually pleasant around here in January. I'm hoping round 2 of pleasant beltway experiences starts again next week.

2/12/2019 12:48:47 PM

Quote :

"how much could we miss out on if the government is shutdown in 2.5 weeks?"

I doubt it will be shut down that long. I really doubt it will happen at all - or if it does, it'll be for a day or something just because they dawdled too long to meet the deadline.

But unfortunately I think most of the parks/Smithsonian stuff burned through whatever funds they had squirreled away during the last go round, so the answer to your question is "a lot of the usual DC tourist stuff." But as you see in this thread, there's still plenty of stuff to do, and even if all the monuments are closed you can still walk around and see them. Depending on your interests, there are also a lot of private (though not free) museums and attractions

2/13/2019 10:36:49 AM

Thanks for the info. And yes, it does look like a shutdown (or at least a long term one) will he avoided so that’s good news.

While I’ve got you here...we’re staying at the Holiday Inn near the national mall. Any restaurant/food recs?

2/13/2019 11:01:35 AM

What do you like? Fancy? Casual?

2/13/2019 1:27:27 PM

We’d probably like one “fancy” dinner meal (we’ll be there 4 days, I think) and some casual stuff mixed in. We’re not picky eaters at all...enjoy all kinds of stuff, which I realize is totally helpful. We also like beer

2/13/2019 2:47:34 PM

I've enjoyed Carmines and the Chophouse on 7th street, but I've only ever been at lunch and don't know how they are for dinner. I've eaten at Zaytinya before, but I think it's more of an appetizer and drinks kind of place than somewhere I'd take the family for a meal. The tapas were good though, and they had plenty of vegetarian options.

2/13/2019 4:54:22 PM

We had a really great dinner at Woodward Table and it was a short(ish) walk to the Lincoln Memorial which was really cool at night. They have a casual bar setting as well if you just wanted to drop in.

2/14/2019 12:02:40 PM