The reason it’s on my list is because I have never really gotten around to finishing the trail (yet). The first time I tried I fell off the electric bike as I was trying to test the limits of what was new technology for me, and the second time I got sidetracked in the beauty of Old Town Alexandria, which was supposed to be only a stop en route
When I do manage to complete, I’ll be sure to spend some time at the Mount Vernon Museum, where I’m told they do historical re-enactments of the war — a pretty cool catch — and maybe lie down on the grass at the Vernon estates and watch the AppleTV drama show “Washington”. When in Rome, see Roman?
Cycling trails in Autumn
Catch ‘em all at #175 Embassy Row. What you would usually not get in cities other than the nation’s capital is the concentration of embassies
DC is the capital city with the highest number of embassies (175) in the world. (For those curious like me who would ChatGPT the next cities with the highest number of embassies — it’s London followed by Paris).
On several occasions throughout the year, embassies open their doors through ticketed events: national holidays, festivals, art exhibitions, and the like. You’ll see people dressed to the occasion, with song, dance, and theatre performances, followed by dinner, drinks — and if it’s the Latin American embassy event, which I recall attending, salsa dancing was listed on the invite as an agenda item
Cherry Blossoms in the Tidal basin, in my cocktail, and in my clothes. Every year around March–May, the city gets high on cherry blossom. You can look up on most streets and see these pink and white flowers on the trees, look inside any bar and find cherry blossom–themed pink-colored drinks, go to any restaurant and find a cherry blossom specials menu, walk along the National Mall and possibly catch the annual Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Run and see people dressed in cherry pink
You want to go early in the day (think 8 AM) if you want to enjoy basking under one of the trees — which get taken one by one by tourists and second-time-visiting locals. I’ve been to see the cherry blossoms every year that I’ve lived in DC, and it now has a familiarity that I enjoy — like re-watching Friends, or listening to House M.D. commentary in the background as I load the dishwasher. There’s a calming joy in being at peace with nostalgia — which also occurs naturally when surrounded by nature — and that is what cherry blossom can feel like
Tidal Basin is where you want to see the Cheery Blossoms
Biting into the literal Melting Pot. The Nation’s capital has more people of color than any other state/non-state/district in the country. Resultingly, it’s a melting pot of cultures — best reflected in the variety of food you’ll find.
I’ve seen more Ethiopian restaurants in DC than in Addis Ababa, and Das in Georgetown is one of the best
You can get the perfect French brioche from Un Je Ne Sais Quoi in downtown, coffee from the very American Tatte Bakery & Café, the seasonally changing Italian burrata salad (with strawberry, yes) at Michelin-starred Fiola Mare, and good Indian street food at Bindaas, or an Indian meal at Rasika or Biryani City
There’s also a plethora of options in Union Market and Shaw with covered markets and open street-side cafés. The only downside, I suppose, is that these melting pots are mainly found at sit-down restaurants or covered markets — most of which require reservations. The concept of food carts is not well-known in DC, unfortunately. Maybe it’s the 700k population dispersed across a large area that limits concentrated demand — or maybe I just need to be the person starting NY-style food carts in a totally white space here
Authentic Indian restaurant with spice options, Wegman for lux grocery, Tatte for good coffee, and Je Ne Sais Quoi for French pastries
Picking your theatre, festive, drunk, art. A Christmas Carol plays every holiday season (mid-November to December 31) at Ford’s Theatre, and it’s an infectiously jolly performance you’ll want to catch. Drunk Shakespeare is a mix of Shakespearean drama (like Hamlet or Macbeth) with improv and comedy — performed by a cast member who’s, quite literally, drunk. With audience interaction and PG-13 humor, it’s a hilarious experience to enjoy with friends.
The Kennedy Center is DC’s long-standing cultural hub, offering everything from dance and theater to music and spoken word since the 1970s. Catching an evening show here pairs perfectly with a pre- or post-theater dinner and a stroll by the Potomac River, especially around Georgetown, which is just nearby.
Art galleries (after dark). Phillips After 5 and the Smithsonian Museums After Hours (including the National Gallery of Art, home to Rembrandt, Vermeer, Picasso, and many other great European artists) are special events held at different times throughout the year. These after-hours gatherings let you enjoy the art galleries and museums with wine, music, talks, and curated tours. Very DC date-night worthy — definitely a note to self to try!
Free lunch for 21 at the Smithsonians. The city is home to 21 Smithsonian museums, several art galleries, and the Smithsonian National Zoo (home of the giant panda) — all of which offer free access to the public. These museums span history (National Museum of American History, National Museum of Natural History, science (National Air and Space Museum, which houses the first aircraft that went to the moon), animal conservation, and art (Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden features works of Rodin in its garden). The Smithsonian spaces make for a fun exploration ground, especially for visiting family and friends, or, in my case, when my younger kid cousins visit. It’s a great family day out
Grand memorials, tombs and the apple store. From the Washington Monument, to the Jefferson Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, and Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, as well as tombs like Arlington National Cemetery, and squares and circles named after revolutionaries — Lafayette Square, Thomas Circle, and Logan Circle — the city celebrates its great men and women in grandeur with larger-than-life statues, boulevards, and memorials erected across town
While exploring historical architecture, you may also come across another gem — the 18th-century old Carnegie Library with its neoclassical architecture, ornate columns, grand rotunda, impressive ceilings, and iconic clock tower. How do I find this?
Type ‘the most unique Apple Store in the US’ on Google, and it will bring you to the building Apple spent double-digit million dollars to restore and house
Soft landing from Europe at Georgetown, also horror-town? Georgetown is everything Europe — the neatly packed row houses, cobbled streets, lampposts, waterfront walks, outdoor street balcony seating cafes, high-end fashion stores, and the old university campus bringing the Oxbridge “town and gown” vibe
Amidst this beauty is an eerie corner where you see a fleet of stairs rundown from the back of an abandoned church. You would find ‘the power of Christ’ compelling you to stop here if you know the history of 36 Prospect St., or if you see a group of people trying to decode that mystery. The location is where a famous scene from the 1970s movie The Exorcist was filmed
Gazing into the seat at the table of power. It is very much possible to get a close gaze into the White House (online application and usually booked 3-4 months in advance), and if you miss the window, there is very good OTT which can give you a good view — The West Wing, House of Cards, Washington 2020, The Capitol, and the likes. Another good view would be meeting the man outside the White House who ‘protests against all causes,’ and has been for the last thirty years.
Late nights at U Street corridor or live music atGeorgetown Piano Bars. U Street is adorned with DC’s nightlife spaces, several bars with live music, dance lounges, and late-night restaurants. Madam’s Organ (blues, rock) and Bossa (Spanish dancing, with trained dancers in the crowd) are must-explore spots, and a visit to these is likely to be followed by midnight snacking from one of the two most popular spots: good old McDonald’s or the $1 jumbo slice pizza (I’m told this is no longer exactly $1 a slice, but you’re not necessarily getting gluten-free vegan cheese slices either). An alternate and opposing late-night energy would be Georgetown piano bars with live music (you can request your song for $2 Venmo). This night would be followed by a nice European meal by the river
U street gems
One off- things to do in DC. The city has a ton of quirky, one-off experiences beyond the usual which you can learn about from ThingsToDoInDC, Nudge, or Meetup social media apps/pages/newsletters. Ones that I have tried and recommend are the Cat Café in Georgetown where you can play with cats, West End Library for reading and renting books or for escaping to a quiet work spot, and pop-up exhibits like the Harry Potter: Forbidden Forest Experience, Van Gogh Immersive Art Show, or Lego Exhibit (plenty of visiting exhibitions in the city at any given time).
Van Gogh immersive experience, Harry Potter Forbidden Forest set-up & local chess championships
Everyday ‘Active’ity in DC. Places like Equinox and SoulCycle offer gym experiences with a touch of spa. I can vouch for the Equinox squash courts and steam/sauna and SoulCycle’s themed classes (Miley Cyrus vs Avril Lavigne!). Squash On Fire, near Dupont Circle, is a standout for racket sports lovers—modern courts, open-play sessions, shoes and racquets for rent, and even coaching for all levels. D.C. also has tons of public courts for tennis and pickleball games. For a less intense workout, you can always play at one of the city’s many dog parks with your dog, or your neighbor’s dog (~40% of households have dogs in DC!).
Active life in DC
Music festivals for every mood. The music scene around D.C. offers a unique mix of experiences across venues. Capital One Arena is where the biggest stars come to play—perfect for mainstream techno, EDM, hip-hop, and rock fans. I remember being taken here on 31st December for a NY celebration. I dressed up in a nice dress and high heels with a matching bag—only to be told to ‘dress for occasion,’ which meant sneakers, hair tied up, possible face paint, and a card behind my phone cover since there is no room for carrying bags in a fully packed stadium. You get the vibe. For someone like me, looking for something more refined, Strathmore brings a touch of elegance with orchestras and jazz. Here I saw one of my most preferred musical collectives perform (Postmodern Jukebox). Wolf Trap is a national park for the performing arts where you can watch live music under the stars, surrounded by nature, from classical to folk to contemporary acts. Then there’s PorchFest, the most intimate of all—neighborhood streets turn into casual concert grounds, with local musicians performing from porches, creating a block-party vibe that feels both personal and communal.
Seeing the ‘New World’ at The Wharf, Navy Yard. I was at the 13th floor of the waterfront-facing apartment of my friend at The Wharf looking out when I realized what I was seeing was ‘the new world’ in DC. The Wharf is the revitalized waterfront district in DC, with its high-rise modern condos, water jetties, and yachts boasting upscale restaurants and concerts by the river
It stands in sharp contrast to the old-world charm that is the rest of DC. The most visible contrast is perhaps when you take the water taxi from The Wharf to Georgetown over the Potomac. The Wharf side you leave from the dock nestled between private yachts and hotels, and disembark on the Georgetown side of the river, which is lined with spacious gardens, with steps where you’ll see people feeding the swans or fishing for fish. It’s like going between new-old-old-new
Suburbs and beyond. Suburbs of DC have plenty to offer. In Virginia, there is Tysons Galleria — an upscale mall with designer brands. Across the river, Arlington gives you a mix of city and suburbia all in one. Further out — about 45 minutes from DC — is Bretton Woods. For anyone familiar with the World Bank Group, you would know of the Bretton Woods Conference that led to the establishment of the institute, and that the said conference took place in a town called Bretton Woods
For weekend retreats, there is Shenandoah National Park which offers great hikes, especially along Skyline Drive where you can catch the sunrise views over the Blue Ridge Mountains. Great Falls Park, much closer, offers dramatic waterfalls and cliffside trails right along the Potomac River
Very much further out is an Amtrak train or bus ride to New York or Philly within 3-4 hours of reach, with easy access to expand your network, cultural and food calendar on demand.
Glimpse of suburbia, Bretton Woods, rooftop fire pits, and skylines
