Washington, D.C.
Our nation's capital offers loads of fun, from iconic museums and memorials, to historic tours, great parks, and restaurants.
Food, Coffee, & Beer
Ben's Chili Bowl: a DC icon, serving chili, hot dogs, and other late night eats since 1958. Get a Chili Half Smoke!
Blue Bottle Coffee: west coast coffee shop with two locations in DC
Bluejacket: modern brewery and brewpub in Navy Yard
Busboys & Poets: restaurant, bar, bookstore, event space named for Langston Hughes
District Doughnuts: local chain serving creative donuts from five locations
El Sol Restaurante: small taqueria lauded as one of the best in DC
Good Stuff Eatery: great place for burgers and fries on Capitol Hill
Founding Farmers: a spacious Foggy Bottom eatery serving coffee, brunch, lunch, dinner, drinks
La Colombe: national coffee chain with five locations in DC
Lincoln's Waffle Shop: waffle-centric breakfast diner across from Ford's Theatre
Old Ebbitt Grill: a DC icon close to the White House and the Treasury. Room after room of detailed digs. Cocktails, oysters, seafood, pastas, you name it.
Ted's Bulletin: classy upscale diner serving breakfast all day. Locations on Capitol Hill and 14th Street. Be sure to pick up Ted's Tarts - their excellent homemade poptarts.
Parks & Attractions
Ford's Theatre: theatre famous as the site of Lincoln's assassination
Monuments by Moonlight tour: excellent bus tour that takes you around the National Mall at night
National Air & Space Museum: sits on the National Mall. Home to iconic craft like the Spirit of St. Louis, Bell X1, Wright Flyer, Neil Armstrong's Apollo 11 suit. The companion Udvar-Hazy Center, loaded with 100s of aircraft, sits in Chantilly, VA.
National Gallery of Art: world-class art gallery on the National Mall
National Mall: outdoor space that's home to the Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, WWII Memorial, Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Korean War Veterans Memorial, with the Capitol on one end, and the White House nearby
National Museum of African American History & Culture: powerful museum with historic displays, interactive displays, and art galleries
National Museum of Natural History: Smithsonian museum dedicated to the natural world, on the National Mall
National Portrait Gallery: free gallery with a variety of permanent and rotating exhibitions, including the Presidential Gallery
The Petersen House: commonly called "The House Where Lincoln Died," this house sits across the street from Ford's Theatre
Washington Monument: iconic marble obelisk in the National Mall
Read our Washington, D.C. itineraries & stops
What To Do With Kids in Washington, D.C.
Loads of great activities for the whole family in DC, from monuments and museums to parks and restaurants.
April 2022
Making Our Way in Washington, D.C.
In DC for a conference, I explored a few museums, the National Mall, plus some good coffee, food, and beer.
February 2020
Founding Farmers
1924 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Foggy Bottom farm-to-table spot serving a full brunch, coffee, lunch, dinner, and drinks.