Washington, D.C.

I don’t want to offend any family and friends who currently live in or around D.C., but I have to admit that it was my least favorite of the four East Coast cities that I have spent my adult life living in and exploring. To be clear, I did not actually live IN D.C., so this might be an unfair assessment, but I lived just outside in Bethesda, and I spent enough time in the city to really get a feel for it.

D.C. is not easy to drive around. The traffic is terrible, and the layout is incredibly confusing. I’m not sure how people got around before Google Maps. (“They didn’t” – Eric) There are so many speed cameras that everyone is always going BELOW the speed limit, even in the left lane. And the metro system is not all that great. Train lines are always closing without notice, and the wait is ridiculous. 10-15 min or more for a train is the norm every night after 8 pm. You read that right. Not midnight. 8 pm. And on weekends, just don’t expect to go anywhere on public transportation at all.

Maybe if I lived downtown I would have been able to walk more, and I would have liked it more, but getting around was tough and everything seemed really far apart. I would LOVE a guest post from someone who lives or lived in the city and would like to shed some light on why people love it so much!

That being said, I still explored this city and enjoyed a lot of the things I did and saw there. While I wouldn’t live there again, I would definitely be a tourist there. The whole city is a tourist’s dream, and here’s why:

Of course, the National Mall, the monuments and memorials, the White House, the Holocaust museum, the Capitol, and all that stuff. I’m not into history or politics, but this is really just a great place to walk around on a nice day and see some of the biggest attractions. And if you are into history or politics, obviously this is the place to go.

I walked this area countless times while living there, but my favorite activity was the Segway tour. You could see everything quickly (important if you’re bored by history), and it was super fun.

If you’re there the right time of year, you could also take a look at the National Christmas Tree. We went for the lighting which was nothing compared to the Rockefeller Center lighting, but definitely less crazy and more relaxed and fun.

Or if you’re there at the OTHER right time of year, you can hit the Cherry Blossom Festival. This IS super crazy and crowded, and the foot traffic can be compared to Rockefeller Center at Christmas, but the blooms are beautiful – especially by the water. Pro tip: Don’t drink water, even if it’s really hot, because you’re not going to want to wait on the bathroom line at the Holocaust Museum.

**Note: You can see some equally beautiful Cherry Blossoms in the Kenwood area of Chevy Chase, without the crazy crowds. So worth it.

You could then stroll over the the Newseum. Again, not a museum person, but this one is really cool. You see past news stories in a variety of different lights, and it’s fun to re-experience, or learn some new information in a very light, fun way. The exhibits change as news changes, and there are some awesome D.C. rooftop views.

And then there are the Smithsonians – Portrait Gallery, Air and Space Museum, Art Museum, and more that are all completely free. I have been to a few of these, but one that stands out in my memory is the Renwick Gallery. I went there for my birthday and saw a really cool exhibit. I honestly don’t remember what the exhibit was called, but it doesn’t really matter because the exhibits at the Renwick Gallery are constantly changing, so definitely look into what’s there before you go. I also enjoyed the air and space museum, and I’d definitely like to take Landen there one day soon.

Venture outside the Mall and general vicinity and you’ll find my favorite part of D.C. – Georgetown. It’s by the water, and like its own little city within the city. It’s a great place to walk around, get some lunch, and spend the day. You actually have to spend the day, because there’s no metro. But there’s so much to do here, you could definitely spend more than just the day. 

You can visit Georgetown cupcake if you’re a true tourist – or for a much better cupcake, pretend to be a local and visit Baked and Wired.

Take a boat ride, or go ice skating.

And there are some really awesome bike trails around D.C. – one great one that went right from downtown Bethesda into Georgetown. I rode this trail a few times, and I hate bikes. So it must have been enjoyable.

And of course, if you go to Georgetown with Tom, you’ll have to visit the University. PSA: This is true of any University in any city anywhere in the world.

I’ve tried to keep these posts mostly about the cities I am writing about, but D.C. is different in that the outskirts of the city really are part of the city. And since I lived in one of these “outskirts” I feel like I have to talk about them a little bit.

Bethesda is an awesome little town. There are tons of shops and restaurants, and it’s super walkable. Plus, there’s pilates, barre, and yoga, all of the things that are essential when picking a place to live and exciting when picking a place to visit. And also this little fitness studio that I spent A LOT of time at while living there. I highly recommend Next Phase.

I also walked from Bethesda to Chevy Chase about 8 million times. Chevy Chase is the actual D.C./Maryland border, and it is home to some great shopping, including my best friend, Bloomingdales, plus some great restaurants.

D.C. is literally surrounded by these awesome little walkable towns like Bethesda that are on the metro. Two others that stand out are Arlington and Alexandria, both in Virginia. Like Bethesda, they are walkable, livable, and super cute. I really liked going to eat out on the water and walking around Old Town Alexandria when I lived there.

Honestly, since I didn’t love D.C., I had a lot of trouble writing this post. I feel like it’s all over the place and I don’t know how to end it, so I’m just going to stop. Please, someone with more D.C. experience, write me a better one. My four readers are desperate for the ins and outs. The end.