While the monuments and the National Mall serve as the focal points of any D.C. trip (for my tips on those spots click here), there are a bunch of other places to visit and local sights to see.
Here’s is how my family filled the gaps between museums and governmental buildings.
The Wharf
A friend suggested that we stop by a “trendy, new” area on the water called “The Wharf.” A short drive from the National Mall area, we first visited during the day to check things out. We LOVED it!
There were a bunch of restaurants of varying levels of fancy, places to lounge while enjoying the views of the water, a concert hall featuring BIG musical acts, and an ice-skating rink (in the winter). We spent an entire afternoon at the Wharf and returned in the evening later in the week because we loved the low-key vibe The Wharf offered.
Go or Skip: GO
Ford’s Theatre
I could not forego the opportunity to see “A Christmas Carol” at Ford’s Theatre during our post-holiday travel. Not only was the performance one of the best I’d experienced, the intimate setting of the historic theater dipped with nostalgia. If you see performance at Ford’s, note that seats are tiny and old-school wood – not very comfortable. We sat in the balcony and had a wonderful vantage point. The obstructed view seats in the balcony, though, would be tough to see from. We took the kids through the museum located in the basement of the theater prior to the show – it’s a quick 15 minute distraction that featured big moments of Lincoln’s presidency.
Go or Skip: GO
The Washington Wizards
We have never watched a professional basketball game on TV, so why not just see the Washington Wizards live, right? With the help of some reasonably priced (and very distant) tickets, our family enjoyed a game at Capital One Arena in downtown D.C. Parking was easy (not cheap though), the crowd was not overbearing, and the action was intense. All of us non-NBA fans enjoyed the entire game.
Go or Skip: GO
The Food
My family is not the one to ask about fine dining spots in/around D.C. In fact, my favorite place to eat was near Georgetown at a basement tavern called “The Tombs” – a burger, beer, and bar food joint that would remind you of a low-key college hang out.
The one splurge for our family was dinner at Carmine’s Italian Restaurant near the Mall area. Carmine’s serves dishes “family style” with MASSIVE portions that all can dig into at their own pace. While Carmine’s was “fancy” to us, there were patrons there in casual attire. If you’re in a hurry or on a strict budget, your family might want to skip this – dining took a few hours (“it’s the experience”) and our bill neared $300 for seven (including tip).
Go or Skip: Go (if you want a dinner experience)
The Shopping
During some downtime, we took the kids for some retail therapy in two spots. First, there are department stores and shops scattered near the National Mall area – stores like H&M and Lululemon. There was quite a bit of walking around the street of downtown to get to each. Additionally, we spent an after shopping in Georgetown (on M St.) – several blocks of store after store that you would recognize (Nike, Anthropology, etc.). These stores were back-to-back (to back-to-back-to-back) along a bustling street. Either area would provide for a nice mix of stores and a respite from the seemingly endless historical tours.
Go or Skip: GO
Old Towne Alexandria, VA
On the way out of D.C., a fellow travelers suggested that we stop by Old Towne in Alexandria, Virginia – about ten miles south. Our family found parking easy along the waterfront and walked a few blocks to a farmer’s market and shopping. The architecture alone – bright row houses – was worth the visit in itself. We ended our morning in Alexandria at a warehouse full of art studios called the “Torpedo Factory Art Center“. This kind of stop would not be typical for us, but the cool vibe (and FREE admission) brought us in and I was glad we did. This day there were local artists working on pieces while selling their wears as a musician played in the atrium. I might not make it a point to visit Alexandria, but if you have time and transport the town is super unique.
Go or Skip: GO (if you have transportation)
Wrap Up
Whether power walking through as many monuments as possible, or taking time to explore local shops, we LOVED our time in Washington, D.C. The sites of the city are accessible, but require a TON of pre-planning to make sure our seeing as much as you want. If your family does not plan ahead, you will feel overwhelmed by the proliferation of things to do.
No matter how much you see or plan to see, though, there is one certainty: you will leave Washington, D.C. thinking that you did not see it all! The truth is, you just can’t. I guess that is all the more reason to go back.
