Three Days in Washington, D.C – What did we do? | The Honeymoon Series

Hey Sweeties,

Today I am bringing you part two of my honeymoon; last week was Boston, today it’s Washington, D.C!

I would pour yourself a brew, this is a chunky post!

One of the best things to note about Washington, D.C is that aside from food and accommodation, all of your activities can be free, or at low cost, providing you are organised.

When we arrived in Washington, D.C, I suddenly got anxious and stressed that we were not going to get enough time to see everything we wanted. So almost as soon as we arrived at the hotel, I got the map out and started planning our itinerary.  Poor Ian, I started to get quite naggy and bossy that we needed to be organised. As it happened, we had plenty of time to do everything we wanted (for a first trip), as we were realistic with what we could get done in the time that we had. Truth be told, I think we could go back a few more times and still not see everything because there is so much to do there.

It is always worth your time to do your research about a place before a trip and particularly with a city like Washington, D.C, even though as I mentioned a minute ago that nearly everything can be done at zero cost, sometimes you need to book ahead to secure your tickets. However, more on that later.

Three Days in Washington, D.C – What did we do?

Day 1 – The White House, Memorials and Statues

If you are fit and able, definitely experience the city on foot as much as you can. There is a decent Metro link but most of the city is easily accessible on foot and I strongly encourage you to do so, as it is a beautiful place to visit. Additionally, to see the monuments, statues and memorials properly, you need to be on foot to get up close to them. Initially I thought we might have to resort to a tour bus to get around everything, but as it happened, to complete the circuit of key sites, such as the Lincoln Memorial and the Thomas Jefferson Memorial, it took us maybe half a day, but we’re quite fast walkers and for others it might take longer hence why I have outlined a day. You could also hire bicycles to get around, or even tour the city on Segways. The only place we did not get across to see was the Arlington National Cemetery.

For me, the Lincoln Memorial was as fantastic as I thought it would be and more.

Day 2 – The Museums

The International Spy Museum

A colleague ahead of our honeymoon recommended the International Spy Museum to me, and it was the only planned paid for activity we did during our trip. Upon arrival at our hotel, we were lucky to spot a leaflet for the Spy museum in the foyer with a money-off coupon inside; I think had we not seen the coupon, we might have given this museum a miss because it was $21.95 each and when you are on a budget, every dollar counts.

The being said, the museum I felt was well worth attending but I definitely would not pay the full $21.95 to visit. It was interactive, fun and we came away having learned something about spying; definitely a place to go if you have children I think.

The Holocaust Museum

This was the number one museum I wanted to see and you need to be organised if you want to get in because it is on everyone’s list too. Either book online ahead of your visit if you know when you want to go (I think there’s a $1 booking fee), or, you need to get your arse out of bed and get down there first thing to be in with a chance of securing a couple of the limited free tickets handed out on the day. We did the latter.

Typically, when we stepped out of the hotel at about 08:30, it was absolutely pelting it down; I have not really seen rain like it before to be honest (except maybe when I was in San Diego a couple of years before) and we were completely not prepared. However, we braved the downpour and sprinted across to the Holocaust Museum for tickets. As we already had the International Spy Museum booked for the morning, I asked if we could have our free tickets amended to allow us in for 3pm, which they dully did for us, otherwise the free tickets enable you to get into the museum straight away.

The Holocaust museum was unbelievable. We were there three hours in total and only left because the museum closed at 6pm, and we had still not quite managed to see everything. In hindsight, I would have done this museum first and you need to allow time to get through security. I have always held an interest in the Holocaust, particularly Anne Frank and other survivor stories, the Holocaust Museum is an incredibly emotional experience and one deserving of your time.

Smithsonian Zoo

I know zoos are for some, a contentious subject but personally, providing I know they have a great reputation for animal welfare and conservation, I love to visit them. Like all the other Smithsonian museums, the zoo was free to visit and to get there I would recommend taking the Metro to Woodley Park, and then it’s just a short walk up the hill to the entrance.

On the day that we went, it was a bit wet and gloomy and no doubt this had an impact on what animals made themselves present that day in their enclosures… which fyi, wasn’t many. Definitely a place to take the kids!

Day 3 – Washington Nationals baseball game

If you read my post on Boston (here), you will have read that we went to our first ever baseball game there, and when we were booking our honeymoon ahead of the trip, we booked in a second game in Washington, D.C. (because why not, eh?).

The Washington Nationals stadium is located south of the city; you can take the Metro to Navy Yard and walk across, or –depending on where you are located within the city ahead of the game- just walk there as we did.

We had much better seats for this game than we did in Boston, and I actually preferred the stadium overall. While I still do not really get baseball as a game because it is just so low scoring, I love all the crowd entertainment and buzz at American sporting events and we could definitely learn something from our friends across the pond.

Two other Recommendations –

Dine at Vapiano M Street –

Located at 1800 M Street, this was a great restaurant find. We were desperate for something other than a burger bar, and really struggled with finding places to eat in Washington, D.C. Owing to the grid layout of the city, for us, finding affordable dining was a challenge.

The concept at Vapiano (M Street) was interesting, as you order your food (Pasta, pizzas, antipasti and salads) directly from the chefs at the individual stations, and your meal is prepared in front of your eyes as you wait. Because everything is fresh, you are back at your table tucking in within minutes (providing the queue in front of you isn’t too long).

Stay at the Hotel Harrington –

If your stay is only a couple of days and you are not after anything super luxurious, I would definitely recommend Hotel Harrington located on 11^th street. It is dated, it is a touch on the basic side, but location is why it is worth it as you are within easy walking distance of everything; The White House particularly is almost next door. The hotel also has two restaurants (again, offering your basic American food) but ideal if you are not wanting anything more than a beer and a burger while you watch a game on the TV in the bar.

If you lived in Washington, D.C, particularly with children, you honestly would be laughing, as you would always have places to take them. I really enjoyed visiting the city and if we got the opportunity to pass through again in the future, I would definitely like to visit more of the Smithsonian museums, such as the one on American history. 

Have you ever been to Washington, D.C?

Until next time x