When I found out that I had the opportunity to travel to Washington, D.C., for a conference, I jumped at the chance. Unlike Ryan, I don’t travel much for work, so it’s more of a treat when I do. You don’t care about the conference, and I try not to talk about work on the blog (except in the vaguest of terms, as in, I have a job).
But, I actually flew out a day early to do some sightseeing on my own. It had been more than 10 years since being in D.C., and I remember (nearly) nothing. So, I decided to “do” D.C. in a day. I tried to hit lots of the highlights in a full Saturday.
This is the outline of my day in a nutshell (a Kim-style nutshell, which is really longer than a nutshell), in case anyone else has the same opportunity. While you certainly can’t do everything (there’s still so much I’d like to go back and do), you can really get a good taste of D.C. (I’ll also share more about my fun get-together with a super cool bloggy friend later, when I have the photos.)
9:00 am
Walk from my hotel to the trolley stop. Wait… I can’t find the trolley stop. So, I walk too far and take my first swoop around Dupont Circle, check out the shops and grab a hot tea and breakfast.
9:30 am
Finally find the trolley stop. I’m a little irritated that I walked past it twice and am a half hour behind, but I get over it. I bought my ticket in advance online. Hop on and get a map.
Go by the Washington National Cathedral. Gorgeous. Did you know Helen Keller was buried here? And that Darth Vader is one of the gargoyles on the top? I want to get off and take a tour, but I’m afraid of getting behind schedule so I stay on.
We drive through Georgetown. Shopping galore. Beautiful homes. But, the trolley was going too fast to get any good photos.
10:30 am
10:45 am
Find the line for the White House Garden Tour. I got my ticket in advance from my local representative. Along with about 200,000 other people.
11:00 am
Myself and hundreds of my best friends take a self-guided White House Garden Tour. Apparently, they only do this a few times a year. There were a ton of people, but it was still fun. Bo, the first dog was in the yard. It was strange to see the West Wing up close. And the girls’ play set.
11:20 am
Exit the White House gardens, walk to the Washington Monument. All tickets to the top sold out. Darn it. I ask the park ranger if there are any singles left. She pulls out a ticket for 11:30 and tells me I can get in line. SCORE! (Tip to single travelers – don’t be afraid to ask for things like this.)
11:30 am
Going up. What gorgeous views! I run into a couple who tells me that I have to make time to go to the Holocaust Museum. I wanted to see it, so I decide to head there next.
12:15 pm
Walk to the Holocaust Museum. Get right in and go through the permanent exhibit. It’s a wonderful museum but so heartbreaking. It could take a whole day to see it all. Even for off-season, it’s busy. I had to rush a bit, but it was a moving experience. I would love to go back.
2:30 pm
Grab a hot dog and water from a street vendor. Eat while I’m walking on the mall past the Smithsonian Castle and the Air and Space Museum.
2:55 pm
Decide not to go into more museums yet. I really wanted to see some other things. So, I board the trolley and it takes me by the Jefferson Memorial and to the Lincoln Memorial.
3:15 pm
Walk up the Lincoln Memorial – which is much more massive in person.
Next I walk to the World War II Memorial, the Vietnam and Korean War Memorials. My grandfather was a WWII vet, and the memorial is lovely. My favorite was the Korean Memorial, though. And, there were a group of vets from Iowa there.
4:00 pm
4:45 pm
Load back onto the trolley and head for the hotel. On the way, we pass the International Spy Museum, more Smithsonians, Chinatown, the Newseum. I wish I could stop at all of them. But, I am meeting friends for dinner near Dupont Circle and the trolley stops running at 5:30.
5:30 pm
Arrive back in Dupont Circle. My legs feel like I just ran a marathon, but what a great day!
- The Capitol Building
- The International Spy Museum
- All the Smithsonians
- FDR Memorial
- The Newseum
- Arlington and the Changing of the Guard
- The giant pandas at the Zoo
- Shopping at Georgetown
Wow you sure packed in a whole lot of fun in a day. Go super tourist Kim!
I have been to DC multiple times (but once as a tourist) and the Holocaust museum and the Smithsonian portrait gallery were some of our favorites.
Love the pics!
I love DC! I went for the first time back in May/June. So much fun! I have to say that I love the Smithsonians and the White House. But it was all fabulous!! 🙂 Great photos!!
Our family LOVES D.C. We always visit as many of the Smithsonians as possible, but especially the Museum of Natural History. My girls have been there at least 10 times. They still want to go every time.
How fun that you got to do the White House Tour. We never have, but would like to soon.
xo*tricia
I loved the Spy Museum and the Newseum. Natural History Museum was a favorite as well on my trip in July. Went to Arlington, Holocaust Museum, Monticello and Mount Vernon when I was in 8th Grade, which I loved as well!
d.c. is so pretty – i love that you took the day to tour it a little (and by yourself no less, that’s awesome!). so glad the weather was nice for you – i always manage to go in the icky winter!
i have never been to the top of the washington monument, but after seeing your pictures, i really want to! those are amazing views.
definitely make sure to go to arlington next time – it’s very moving.
so so glad you went to the holocaust museum, it is what i would have recommended most. did you get to see the shoes and the silverware? it’s what makes it most real, these people’s actual items.
gorgeous views from the monument…i don’t think i realized you could go up in it!
I love the FDR Memorial and the American History Museum. If you go to the spy museum you HAVE to do the interactive tour. So fun and much more interesting that just wandering through the museum!
looks like you had a great trip! i grew up in dc and lived there until we moved to colorado. seeing pictures always gets me a little homesick. thanks for the memories!!
I’m from DC, lived there my entire life until a year ago…and you really made me miss it! I honestly took it for granted while I was there and I miss having all of those museums in my backyard!
I love your pics from the top of Monument. DC is such a beautiful place!
Wow, you are a busy lady! I’m exhausted just reading this post. I’ve never been, but it sounds like a wonderful place to visit!
Wow what a day! I love the museum of american history!
yay! I’m so glad you came and we got to hang. I love the Korean Memorial- extra spooky at night. You had such a great blue sky for the photos, really makes stuff pop. Any time you want to come complete your list you guys have a place to stay!
The Natural History Museum is my fav!! Dinosaurs and GIANT SHINY ROCKS!!
I’m not usually a patriotic person, but going to DC for the first time with my (now) husband got me all gushy and enthused. 🙂
Glad you had a good time! And good for you for being adventurous on your own!!!!
I LOVE DC!! I think Arlington is my favorite.. which sounds weird. I always feel such great pride being there. I love how you said you and a few hundred of your bffs haha. Love it! You looked super cute by the way 🙂
Great review, Kim! It looks like you had a wonderful time, too.
I used to go to DC a few times a year for business. My fav haunt was the Hirshhorn museum (modern art), but the quietness of the museum might have something to do with that (the others were usually super-crowded when I visited). There’s something super-amazing about just walking around DC, though. I love it. And the metro is super-clean & easy to use, too.
PS your boots are adorable.
Wow you saw more in one day, than I have seen in my 28 yrs living right outside of DC! I think the Holocaust museum is a must! It’s a little hard to take in, but I think it’s something everyone should see. One of my favorite memories is taking my Poppy to the Korean War Memorial. I am glad he got to see it. I do enjoy DC, it’s the traffic that usually keeps me away! Glad you had fun!
We have lived in DC for 3 years and I can honestly say it’s my favorite city. I love being here.
dude. I’m exhausted just reading that post.
I’ve never been to D.C. which is a sin because I only live about 2 hours from it. It’s offically on my ’30 before 30′ list.
LB
I’ve been to DC and I think we only spent a day there, too. Were had made zero plans before so we just walked around and visited the National Museum of American History by accident 😀 It was great though! Just wish we would have been better prepared so we could have seen more.
That looks like a fun time! Even though I’m Canadian – I’ve always wanted to go to the Museum of American History!
This is definitely off-topic, but where did you get your boots?! I love them!
Um, wow, girl! You covered a lot of ground!! Glad you were able to make the most of it!
You accomplished alot! I love those trolley tours – I’ve spent many a summer on those tours with my grandmother. The WW II memorial is great. And so is Thomas Jefferson memorial. Georgetown is dangerous with all the shopping! Glad you had a good time in the city!
So glad you had fun! We loved going last month. And it definitely does feel like you’ve run a marathon when you try to pack in as much as possible in a short time. (P.S. We were going to the Spy Museum but they were charging like $20/person! A punch to the gut when everything else in DC is free.)
The National Museum of American History has always been my favorite. Don’t feel bad about missing the Giant Pandas. Not a single. one. was out on Saturday…they weren’t even inside!!!
You got some awesome shots, and did a lot for just a day. The Holocaust Museum is a very moving experience. Glad you got to visit. 🙂
Awesome hubs and I have talked about going to DC but we figure we better get the list checked off of things we want to see (without kids, like holland) first lol. But if given the chance you know my butt would be there!