Washington DC is undoubtedly one of the most visited cities in the world. It is full of history, museums and bustling life. Recently it has become a major hub for startups and new dining concepts as well. However, there are many locations that are worth exploring away from the monuments and museums on and around the National Mall. Of course, on your first visit to the city you should take full advantage of all the free Smithsonian Museums, visit the Newseum, the Holocaust Museum, and the Georgetown neighborhood. But there is so much more to the city that few visitors get to experience.
The District is full of parks in all quadrants of the city. However one park really stands out: Meridian Hill Park is located directly north from the White House, and during the Civil War, it was used as encampment for the military. Being in the park today feels like you just stepped through a portal and traveled from a bustling urban hub to a lost city in the middle of the jungle. The best time to visit is definitely on Sunday afternoon when the longest running drum circle echoes throughout the park and creates a really unique atmosphere.
Nearby is the Smithsonian National Zoological Park. While the zoo is a Smithsonian, it might get overlooked by some tourists because of its location. However the National Zoo can offer a number of very unique animals as well as their famous giant pandas. And, same as the other Smithsonian museums, it’s free. If you don’t feel like seeing the animals the zoo, it’s designed like a park, with locals walking (or jogging) through the main thoroughfare. Further north is a real hidden treasure of the District. The Hillwood Estate, Museum and Gardens were the home of Marjorie Merriweather Post, the richest woman in the 1950s. She used much of her wealth and her husband’s position as an ambassador to the Soviet Union in the 1930’s to acquire Russian royal art including Faberge eggs that are displayed around the mansion. Surrounding this Russian palace are thirteen acres of immaculately maintained gardens outside which are perfect for picnic or just grabbing some tea and coffee and enjoying the surroundings. Another park worth exploring is the National Arboretum which is a leading center for botanical research. It has a large bonsai exhibit as well as the old US Capitol columns.
Exploring all of these extraordinary parks will likely work up an appetite, and while there are many new five star restaurants around the city, I would suggest getting some Ethiopian cuisine at the recently relocated Lalibela. DC has a large Ethiopian population and their unique cuisine has something to offer everyone. You can get the plate for two, or for four, which has multiple meat and vegetarian option served on top of injera, a spongy flatbread which you use to scoop up the food. If you’d rather have something more familiar, you can visit Tony Cheng’s restaurant, which serves Chinese cuisine as well as Mongolian barbecue, and is located near the Friendship Archway in the heart of Chinatown. The restaurant has large cocktails that can be shared, but watch out for the flames on top.
A few blocks away is historic Ford’s Theater, where President Abraham Lincoln was shot. The theater has many exhibits describing the night of the assassination as well as information about all the people involved. Perhaps most interestingly, you can see the actual pistol that John Wilkes Booth used to fire the shot at the president.
At night, head to the Adams Morgan neighborhood which has numerous local shops, cafes, restaurants, bars and night clubs. 18th street NW is the epicenter of the neighborhood, with beautiful row houses lining the street on both sides, housing many of the restaurants and rooftop bars. One of these bars is Jack Rose Saloon which offers hundreds of high end whiskeys, bourbons and scotches. Adams Morgan is also the best place to get late night food in the city, from pizza to falafels, if you lose track of time. Finally if you have time and stamina, you should visit Echostage, which is one of the top music venues globally. The club hosts all the top DJs in the world in an intimate location along with many other musical acts.
Washington has become a top tourist city for a reason. The city has so much to offer and the options grow daily. And, while you should experience the traditional top attractions on a first visit, you should certainly return and be sure to also experience all the hidden treasures this city has to offer.
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