Last year we road tripped up to Duluth for Memorial Day weekend, so this year we decided it was time to take a bigger trip. The last time I was in Washington D.C. I was twelve years old on a school trip. I always assumed I’d be back sooner, but alas I was 36 years old on my second trip back. Ryan lived outside of Washington D.C. for a summer after college, so I leaned on him to show me the ropes.
Day 1 – Friday
We flew into Baltimore and took the train into downtown D.C. I could not recommend this more. It’s an extremely affordable flight and the train is an inexpensive and quick way to get into the city. We booked two tours for Friday. The first was the Georgetown food tour where we walked around historic Georgetown, eating at a few great restaurants and learning about the history of the area. Food tours are such a great way to explore neighborhoods and learn about the city you’re visiting. After walking the entire afternoon, we booked a Monuments by Moonlight trolley tour. This was such a great tour! If you’re tired from walking (and you will walk a ton in D.C.) this is a great guided tour around town where you do have the opportunity to get off the trolley a couple of times to see monuments up close.
Day 2 – Saturday
Saturday was museum day! We first visited the International Spy Museum, which was such a fun museum. Definitely family friendly, with lots of interactive options that would be great for children. The second museum we visited was the Holocaust Museum. Obviously due to the heaviness of the topic, I’d shy away from bringing children to this museum. The day was beautiful, so after the museums we went to the wharf to bar hop along the water. We capped off our day with having drinks at Vue Rooftop at Hotel Washington. If you can, make reservations to have dinner and drinks there ahead of time. You’ll get panoramic views of the White House, Washington Monument and more.
Day 3 – Sunday
We spent Sunday at Nationals Park taking in a baseball game. The area surrounding the ballpark is really fun. There are tons of bars, restaurants, and things to do pre- and post-game. We spent the afternoon and evening bar hopping near the stadium and went to District Winery for a wine tasting. Such a beautiful spot!
Who we flew: Sun Country, MSP – BWI
Where we stayed: The Royal Sonesta, Dupont Circle
Car? We didn’t rent one. We stuck to walking and Ubers. D.C. has excellent public transportation too!
Things to keep in mind
- It was very hot and humid Memorial Day weekend. Make sure to pack breathable, athletic clothing, sunglasses, hat and sunscreen.
- You will walk A LOT in D.C. Pack a good pair of tennis shoes.
- Book museums ahead of time. You can buy tickets and schedule your visit time online.
- We booked the tours (food & monuments) ahead of time too to guarantee our spots.
- Research the neighborhood you want to stay in for a home base. What are your priorities? We wanted to be walkable to bars and restaurants with fun nightlife, so we ended up staying in Dupont Circle (would recommend).
- The train was not running on Memorial Day (holiday). Make sure to check the schedule before you book tickets.
If you’re interested in seeing more, I have our whole trip saved on a highlight on Instagram called DC ’24.
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