When I moved to DC, I knew my time here may be limited so I endeavored to make the most of my time in this great cultural hub while it lasted. DC and the entire East Coast were/are a mystery and I didn't want to miss any of the highlights. I asked friends I made, friends I knew, bartenders, tour guides, and even compiled what I could from DC travel books to come up with the following list. If you have any other "musts" for my time on the East Coast and DC area, comment here or e-mail me! I'm always looking to expand this already lengthy list :)
And yes, due to my foodie nature, a LOT of these are places to eat. My friends are also food people so, a lot of these recommendations are "you have to try the menu at____!" based.
Items that are noted struck through have been checked off already (meaning, I personally experienced it) :)
The ones that have links even has a post about that activity letting you know my thoughts! Fancy.
Go on a tour of the Capitol Building (Thanks, Dave!)Go to Clarendon's Mardi Gras Parade- Go to a Supreme Court Case
- Go to the Folger Shakespear Library and Garden
Get oysters/drinks at Old Ebbit's back bar- Go to the US Botanical Gardens
Play pool/get drinks at Jay's SaloonGo to Carpool on a nice night and drink on their open patioGo to Witlows on Wilson for mugs of beer and their roof top terrace- Go to the Spy Museum
Go take pics of Theodore Roosevelt Island- Go on a Pentagon Tour
- Go take a White House Tour
- Do to Dumbarton Oaks Gardens/Rock Creek Park
Go to the Newseum and Freedom Park- Do a "Spies of Washington" tour
- Go to "Antique Row"
Go to "Rock n' Roll Hotel"'s Drunk Spelling BeeGo to Rocket BarAttend Nightmare on M Street- Go to Backstage Books and Costumes
- Go to the Torpedo Factory Art Center
- Volunteer at "Christ Child Opportunity Shop"
- Go see a performance of Capitol Steps (www.capsteps.com)
- Go on a Halloween Ghost tour in Alexandria
- Take a pic with the Einsteain Statue in Foggy Bottom
See the Marilyn Monroe Mural in Adam's MorganSee the Iwo Jima Memorial at night- Check out Shenandoah Brewing & Co and brew some brews
- Go to Old Town Alexandria's "Gadsby's Tavern Museum"
Shop at "Ruff N' Ready"- Check out the Sonny Bono memorial on 20th St. NW & New Hampshire (Adams Morgan)
Go to DC Roller DerbyGo to "Clydes"Go to "Jimmy T's Place"Go to "Filomena" for italianGo to Metro Diner 29Go to "Dangerously Delicious Pie" on H Street- Go to "Sawah Diner" for hookah/food
Go to "Blue Duck Tavern" (Where Obama took Michelle for their anniversary)- Take cooking classes at "Zola"
Go to the Smithsonian Butterfly Habitat Garden- Get pepperoni rolls and cider at "Dodge City" on U Street
- Kayak on the Potomac (Thompson Boat Center/Rental at Foggy Bottom)
- Take cooking classes at "Hill's Kitchen"
- Grab a sandwich from "So's Your Mom" in Adam's Morgan
Spend an evening catching a show at "Blue's Alley" - Jazz Club/Dinner Joint- Try out the all cereal menu at "The Cereal Bowl"
Spend a Happy Hour or Breakfast at "Kramerbooks & Afterwords Cafe"Get a treat from "Something Sweet"Have an infamous "Georgetown Cupcake"*"Baked and Wired" in GT is better!*Go to "The Liberty Tavern" Restaurant ÖSee a movie and grab a brew at Arlington Cinema and Draft House Ö- Go to the National Postal Museum
Get an authentic Italian Dinner at "Carmines"Go to "Ted's Bulletin" for breakfast- Go to "Desperado's Burgers and Bar" on U Street
- Eat "Dolcezza's" Gelato
- Go to the following farmers markets:
Eastern Market: Tues-Friday 7AM-7PM, Sat 7AM-6PM, Sundays 9AM-5PM @ 7th & C (Eastern Market Metro)- White House: May-Nov, Thursdays from 3PM-7 @ 810 Vermont Ave
- Penn Quarter: April-Dec, Thursdays from 3PM-7 @ the North end of 8th St NW
- 14th & U St: May-Nov, Saturdays from 9AM-1PM
- Columbia Heights: May-Oct, Saturdays from 9AM-2PM, 14th and Irving
- Dupont: Sundays from 10-1, 1500 block of 20th St (Between Mass Ave & Q)
- Bloomingdale: May-Nov, Sundays from 10AM-2PM @ 1st and R St
- Have a french brunch at "L'Enfant Cafe"
- Try a trapeze class at TSNY
Dinner and Drinks at "Circa"Go to an outdoor movie at "Crystal Screen"- Go to the National Archives
Go to "CoCo Sala" Chocolate Lounge and BoutiqueGo to the National Portrait GalleryGo to the Smithsonian National Zoo ParkSee the Monuments on the Mall at night- See/photograph the architecture at the National Building Museum
Get a meal at "Zaytinya"Get sushi at "Oya" or "Sei"Go to the National Museum of Natural History (particularly the Ocean Hall!)- Go to an afternoon movie at "The Uptown Theater" in Cleveland Park
Take a picture on the outdoor terrace of the 6th floor of the NewseumTake a pic on the Kennedy Center's Roof Top TerraceGet drinks and Chili at "Hard Times"- Go to a happy hour at "Toledo Lounge"
Go to "Mie N Yu" for dinner and drinks- Go to Ping Pong for their unlimited dim sum/champagne brunch
- Go to "The Tune Inn" from Diners, Drive Thrus, and Dives with Guy Fieri
- Take a cooking/beverage class at "The Columbia Room"
- Go to "Rustik Tavern"
- Go to "Fish Market Black Salt Restaurant"
Go to "Baked and Wired"(BEST CUPCAKES IN THE CITY!)- Go to "Bedrock Billiards"
Go to Twisted Tuesday Karokee at "The Reef" in Adam's Morgan- Get Pizza Rolls at "The Ugly Mug" on Capitol Hill
- Go to "Rhino Bar & Pumphouse"
- Go ice skating at The Sculpture Garden Ice Rink (Nov-March)
- Eat at "The Diner" at 2453 18th St NW
- Go to the United States National Arboretum
- Go to "Iron Horse Tap Room"
- Go to Dinner or Brunch at "Poste Moderne Brasserie"
See Fall Foliage Along C&O Canal- Go Thai Fusion at "Rice" in Logan Circle
- Get comfort food at "Buck's Fishing and Camping"
- Happy Hour at "Churchkey" in Logan Circle (above Birch & Barley)
Get "Crepes on the Walk"- Go to Meridian Hill Park
- Go to Great Falls Park
Explore Old Town Alexandria- See George Washington's Mt. Vernon Estates/Gardens
Check out the Library of Congress- Visit Arlington National Cemetary for the Changing of the Gaurd
Go to National Gallery of Art (Especially the Sculpture Garden)- Walk Montrose Park, taking a pic of "Lovers Lane"
Go to "Ben's Chili Bowl" for ChiliGet noodles/watch them get made at Chinatown ExpressCheck out "Busboys & Poets"- Go to the National Geographic Museum
- Go see "The Big Chair" in Anacostia
- See the view at the old post office pavilion on Pennsylvania Ave
- Check out the bookstore Politics and Prose in Van Ness
- Go on a Washington Walk Tour- particularly "Memorials by Moonlight"
- Go to Monday night showtunes sing-a-long at "JR's Bar and Grill"
Go to "H St Country Club" for old school gaming- Go to "Remingtons" for Monday/Wednesday $5 Dance Lessons and Fridays see the "DC Cowboys" dance
- Go to the Holocaust Museum
- Go horseback riding at Rock Creek Park
- Go to the Bureau of engraving and printing to see money made
- Go on the Gargoyle Tour of the Washington National Cathedral (Darth Vadar Gargoyle!)
Go to the National Museum of American History (Especially Pop Culture)- Go to the Willard Intercontinental Hotel Lobby for a taste of history
- Move to dinner beats at the "Mahogany Restaurant/Bohemian Caverns"
- Visit "Old Stone House", built in 1765, open Wed-Sun 10-4
See the Cherry Blossom Parade/festival (April)- Go to the DC Caribbean Carnival (June)
- Try "Terrapin Adventures
- East Coast Trips/Day Trips to Take!
- Take the train to New York for a weekend
- Go to Gettysburg
- Go to Valey Forge
Go to ShenandoahGo to Baltimore, MD- Go to Dover, DE
- Go to Harrisburg, PA
Go to Philidelphia, PA- Go to Portsmouth, VA
- Go to Virginia Beach, VA
- Go to Pittsburgh, PA
- Go to Assateague (& see the wild horses)
Go to Bethesda, MD (Second Story Books/On Saturdays from 7-3 @ 7155 Wisconsin Ave there's a market)- Go to "Landeni Brothers" in Alexandria on King St
Get Tea at the Park Hyatt Tea CellarGo to Georgia Browns for Charleston Cooking(BEST BRUNCH IN THE CITY!)- Attend the Marine Core Sunset Parade
- Check out the "Tabard Inn"
- Go to "Mazza 14"
- Go to the "Occidental"
Get a drink at the POV of the W Hotel- Go to the original FDR Memorial (Penn & 9th St, "Just a Desk")
Check out "Red Line"
