Our second full day in Washington DC was a Sunday and we decided to explore some DC neighborhoods. All museums are open on Sundays and locals and tourists alike made for lengthly lines. We stopped by the National Museum of the American Indian on our walk to Capitol Hill where we were going to meet my cousin for brunch. The museum building and the gardens around it are beautiful. We were a bit underwhelmed with the museum itself. There’s a branch of this Smithsonian in New York City so perhaps that’s where the compelling exhibits are. We decided to spend our day visiting some of the best DC neighborhoods instead.
Capitol Hill Neighborhood
The 30 minute walk from the museum to the Capitol Hill neighborhood brought us past the Botanical Gardens and the Capitol. We had noticed Capitol Hill Books the day before but hadn’t had time to explore it so we made this a priority. If you like to read, don’t miss their great selection, fair prices, and helpful staff. We did a little more browsing before walking to Belga Cafe for a delightful lunch with my cousin and her family. As with most restuarants in DC that aren’t counter service, I highly recommend getting a reservation.
Georgetown – One of the Best DC Neighborhoods to Visit
Our next stop was Georgetown, both the neighborhood and the University. We ended up Ubering to save time. It was too long for a walk and there weren’t any timely public transport options. With short trips, I will spend a bit more on ride shares to optimize our visit. Georgetown was busy when we got there. Crowds of shoppers bustled along M Street. We detoured to the Ritz where we made use of the facilities – a tradition for my daughter and me. After some browsing in the chain stores and unique boutiques, we stopped at an amazing French bakery for a delicious pastry enjoyed in their courtyard. We walked up to Georgetown University admiring all the homes and wondering what it might cost to live there. It was fun to people watch at the University as students lounged on the green space in front of stately buildings.
Embassy Row
It was starting to get dark, but we decided to walk to Embassy Row. We cut through Montrose Park on the way to the Embassies. Without their flags flying, you couldn’t tell what country each embassy held due to architecture alone but it was fascinating to see each country represented on a tiny patch of DC soil. Worth a visit, President Wilson’s home is just around the corner from Embassy Row. We headed through the Adams Morgan neighborhood passing lively restaurants and bars, not yet hungry enough to stop in. As we walked all the way back to our hotel on the south side of The Mall, we realized that we had clocked 10 miles that day.
Washington DC offers so much more than Federal Buildings and Museums. When planning a trip to DC I highly recommend spending a beautiful day walking through its distinct and charming neighborhoods.
