When your clients think of a trip to Washington, D.C., it’s likely that the White House, Smithsonian National Museum of American History and Washington Monument all come to mind. Though these are essential stops for learning about U.S. history, the city has much more to offer in the way of sightseeing and recreation.
Below are our top picks for diving into Washington, D.C.’s culture, personality and natural beauty.
Attend a Foreign Embassy Event
The nation’s capital offers some of the most unique experiences in the country in the form of special events hosted at the city’s 175 foreign embassies. For instance, the French embassy will host a Halloween gala this year, featuring live music, dancing, an open bar, a costume contest and European sweet treats.
There are also various free programs. Passport DC is an annual spring festival where embassies host open houses especially fitting for families; next year, Passport DC will take place in May.
www.thingstododc.com
www.culturaltourismdc.org
Eat and Shop
Foodies won’t be disappointed at Union Market, which is famous for its wide diversity of prepared food options and ability to satisfy all kinds of cravings, from gelato to pizza to spirits. To walk off the treats, visitors can browse any of Union Market’s boutique shops, such as Salt & Sundry — for home and lifestyle goods — or the independently owned Politics and Prose Bookstore.
Eastern Market has something for every culinary and artistic taste.
Credit: 2019 Creative Commons user ncindcAlternatively, foodies can flock to Eastern Market, located on Capitol Hill. In contrast to Union Market, Eastern Market vendors are better known for their specialty groceries, so shoppers can fulfill their dairy and delicatessen needs with ease. The market’s outdoor vendors sell local arts and crafts, and there is an open-air farmers market every Tuesday and on weekends. Furthermore, Eastern Market’s surrounding area is full of independent boutiques and restaurants to keep shoppers busy and satisfied.
www.unionmarketdc.com
www.easternmarket-dc.org
Explore the Luray Caverns
Carved by none other than Mother Nature’s steady, patient hand, the Luray Caverns features stunning underground calcite formations just 90 minutes outside of Washington, D.C. The sheet-like deposits of Saracen’s Tent — one of the most well-defined draperies in the world — epitomize the cave’s impossibly fine geological formations.
The Luray Caverns are hauntingly beautiful.
Credit: 2019 Creative Commons user ideonexusIndeed, no matter where visitors turn, there are more examples of towering reddish-brown stalactites and stalagmites. They can even hear the otherworldly sounds of the Great Stalacpipe Organ, a lithophone that operates by tapping variously sized stalactites to produce euphonious music with a dreamlike timbre.
While there, guests can also visit the Car & Carriage Caravan Museum’s antique cars and Toy Town Junction‘s antique toy trains.
www.luraycaverns.com
Hike Rock Creek Park
To commune with nature in the middle of this very urban city, hike at the beautiful Rock Creek Park, which has miles-long trails that take visitors through scenery of running creeks, dense forest and quaint bridges.
Travelers can enjoy a natural respite at Rock Creek Park.
Credit: 2019 Creative Commons user number7cloudTake the 3.1-mile Boulder Bridge Trail through the forest and creek — areas of the park that former President Theodore Roosevelt is said to have frequented. The shorter Rapids Bridge Hike is 2 miles in length and passes through Rock Creek Park’s Nature Center and its Horse Center, which provides trail rides and horseback riding lessons.
www.nps.gov
Kayak on the Potomac River
Sail the currents of history by kayaking on the Potomac River, which traced the border between the Union and the Confederacy during the Civil War.
A day on the Potomac River makes for a relaxing yet active adventure.
Credit: 2019 Creative Commons user gemstoneVisitors can rent kayaks and paddleboards from Key Bridge Boathouse and float past Theodore Roosevelt Island, Georgetown Waterfront and Washington’s many monuments. On the car-free Theodore Roosevelt Island, travelers can stroll or bike undisturbed along any of the island’s tree-lined walkways.
www.boatingindc.com
Peep the Local Art
Between the National Gallery of Art and the Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, D.C., has some amazing art.
Culture House’s vibrant exterior is hard to miss.
Credit: 2019 Creative Commons user anthonyagonzalezFor clients looking for more off-the-beaten-path creativity, tell them about Dupont Underground, a visual and performing arts center located beneath the Dupont Circle landmark. Or, Culture House is a local art space and hidden gem created from renovating an abandoned church — its facade evokes a lighthearted, psychedelic atmosphere sure to inspire and surprise visitors.
www.dupontunderground.org
www.culturehousedc.org
