When you have only a day to visit the nation’s capital, what all do you have time to see? What do you wear? Are all of the locations easily accessible? Well I am here to answer those questions!
First of all, I’d like to start off by saying I think January-February is a great time to see D.C. because there aren’t lines! This really optimized how many stops we were able to fit into out day trip, not to mention that the weather is PERFECT! All you need is a sweater and maybe light jacket.
On our trip to D.C. we were able to visit:
- The White House
- Lincoln Memorial
- Reflecting Pool
- Smithsonian Air and Space Museum
- National Archives
Honestly this was a lot of stops to fit into one day, but with no lines or crowds it was totally doable!
But, what do you wear?
So when touring you want to be comfortable, BUT you are going to be capturing pictures you are going to keep forever sooooo you want to look nice, AND be able to go from museum to dinner without having to change. The ensemble I selected was not only comfortable but on trend and so stylish! I was warm, my feet didn’t hurt, and I never looked underdressed.
I choose a soft knit sweater from Express, oversized Quay sunglasses, a metallic accordion pleat skirt, a knit beret, and over the knee boots. I think the skirt color, along with pleating detail is what really dresses up this look, along with the crisp white. I was able to comfortably walk everywhere and never felt underdressed while out and about. So I think this style is perfect for travel and transitioning from day to night.
Now on to what all we did!
Note to self: Monuments are open 24/7
This is important to keep this in mind, as you have no time restraints when planning out tours and stops to these locations. That means you can stop at the memorials very early in the morning before the museums open, or late at night when everything else is closed – depending on if you are wanting pictures during the day or not. We chose to fit in the monuments after touring the Smithsonian and National Archives.
Museums are only open from 10-5ish with last tours starting around 30 minutes prior to close.
I am pointing this out because the museums are only open for a short timeframe so you have to time them right if you are wanting to visit multiple locations in a day. There are also no tickets to be purchased because everything is free. That is why I think it is important to map out your route, and have a game plan before heading out.
Okay so now that all of that is out of the way, here is how we spent our day!
9:00AM Breakfast at the Juniper.
The Juniper is the restaurant located in the Fairmont Washington, D.C., Georgetown which is where we stayed. For info on the hotel and our accommodations click here!
10:00AM Smithsonian Air & Space Museum
We decided to conserve our energy and Uber to our first stop for the day. The Smithsonian Air and Space Museum was awing. The sheer size of some of the pieces they have will stop you in your tracks! Jhonathan was like a kid in a candy store, and I felt like I had to pry him out of there just so we would be able to make our remaining stops for the day. The museum is cataloged and organized so well! No matter what era of aviation interests you, they have it! Not only that, but they have artifacts and pieces that transport you through time….not literally but, you know what I mean. We even took a spin in the flight simulators they have available! Here you can do barrel rolls, fly a jet and even be a gunner! Needless to say we both very much enjoyed all this museum has to offer.
12:45PM National Archives
Just a short walk across the street we arrived at the National Archives, and after a brief security scan we were inside. Sadly, there is no photography allowed in the Rotunda but getting the opportunity to see the Declaration of Independence, United States Constitution, and Bill of Rights with my own eyes was such an incredible experience. There are many other historical documents and rooms to visit while in the Archives building, but as we has a lot to still do, we only attended the Rotunda. I also recommend stopping in for your souvenirs while at the National Archives because there is a little bit of everything D.C. related available in their shop and its fairly priced.
2:00PM Joe’s
It’s about a 15 minute walk from the Archives to the White House so we decided to hop over to Joe’s on the way. I ordered mint ice cream with hot fudge and chicken wings – yes I know, what a combo, and Jhonathan also ordered a mule. The architecture of this building is exquisite, and so welcoming. After a rejuvenating snack it was time to see the White House.
3:00PM The White House
We walked by the White House and took pictures, but did not tour or stay in the area for long. There were many protestors out, and the grounds were double barricaded. I really only wanted to see it in person, so I got to do that and check it off of my list.
3:45PM Lincoln Memorial and Reflecting Pool
We Ubered from the White House to the Lincoln Memorial as it would have been a 25-minute walk. This is totally walkable, but we didn’t want to loose sunlight so we opted for the 5 minute Uber ride. I definitely think the monument was the most moving thing I saw on the trip. The sheer size is overwhelming and the words, so meaningful. This is a MUST for anyone traveling to D.C.; I think all of our stops were, but this one even more so. We stood atop and looked out to the reflecting pool with a beautiful clear blue sky as the back drop. Such a perfect way to end the day. On our way out, we spotted a lady taking pictures of her two golden retrievers so I had to snap a pic of the cuteness.
6:00PM
We finished the evening back at our hotel, the Fairmont Washington, D.C., Georgetown for dinner in their lounge. The perfect ending to a lovely day!
There is so much to see in D.C., and I am definitely interested in going back to see more; but for one day in town, I think these stops are a must if it’s your first time in the city. Thanks for stopping by, and look forward to my upcoming NYFW posts as I will be traveling there in ONE WEEK! <3