Top 5 Personal Favorites:
Air and Space Museum in Chantilly, VA (it has the original plane that dropped the atomic bomb, a space shuttle, and flight simulations, try the astronaut ice cream from the gift shop)
2. National Gallery of Art (most beautiful building in DC, during Spring the main entrance is decorated with flowers, you can find Edgar Degas' ballerina and several of Monet's paintings)
3. National Archives (head straight to the main hall where you can find displayed the original copies of The Constitution, Bill of Rights, Declaration of Independence)
4. Library of Congress (astonishing ceiling details, you can find the first map of America and a copy of the Gutenberg Bible)
5. The Basilica of the National Shrine (hosts 82 Marian chapels)
Walk the Tidal Basin (best time is at sunset):
Start at the MLK Memorial
Walk through the Roosevelt Memorial
Reach the Thomas Jefferson Memorial
Cherry Blossoms trees in bloom at the end of March for about 1-2 weeks
Walk the National Mall from Lincoln (West-end) to The White House (North-end):
Start at the WEST of the National Mall and park near the Lincoln Memorial along the street parallel to the Potomac river.
Renting bicycles (cheaper option) or scooters (I've used Bird, Lime, Lyft) is highly recommended ! For scooters note that there are dead zones (they will turn off) near the highly transited monuments so keep to the main roads and plan where to dock when you are done.
[West] Lincoln Memorial
[Walk towards the center] World War II Memorial
Washington Monument (reserve free timed tickets to go up and enjoy the view from the top)
[North] Take a left towards the White House (request timed entrance tickets through your representative, and 100% yes it is worth the self guided tour)
Quick stop at Renwick Gallery
Vue bar (have a drink and appreciate the view of the National Mall)
Walk the Smithsonian Museums at the East of the National Mall:
National Museum of African American (make sure to go to the basement floor)
National Museum of American History (first American flag, First Lady dresses and Lincoln's hat)
National Museum of Natural Science (head to the jewel collection on the second floor)
National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden (look out for Jazz in the Gardens free events with entrance ticket)
National Archives (The Constitution, Bill of Rights and Declaration of Independence)
National Gallery of Art (enter through the main fountain, look for Degas' "Little Dancer" and take the galactic escalator to the East Building)
Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden (check out Yayoi Kusama timed entry exhibit)
Moongate gardens near the National Museum of Asian Art and the Smithsonian Castle
Walk the East-end of the National Mall (First St SE):
The Capitol (take a free tour, get Congress/Senate gallery passes through your representative, see the old supreme court)
Supreme Court (look for the portrait of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, note entrance to the floor is allowed for lectures only on weekdays)
Library of Congress (first America map and Gutenberg Bible)
National Botanic Garden
Folger Shakespeare Library (has Shakespeare's first folio and a collection of first edition books)
Other areas in DC worth visiting:
Walk along Penn Quarter to the National Portrait Museum (President's portraits) and see the FBI Headquarters
The Basilica of the National Shrine (near Catholic University)
National Harbor (go on the ferry wheel)
National Zoo (look for the red panda)
The Wharf waterfront (ice skate, korean karaoke, DanceDance Revolution at Boardwalk bar and arcade)
Hillwood Estate and Gardens (free entrance)
Arlington Cemetery (see the Kennedy family burial site and change in guards at the Tomb of the unknown soldier)
Georgetown (eat breakfast at Call Your Mother Bagels, eat lunch at Pizza Il Canale
and have dessert at Levain, Georgetown cupcakes or my favorite Arcay Chocolates, stop by Dumbarton Oaks for a nature walk)
Holocaust Museum
14th Street bars and restaurants (eat at Le Diplomat or Barcelona, head to Chicken and Whiskey speakeasy bar)
Drive through Embassy Row and Naval Observatory (Vice President residence)
Air and Space Museum in Chantilly (near Dulles airport)
Mt Vernon Estate and Gardens (home to George Washington, this is where he is buried)
Alexandria Old Town (King's street waterfront, eat at Don Taco or Rustico or Il Porto Restaurant, and buy vinyl records at Crooked Beat Records)
For book lovers, stop by these: Kramerbooks, Capitol Hills Books, and The Company of Books
Swingers indoor mini golf and bar (must be +21)
Great Falls Park
Rock Creek Park (easy one hour hike very near to the city)
Road trips from DMV:
Bethany Beach, Delaware (3 hour drive)
Harpers Ferry (1:15 hour drive)
Harpers Ferry Brewery
Tubing (100% recommended during summer)
Bluemont, VA (45 min drive)
Bears Den trail
Ravens Rock trail (5.7 miles 3 hour hike)
Dirt Farm Brewing
Bluemont Vineyard
Annapolis, MD (1:30 hour drive)
Stop for sunflowers on your way to Annapolis during Spring time
Ski season
Whitetail, VA (45 min drive)
Seven Springs, PA (3 hour drive)
Liberty Mountain, VA (45 min drive)
Burnside Farms in Nokesville, VA for tulip festival in spring and stop to eat at The Bone BBQ in Manassas
Visit Shenandoah National Park (2 hour drive)
Stay at New Market (eat at Jackson's corner and Jalisco Mexican)
Stay at Luray (eat at Triple Crown BBQ food truck)
Hawksbill loop trail (2.9 miles 2 hours)
Compton peak trail (2.3 miles 1:30 hours steep)
Dark Hollow falls trail (1.6 miles 1 hour steep)
Stony Man overlook
Skyline caverns
Local eats:
Zaytinia (Mediterranean)
Cava (Mediterranean fast food)
Stellina (best lasagna)
Good Stuff eatery (burger fast food)
Arepa Zone (Venezuelan food)
Kizuna (best Shio ramen in Tysons)
Medium Rare (prefer the Clarendon location)
Tatte Bakery (best breakfast and nice atmosphere)
Call Your Mother Bagels in Georgetown
Barcelona (Spanish food in 14th street with great atmosphere)
Le Diplomat (French) $$
Lady M in Tysons
Rustico in Alexandria (pizza and steak frites)
NiceCream in Clarendon (nutella nitrogen ice cream recommended)
Arcay Chocolates in Georgetown
China Chilcano (Peruvian)
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