WASHINGTON D.C

discover history’s surprises during a trip to WASHINGTON D.C.

While planning my most recent trip to the capital area, I knew that I’d be spending a lot of time touring museums and monuments during the day in Washington D.C. What I didn’t expect was all of the exciting things I’d end up doing after dark. The two last-minute additions that I plugged into my itinerary were both after-dark tours. They both turned out to be my favorite parts of the trip! Let’s cover what you should see during the day and night in D.C.

If you’re flying into Washington, Reagan National Airport right over the border in Arlington is the best bet. While it may seem like flying into Virginia would be a hassle, the airport is only about a 13-minute drive from the center of D.C. You can also use the Blue or Yellow lines serving the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport Metrorail station to skip the roads. As you can imagine, D.C. is a comfortable place to book a stay in because there are just tons of hotels. There are huge ranges in nightly rates that allow you to decide whether you’d like to live like a budget traveler or diplomat while you’re in town. On the budget end, Phoenix Park Hotel and Hotel Hive are two midrange, business-type hotels that routinely offer rooms for below $100 per night. For something statelier, Mandarin Oriental, Willard InterContinental and the Watergate Hotel can all make you feel necessary for close to $200 to $250 per night.

I’ll start with the museums. I have to admit that I always feel a bit of pressure to cram in as much as I can when I’m in Washington because of the unmatched collection of world-class museums here. You obviously can’t skip the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History and the National Gallery of Art if you’ve never visited before. I’ll also add the International Spy Museum and the National Zoo to the list if you have the time. For history buffs, visiting the National Archives Museum that brags a document list that includes the Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights, and the Constitution is a surreal experience. I also want to highlight a few places that will take you out of the hustle and bustle of D.C. for just a bit. The first is the National Arboretum. Known as the home of the giant and legendary National Capitol Columns, this huge garden space spans nearly 450 acres. You will truly feel like you are walking through “America’s garden” when you tour this amazing sliver of D.C. history. I was also totally enchanted by the Tidal Basin where the Potomac River and Washington Channel come together. This gorgeous spot is best known for being the place to spot cherry blossoms in the spring. However, it’s a vibrant, fun spot any time of the year. While I didn’t rent a paddle-boat, watching boaters from the cement dock was more than satisfying. One of the most exciting experiences I had in D.C. happened after I crossed the river after dark into historic Old Town Alexandria. This area is a passport to the past that features cobblestone streets and old taverns. I accompanied a friend on a “haunted pub crawl” that I was reluctant to experience at first simply because I tend to skip gimmicky attractions in my travels. I was more than delighted by what turned out to be a very educational, fun tour of four different pubs with rich histories that intertwine with the legends of D.C. I also booked a guided D.C. monument tour by moonlight this time around. This is really the perfect way to see the monuments because you aren’t dealing with crowds or the hot sun. The particular company I used for this excursion is called Washington DC Urban Adventures. This tour experience was different from anything I had ever experienced before because I traveled around in a quiet, open-sided electric vehicle that offered just the right pace to soak in everything! The list we covered by moonlight included the White House, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the Jefferson Memorial and Capitol Hill. In total, we traversed the area from the Tidal Basin to the Smithsonian.

FIND YOUR OWN WAY TO EXPERIENCE D.C.

I was glad that I decided to take advantage of a few guided tours during my latest trip to Washington because I had really only relied on self-guided walking tours in the past. Being able to sit back, relax and allow myself to be surprised helped me to see the nation’s capital from a new lens. Generally, I think it’s good to cover many of the attractions in D.C. on your own because this allows you to move at your own pace when taking in such a cornucopia of sites. However, I do think that fitting in some guided after-dark tours creates Terra Travelers || 29 a very well-rounded trip!