Some of you have already helped with hotel and train info from Baltimore to DC. Thank you!
Our trip is a month out - the trip is me and D2 who is a sophomore in college and two of her roommates - so, they are 19. It was originally going to be just D and I, then the other two were so excited that D asked if they could come to - so, they are!
Starting to think about things to do, buying any needed tickets ahead of time,etc.
First question: anyone familiar with this night tour line? I need to find economical activities for the girls and I thought this could be a good deal as a night tour has been highly recommended (I did one myself once on a trolley): https://www.groupon.com/deals/citysights-dc-3
Besides that, anything else I should plan ahead for? Best kept secret good deals/places to visit/things to see? We’ll be staying near the mall.
We will be there the weekend of Taste of DC but I don’t think we want to tackle those kinds of crowds…but we DO love food! They aren’t the most adventurous eaters though (darn!). Recommendations for simple, not too expensive food appreciated - they like Italian and Mediterranean/Greek food a lot. I’ve been told that there is great Ethiopian food in DC??
Bike tours/rentals? Love this idea though I worry about our safety!!!
Many thanks in advance. CC is my “budget” travel agent.
For Ethiopian food, D suggested Etete as one of her favorites but it looks like they will still be closed for renovations when you are there. Dukem is similar to Etete and is located in the Shaw/Howard neighborhood, U Street Corridor. Another popular restaurant is Zenebech, also in the same neighborhood.
Haha - DC WITH A GRUMPY TEEN ! I don’t expect any of mine to be grumpy!
Oh yeah…bakeries. We are a family that loves to visit bakeries. D has already pegged Wired and Baked. We can do without the famous cupcake place - Georgetown?
Baked and Wired is the place. They have delicious granola - “Hippie Crack” - as well as lots of other yummies. You can live without Georgetown.
Mediterranean food - you might check Cava Mezze. D and her vegetarian boyfriend also love to eat there - a little more $$, but they are definitely price conscious.
Check yelp for reviews on that tour company. Most folks don’t seem real happy with it.
Second Zaytina - had a fabulous lunch there. It’s small plates. It’s near the Spy Museum and the Smithsonian Art Museum and Portrait Gallery. My favorite DC museum is the Philips Gallery which is housed in a lovely mansion.
We did the night tour with Signature. Loved it! I have visited DC often but my kids and husband had not and this was such an amazing way to experience the monuments.
Lebanese Taverna – they apparently have multiple locations now, but the original is in Woodley Park (I can’t remember if it’s near the zoo. Near the Red Line in any event.
Restaurants in DC are expensive. Zaytinya is a good example as well as Jaleo (same chef/owner) - the food is great, but it will cost ya. There is a vibrant food truck community that might be more affordable. Google Food Truck Fiesta for locations and menus.
Eastern Market might be a cool place to visit. I love the Torpedo Factory in Old Town Alexandria. Renwick is a small gallery behind the White House that hosts really cool craft exhibits. Dumbarton Oaks in Georgetown should be lovely in October, and you can make it a day with Phillips collection and a walk around Georgetown. Hillwood Museum is also wonderful.
You can venture out to the suburbs to try some great ethnic foods, e.g. Vietnamese or Korean, if they are not represented in your hometown.
I would be wary of taking non-adventurous eaters to try Ethiopian food TBH and recommend having a backup plan for feeding the girls. Georgetown cupcake is overrated; there are many artisan cupcake places that are just as good.
Read the Chowhound Washington DC board - the members are very knowledgeable and there is a ton of great info in the archives; don’t waste your time reading the posts before 2015, the local scene changes fairly rapidly.
More votes for Zaytinya, Jaleo, and Nandos Peri Peri.
The Smithsonian Museums, and the Natl Zoo are all free, so that’s as cheap as it gets.
Monuments are all free as far as I know.
Night tour of monuments is supposed to be fun, but I’ve never done one.
If you are all is good shape and like to cycle, you can rent bikes and go all the way to alexandria or even Mt. Vernon, but that would take a huge chunk of a day.
You can walk along the C&O canal from Gtown.
When a young adult came to visit us, she really wanted to go to the Library of Congress.
I think you need tickets to go into Washington Monument, but I don’t know how to get them.
Also, good idea to check out both Groupon and Living Social for DC deals.
Following. Now that S is at Georgetown, we figure we will be making frequent visits. I love DC!
Walking along the national mall is one of my favorites. We walked to the Washington monument at night when we went to drop S off. Was beautiful. We did see several bike groups that biked by - looked interesting. I am sorry I don’t remember the name of the tour company though. The Washington monument is closed for a while I believe - something about the elevator malfunctioning.
