Washington DC Travel Guide

Destination
Washington DC
Sleep
The Fairmont Washington DC
Eat
Le Diplomate | Chaia | Bluestone Lane | Ted’s Bulletin | Bullfrog Bagels
Shop
& Other Stories
See
Library of Congress | Lincoln Memorial | National Portrait Gallery | United States Botanic Garden 

Like all of our travel destinations in 2018, we chose Washington DC on a whim. The United States capital held a place in the middle ranks of our travel bucket list for many years – it was a place we wanted to get to, someday, but not urgently. Travelling to international destinations from Winnipeg requires a surprising amount of coordination, and easy to reach destinations are not always the ones you would expect. But Washington DC was among them, so we booked our tickets and packed our bags for what proved to be an incredibly busy week. There is just so much to do and see in DC. And while we accomplished a lot, it still felt like we had barely scratched the surface of what the city has to offer…

Sleep
The Fairmont Washington DC
We played hotel hopscotch during our week in Washington DC, bouncing around multiple properties for a variety of reasons, including my tendency to miscount dates. The elegant Fairmont Washington DC was by far our favourite. And, while obviously not a budget property, the comfort, service and location make it worth every penny. We particularly loved the opulent lobby car, decorated in blue and grey velvet, with marble tables and golden geometric shapes hung from the ceiling for a modern starry night effect.

Eat
At times, it felt like we were simply eating our way through DC – and honestly, I couldn’t complain. The city boasts an amazing food scene and delicious restaurants at all price points. (Admittedly – we mostly stuck to budget-friendly spots. When you factor in the Canadian dollar to US dollar exchange rate, travelling south of the border can be pricey.)

Le Diplomate – 1601 14th Street NW
Every time I find a French restaurant in a city that isn’t in France and insist we go there, Ian rolls his eyes a bit – to him, they’re all the same. I admit that he isn’t totally wrong, but I stood firm in my desire to visit Le Diplomate, anyway, and it did not disappoint. Imagine a perfectly, adorably Parisian-inspired cafe with an outstanding menu. I’m still dreaming about the fresh cheese with hazelnuts, pomegranate and mint that we ordered as an appetizer.
Chaia – 3207 Grace Street NW
Who doesn’t love tacos? The day my taco craving kicked in, we were totally exhausted and chose the restaurant closest to our hotel. It was a good gamble. Chaia serves fresh, unusual vegetarian tacos in a cute (read: instagrammable) and casual atmosphere. The only problem? Choosing which tacos to order!
Bluestone Lane – 1100 23rd Street NW
I spotted this originally Australian cafe, home of picturesque avocado toast and beautifully assembled bowls of quinoa oatmeal, almost immediately after we arrived in DC. But, wary of food that looks better than it tastes, we waited until a rainy day late in our trip to actually take the plunge and try Bluestone Lane. Although priced high for food served at what is essentially a coffee shop with table service, the gorgeous decor and delicious dishes made up for it, in my opinion.
Ted’s Bulletin – Multiple locations
This local chain is the polar opposite of Bluestone Lane. A family restaurant focused on less-than- picturesque but totally delicious comfort food, with dark wood decor and silverware wrapped in paper napkins. The all-day breakfast drew me in, but the highlight of our meal was dessert – a blueberry cheesecake “Ted’s Tart”, which is essentially a homemade pop tart, fresh from the oven. Yum!
Bullfrog Bagels – 317 7th Street SE
At one time, not a day went by when I didn’t eat a bagel. Bagels came in and went back out of vogue in central Canada years ago. I can’t recall the last time I saw a bagel on a Winnipeg restaurant menu. Since we are both bagel aficionados, and don’t get enough of them at home, we deliberately seek about the best bagels when we travel, and Bullfrog gave us exactly what we were looking for. In fact, I’m still trying to figure out if I can recreate their honey walnut cream cheese!

Shop
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – it’s rare that I shop on vacation. The last time I bought a souvenir fridge magnet, I was still in high school. And I’m not great at making impulse clothing purchases. But there is one store I visited repeatedly while in DC…

& Other Stories – 3241 M Street NW
My favourite H&M sister store has no Canadian locations and, worse, doesn’t ship to Canada, so I seek out locations whenever I travel. This one, located in Georgetown, was a treasure trove – whether or not you know the brand, it’s worth visiting while you’re in Washington DC.

See
The list of possible sights to visit in Washington DC is long. We visited twice as many attractions as I’ve listed here, but there are my absolute favourites. (Note: Entry to all museums, galleries and memorials in Washington DC is free. Unfortunately, that means long lines. But, most attractions offer the option to book an entry time online before your visit. Take advantage whenever you can, it’s absolutely worthwhile.)

Library of Congress – 101 Independence Avenue SE
Bibliophiles must not miss this library when in DC. Although I admit to being sorry that the reading room isn’t actually accessible to tourists, it was still amazing to see from above. The architecture of the building, both outside and in, is utterly breathtaking; think lots of marble (even in the restrooms!), painted frescos and natural light.
Lincoln Memorial – 2 Lincoln Memorial Circle NW
If you can only visit one attraction in DC, let it be this iconic marble monument to President Lincoln. Not only is the memorial a sight to behold in and of itself, it also offers views of the reflecting pool and Washington Monument.
National Portrait Gallery – 8th Street NW & F Street NW
The unveiling of Kehinde Wiley’s portrait of President Obama took place shortly before we arrived in DC. Admittedly, seeing it in person was a highlight of our visit to the city. But it’s far from the only reason to visit the National Portrait Gallery, which boasts an impressive collection of modern art in addition to, you guessed it, portraits.
United States Botanic Garden – 100 Maryland Avenue SW
I loved this indoor garden so much, I dedicated an entire article to it. If you love flowers and plants, you will love it here – there is no question about it. And after visiting multiple museums, it makes a nice change to spend some time in nature. Even that nature happens to be indoors…!