4 days of monuments and picnics in Washington, DC

Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.

1. 1
   MorningWorth the time, check ahead

   U.S. Capitol and the Capitol Visitor Center

   The white dome at the east end of the Mall, with a visitor center underneath that has exhibits and a model of the dome. Tours and visits need advance booking and a security line, so check ahead on the options for your day.

   Go when Morning, when the line at the security check is shortest.

   Local tip Tours of the building need advance booking, so check ahead. Even without a tour, the visitor center and the lawn outside are worth a visit.

   

   About 5 min walk0.2 mi
2. 2
   MiddayWorth the time, check ahead

   Library of Congress

   A grand hall of painted ceilings, marble stairs and mosaics, one of the grandest rooms in the city. The reading rooms and tours have their own rules, so check ahead on what is open and whether you need a pass.

   Go when Late morning, when the light comes through the high windows.

   Local tip Look up often: the ceilings and mosaics are the point. Check ahead on tours, reading rooms and any pass you need.

   

3. Lunch

   A half-smoke and fries

   The half-smoke is Washington's own sausage, split, grilled and piled with onions and chili. Share a few with the group.

   Local tip Ask for the toppings on the side if anyone prefers it plain.

   Places to try4 near Library of Congress‹›

   • Half-smokes, American

     Ben's Chili Bowl

     A Washington restaurant known for half-smoke sausages, with locations across the city.

     1.1 mi from Library of Congress
   • Burgers, fries

     Good Stuff Eatery

     A burger spot on Pennsylvania Avenue SE, on Capitol Hill, serving burgers and fries.

     0.2 mi from Library of Congress
   • Pub

     Hawk 'n' Dove

     A pub on Pennsylvania Avenue SE, on Capitol Hill, serving pub food.

     0.2 mi from Library of CongressPhoto: Mykola Swarnyk, CC BY-SA 3.0 on Wikimedia Commons
   • Pub

     Union Pub

     A pub on 1st Street SE, close to the Library of Congress, serving pub food.

     0.4 mi from Library of CongressPhoto: ActivBowser9177, CC0 on Wikimedia Commons

   Hours change, so check before you go.

   About 9 min walk0.5 mi
4. 3
   AfternoonWorth the time

   Eastern Market

   A neighborhood market hall on Capitol Hill, with food stalls, flowers and crafts, and people who live nearby doing their shopping. Wander slowly and graze. Check ahead on which days the outdoor stalls are set up.

   Go when Late morning or early afternoon, when the stalls are open and busy.

   Local tip Walk the whole hall once, then go back for what looked good. It is a place to graze, so come hungry and share.

   

5. Dinner

   Pizza and pasta to share

   Capitol Hill has many casual Italian places where a few pizzas and a bowl of pasta are easy to pass around a table.

   Local tip Book ahead for a larger group, and ask about early seating.

   

   Places to try2 near Eastern Market‹›

   • American, pasta

     Rose's Luxury

     A restaurant on 8th Street SE serving shared plates and pasta.

     0.4 mi from Eastern MarketPhoto: Lou Stejskal, CC BY 2.0 on Wikimedia Commons
   • American, shared plates

     Beuchert's Saloon

     A restaurant on Pennsylvania Avenue SE serving shared plates, a short walk from Eastern Market.

     0.1 mi from Eastern Market

   Hours change, so check before you go.

Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.

1. 1
   MorningPick your galleries

   National Air and Space Museum

   Rockets, early airplanes and a hall of spacecraft, a museum that many ages tend to enjoy together. Timed entry passes are common, so check ahead on tickets and on which galleries are open before you go.

   Go when Morning, when the halls are less crowded and the group still has energy.

   Local tip Choose three or four galleries and take your time. Check ahead on timed passes and on which galleries are open, since parts of the museum change.

   

   About 5 min walk0.2 mi
2. 2
   MiddayWorth the time

   National Mall

   The long green lawn between the Capitol and the Washington Monument, ringed by museums and shaded by elm trees. Spread a blanket, share a picnic and let the group wander. Paths are wide and mostly flat.

   Go when Midday, with a picnic.

   Local tip Pick up sandwiches on the way, sit under the elms and let the group spread out. There are benches along the paths, and a Smithsonian museum is steps away if the weather turns.

   

3. Lunch

   A picnic on the Mall

   Sandwiches, fruit, cheese and something cold, spread out on a blanket under the elm trees. Everyone picks something different.

   Local tip Pick up the food on the way in, since the museum cafes can have lines at noon.

   About 3 min walk0.2 mi
4. 3
   AfternoonPick your halls

   National Museum of Natural History

   A grand hall with a giant elephant in the middle, dinosaur skeletons, gems, butterflies and ocean life. Choose two or three halls and skip the rest. Check ahead on timed passes and any hall closures.

   Go when Afternoon, when the morning crowds thin out.

   Local tip Start in the rotunda with the elephant, then choose two or three halls. Check ahead on timed passes and on any hall that is closed.

   

5. Dinner

   Ethiopian platters to share

   Washington has many Ethiopian restaurants, where stews and flatbread arrive on one big platter and everyone eats with their hands. A lively dinner for a group.

   Local tip Ask the server what is mild. Vegetarian platters are easy to find.

   

Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.

1. 1
   MorningPick your galleries

   National Museum of American History

   A big museum of everyday American life, from the flag that inspired the anthem to trains and pop culture. Pick a few exhibits and leave time to sit.

   Go when Morning, before the school groups arrive.

   Local tip Choose a few exhibits you care about, such as the flag or the trains. Check ahead on timed passes and on any closures.

   

   About 6 min walk0.3 mi
2. 2
   MiddayWorth a short stop

   Washington Monument

   The tall white obelisk at the heart of the Mall, easy to see from nearly everywhere in town. The lawn around it is a fine place to stop and eat. Going up needs a timed ticket, so check ahead on whether it is open and how to book.

   Go when Midday, as a rest on the lawn between the walks.

   Local tip Most of the pleasure is seeing it from the grass. If you want to go up, check ahead on timed tickets, because the plan can change.

   

3. Lunch

   Deli sandwiches on the lawn

   Pick up sandwiches, fruit and drinks from a deli near the Mall and eat them on the grass below the monument.

   Local tip Take your trash with you, and bring a blanket if you have one.

   Places to try2 near Washington Monument‹›

   • Cafe, American

     Sweet Home Cafe

     A cafe inside the National Museum of African American History and Culture, near the Washington Monument.

     0.2 mi from Washington Monument
   • American

     Old Ebbitt Grill

     An American restaurant on 15th Street, near the White House and a short walk from the Mall.

     0.6 mi from Washington MonumentPhoto: dbking, CC BY 2.0 on Wikimedia Commons

   Hours change, so check before you go.

   About 11 min walk0.6 mi
4. 3
   AfternoonWorth the time

   Jefferson Memorial and the Tidal Basin

   A round, columned memorial on the edge of the Tidal Basin, a loop of water ringed with cherry trees. The path around it is flat and good for strollers and slow walkers. The blossoms move each year with the weather, so check ahead on the bloom before you plan around it.

   Go when Afternoon, then stay for the light before sunset if the group has the energy.

   Local tip The loop around the basin is a bit over two miles, so walk only the stretch you like. In cherry blossom season the paths fill up, so check ahead on bloom dates and go early.

   

Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.

1. 1
   MorningWorth the time

   Lincoln Memorial and the Reflecting Pool

   A huge marble temple at the west end of the Mall, with a seated Lincoln inside and a long pool stretching toward the Washington Monument. The steps make a good place for a group photo. Check ahead on any construction or closures.

   Go when Early morning, when the steps are quiet and the light is soft on the marble.

   Local tip Walk up the steps slowly and look back at the pool. Then follow the path along the water toward the Washington Monument, a flat and easy stroll.

   

   About 14 min by car or transit2.9 mi
2. 2
   MorningWorth the time, check ahead

   Smithsonian's National Zoo

   A hillside zoo in Rock Creek Park with winding paths, big cats and many other animals, and shady places to stop. It is a good day for a group with a range of ages. The walk is hilly, so go at an easy pace.

   Go when Morning, when many animals are most active and the paths are cool.

   Local tip The paths are hilly, so take it slowly and rest often. Check ahead on entry passes and on which animals are on show, and take the Metro to Woodley Park.

   

   About 11 min by car or transit2.1 mi
3. 3
   EveningWorth the time

   Georgetown Waterfront Park

   A grassy park and boardwalk on the Potomac, with boats going by, broad steps down to the water and a view across to Virginia. It is a calm place to end the day. Georgetown has no Metro station, so ride a bus or a car from the Mall, and check ahead on the route.

   Go when Early evening, with sunset over the river.

   Local tip Find a bench or a step by the water and watch the rowing boats. Plan a ride back, since the nearest Metro station is a walk away.

   

4. Dinner

   Crab cakes and seafood by the water

   Maryland crab cakes, shrimp and fish are a local favorite, and a good dinner to share after a day of walking. Georgetown has many choices near the waterfront.

   Local tip Book ahead for a group, and ask about a table with a view of the river.

   

   Places to try4 near Georgetown Waterfront Park‹›

   • American, seafood

     Sequoia

     A restaurant at Washington Harbour with a large terrace on the Potomac, next to Georgetown Waterfront Park.

     0.1 mi from Georgetown Waterfront ParkPhoto: Xpda, CC BY-SA 4.0 on Wikimedia Commons
   • American, seafood

     Farmers Fishers Bakers

     A restaurant at Washington Harbour on the Georgetown waterfront.

     0.1 mi from Georgetown Waterfront Park
   • Italian, seafood

     Fiola Mare

     A seafood restaurant at Washington Harbour on the Georgetown waterfront.

     under 0.1 mi from Georgetown Waterfront Park
   • American, seafood

     Nick's Riverside Grill

     A casual grill at Washington Harbour serving seafood, burgers and drinks.

     under 0.1 mi from Georgetown Waterfront Park

   Hours change, so check before you go.