Washington short getaway day one, morning
Leave your Washington hotel early to pick up free tickets to the
Washington Monument. Visitors ascend the 550-foot marble obelisk in an elevator for sweeping views of the
National Mall and its memorials. Stroll the Mall to see the
World War II Memorial and the
Lincoln Memorial beyond the
Reflecting Pool. Wander past the
White House, home to every American president since 1800. The
National Museum of American History, part of the
Smithsonian Institution,
sits nearby
. Inside, icons of American history include Lincoln’s stovepipe hat and Elvis’s musical recordings.
Start: Washington Monument
Nearest Metro Smithsonian
Afternoon
Take a quick Metro ride to the
National Cathedral, site of state celebrations and funerals since 1912. The white Gothic building frequently hosts concerts and holds some hidden surprises, including a lunar rock and a sculpture of Star Wars character Darth Vader. It’s a short walk from the cathedral to the
National Zoological Park. The zoo houses thousands of exotic animals. The pandas are a perennial favorite.
Start: National Cathedral
Nearest Metro Woodley Park-Zoo/Adams Morgan
Evening
It’s a pleasant walk from the Metro to
Georgetown, a stately neighborhood of colonial brick row houses, dating back to the 1750s, and stylish shops. Enjoy dinner or drinks at
Martin’s Tavern, a DC mainstay since 1933. Polished wood paneling and Tiffany lamps give the restaurant a warm feel. Washington’s power brokers are frequent visitors.
Start: Martin’s Tavern
Nearest Metro Foggy Bottom-GWU
Washington short getaway day two, morning
Begin day two of your short getaway in Washington in Arlington and
Arlington National Cemetery. The setting is
striking for the thousands of white grave markers marching across 200 acres of rolling lawns. Primarily a military cemetery, Arlington also marks the graves of numerous dignitaries, including President Kennedy and the astronauts killed in the Challenger Space Shuttle disaster.
Start: Arlington National Cemetery
Nearest Metro Arlington Cemetery
Afternoon
It’s an easy Metro ride to the
National Archives on the National Mall. The archives preserve America’s most important national treasures like the
Declaration of Independence and the
Constitution. Cross Constitution Avenue to the
National Gallery of Art. The museum holds a large collection of European masters and American art. The romantic New World landscapes of William James Bennett, Mary Cassatt’s impressionist images of children and the bold, abstract splashes of Jackson Pollock all cry out for attention.
Start: National Archives
Nearest Metro Archives-Navy Memorial-Penn Quarter
Evening
President Teddy Roosevelt loved steak dinners at the
Old Ebbitt Grill in the early 1900s, and his presence is visible throughout this restaurant. The Beaux-Arts building’s walls are hung with dozens of exotic animals, including the head of a walrus said to be shot by the president himself. Political insiders, celebrities, journalists and theatre-goers still frequent the Ebbitt, just steps away from the White House. The restaurant’s
oyster bar is hailed by many as the best in Washington.
Start: Old Ebbitt Grill
Nearest Metro Archives-Navy Memorial-Penn Quarter
