Washington DC holidays

Capitol building, Washington DC

Holidays to Washington D.C land you side by side with America’s famous faces – it’s home to The White House, The US Capitol and The National Mall.

Stateless city

Washington D.C. straddles the states of Virginia and Maryland, but belongs to neither. It gained its independence in 1801 when it became a federal district – something not seen anywhere else in America. This place takes its name from the first president of the United States – George Washington. And today it still houses all branches of US government – both The White House and The United States Capitol take their place here. It brings a lot more to the table than that though – there are over 130 neighbourhoods to get your head around and more museums, monuments and memorials than you can fit into a single day.

City Breaks to Washington D.C

The city’s grid format makes city break sightseeing really easy. The US Capitol Building marks the centre of the city’s numbered and lettered streets – east-to-west streets are named with letters, whilst you’ll find north-to-south have numbers. The city’s split into four quadrants – the Northwest quadrant is the big brother of the bunch – it takes in the city’s central business district as well as a big chunk of The National Mall. Then you’ve got Northeast – home to some of the city’s best arts and entertainment venues. Southeast is home to Eastern Market and over in Southwest you’ll find one of the city’s biggest residential areas.

Mall with a difference

Over a fifth of the city is parkland, which gives it one of the biggest green ratios across all US cities. The most famous of them all is The National Mall – it’s often dubbed as America’s front yard. It packs in a lot of famous faces along its two-mile route – it’s bookended by The Lincoln Memorial on its west end and The United States Capitol on its east. Plus, its home to the National Gallery of Art – this place is joined by a huge garden dedicated to sculptures, and between them they house more than 150,000 pieces of artwork.

State sisters

Not only can you tick off America’s capital, but you can hop over the border and cross off a couple of neighbouring states, too. You can drive to Maryland in around 45 minutes – it’s nicknamed Little America because despite its small size it packs in just about every type of landscape you’d expect to find throughout the US. To the south you’ll find Virginia – the drive here will take you around three hours. It’s home to a massive haul of history and the oldest British settlement in North America – the locals here even speak with a British accent.

Popular hotels in Washington DC

Top things to see and do in Washington DC

Beaches

Seaside states

Whilst Washington D.C is never going to hit the headlines for its beach credentials, there are two states close by which have things covered on that front. Virginia is home to a raft of sandy spots along its east coast. Plus, Maryland shares its border with the Atlantic Ocean as well as Chesapeake Bay, so you’ve got beaches by the bucketload here, too.

The big beach

Sandy Point State Park lays along the north-west shore of Chesapeake Bay – it’s a 45-minute drive from Washington D.C. The beach here is a mile long and offers up top-tier views of nearby Bay Bridge. It’s a great spot to go fishing and crabbing. Plus, you can hire rowing boats and motorboats to get up close and personal with the birds, turtles and other marine life that make their home here.

The secret beach

Assateague Island saddles itself between both Virginia and Maryland, a three-hour drive from Washington D.C. The beach at this place is considered as one of the best on the east coast. It stretches for 37 miles so you won’t be hard pressed to find a quiet spot. Pack your camera before you head out, too – it’s home to two herds of wild horses and ponies, one on either side of the state’s borders.

Shopping

Bargain buys

You’re bound to bag a bargain at Eastern Market – it’s Washington D.C’s biggest market and is located at the heart of the historic Capitol Hill neighbourhood. This indoor market only takes one day off a week – it’s open from Tuesday to Sunday. Head down at the weekend when it’s joined by an outdoor market with street performers and live music, too.

Mid-range buys

Potomac Mills takes the crown for Virginia’s largest mall – it’s got 200 stores including outlets from Nike and Michael Kors. Plus, on the eating front, it’s joined by a bunch of big-name American diners, too.

Designer buys

Tysons Galleria is just a short hop across the border in Virginia – the line-up of stores at this place is at the top end of the scale. Prada, Gucci and Louis Vuitton all take their place on the map here. Plus, it’s restaurants boast fine flavours from around the globe – Greek, Italian and a Lebanese spots all take their place here.

Nightlife

Laid-back evenings

Head down to the Adams Morgan in the city’s north-west district – it’s got a heap of cocktail bars with laidback vibes. Plus, it’s home to relaxed restaurants where live jazz performers create the soundtrack to your meal.

Lively evenings

You’ll find underground nightclubs, and lively bars in D.C.’s U Street corridor – it’s the place to go for big nights out. This place is like an open-air art museum – the walls set the street alive with colourful murals.

Food & drink

Half Smoke

Washington D.C.’s local delicacy could be mistaken for the American favourite – the hot dog. But, the locals here do things with a twist – the sausage is a blend of pork and beef. It’s served up in a classic bun and topped off with onions and chilli sauce.

Cupcakes

Cupcake stores come aplenty in Washington D.C. – you can find one on almost every corner. And because this is America, you can expect gourmet toppings such as Earl Grey-infused buttercream and peanut butter fudge.

Salvadoran pupusas

Salvadoran cuisine is the flavour of the month in many neighbourhoods, and particularly in Columbian Heights. Top of the menu here you’ll find pupusas – thick corn tortillas stuffed with cheese, fried pork, refried beans, cabbage and an Italian-style red sauce.

The Rickey

Although Washington D.C. might not be a state, this place still gets an official drink. The Rickey is a cocktail that uses gin or whiskey, paired with lime juice and sparkling water. You can find it on the top of the menu at bars across the capital.

Spicy stew and injera bread

Another big hit amongst the community here is Ethiopian food. Spicy stews are favoured and it comes served up on injera – a spongy flatbread. You eat this dish with your fingers so grab another portion of bread to help scoop it up.

Average Weather in Washington DC

Facts about Washington DC

Currency
US Dollar
(USD)
Language
English
Time zone
GMT -5 (Florida)
Flight duration
7 hour 30 minutes from Heathrow Airport

FAQs

Where can I find the latest travel advice?

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