Washington DC
My mom invited me on a girl’s trip to Washington DC for her birthday. Neither of us had ever been before, so I jumped at the chance to visit this historic place. We were also able to save a little money by staying with my cousin, who was living in Virginia temporarily to teach a course at the FBI Training Facility in Quantico.
Day 1 – Friday
We started the morning early with a metro ride into DC. We walked to the National Mall to see the Lincoln Memorial, Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial, World War II Memorial, and the Washington Monument. Seeing all of these sites in person was an amazing experience.
We ate lunch at We the Pizza – delicious and quick slices of pizza! After lunch, we took a tour of the US Capitol Building. The tour guide was extremely informative. We walked to the Supreme Court Building, The White House, and Lafayette Square. We had dinner and drinks at Old Ebbitt Grill – a perfect way to end our first day.
Day 2 – Saturday
We slept in (just a little bit), and then my cousin took us on a tour of Quantico, the FBI Training Academy. This was definitely my favorite part of the trip because the facility is not open to the public. There are lots of rules for taking pictures here, so I decided to play it safe and only snap one of the exterior sign. We grabbed a quick bite for lunch and then took the metro into Washington DC.
The afternoon was spent at the National Archives, where we got to view the Declaration of Independence. It was incredible to see up close. I recommend purchasing tour tickets ahead of time. We were able to walk right in even though there was a line out the door and around the corner (for those who had not booked in advance). Dinner was at Filomena Ristorante in Georgetown. It was charming and delectable – known for serving actors, musicians, and past presidents. I ordered the Linguini Cardinale (so yummy)!
Day 3 – Sunday
We traveled into Washington DC for brunch at Chez Billy Sud (good food and beautiful restaurant!) and then spent a few hours exploring Georgetown. After that, it was on to Ford’s Theatre and our “Timed Historic Visit.” We were able to see the museum, the theatre, the Peterson House, and the Aftermath Exhibits.
Dinner was a quick bite at Luke’s Lobster – tasty and cheap! We concluded the night with a “Monuments by Moonlight Tour.” Most of the monuments we had already visited with the exception of a few, but seeing them at night gave a whole new perspective. We also learned a great deal about them and DC in general from our amazing Old Town Trolley Tours guide.
Day 4 – Monday
My mom and I spent our last morning at Arlington National Cemetery. We timed it so that we could witness the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier – a beautiful tribute. We also walked to JFK’s grave site prior to heading to the airport. It was a solemn, but good way to end our trip.
-xoxo CD
