Washington, D.C. is a particular place for a couple of reasons. It’s where North & South meet. It’s got more prepsters than I’m used to plus a ton of workaholic college graduates. Located on a swamp, it’s humid even in the winter, but seeing as it was my last semester in the district, I decided to make the most of it.
I had a “D.C. Bucket List” if you will, which included things such as: going to Roosevelt Island, Capitol Hill Books, DC Brau tasting, Gavelly Point, the Renwick, Dumbarton Oaks, kayaking on the Potomac, cat cafe, Caps game, The Wharf, ice skating at the Sculpture Garden, National Cathedral Flower Mart, and Danish Embassy Open House — just to name a few.
So if you’re new to the area, or just visiting for a week, here are the highlights & worthwhile things you should experience.
A Concert Hall
What better way than to start chronologically? Back in October, I got to see one of my favorite bands at the 9:30 Club (a concert venue I frequented my 4 years in DC). It was quite impressive to see the Bad Suns headlining(!) since as a freshman in college, they were only the opening act.
Onto the next thing!
Gardens
I was also lucky enough to be visited by a few friends this year! Above are photos of Hillwood Estate, located inside the district near the Van Ness metro stop. It’s quite a sight so I recommend checking out the hidden gem.
Catch up with friends
Luckily, some of my friends from study abroad went to Georgetown University, so I got to catch up with some of them from time to time. I recommend all the activities we did! We went to a tea salon in Georgetown called Lady Camellia. We saw the cherry blossoms at peak and we tried some drinks on the rooftop (Top of the Gate) of the Watergate Hotel!
March for Our Lives
Processed with VSCO with m5 preset
I had never been to a march in Washington before. Seeing as it was my last year, this was the time to go. I went with my one friend to film for a class and it was quite an experience. I’m happy I got to go and talk to march attendees.
Cat Cafe
I finally got to go to the cat cafe! When you lack the affection of a fluffy animal while you’re away at college, a cat cafe is the perfect antidote! It is a bit pricey, but the time is well spent if you don’t have a pet of your own.
Go out on the town
If you’re gonna go out in D.C., I’d recommend the following in Dupont Circle: Madhatter and Decades. The U Street scene is a bit more hip. Though not as a familiar with that area, if you just wander into places, it’ll still be a good time.
Capitol Hill Books
There is a cantankerous old man who runs Capitol Hill Books and it just makes the place that much more charming. After exploring the cozy store, trying not to knock over precariously placed books, I left with one new book. There’s lots of little shops nearby that you can check out. On this dreary day, I had gotten coffee, checked out Eastern Market (right around the corner), and grabbed some pizza.
Grab a drink
“Go to the DC Brau Brewery” had been on my DC bucket list so I did just that! Unfortunately, there was an IPA hops festival going on so we couldn’t do a tour, but just as well, we got to try a flight of their beers. It was a fun little time hopping over to Northeast DC.
*Visiting via car might be the easiest
Kayak & Visit an Embassy
-Usually stinky hot in the summer, mid-May was a glorious time to go kayaking on the Potomac. I went to the Key Bridge location, located right in Georgetown. I’d say it’s quite cheap — $22 per hour for a tandem kayak. So only $11 each for my friend & me!
-On May 12th, there was an EU sponsored “Embassy Open House” event. Seeing as my parents never got to visit me while I was abroad in Denmark, I thought I’d bring it to them. It was a great event (though, atrociously hot) where they got to try Danish Carlsberg beer and flødeboller.
Gravelly Point & Dumbarton Oaks
Looking to be outside? These are the spots for you!
Gravelly Point: Watch the planes take off from Reagan National Airport. A great place for families and couples alike, the planes are a thrillingly short distance from your head.
Dumbarton Oaks: This quaint estate nestled in Georgetown hosts beautiful flowers, fountains, and pools. With plenty of seating options and lounge areas, bring a book to enjoy the day (no picnics allowed unfortunately).
See some art (+ The Wharf)
Home to a plethora of Smithsonian museums (hellooo free!!), D.C. is a great place to soak in some art. I had actually never been to the Renwick, so during a free day I knew I had to check it out. Though a small space, it packs a lot of punch.
The Wharf is also a great spot to visit. With new restaurants, bars, and more you could easily spend a whole day wandering and lounging around there. Plus, there’s a new concert venue called The Anthem — looks like it would have amazing views of the water!
Graduation
Jefferson Memorial at sunset
And then the time to leave D.C. soon arrived. Graduation weekend was a whirlwind and came to a speedy end — with graduation lunches and attempts to find friends to say goodbye. I’m happy I attended a university in a city for I think I would have lost my mind anywhere else! Also, very grateful to have had the chance to study abroad since that was a dream of mine since high school.
It has been a journey, but I’m sure the next chapter will be as well. Congrats class of 2018!
Living the Good Life 