What To Do In DC For A Day: A Fun and Helpful Guide

Washington, D.C. is known for being a cultural touchstone to this country’s history. When you come here you’ll visit national monuments like the National Mall which holds Lincoln Memorial, World War II Memorial, the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, the Washington Monument, and many more. You’ll bask in architecture that’s been in the making for over 200 years. 

‍

But that’s not all, as you must know D.C. has some of the country’s most famous museums including the National Gallery of Art, the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History (where you’ll find Larry Daley running around with Jed and Octavius running around), and more. There is so much to see and do in the city and we haven’t even covered some of the restaurants, shops, and lesser-known parts yet. Luckily we’re going to give you a guide on what to do in DC for a day so you can hit up the city’s finest.

‍

Before we head to Chocolate City, we should talk about GiftYa. GiftYa is an online distributor for thousands of eGift cards to restaurants, famous retailers, department stores, local businesses, online subscription services and shops, spas, hotels, airlines, and more. You can surprise a friend or loved one with a gift card whenever you feel like instantly thanks to GiftYa’s fast delivery system. All you have to do is go onto the website, pick a card they might like, choose an amount up to $500, customize it by adding a picture, video, and message, then decide whether you want to send it via text or email- it’s that easy!

Let’s Get Started With Why You’re Here: Monuments and Museums

Breaking down the museums to go to and how to see them all in one section:

From the intro you know that we had to officially start our guide with the highlights of DC: the National Mall. The quickest and easiest way to see some of our nation’s biggest and most popular monuments. Locals recommend parking DC proper and then taking the metro to the Smithsonian Station for less stress on your trip. In over 300 acres you will be able to see:

The Washington Monument

Look up and bask in the sheer height of this monument that celebrates and honors George Washington. Over 36,000 stones were used to create this monument and it’s not just one big stone pillar, no you can actually go inside where you’ll immediately be greeted with a statue of the man himself and an elevator leading you up to the top floor where you’ll be able to see out of the 500' observation deck at the base of the pyramidion.

The Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool

Named after our sixteenth president Abraham Lincoln, the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool is the largest reflecting pool in the city being 2,030 by 167 feet. It is directly east of the Lincoln Memorial itself- (which we will talk about next), and the World War II Memorial and Washington Monument. Made in the 1920’s, this pool sees millions of visitors every year.

The Lincoln Memorial

Towering big over the Reflecting Pool is the Lincoln Memorial where you'll see Abrahma himself sitting down looking upon you as you take in the sheer magnitude of his size (19-foot tall, 175-ton statue). To his left you’ll see the Gettysburg Address etched into the wall. Its design you’ll notice takes inspiration from Greek temples and has 36 pillars which signifies how many official states there were at the time of his death. 

The Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial

From Washington’s official website: “The memorial is the fourth in Washington, DC to honor a non-president and the first to honor a man of color.” This right here goes to show how important visiting this landmark is. As you’re at the Reflecting Pool and Memorial you’ll be able to see this memorial and read his most famous “I Have a Dream” speech carved into marble. 

Korean War Veterans Memorial

Featuring the triangular “Fields of Service” where nineteen stainless steel soldiers are on patrol in Korea. This depicts the experience of American troops on the ground overseas “who answered the call to defend a country they never knew and a people they never met." (via the NPS). Each statue features different features, movement(s), and rank(s). 

Vietnam Veterans Memorial

The Vietnam Veterans Memorial features a too long wall with over 58,000 names of dead and missing soldiers from this controversial war. As is with the Korean War, the Vietnam war is prone to be forgotten and Maya Lin the creator of this wall makes it so visitors from all over the world “confront and embrace the human cost of national action.” We highly recommend reading Gabriel Bell’s piece on the war and wall itself so you can understand this memorial possibly with a new lens. 

DC National Mall Night Tour with 10 Stops

One not-so-hidden gem of the National Mall is the “DC National Mall Night Tour with 10 Stops, Reserved Entry Tickets.” Instead of going to see all of these landmarks during the day, why not go at night? This three hour tour has thousands of rave reviews and is recommended as a great way to fit both a museum and monuments in all in one day. You’ll be taken around on a coach bus that stops at each monument for you to get out and take moonlit pictures. It’s a new way to see some of our nation’s most famous places.

Next Up: Museums 💫

National Museum of African American History and Culture

1400 Constitution Ave. NW | Washington, DC | nmaahc.si.edu

We are now headed in to talk about the road of museums that await history-buffs starting first with the National Museum of African American History and Culture where all are welcome to learn about the African American experience. Featuring Harriet Tubman's hymnal, the Violin played by the enslaved man Jesse Burke, the Interactive lunch counter where you’ll see an interactive screen of freedom fighters, the The Contemplative Court, and much more.

Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History

10th St. & Constitution Ave. NW | Washington, DC | naturalhistory.si.edu

From the Smithsonian Institution we have the National Museum of Natural History where you can take in  climbing spherical ceilings and learn all there is to learn about animals of all kinds. You can see popular exhibits like the National Fossil Hall where you’ll get a glimpse of life millions of years ago, the Butterfly Pavillion, and see the Hope Diamond!

National Gallery of Art

Constitution Ave. NW | Washington, DC | nga.gov

If you’re an art buff then you simply must go to the National Gallery of Art where you’ll see a stunning collection of art from all over the world. They have pieces from the Italian Renaissance, the 20th Century, Impressionist works, and more. There are over 2,300 paintings in the gallery with some permanent collections as well as ever-rotating exhibits that are worth seeing before they go.

Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum

601 Independence Ave SW | Washington, DC | airandspace.si.edu 

Here we have the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum which is arguably the most popular and sought-out after museum the Smithsonian has. You can easily spend the whole day here if you aren’t careful because there is just that much to see. Look up at classic hanging planes and venture forth where you’ll learn about how we’ve taken to the air and beyond into space. It’s non-stop fun here.

✅Make sure to also check out:

• The National Museum of Asian Art where over 46,000 pieces of history from China, Japan, Korea, South Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East are displayed with care.
• The National Museum of African Art which is “dedicated to the collection, exhibition, conservation and study of the arts of Africa.”
• The Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden where modern and contemporary art goes to thrive.
• The Smithsonian National Museum of American History which showcases a full retelling of our complex history.
• And what else to do in DC for a day is to visit the National Museum of the American Indian where you’ll see an expansive collection of art and artifacts of native peoples. 

Visit Rose’s Luxury to Fulfill Your Appetite(s)

Often a part of the “best restaurants in DC” – which means it’s more than worth the visit!

‍

📍 717 8th St SE | Washington | rosesluxury.com

‍

We need to get those calories back after all that walking and what better than one of DC’s most favorite restaurants?

‍

Rose’s Luxury is a Michelin-starred restaurant located right along Capitol Hill. Best known for being the place for weddings, parties, date-nights, and get-togethers with friends, you’ll find this place is one of a kind and really makes the DC trip whole. The venue itself is pretty special as it is a converted townhouse with an upstairs bar and a Roof Garden where you can dine amongst wildlife and string lights. 

‍

Rose’s Luxury’s menu is a bit different than your average dining experience as they focus on a “Choose Your Own Adventure” four-course meal, with bread service to start. You get to pick from 2-4 options. One of the choices is their Italian Beef Sandwich Pasta, which is like the Italian Beef Sandwich they make in the hit FX show ‘The Bear’ but in pasta form. Lot’s of super fun menu options like that which makes dining at Rose’s Luxury very exciting and unique.

‍

“Went for my 30th birthday. The food was AMAZING. So much attention to detail in the food and service. My favorite was of course the lychee salad. The crispy pork with the fried pork ears was so unique and amazing. Everything worked so well together” -Yelp Review

‍

‍

Getting to everything we talked about in our “what to do in DC for a day” is a bit difficult if you want to really sit and appreciate everything but you could always pick a few that really speak to you and come back to visit another time to really check everything off your list. 

‍