Posted on August 22, 2022 by Gabe Parmer
With a startling regularity, students graduate from GWU without taking advantage of what DC has to offer. I wanted to help rectify this by at least making sure you know what opportunities await in DC! You can think of this as a bucket list, but realistically, your tastes will differ from mine, so use as you will.
David Van Horn (@lambda_calculus) has a great list as well.
I’m not going to list the massive number of museums on the mall. They are all free, and you should check them all out!
The National Archives & the Library of Congress - A shout out to two of the Smithsonian’s museums that are sleepers. They are vastly more interesting than you’d likely guess. Both are free and very much worth a visit!
Kennedy Center Millennium Stage - A free show every Friday! They have a massive variety of dance, acting, screenshows, and concerts, so keep your eye on what’s coming up. A simple 10 minute walk from GWU, so not to be missed!
The top floors of the Kennedy Center are also fantastic as they overlook the river, Georgetown, and the Mall. A great “getaway” if you want an hour break to contemplate with beautiful views.
Glenstone - An amazing modern art sculptural and experience garden spread over a massive acreage. The inside exhibits rotate, and the grounds stay large the same. Both are amazing, but I always go for the outside exhibits, especially “FOREST (for a thousand years…)” which is an audio experience in the middle of the forest. It takes at least an hour to walk around the grounds, so bring comfortable shoes. Free for students, and there is public transit (though it might take a while).
Wolf Trap - A wonderful outdoor/indoor concert venue in warm months, and a renovated barn for concerts in the winter. Seating on “The Lawn” means that you bring your own picnic and drinks, and you get comfy to watch and listen to the music. Get there early to get a good spot; it can be hard to “squeeze in” late. No protection from the rain, so bring umbrellas, or watch the weather. My wife, friends, and I usually go here at least five times a year. There is public transit, but it is not super-close.
Udvar Hazy National Air and Space Museum - This is out by Dulles in VA, but is well worth the trip. It is effectively two huge hangars attached, and filled with historical airplanes. There’s an SR-71, a Concorde, and a Space Shuttle. Anyone who appreciates the engineering or history behind these modern marvels should enjoy this.
Dumbarton Oaks Gallery/Garden - The Garden is really the star of this show. It is a series of different, themed gardens spread around a large acreage. Not free, but well worth the visit.
National Cathedral - The NC has amazing architecture, and a fantastic garden with meandering path. Interesting and beautiful even for the non-religeous/non-christian. The spectacular artificial cavern is amazing for organ and choral concerts.
Dupont Underground - A gallery took over some of the tunnels under Dupont Circle! They have edgy, interesting exhibits, and the venue is worth a visit on its own. This is exactly the level of grit that I love. Thanks David Van Horn, I forgot this one!
Staycations in Hotel Roof Pools - Many hotels in DC have pools on the roofs, and for a fee, you can hang out there all day! A great way to escape a little bit, get some pool and sun time.
Yes, we are in the middle of a big city. But there are plenty of opportunities to “get away” into nature.
The C&O Canal trail - There is a trail that follows the canal in Georgetown, and then the river…all the way to Ohio. It is beautiful if you’re in the mood for a long walk, run, or bike. For much of it, there is a trail that follows the Canal that is dirt (thus easier on running legs), and a separate paved trail by the river (better for biking). A great example of feeling like you’re in the middle of nowhere, in the middle of DC.
The Glover Archbold Trail - A trail you can get to from the C&O that turns into a small dirt path through a massive park. You can’t see the city around you at all, so it is a wonderful retreat from civilization.
Dumbaron Oaks Park - A park that goes beyond the Garden that is free, and has a wonderful set of paths to wander around, hear a stream, and daydream. Relatively close to GWU, so worth a visit if you want some “nature time”. The Park is behind the “park” with open grass spaces, a kid play area, tennis courts, etc… Take the road down the hill to the DO Park.
Great Falls - A beautiful park with overlooks of the massive set of waterfalls in NoVA (Northern VA) with a set of nice trails to get a little hike in. A drive away.
I’m a huge sucker for a good coffee shop. I’ve added distance location so that you can plan out the logistics of your caffeine-consumption plans.
Baked and Wired - A 25 minute walk from GWU, in Georgetown. Great coffee and cupcakes. Their chaider is fantastic when in season. It is wonderful to take your goodies to the waterfront park. Very busy on the weekends.
Bluestone Lane - A 7-10 minute walk from GWU. Very expensive, but has nice seating inside and out. Better than Starbucks, but if it were further away, it wouldn’t find a niche. This is the only chain on the list, mainly for convenience and the ability to sit down.
Filter - A 10 minute walk from GWU. An interesting, small business coffee shop that diplomats commonly frequent. The diverse clientele makes people-watching quite interesting here. Good coffee, and well worth supporting. If you don’t want to sit down, this is better than Bluestone.
Emissary - A 20 minute walk from GWU, and my favorite coffee shop in the area. An amazing place to work (when it isn’t busy), and fantastic coffee.
Tryst - In Adams Morgan, so around a 40 minute walk. Adams Morgan is quirky, interesting, and full of great bars with lots of live jazz. Tryst matches the neighborhood. It is packed with old couches, significant diversity, and is, for me, the right level of dirty and disorganized to feel maximally gritty. My only sadness is not visiting this place more frequently.
The Coupe - This one is pretty far afield, but if you find yourself in Columbia Heights, this is a great restaurant and coffee shop. This is one of the ones I’ll stay at for the whole day, with a steady drip of potatoes and caffeine. Thanks David Van Horn, I forgot this one!
I don’t drink anymore, but these places really stood out when I did.
The Gibson - I know that the speakeasy craze was over five years ago, but this place has always been fantastic. It is the type of place where you tell them the types of drinks you like, and they go crazy with creativity. I haven’t been here since Covid, so quality might have decreased (as it did in many restaurants). Get a reservation if you’re going. It is a hidden hole in the wall, so know where you’re going.
The Sovereign - A Belgium restaurant with a strong selection of Absinthe. They have a proper Absinthe drip, so I strongly suggest that two people order it together. Its a whole thing. A nice environment (esp. downstairs) for hanging out.
There’s a lot of distinctive food in DC, so I’m sticking to places I know, that stick out in some dimension.
Kafe Leopold - A fantastic restaurant with amazing baked goods, and interesting drinks. Largely German menu, so expect a lot of kraut and sausages, but there is a fair amount of variety. More difficult place to eat if vegetarian, but the sides are wonderful. The baked goods, though lacking gluten-free options, are stellar – check out the glass case indoors. Inside and outside seating.
Chaia - Wonderful vegetarian/vegan tacos. Relatively good value for money. The corn and carrot tacos are surprisingly amazing. You can eat inside (including upstairs), but we always sit by the canal or river and eat.
District Tacos - Good, cheap tacos and burritos. A “goto” place for simple, filling food, done well. Relatively close to GWU.
Bubbies - Amazing plant-based comfort food, only for pickup/delivery. Fantastic gluten-free options. The (gluten-free) onion rings are sensational. Not cheap, but worth the occasional hankering.
Das Ethiopian Cuisine - DC is known for Ethiopian food, and Das is right around the corner! Worth trying if you aren’t opposed to some flavor. Not friendly (last I checked) for either gluten-free nor vegan (look out for the clarified butter!).
Busboys and Poets - A DC staple with a great environment, and good food. Has lots of vegan/vegetarian/gluten free options.
I’m happy to add to this list if I missed anything, though I’d rather stick to locations I can vouch for. Post in the Diqus forum below!
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