Literally: In Love With Washington, D.C.!
Here at Au Pair in America, we all have at least one thing in common: We’re in love with America! So we think it’s just about time to share some first-hand experience & advice with all those of you, who are planning on exploring all the hidden corners & secret gems of this beautiful country. We’re super excited to give to you: “In Love With America”, our brand-new travel series!
In this series, we’re shedding some light on our au pairs’ favourite spots in the USA. Whether it is a city, a state or just a general area that our au pairs are currently obsessed with – we’ll introduce some of North America’s “places to be” in an entirely new way. Our secret? We get our recommendations right from the source – our lovely au pairs – to ensure that our travel tips cover everything an Au Pair in America needs to know about and more!
Each blog will be dedicated to a different one of your top rated travel destinations, whereas the categories that’ll help you learn more about that particular part of the USA will remain more or less the same. Get your notepads and pencils ready (or just open your Notes app, really), cause this series is some serious bucket list material!
Next up: Washington, D.C.: “The perfect city for anyone who enjoys a more laid back and relaxed atmosphere instead of a city that never stops hustling and bustling.”
Metrorail
Metrobus & DC Circulator
SmarTrip
Plenty of bike lanes & Capital Bikeshare including their comprehensive Bicycle Map
Fun to explore and easily accessible on foot for the most part. Guided Walking Tours are available!
Old Town Trolley & DC Duck Tours
The National Mall | One of America’s most-visited national parks, that is home to some of D.C.’s most iconic monuments and memorials, such as:
Lincoln Memorial
Washington Monument
World War II Memorial
Vietnam Veterans Memorial
Korean War Veterans Memorial
Thomas Jefferson Memorial
Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial
Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial
The White House
The U.S. Capitol Building & Visitor Center | Tours available!
Ford’s Theater | The infamous theatre where Abraham Lincoln was assassinated in 1865. Tours are available through the John F. Kennedy Center For The Performing Arts
Recreation Pier at The Wharft
Library of Congress | The largest library in the world!
Bureau of Engraving & Printing | See how money is being made!
Chinatown Arch
Arlington National Cemetery | including the John F. Kennedy Eternal Flame, a presidential memorial at the gravesite of U.S. President John F. Kennedy
Eastern & Union Market
National Gallery of Art | modern or contemporary, art or architecture, Monet or Goya – whatever floats your boat!
National Gallery of Art’s Sculpture Garden | Jazz in The Garden every Friday afternoon in summer
The Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
The Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
National Museum of the American History
National Museum of the American Indian
National Air & Space Museum
Portrait Gallery | grab a cup of coffee at the Courtyard Café
National Air & Space Museum | pro tip!
Newseum | pro tip!
Thunder Burger | American
Teds Bulletin | American Italian
Bethesda Bagels
Baked & Wired | Bakery
Georgetown Cupcakes | Bakery
Firehook Bakery
Fogo de Chao | Brazilian
Founding Farmers | Brunch
Kramerbooks and Afterwords Café
Sugar Factory | Candy
Ben’s Chili Bowl | Chili
Fiola Mare | Fish
Union Market DC | Food Market
Zaytinya | Greek
Dolci Gelati | Ice Cream
Thomas Sweet | Ice Cream
Compass Rose Bar + Kitchen | International
Casa de Luca | Italian
Filomena | Italian
Il Canale | Italian
La Masseria | Italian
Lupo Verde | Italian
Tosca | Italian
Daikaya Izakaya | Japanese
Momiji | Japanese
Toki Underground | Japanese
Cactus Cantina | Mexican
Comet Ping Pong | Pizza
Pete’s Pizza | Pizza
Mari Vanna | Russian
Tasca | Spanish
The Capital Grille | Steakhouse
Upcoming
Environmental Film Festival in the Nation’s Capital | March 15th – 25th
National Cherry Blossom Festival | March 20th – April 15th
Anacostia River Festival | April 15th
Awesome Con | March 30th – April 1st
Blossom Kite Festival | 31st March
“No Spectators: The Art of Burning Man” exhibition | March 30th – January 2019
“Chicago” musical | March 10 – April 7
Shakespeare’s “A Winter’s Tale”| March 13 – April 22
New York City Ballet’s annual appearance at the Kennedy Center | March 27th – April 1st
All Year Around
Signature Theater
Arena Stage
Ford Theater
Shakespeare Theater | “Free For All” series
The National Theater | national Broadway production tours
Kennedy Center | concerts and other, free performances every day
Woolly Mammoth Theater
Lotteries | such as TodayTix’ mobile lottery for Ford’s Theatre performances & other discounts for people <30
Arlington Cinema & Drafthouse | enjoy a movie and have dinner at the same time
Free concerts | West Lawn of the U.S. capitol
Free, live music from local bands | Fort Reno in Upper Northwest
Luce Unplugged | a free monthly concert series showcasing local talents hosted by Luce Foundation Center for American Art (Smithsonian American Art Museum)
Fashion Center at Pentagon City
Downtown Silver Spring
Downtown Bethesda
Georgetown
Meridian Hill Park | close to Georgetown, amazing view of the Washington Monument & the city
Rock Creek Park | plenty of hiking and jogging trails as well as bike lanes
US National Arboretum
Kahlil Gibran Memorium Garden
U.S. Botanic Garden | Wall Flowers: Botanical Murals (exhibition) through October 15th
Smithsonian Gardens
Potomac River | canoeing & other boat trips
Georgetown Waterfront
Great Falls Park | 30 minutes outside of D.C.
Kayaking in DC | Key Bridge Boathouse
Roosevelt Island | reachable by footbridge right off the George Washington memorial Parkway
Book Hill Park | amazing view of Georgetown and Virginia, right behind the Georgetown Public Library
Georgetown Waterfront area | amazing view of Rosslyn & Arlington, Virginia, along Potomac river
Pennsylvania Ave | picture perfect view on the U.S. Capitol between 5th and 10th street
National Mall | beautiful views everywhere, especially at the Capitol’s Reflecting Pool, the Washington Memorial or the Lincoln Memorial
Tidal Basin | focal point for the Cherry Blossom Festival and a really nice view of the Washington Memorial
Palmer Alley | seasonal installations all year around
Neighborhood Heritage Trails | self-guided walking trails through D.C., each trail sign combining stories, historic photos, and maps. Popular: The Downtown Heritage Trail
The National Archives Building | displays the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and the Declaration of Independence
Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception | Largest Roman Catholic Church in America
Old Town Alexandria | A nationally designated historic district minutes from D.C., founded in 1749 “that George Washington called home”
Spending 4th of July at the Memorial Monument
Holiday season decorations
The one and only capital of the USA
Great take-off point to travel the East Coast whilst being on a budget
Plenty of picnic and outdoor movie opportunities
Go watch a Nationals game at Nationals Park
Experience the Drum Circle at Malcom X Park on a sunny Sunday afternoon | Meridian Hill Park
Art Enables | Unique Art Gallery and Vocational Arts program dedicated to creating opportunities for artists with disabilities
Passport DC | “Around the World Embassy Tour” of 52 non-European embassies (Embassy Row on Massachusetts Avenue)
Batmobile | at the National Museum of American History
Sit in on a Supreme Court ruling
Visit the National Zoo
Fresh-food Eastern market by Barrack’s Row
Georgetown University
“The Exorcist” Steps
Dumbarton Oaks Research Library & Collection
You think that there is way more to Washington, D.C. than this? You want us to feature YOUR favourite area in the USA? Let us know!