5 Things to do in Washington DC in the Spring

A few weekends ago Mike and I took a quick road trip to Washington, DC. Neither of us have been there and it’s been on our bucket list for a while now, so we figured Spring is the best time to go when the Cherry Blossoms are bloomed. We were blessed with amazing weather during our entire trip, I’m talking 80 degrees! Washington DC is a beautiful place known for it’s history and iconic landmarks. There is a lot to do and see in the city so you have to plan accordingly and pick what you want to do before visiting. If it’s your first time you’ll definitely want to check out some of the famous land marks and sights. Our trip was short, but very action packed. Now, I am no pro on Washington DC, but I do want to share the top 5 things I recommend if you do visit the city and some helpful travel tips.

There are a lot of hotels, but we stayed at the Holiday Inn and it was great because it was right in the heart of the city (they also have a parking garage for your car). There was a bike share just steps away from the lobby and you could even walk to some museums from there. As far as getting around DC I recommend using the electric scooters or the bikes. We used bikes from Capital Bike Share and they made getting around so easy! Each day we were in DC we walked/biked 10 miles so the bikes really came in handy. You can rent get a 24 hour pass and you can pick up/drop off the bikes at the kiosks all over the city. It was so much fun riding around and looking at all of the cherry blossoms and pretty views everywhere. I feel like there is still so much to do and explore, so I already can’t wait to go back!

#1 National Mall

You have to check out the tourist attractions when you visit Washington DC. The National Mall is a perfect starting point to see some of the best monuments and memorials in the city, like the Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument, and the White House. Take a stroll or bike ride across the mall and just take it all in. It’s pretty crowded on the weekends and during the day, but a pro tip is to visit at night. It’s much less crowded and the monuments are all light up and really cool to see.

#2 Explore the Smithsonian Museums

Washington DC has some really amazing museums, and the best part is most of them are completely FREE! There are so many to choose from, so there is something that everyone will enjoy. Some of the most popular ones are National Museum of American History, Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, National Gallery of Art, and United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. Click here for a list of the Smithsonian museums around the city. There are quite a few that are located right next to the National Mall, like the National Air and Space Museum, the Museum of Natural History, and the Museum of American History, so it’s easy access. There is even a National Zoo!

#3 Tidal Basin

The Tidal Basin is the focal point each Spring, since it’s where most of the cheery blossoms are and where the Cherry Blossom festival is held (late March /early April). It’s such a beautiful place to visit and take a few minutes to relax after all your exploring. There is a concession stand, boat rentals, and tons of space to walk around and have picnics along the Tidal Basin! There are a lot of people who visit so if you’re trying to go when it’s less crowded I suggest early morning. This is also near the Capitol Mall for reference.

#4 Union Market

Spend your afternoon at the trendy and popular Union Market! This market has the coolest hipster vibes ever, and so many different food choices to try. There is literally anything that you can think of and a lot of ethnic foods. We enjoyed some delicious arepas from Arepa Zone and a Korean rice bowl loaded with deliciousness from Tacorean. Both were so good!! The Union Market is also where you can find the infamous heart wall.

#5 Georgetown

Can I just live here please? I think Georgetown was one of my favorite parts from our trip to Washington DC. Everything about this town is so cute and charming. It’s basically an instagrammers paradise, complete with cobblestone streets. It’s made up of beautiful and colorful town houses, amazing coffee shops, clothing stores, and restaurants. It’s also home to the famous Georgetown Cupcake bakery!! We had lunch at Goodstuff Eatery and it was delicious. I highly recommend it if you are looking for a good burger and fries!