So you’re planning a trip to the nation’s capital.
There are endless things to do in DC: You don’t want to miss seeing the art at the Smithsonian, touring the monuments, or going to the Air and Space Museum. But what other things you should do in DC?
I previously “studied abroad” in Washington, DC, but this summer I was fortunate enough to go back and visit the city on an east coast road trip. Given that we would only be in DC for 36 hours, I knew I wanted to show my partner a different side of Capitol Hill, starting with the hotel.
One of my favorite hotel chains to stay at is Moxy, a chain which doesn’t take itself too seriously but still provides excellent service. From the dollar bills folded like presidents wearing hats, to bottomless coffee in the lobby, to the door hanger (see below!), Moxy was the perfect place to stay for our DC adventure.
When you first arrive at Moxy, check-in is located in the bar and you receive a free drink token upon checking in. We definitely had a great time, making friends with the bartenders and even bringing down one of our home-brewed bottles of beer for the bar staff to sample. Every inch of Moxy adds to the environment, from the elephant and donkey pillows, to murals, to the quirky room set-up. While there are Moxy Hotels located around the country, definitely don’t miss an opportunity to stay at Moxy DC, located on K street only a few blocks from the White House.
Anyone can see the monuments, but the best way to see the monuments is at night! We picked up electronic scooters, passed the American Red Cross Office (shout-out to my old job) and made our way down to the White House. From there we visited the Washington Monument, Jefferson Memorial, and Lincoln Memorial. If you have an opportunity, this is a great way to get around DC, especially at night. Beware though, there are large ‘no parking’ areas for the scooters, especially near the monuments. Don’t end your ride before you are in a safe parking zone or you will be dragging your scooter around DC trying to find a safe space to leave it. Yes…I speak from experience.
Another evening activity is visiting some of DC’s many breweries or bars. There is 3 Stars Brewing, DC Brau Brewing, Bluejacket Brewing, Hellbender Brewing, Atlas Brew Works, Capitol City Brewing, and more. We chose to go to Red Bear Brewing, the city’s first 100% LGBT owned brewery. Their ‘Something About Rosemary’ Saison stands out for being one of the best beers I tried in DC. For a local bar, I recommend Hawk ‘N’ Dove on Capitol Hill, where you can hear lobbyists at work, get a great cocktail, and see students and Hill Staffers alike. I personally remember it from my college days and from standing outside and asking the bouncer to order me french fries since I was underage and thus not allowed inside after hours (it didn’t work, but I still have great memories of the place). Hawk ‘N’ Dove also deserves a shout-out for its proximity to We the Pizza, which I pretty much lived on when I lived in DC.
My Number one recommendation for DC: Don’t miss an opportunity to visit the Capitol Botanical Gardens and do a Capitol Tour. You can make a reservation through the Visitor Center, do a same day tour (though tickets may be limited), or schedule a tour directly through your Member of Congress’ Office. I recommend the latter, as sometimes there is an intern available to take you through the building, or if the House/Senate is in session you can receive a pass from their office to go watch Congress in action. Here are just some of the facts that I learned during our latest Capitol Tour:
There was SUPPOSED to be a shirtless statue of George Washington: In the crypt (named as such because Washington was initially supposed to be buried there but is instead buried in Mt. Vernon), there was going to be a statue of George Washington depicted as Zeus. The statue was considered too risque and was eventually moved to the Smithsonian before finding its final home at the American History Museum.
There is a Ghost Cat: You can its see paw prints in the small Senate Rotunda. While this was likely from a cat running through the cement while wet, far more interesting is the tale from Atlas Obsura which states:
‘“The story probably goes back to the post–Civil War era. The main thing is that the people who would see it particularly were the night watchmen. The most common version of the legend goes that a guard was on patrol one night when he saw a black cat approaching. In those days, cats were not an uncommon sight in the building, introduced to control the rodent population. However as the cat came closer, it grew in size until it was as large as a tiger. The monster cat pounced on the guard, who fell down and tried to protect himself, but the creature vanished in mid-air. Livengood’s theory is these early Capitol guards would often get so drunk they’d fall down, so when one of the building’s cats came and licked their face, they assumed it must have been monster-sized. But when the guard in question reported their ravings to a superior, the boss couldn’t really discipline him for drinking because of his high-powered connections [As many guards were hired through nepotism], so the guard would simply have been sent home to recover. ‘Then the other guards realize that if they see the cat and get attacked, then they get a day off. And that’s how history gets written,’ says Livengood.”
Legend has it the ghost cat [Also known as Demon Cat] would appear on the eve of Presidential Elections or tragedies and was seen the night before the JFK and Lincoln assassinations.
One of the local Roller Derby teams are the DC DemonCats, named after the Capitol ghost cat.
Different Houses, Different Traditions: Our guide described the House and Senate as siblings who share a room and don’t get along. They have different traditions, different staff, and they eat at different restaurants. The House even does Taco Tuesday while the Senate does Taco Thursday.
John Quincy Adams has a stroke on the floor of the House and was brought to the Speaker’s office before lapsing into a coma. The marker of his desk is still on the floor showing where he collapsed.
Every state gets to submit 2 statues and one of the statues from Florida is John Gorrie, the father of air conditioning.
Have you visited DC before? If so, what would you recommend someone do on a short visit? Let me know in the comments!
