DC Spots We Love- Top Ten
When we found out we were moving to the DC Metro area, I was so excited because there is what seems to be an infinite amount of things to do and see and participate in around here! Things in the city are changing all the time. There are literally bars and stores that pop up exclusively for a season. There are food trucks, presidential-worthy restaurants, farmers markets, art shows, the museums, marches... SO MUCH TO DO!! And that's just inside of Washington, D.C. You can also find a ton to do and see in Arlington, Alexandria, and the other surrounding areas.
As we have started to get our butts in gear for this westward move, I have been trying to get in visits to some of our favorite spots before we leave. I thought I'd share our top ten for anyone heading this way to live or sight-see!
So, if you have come to visit us in the last two years, we forced you to brunch with us, because 1) Brunch is the best and most important meal of the day, and 2) Brunch is totally a DC thing; just ask the Bitches Who Brunch. Once we found FFB, though, we got stuck. We had tried one of their sister restaurants, Founding Farmers, which is closer to the Mall area, and we had really good neo-southern, freshly-sourced food. Farmers Fishers Bakers is on the Georgetown waterfront, which is aweseome already. When we finally got reservations to try FFB, we were blown away. I like the buffet brunch style (and price!) of the restaurant, and it is so cute and on-theme inside like all of the other Farmers Group restaurants. We especially like the taco station and the french toast and toppings. Ok, I need to stop writing about this because I'm now starving and about to go on Open Table and make reservations for this weekend!
Also, they just opened Farmers and Distillers, with an actual, tour-able distillery, and it also has a buffet brunch with FRESH DONUTS. It's in Mount Vernon Square and also worth a trip!
We first went to Union Market on the suggestion of an out-of-town friend who'd heard it was a cool spot, and we became instantly obsessed. It is totally our kind of flow: fresh, local food and wares, with some seating and a river of people flowing and browsing and buying. You can get your knives sharpened there, or eat fresh pasta, or buy fish for later, or get literally the cutest items at Salt & Sundry. I bought a set of Mosser glasses there and I've gotten numerous unique gifts. Salt a& Sundry also has a location in Shaw that is equally as cool. If it's a nice day, you can grab your food and go eat on the picnic benches outside before you wander over to Lab 1270 to shop the pop-up there. You can also grab your food and go about 5 minutes down the road to the next awesome DC spot!
I don't even remember how we found the Arboretum, but I know we drove by it a lot before we went. It is so gorgeous. It's kind of wild how it's just a ton of open space in the middle of a bustling city. An arboretum is basically a tree garden, so that's obviously the focus here, but it also functions as a kind of park that a lot of people just go to chill out. You can take your dog, a picnic, or a curiosity about each state's official tree, and you'll be super pleased that you went. We have taken our Christmas photos in front of the pine tree area, thrown a toy for Tallulah in an open field, and picnicked with Baby A. near the State Trees. It's a wonderful area to just hang out and enjoy some good weather without having to leave the city!
Of all the museums in the DC area, this has to be my favorite. It's an interesting-looking building, reminiscent of the buildings of the indigenous peoples of America, but we definitely were sleeping on it until a few months ago. Listen. This museum is beautiful and informational, as expected, but there are also parts that will make you feel bad about how your ancestors treated the O.G. Americans. You will see how, again and again, the compelling and resplendent culture and stories of American Indian tribes were brutally demolished by "manifest destiny" and "westward expansion" and so-called pioneers. It's rough, but it's worth it, and there is a thread of hope that is ingrained in many American Indian tribes that carries through to visitors of this museum.
While Annapolis isn't exactly inside the DC Metro area, it's only about a 40 minute drive from the city, and certainly worth a summer day's trip to see. I am a little biased, having attended the most prestigious and winning school located there, the United States Naval Academy. If you are visiting, I would start there, maybe with a tour. Located on the Severn River, the Naval Academy is just brimming with history and spectacular views. If you can make it during a weekday, you should make your way to Tecumseh Court to watch noon meal formation, which is when the Brigade of Midshipmen (AKA the students, who are completing a four year degree combined with military training, leading up to their commissioning as Naval officers) conduct a daily mini-parade that accounts for all members of the Brigade just before they go to lunch. With sailboats coasting whimsically along and the midshipmen running around the Yard enthusiastically, it's easy to spend a whole day just enjoying the campus. However, there are many good restaurants, plus a newly expanded mall and a lovely historical downtown area all within walking distance of the Naval Academy that you should also check out.
On the far edge of Alexandria, tucked right under the Woodrow Wilson bridge, is Jones Point Park and the Jones Point Lighthouse. You can see the markers of the Virginia, Maryland, and Washington D.C. boundaries. It is a lovely green space on the water with some historical markers, walking paths, and a playground. I take Baby A. there often to just swing and sit in the grass with Tallulah Bear. You can almost always catch a nice breeze by the water and some cool shade in the wooded walking/biking paths. If you are looking for some more long-distance exercise, you can easily walk all the way into Old Town, and stay on paths to take you all the way to the other side of Alexandria, or over the bridge to Maryland and the National Harbor area. I love the lighthouse there (I am obsessed with lighthouses) and the fact that it has a nice, clean bathroom right under the bridge near the parking lot! You never underestimate the power of an easy-to-access restroom when you have a Little in tow!
Don Taco is now my all-time favorite taco joint. It's a small place in Old Town Alexandria, but it has an upstairs and plenty of space for the adorable small plates that you'll want to get enough to gorge on. You can order a la carte there, and it is the hardest decision ever because you'll want to order all of it. I suggest getting at least one taco, a few starters for the table, and the waffle fried oreos for dessert. YOU HEARD ME ABOUT THE DESSERT. The guacamole is delicious and chunky, exactly how I like it, and they make elevated versions of regular tacos and empanadas. They can accommodate vegetarians, too, but I would eat the no-meat tacos for funsies. Fried avocado and whatever the taco of the day is are my favorites. You really can't go wrong at Don Taco.
All of the restaurants in the Farmers Group serve a special blend of Compass Coffee, so I sought out their store in Shaw to buy more, and I was not disappointed. The blend at the restaurants, the First Bake blend, is so strong but still smooth- absolutely no bitterness. Apparently, two Marines were in search of good, strong coffee, and when they couldn't find it, they developed it themselves and gave their beans and blends all directional-themed names, including some named after the neighborhoods of DC (like Shaw, where one of the stores is located). They are a wonderful local place to get coffee and they have us so hooked that we stocked up on some Waypoint beans before we moved!
Theodore Roosevelt Island
The Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial is called the Stone of Hope and sits along the tidal basin opposite the Jefferson Memorial. Dr. King's likeness is pushed forward from a mountain behind him that you pass through, to show that the Stone of Hope comes from the Mountain of Despair. Along the walls to the side leading towards Dr. King, there are quotes from his many amazing and thought-provoking speeches. This is an awesome and incredibly inspirational memorial and I highly suggest if you are walking the mall, you make this a key stop on your tour.
You can continue down the walkway along the basin to follow the "line of leadership" to Franklin Delano Roosevelt's memorial, which is also very inspiring and includes a part for Eleanor Roosevelt, who, let's be real, deserves just as large of a memorial for her work on behalf of the disenfranchised and minorities of America.
Happy explorations,
-Big A.
As we have started to get our butts in gear for this westward move, I have been trying to get in visits to some of our favorite spots before we leave. I thought I'd share our top ten for anyone heading this way to live or sight-see!
So, if you have come to visit us in the last two years, we forced you to brunch with us, because 1) Brunch is the best and most important meal of the day, and 2) Brunch is totally a DC thing; just ask the Bitches Who Brunch. Once we found FFB, though, we got stuck. We had tried one of their sister restaurants, Founding Farmers, which is closer to the Mall area, and we had really good neo-southern, freshly-sourced food. Farmers Fishers Bakers is on the Georgetown waterfront, which is aweseome already. When we finally got reservations to try FFB, we were blown away. I like the buffet brunch style (and price!) of the restaurant, and it is so cute and on-theme inside like all of the other Farmers Group restaurants. We especially like the taco station and the french toast and toppings. Ok, I need to stop writing about this because I'm now starving and about to go on Open Table and make reservations for this weekend!
Also, they just opened Farmers and Distillers, with an actual, tour-able distillery, and it also has a buffet brunch with FRESH DONUTS. It's in Mount Vernon Square and also worth a trip!
Of all the museums in the DC area, this has to be my favorite. It's an interesting-looking building, reminiscent of the buildings of the indigenous peoples of America, but we definitely were sleeping on it until a few months ago. Listen. This museum is beautiful and informational, as expected, but there are also parts that will make you feel bad about how your ancestors treated the O.G. Americans. You will see how, again and again, the compelling and resplendent culture and stories of American Indian tribes were brutally demolished by "manifest destiny" and "westward expansion" and so-called pioneers. It's rough, but it's worth it, and there is a thread of hope that is ingrained in many American Indian tribes that carries through to visitors of this museum.
While Annapolis isn't exactly inside the DC Metro area, it's only about a 40 minute drive from the city, and certainly worth a summer day's trip to see. I am a little biased, having attended the most prestigious and winning school located there, the United States Naval Academy. If you are visiting, I would start there, maybe with a tour. Located on the Severn River, the Naval Academy is just brimming with history and spectacular views. If you can make it during a weekday, you should make your way to Tecumseh Court to watch noon meal formation, which is when the Brigade of Midshipmen (AKA the students, who are completing a four year degree combined with military training, leading up to their commissioning as Naval officers) conduct a daily mini-parade that accounts for all members of the Brigade just before they go to lunch. With sailboats coasting whimsically along and the midshipmen running around the Yard enthusiastically, it's easy to spend a whole day just enjoying the campus. However, there are many good restaurants, plus a newly expanded mall and a lovely historical downtown area all within walking distance of the Naval Academy that you should also check out. 
All of the restaurants in the Farmers Group serve a special blend of Compass Coffee, so I sought out their store in Shaw to buy more, and I was not disappointed. The blend at the restaurants, the First Bake blend, is so strong but still smooth- absolutely no bitterness. Apparently, two Marines were in search of good, strong coffee, and when they couldn't find it, they developed it themselves and gave their beans and blends all directional-themed names, including some named after the neighborhoods of DC (like Shaw, where one of the stores is located). They are a wonderful local place to get coffee and they have us so hooked that we stocked up on some Waypoint beans before we moved!
Theodore Roosevelt Island
When we first moved here, I wanted to keep exploring outside of the expected walkable areas, and I saw a friend tagged in a gorgeous, green place. So I mapped it and it was Theodore Roosevelt Island! This island is in the Potomac River in between Foggy Bottom and Rosslyn, and while there were a lot of people about the day we visited, I'd truly never heard of it and thought of it as a best-kept secret. If you care to get some exercise, this is a great place, but it's also fascinating to explore. Outside of the monument to Teddy, there are stunning views and lots of paths to walk or run. We took some "maternity" photos here, AKA me trying to get at least one good photo of myself pregnant while hubs complained about being forced to walk under a mile with me and the pups. Great memories.
You can continue down the walkway along the basin to follow the "line of leadership" to Franklin Delano Roosevelt's memorial, which is also very inspiring and includes a part for Eleanor Roosevelt, who, let's be real, deserves just as large of a memorial for her work on behalf of the disenfranchised and minorities of America.
Happy explorations,
-Big A.
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