Washington D.C.

Helpful Hints, Tips, and Survival Skills

1. Bring quality walking shoes
Trust me. Every guidebook, hotel, and TripAdvisor review will say it’s 5-10 minutes walk to the White House. It’s not. Add about 5-10 minutes on top of it and you should be safe. 

2. Use the metro
When traveling, I love taking a metro if the city offers it. We used it a few times and you have to buy a re-loadable card at the kiosks and use it when arriving and leaving. It is convenient and easy to use. 
Make sure you keep right though!!!

3. Don’t try to see everything
I am guilty of this BIG TIME. I had about six different places each day on my itinerary and in the end only made it to 2 or 3 of them. My advice is to plan out three major sites and relax as you go. 

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Sights to See:

1. The White House

2. The Washington Monument

3. The Lincoln Memorial

 

4. The Thomas Jefferson Memorial

5. Arlington Cemetery
  

 

6. The Library of Congress

 

  

 

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Old Town Trolley Tours

Price one day: $46.95
Two day: $66.95

We loved this trolley tour. Being unfamiliar with D.C. and the traffic, the tour allowed us to see the city without the stress of driving.
On any of the stops listed on the map you can hop on/hop off. This tour offers a similar tour, included in the price, of Arlington Cemetery.

The only downside is that the tour ends at 5 p.m. so make sure you are close to your hotel or a metro station.

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Where we ate:

1. Otello
1329 Connecticut Ave., N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20036

 

Yummy, yummy, yummy. 
If you are an Italian lover like I am, this is the place for you. We walked from The White House and by the time we reached the restaurant, we were STARVING. It is a little pricey, but it was my birthday, so it allowed a little extra spending. I would recommend the fettuccine Alfredo. 

2. Shake Shack 
 975 Wharf St SW, Washington, DC 20024

Acceptable considering how hungry we were. We allowed my sister to pick our lunch and she picked the only restaurant under a bridge and over the rainbow. Our feet burned and our stomach consumed our every thought. Average grilled cheese and french fries. The views of the river made it better though. 

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Where I Stayed: Chester A. Arthur Bed and Breakfast

    

After almost twelve hours of driving from Florida, we arrived at the Chester A. Arthur Bed and Breakfast. The owner of the house met us at the curb and helped us carry in our luggage.

At first glance the house lived up to its Victorian style advertisement. The front sitting room featured several sitting chairs and classical music drifting in from another room. It felt as if we were transported into the 1880’s.

The owner, Don, showed us to our room. For people who struggle with stairs, I would suggest booking a room on the lower levels. Even for my family and me, it was a struggle with all of our luggage and after a full day of walking.

Our room was the Highland Suite, which included and ensuite, a queen bed, and a pull out bed. The bathroom was large enough to accommodate my mother and sister with a shower/tub combination. The beds fit the era in which they represented. A little too hard and too tall. (Especially for my 5’3 mother).
But, if you are like me, hotels are not the most important aspect of any trip.

With each reservation, breakfasts were included and served at 8 a.m every morning. Both times they were average. Home cooked, but limiting for vegetarians. On the first morning we had spinach quiche and the next morning waffles. The cook we had was amazing and our favorite aspect of the entire experience.

On the website it says that the walks to the metro stations are about 10-12 minutes, but I would estimate around 15-20 minutes, depending on how fast you hustle and how cold the weather will be. 

All in all it was an amazing experience and we would go back again.