2-Day Washington DC Itinerary

The outside of the Library of Congress in Washington, DC

One weekend in Washington, DC. With so much to see and do, where does one begin?

Earlier this summer I received a request to plan a 2-day trip to Washington, DC. My clients planned to arrive late-morning Saturday and depart late afternoon on Sunday. They wished to visit sites that are more unique to the city (in other words, not the typical museums people flood to daily) and had one special request: to attend a Nationals baseball game.

I was instantly eager to plan this trip. Living so close to the city frequently results in me searching for new things to explore and ultimately finding things that I can’t wait to share with others. My challenge, however, would be to not over-book them. I wanted them to see as much as they could, but didn’t want to completely wear them out in the process.

Looking down into the Jefferson Reading Room at the Library of Congress in Washington, DC

After arriving in town and settling in, their first stop was the Library of Congress. The Library of Congress is free to visit and offers free tours of the Thomas Jefferson Building Monday-Saturday. The tours are short and if you can catch one, I recommend doing it. If for no other reason than the tour groups get to cut the line to see the main reading room! The library occupies three buildings, but the Thomas Jefferson Building is the oldest and the one you’d recognize most from photographs. Take a stroll on the original flooring, admire Thomas Jefferson’s personal library collection, and observe numerous unique collections such as the 500+ year old Gutenberg Bible.

Sculptures of a naked woman in a balerina-like pose and multi-colored ceiling height muschrooms at the Renwick Museum's Burning Man exhibit in Washington, DC

Renwick Gallery, located at 1661 Pennsylvania Avenue (right next to the White House), was the next stop of the day. The Renwick Gallery is known for its rotating exhibitions. I first stumbled upon this expansion of the Smithsonian American Arts Museum in 2015 when it re-opened after a two year renovation with the WONDER exhibition, which quickly gained Instagram fame. The current exhibit, No Spectators: The Art of Burning Man, brings the works from Nevada’s Black Rock Desert event to the Nation’s Capital. Learn about the history and culture of Burning Man and enjoy the many art installations. Admission is free and the exhibits are not permanent so check the site to see what’s on display before you visit.

Major League Baseball players on the field at Nationals Park during a game in Washington, DC

The Renwick Gallery closes at 5:30 on Saturdays which was the perfect time to head over to Nationals Park in DC’s Navy Yard neighborhood. The park is accessible via metro (Navy Yard/Ballpark on the Green and Yellow lines) and Uber, cab, or other ride-sharing provider. The area is booming with great restaurants and bars to check out before and after the game; though I must say, the food selection inside the park is quite impressive and I highly recommend enjoying dinner at the park while you watch the game. On this particular evening, tickets were purchased in advance through the Nationals website. But if you haven’t planned far in advance, no worries! For most games, tickets are available at the gate on game day and tickets can always be found on popular resell sites like Stubhub or TickPick (my personal favorite these days).

The WWII Memorial fountain lit up at night with a lit Washington Monument in the background.

Believe it or not, the Nationals game was not the last stop of the night. The game doubled as an opportunity to rest up for what was coming next: a nighttime stroll along the National Mall. The National Mall is obviously a highly popular DC destination that tends to get quite crowded, and in the summer months, unbearably hot. Skip the crowds and heat and head to the Mall in the evening to enjoy a view of the monuments that most people don’t see: the Monuments lit up. It is peaceful and calming and hands down my favorite way to see the Monuments.

People sitting on the floor watching a virtural Reality display in the main viewing room at Artechouse in Washington, DC

Sunday morning kicked off with a late morning visit to Artechouse, an exhibit where art, science, and technology meet in ways you must see for yourself. Artechouse is small (you only need to allow yourself 45mins to an hour for this one, though there is no cut off) but it packs a mighty punch. The current exhibit, Fractal Worlds, has some pretty cool virtual reality experiences, as well as a 20+ min display projecting on the walls with plenty of bag chairs so you can sit back, relax, and enjoy the show! FUN FACT: Artechouse is also home to the only augmented bar in the country. Download the Artechouse app to fully immerse yourself in their augmented reality and prepare to have some photography fun. Advanced tickets are required ($15).

The main entrance to the National Archives Building in Washington, DC displaying a banner advertising a Veitnam War exhibit.

This DC weekend wrapped up with a visit to the National Archives Museum, home to the Declaration of Independence, Bill of Rights, and Constitution. The Remembering Vietnam exhibit (running through January 6, 2019) is a must-see for anyone interested in U.S. history. Learn about the 12 critical episodes that lead up to the U.S. entering the Vietnam War and why the war was so divisive. When you’re done, head into the Rotunda for the stars of the show: the original Declaration of Independence, Bill of Rights, and Constitution. View the signatures of our Founding Fathers, talk to the museum personnel about the technology being used to preserve the documents, and take in all of the history stored in one room.

Pro Tip: I visited the National Archives Museum on a Sunday evening and was shocked by the lack of crowds. The museum personnel were extremely approachable and answered all my questions/shared additional information with me. I entered the Rotunda at 4:30pm and was able to walk right up to the documents. If you’ve got free time on a Sunday, I recommend spending an hour or two here.

One weekend isn’t nearly enough time to fully experience everything this great city has to offer but that didn’t stop our out-of-towners from embracing all things DC. I look forward to planning your return visit!

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Megan Beckley

Megan Beckley

I’m a wandering Virginia girl with a serious thirst for travel. When I’m on the road, I’ve got one goal: create an authentic experience without breaking the bank. When I’m not traveling, I maintain my 9-5 work-life while carving out time to play tourist in my own city.

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