CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT : The National Mall and the Lincoln Memorial ; the National Museum of American History ; Ben ’ s Chili Bowl ; the Washington Monument ; an exhibit at Artechouse ; Martin Luther King Jr . Memorial surounded by cherry blossoms .
FOR THE POLITICO Washington , D . C .
Our family learned about history while soaking up patriotism in the nation ’ s bustling capital during a whirlwind weekend trip .
Staying at the newly renovated Capital Hilton ( hilton . com ) granted us close and easy access to the National Mall — “ America ’ s front yard ” — as well as notable parks and eateries . Whether you prefer to commute by car , Metrorail ( subway ) or bus , start the day with a freshly brewed coffee and pastry at the Grind , the hotel ’ s on-site coffee bar , or the North Gate Grill for some breakfast made with farm-fresh ingredients . In the evening , relax after a long day of adventuring with a drink and some shareable plates and barbecue bites at the Statler Lounge .
In the mood for a breakfast encore ? We recommend the upscale Unconventional Diner ( unconventionaldiner . com ), laidback Ted ’ s Bulletin ( tedsbulletin . com ) or Kramers ( kramers . com ), an ideal spot for bookworms .
There ’ s a lot of ground to cover in this major city . Check out the iconic monuments and memorials accompanied by a captivating lesson on the history of each one by booking one of the many tours the National Mall has to offer . Ever marveled at the monuments at night ? Old Town Trolley ( trolleytours . com ), Big Bus Tours ( bigbustours . com ), Unlimited Biking ( unlimitedbiking . com ), USA Guided Tours ( usaguidedtours . com ) and WeVenture ( we-venture . com ) offer sunset and evening tours . We appreciated the beauty of each attraction while working up a sweat and an appetite during Unlimited Biking ’ s Monuments at Night bike tour .
Freshen up at the hotel before stepping out in style for dinner at the Old Ebbitt Grill ( ebbitt . com ), established in Washington ’ s oldest saloon in 1856 . Items like steak frites and trout Parmesan are sure to satisfy , while starters like the meatballs and Point Judith calamari ( you ’ re never too far from home ) can be shared with the table .
Don ’ t forget about the Smithsonian museums and zoo . Each Smithsonian museum in the city , including the national zoo , is free to enter , though some require timed entry passes . For the Smithsonian ’ s National Zoo ( nationalzoo . si . edu ), book your timed entry pass in advance , then roam the grounds to view more than 2,200 animals representing nearly 400 different species . It ’ s also easy to lose track of time while expanding your knowledge in institutions like the National Air and Space Museum ( airandspace . si . edu ) and the National Museum of American History ( american history . si . edu ).
Keep up with the historic streak at Georgetown favorite Martin ’ s Tavern ( martins
56 RHODE ISLAND MONTHLY l SEPTEMBER 2024