An enclave of murals, coffee shops, one of D.C.’s top cocktails bars (Columbia Room), and more in the hip Shaw neighborhood. Totally unassuming from the street, with back-meeting alleyways and interior corridors overtaken with eclectic murals and choice graffiti about the current administration.
Blagden Alley NW.
Washington, DC 20001
At once D.C.’s oldest and newest neighborhood. Chock-full of construction and glass and steel condo towers, it’s also home to some of the oldest fish markets in the city. On warm weekend days, the Wharf is flooded primarily by locals who stroll the handsome boardwalk or stop for alfresco drinks by the water.
690 Water St. SW., Hoffman-Madison Waterfront
Washington DC, 20024
Devoted entirely to unpacking the First Amendment and examining the history of the free press, the interactive museum is designed to prompt visitors to examine the role the free press plays in their lives — something ever more necessary in today’s era of "fake news" and social media and evolving dialogues.
555 Pennsylvania Ave. NW.
Washington, DC 20001
+1-202-292-6100
Pay homage to President Obama's portrait in the Presidential Gallery and Mrs. Obama’s portrait in the 20th Century Americans Gallery. Learn about the life and legacy of actress Marlene Dietrich, who pushed gender and sexual boundaries. And visit a small room devoted to the short and tragic life of poet Sylvia Plath, one of our country’s great literary minds.
8th St. NW. & F St. NW.
Washington, DC 20001
+1-202-633-8300
The landmark museum is devoted to the exploration of American history through the stories and lens of the African American experience. Long-overdue, it houses more than 36,000 historical and cultural artifacts and is worthy of a multi-hour visit. Tickets are free, but they’re hard to come by and require advanced reservations.
1400 Constitution Ave. NW.
Washington, DC 20560
+1-844-750-3012
Early each spring (late March through mid-April), Washington explodes in a riot of pink during the annual Cherry Blossom Festival. The Tidal Basin, now the site of the Jefferson Memorial, remains the most picturesque place to take in the blossoms’ full grandeur.
Tidal Basin and Ohio Drive NW.
Washington, DC, 20003