Image: Beau Considine via Flickr
Guys! I am SO excited today to be sharing a post I created in partnership with the fine folks at Expedia.com, we teamed up to showcase the coolest things to do in DC on a romantic weekend or honeymoon! Now I know most of my readers here are DC area locals, so though you might not be honeymooning here (though, staycations can be SO awesome and budget-friendly!), the post will give you some ideas for a fun weekend adventure with your partner.
But for everyone else outside of DC, we’ve got the ultimate top 10 places to see in Washington, D.C. for a honeymoon or a romantic getaway. Just in case you never thought DC would be a cool honeymoon location, I’m about to prove you wrong.
Top 10 Things for Couples to Do in DC
Image: Eugene L Meyer for the New York Times (left) | Atlantic Plumbing Facebook (right)
1) Shop at The Shay & Atlantic Plumbing
Within the neighborhood some media sources refer to as “North End Shaw”, there lies a new and awesome place to shop. Two buildings built this past year, are home to local Washington DC makers and top International clothing & accessory brands. So skip the typical shopping destination that some might point you to (ahem, Georgetown, or worse, Tyson’s Corner) and head to S & T Street NW, just north of the Shaw Metro Stop or a quick walk from the U Street Metro Stop.
You’ll find: Kit & Ace, Warby Parker, Chrome Industries, Frank & Oak, and more at The Shay. You’ll find: Cherry Blossom Creative, Typecase Industries, Foundry Interior, & Bazaar Spices at Atlantic Plumbing.
And probably more stuff by the time this post is published.
Image: Morgan H. West for A Creative DC
2) Visit Funky Art Collectives/Studios (The Lemon Bowl, Lab 1270, Off the Beaten Track Warehouse, Brewmaster Studios, Monroe Street Arts Walk)
Art studios and collectives seem to be popping up all over the city. These places where artists, makers, and curators, come together to share space, creativity, and inspiration, and sell their goodies or run workshops too!. Our list below vary in size, type of makers available, and location – they’re all over our fine city. Here are my favorite collectives and some of the fine creatives you can locate there:
The Lemon Bowl – Sill Life, Katthryn Zaremba, Linny Giffin Jewelry, & more (they host workshops too!) | Lab 1270 – Niko & Ava Kidswear, Time Off, Thursday Boot Co, Guerilla Vending & more | Off the Beaten Track Warehouse – Highway 2 Hill Flowers, WoodInspire, District Clay, Grey Moggie Press & a TON more | Brewmaster Studios – Matine, Mallory Shelter Jewelry, Sea Heart City Press, & more | Monroe Street Arts Walk – Stitch & Rivet, Wildhands Workspace, Analog & more
3) Catch an indie flick at our Indie Movie Theaters
In case it rains, or you’re looking for somewhere to rest your tired feet (seriously DC is SO walkable and bikeable) check out one of our “indie” cinemas. The original is E Street Cinema, downtown, but we also have Angelika Theater in NE DC and Landmark Atlantic Plumbing Cinema too.
4) Visit Art Spaces like Renwick Gallery or Blind Whino
Image: Gerry Suchy as seen on Curbed DC
Though the Corcoran was sold in melded into the National Gallery of Art, DC has some seriously cool (and fairly new) art spaces to check out while you are here. My current favorites are Renwick Gallery and Blind Whino.
5) Stay at Mason & Rook or Embassy Row Hotel
One of the nice things about honeymooning in DC is that you can typically (unless there’s a massive event, or it’s Cherry Blossom Season) find a hotel to stay at for well under what it costs to stay in The Big Apple. We have a LOT of hotel options (which Expedia or Priceline or other websites will show you) but I have two recommendations if you are looking to stay somewhere centrally located and in more of a hip, boutique space.
Check out the Embassy Row Hotel in Dupont Circle – for it’s awesome interior design, and interior paintings by local street artist, Kelly Towles, or stay at the newly renovated Mason & Rook (formerly Hotel Helix, but now Illuminati-themed), that will leave you a very short walk to a ton of restaurants and night-light on 14th street in the Logan Circle neighborhood.
6) Discover and enjoy delicious desserts with a “Sweet Tooth Tour”
(Dolcezzo Pic)
Though you probably know about DC’s infamous cupcake storefront thanks to that TLC show, we have so much more to offer in terms of local sweets & treats. Take your partner or loved ones on a “sweet tooth tour” stopping at some of my favorite non-cupcake treat shops:
Rare Sweets, Dolcezzo Gelato Lab & Coffee Factory, Pie Sisters, Frenchies (find them at Maketto), Pleasant Pops, and Ice Cream Jubilee (to name a few!)
7) Brewery & Distillery Hop
DC’s Brewery & Distillery scene is ever-growing, thanks to some brave entreprenuers finally changing DC’s prohibition era laws on brewing and selling in the District. We’ve got websites that specialize on our breweries and distilleries, but my favorites to check out are:
Beer: Atlas Brew Works, DC Brau, Right Proper | Liquor: Green Hat, One Eight Distilling, Jos A Magnus & Co.
8) EAT ALL THE THINGS
Image: TPW via Flickr
DC’s restaurant scene has been and continues to be exploding in recent years (in a good way). Eat at Rose’s Luxury, eat at Toki Underground and/or Maketto, eat at any Mike Isabella Concepts restaurant, eat at The Red Hen … Ok, this could be an entire post – so I’ll let my readers continue to post their favorite food spots in the comments.
9) View & Taste Local Food and Drink Makers
To celebrate (and support!) all the local food & drink makers in DC, markets and storefronts have popped up that sell completely local goodies. These places would be easy ways to hit multiple DC food & drink makers, in one stop. Check out: Glen’s Gardner Market, Union Kitchen Grocery, & Union Market.
Image: Kims World of Art on Flickr
10) OK Fine, Do Some Touristy Stuff
One of the best things about vacationing or honeymooning in DC is how much stuff you can do FOR FREE. Most of the main “tourist” attractions of Washington, DC (The Monument, The Mall, The Capitol Building, etc) are free. As are the Smithsonian Museums AND the Zoo (plus we’ve got PANDAS). Personally, I love Archives & the DC War Memorial (a great place for a picnic). The African American History Museum also just opened!
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And just in case I missed anything – sound off in the comments below on any other “MUST DO” things for couples in DC!
*this post is in partnership with Expedia.com for Capitol Romance. Capitol Romance was compensated to create & share this content on this blog, however, it was verified that this content was confirmed to meet its requirements and mission*
