Must-sees in D.C.
What to eat, drink and where to go in the U.S. capital
Washington, D.C., is a classic school-trip destination for good reason, offering close-up views of America’s past and power. Its multitude of monuments include the White House, the National Mall, the National Archives, and dozens of museums and galleries (many free to enter).
Following the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, many recognized what was almost lost, and tourism to the city has been on the uptick ever since. From the expansion of the Recreation Pier at the Wharf to the reimagining of the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum, if I could use one word to describe Washington, it would be immersive. And when I visited in March, I realized it’s as easy to reach as it is to enjoy — a non-stop flight from Toronto can get you there in under 90 minutes. Here are some of my top picks for your next visit.
For a walk to remember
The Tidal Basin Loop Trail
D.C. is especially pretty in springtime, with nearly 4,000 trees blushing pink along the Tidal Basin — part of the National Cherry Blossom Festival (about mid-March to mid-April), which attracts 1.5 million visitors each year. But the city is also temperate and walkable year-round, and this loop, about a 3.4-kilometre path around the basin, makes for a leisurely stroll. Not only will you see iconic landmarks like the Thomas Jefferson Memorial, the Washington Monument and the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, but there are also hordes of paddleboaters in the basin, and happy tourists licking ice cream and taking selfies along the path.
For a day of discovery
The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
There are almost 20 Smithsonian museums and galleries in Washington, almost all of them free. Especially worthwhile are the National Museum of African American History and Culture, the National Museum of American History (home to Julia Child’s Cambridge kitchen in real life) and the Renwick Gallery (featuring modern takes on American crafts). Also not to be missed is the impactful and always-packed United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, which marks its 30th anniversary this spring. Book a timed ticket (it’s free) and wind through the three floors of first-person accounts in audio, videos, photos, letters and artifacts. It’s eerily quiet for such a bustling building as you learn about the rise of Nazism and the “Final Solution,” a horrific history lesson that’s important to never forget.
For amazing brunches Immigrant
Food and Zaytinya
Washington is an incredible food town with heart. Immigrant Food, by acclaimed chef/restaurateur Enrique Limardo, is D.C.’s first “cause-casual” restaurant, bringing immigrant cooks and their flavours to the fore. On the brunch menu, try the Turkish eggs, or shakshuka and naan. Equally noteworthy is Zaytinya, one of the many restaurants from humanitarian José Andrés. This one is focused on fresh shared plates that reflect the regional diversity of Greek, Lebanese and Turkish cuisine, like charred eggplant pide, smoked mushrooms with dates and toasted walnuts, and tzatziki with pita for dipping.
For a knee-slapping night
The DC Improv
Politics are no laughing matter, but you’ll bust a gut laughing at the DC Improv, which opened in 1992 and has hosted everyone from Jerry Seinfeld to Margaret Cho. Book ahead for headliners like Moshe Kasher, who kill it with off-the-cuff audience interactions and hilarious stories of childhood trauma. There’s also a full menu, from local lump crab cake sandwiches to “totchos supreme,” so you can make it dinner and a show.
For the happiest happy hour
Shoto
D.C. loves its happy hour, and Shoto, located in the former Washington Post building (now the new Midtown Center), is a lush-looking spot for enjoying Japanese whiskey and delicious bites, like rock shrimp tempura, sushi, Wagyu beef and robata-grilled sea bass. Most of all, it offers some of the best peoplewatching in town, especially if you like blue suits. DJ included.
For a laid-back wander
Georgetown
Every city needs a genteel neighbourhood like Georgetown, with its cobblestone streets, federalist architecture and waterfront setting, backdropped by the Kennedy Center. A historic starting point for the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal, it was meant to connect the east and west to goods and materials that supported the local industrial communities. Today, it’s home to clothing shops (including luxury boutique Relish), third-wave coffee (Baked & Wired), and next-gen cupcakes (the originators, Georgetown Cupcake). Boat tours on the C&O Canal, considered a national historic park, returned last year after a decade-long absence.