Gracie’s Guide to Washington D.C. ( on a Budget )
Ah, our nation’s capital. Washington D.C. is known for many things; politics, monuments, history — but there is also a lively, rambunctious side of D.C. that I was soon to discover! Freshly 21, me and my five high school friends explored this dope city through New Years Eve, and I have tons of tips to share. If you’re looking for unique spots that young people like us enjoyed (and could afford), then keep on reading!
Travel Tips
Fresh faced with our golden tickets (aka our I.D.s confirming we just turned 21), me and my friends scoured places we could visit for NYE. We settled on D.C. because it was in driving distance from our homes in Pennsylvania (~4 hours) and we had heard great things about it from others who had visited. So, with our golden tickets in hand, six of us squeezed into my friend’s dad’s SUV and headed to our nation’s capital.
We also squeezed into this awesome airbnb in Logan’s Circle for $30/ night / person. It had free parking, and we brought an air mattress and people also slept on the pull-out couch. I would highly recommend staying in Logan’s Circle at an airbnb. It is significantly cheaper than hotels and Logan Circle is very safe and in walking distance to most places we went. Also, Ubers and Lyfts are affordable in D.C. if you have a larger group. We stayed four days and three nights over New Years Eve, and it was an absolute blast. Like Nashville or New Orleans, Washington D.C. is surprisingly really fun in big groups. Albeit we freezed our butts off in the January weather, but it was definitely worth it for the Christmas-themed pop up bars!
Activity Tips
Our airbnb was in walking distance to the National Mall (where all the monuments are) so the first thing we did when we got to D.C. was put on our tennis shoes and start walking past the capital building — this was a few days before the riots so we were still able to get close to the capital building. It was a sunny, cloudless, beautiful day and it took us around an hour of idly strolling to reach the Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, World War II and Vietnam Veteran Memorials, and the Thomas Jefferson Memorial. Humbling stuff, if you’re in D.C. you gotta do this (no, your 8th grade field trip to D.C. doesn’t count … you must go again as an adult).
Head over to Georgetown’s M street! Not kidding, this is the most beautiful outdoor shopping area that I’ve ever seen. It has an old-money aesthetic with bougie boutiques and trendy restaurants lining the streets. Don’t worry, there’s also an Urban Outfitters, Madewell, and other mainstream stores for you to shop in. If you’re like me and were obsessed with watching TLC’s D.C. Cupcakes as a child, then you’ll be happily surprised to remember that the bakery Georgetown Cupcakes is actually where the show was filmed!
Go to the D.C. Artechouse. This place is an immersive exhibit experience infused with technology and art, and my friends and I had a blast exploring the space. We went when the theme was crystalline, but it is constantly evolving as the seasons pass (this time of the year is cherry blossom themed — how cool!). It cost $23 for a student ticket, so the price is a little steep but I think it’s a unique experience so it’s worth it. Make sure you book ahead of time!
Go to the Miracle Pop Up Bar if you go around Christmas time. They go overboard in the Christmas decorations (think the movie Elf when Will Ferrell spends all night decorating the store) and the drinks were great, though expensive (~$14), so we only had one each.
IF YOU DO ONE THING IN D.C. IT MUST BE THIS. Go to Cantina Bambina in the Warf District. The Warf District by itself is an awesome area to explore because there is a gorgeous dock and lots of restaurants, bars, and concert spaces. But back to Cantina Bambina … I truly had the best bar experience of my life there. We sat in an open-air patio by the water, sipping our holiday themed drinks and warming our frosted hands by the fire. The staff were amazing, the music was amazing, and it was an all around amazing experience. The best vibes. Drinks were pricey (~$12) but so so yummy. (we also got a free mug shown below) Book a table in advance!
Go get a palm reading done in the Adams Morgan Neighborhood! On a whim, my friends and I decided to get a $5 palm reading from Mrs. Susan, and it was great fun. The Adams Morgan Neighborhood is also a lively, dope area full of bars and restaurants and it is most well-known for its night-life.
Food Tips
We ate real good on this trip. I’d recommend either buying breakfast items or packing some from home, because you really don’t need to eat out for breakfast every day. We did a quick grocery run the night we got there, and saved lots of $$$ on alcohol and food by buying it in a grocery store. But we still went out plenty, and I have some incredible restaurant recommendations that you need to try if you’re visiting D.C.
We don’t have Shake Shack in Pennsylvania, so for an inexpensive, yummy meal we got burgers the first night. Mine cost ~$8.
Try out Perry’s Japanese Cuisine in the Adams Morgan Neighborhood. We sat on the roof and had a lovely night eating sushi and some bomb fried rice. I spent ~$20 here because we didn’t order drinks. Twinkly lights adorned the rooftop, casting a warm glow on the restaurant. Lovely vibes. Yeah, I’d say that this place is definitely above average.
Check out SweetGreen in Georgetown. We also don’t have this in Pennsylvania, and it was a great, healthy pick-me-up after a long day of shopping. I got the Kale Caesar and Rosemary Focaccia bread for $13. They have a nice outdoor seating area where we saw the cutest dogs (having a cute dog seems to be very on trend in D.C.).
You must get a hot dog from the vendors near the National Mall. I feel like it’s tradition somehow.
Last but certainly not least, you MUST go to El Techo. I have no words for this place. We went on NYE (you must get a reservation beforehand) and the rest of the night was a whirlwind. Music pumping, it felt like we were sitting inside a magical treehouse. The tacos were DELICIOUS. We did a special where you got tacos and margaritas for the table for $90, so $15 / person. We did this twice, so my total cost was $30. We also got free tequila shots from the owner. It was a wild, crazy fun time, and you must go here for a totally unique dining experience.
Writing this article makes me want to visit D.C. again! We had the best time here. It is a clean city with lots more to offer besides the rich history. If you budget correctly, you won’t have to spend lots of money here. The bar scene was way better than I expected, and we went to some pretty awesome spots to eat too. If you’re from the east coast, make D.C. your next road-trip destination! If you’re not from the east coast, then still get your butt to D.C.
xx Gracie
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