The Essentials and My Favorites in DC
Parks & Nature
Any of the trails in this park are great for walking and hiking. On the weekends (Saturday and Sunday) Beach Drive is closed to traffic. Bikers, hikers, and walkers have free reign.
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Rock Creek Park
3545 Williamsburg Ln NWAny of the trails in this park are great for walking and hiking. On the weekends (Saturday and Sunday) Beach Drive is closed to traffic. Bikers, hikers, and walkers have free reign.
It's a trek to get to from our micro, or for that matter any part of the city, but once you get there, it is worth the experience. Outdoor lovers will especially appreciate this treasure, as it houses several walking trails and all types of plants with informative descriptions. If you go, there are two things you can't miss, the old U.S. Capitol columns and the Japanese bonzai garden.
TIP: Be sure to drive. This place is a well-kept secret in DC partly because it isn't particularly convenient to public transportation.
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United States National Arboretum
3501 New York Ave NEIt's a trek to get to from our micro, or for that matter any part of the city, but once you get there, it is worth the experience. Outdoor lovers will especially appreciate this treasure, as it houses several walking trails and all types of plants with informative descriptions. If you go, there are two things you can't miss, the old U.S. Capitol columns and the Japanese bonzai garden.
TIP: Be sure to drive. This place is a well-kept secret in DC partly because it isn't particularly convenient to public transportation.
Food Scene
The Coupe
3415 11th St NWIt's open late on the weekends and they also have a great brunch!
The crossiants, specifically the chocolate ones. The coffee ain't too bad either.
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Le Caprice DC Café Bakery
3456 14th St NWThe crossiants, specifically the chocolate ones. The coffee ain't too bad either.
Our family loves heading to Highlands early on Saturday morning for breakfast. Their chicken and waffels are killer and the coffee is good too.
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The Highlands
4706 14th Street NorthwestOur family loves heading to Highlands early on Saturday morning for breakfast. Their chicken and waffels are killer and the coffee is good too.
A stylish and laid-back space, good cocktails, and most importantly delicious pizza, I recommend this place for dining in when the urge for Neapolitan, wood-fired pizza hits you. The pastas and Italian bites are good too and eating on the rooftop garden can add to your dining experience.
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Little Coco's
3907 14th St NWA stylish and laid-back space, good cocktails, and most importantly delicious pizza, I recommend this place for dining in when the urge for Neapolitan, wood-fired pizza hits you. The pastas and Italian bites are good too and eating on the rooftop garden can add to your dining experience.
This is our go-to restaurant because the food is good and it's only steps away from the house. If you are into ciders, they have a great local draft on the menu. Ask for Matt or Tony when you go and tell them Mingo sent you.
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Moreland's Tavern
5501 14th St NWThis is our go-to restaurant because the food is good and it's only steps away from the house. If you are into ciders, they have a great local draft on the menu. Ask for Matt or Tony when you go and tell them Mingo sent you.
Not far from the micro in the adjacent neighborhood of Petworth, this is one of our go to spots for BBQ. The owner is very cool and maintains a quality list of whiskeys & bourbons.
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Cinder BBQ
800 Upshur St NWNot far from the micro in the adjacent neighborhood of Petworth, this is one of our go to spots for BBQ. The owner is very cool and maintains a quality list of whiskeys & bourbons.
Call Your Mother
3301 Georgia Ave NWThe bagels are expensive, but worth every dollar.
Small pizza joint pumping out the best pizzas in the city. Order in advance and bring it home to enjoy, there aren't many seats in this joint.
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Timber Pizza Company
809 Upshur St NWSmall pizza joint pumping out the best pizzas in the city. Order in advance and bring it home to enjoy, there aren't many seats in this joint.
Not our favorite place to shop for groceries, but it's good in a pinch and has a solid produce section. Plus you can shop for other essentials that you may need aside from food.
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Walmart Supercenter
5929 Georgia Ave NWNot our favorite place to shop for groceries, but it's good in a pinch and has a solid produce section. Plus you can shop for other essentials that you may need aside from food.
Arts & Culture
Great collection of art, conveniently located downtown by plenty of restaurants and bars, and the indoor courtyard is absolutely amazing. If you go, see if you can find the art piece featured in the micro.
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Smithsonian American Art Museum
8th Street NorthwestGreat collection of art, conveniently located downtown by plenty of restaurants and bars, and the indoor courtyard is absolutely amazing. If you go, see if you can find the art piece featured in the micro.
Adding thoughts to the "Sightseeing" section is a challenge. There is so much to see in this city...I'll just list my favorites, starting with the Hirshhorn Museum of Modern Art. Without fail, there is always an interesting exhibit featured along with monthly lectures from the artists themselves. The building itself is also stunning with an inner courtyard great for taking a moment to just sit and take it all in. And don't miss the sculpture garden just to the north side of the main building. If you are spending a few days on the mall visiting the Smithsonian museums, make sure this is on your list.
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Hirshhorn Museum
7th Street SouthwestAdding thoughts to the "Sightseeing" section is a challenge. There is so much to see in this city...I'll just list my favorites, starting with the Hirshhorn Museum of Modern Art. Without fail, there is always an interesting exhibit featured along with monthly lectures from the artists themselves. The building itself is also stunning with an inner courtyard great for taking a moment to just sit and take it all in. And don't miss the sculpture garden just to the north side of the main building. If you are spending a few days on the mall visiting the Smithsonian museums, make sure this is on your list.
As an art lover, I had to add this to the list. If you can make time for two art museums, visit the Hirshhorn and then here. Visit the website in advance of your visit to see what exhibit is being featured in the modern wing. That may be something you can skip if you aren't interested.
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National Gallery of Art
Constitution Avenue NorthwestAs an art lover, I had to add this to the list. If you can make time for two art museums, visit the Hirshhorn and then here. Visit the website in advance of your visit to see what exhibit is being featured in the modern wing. That may be something you can skip if you aren't interested.
Shopping
I have been heading to Georgetown since I was in high school to go shopping and it still remains one of my favorite places to shop, eat, and chill. It has just about everything you need for R&R -- drinks, movies, coffee, access to a biking and hiking trail (the C&O Canal trail), and a nice view of the Potomac River from the Washington Harbor.
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Georgetown
I have been heading to Georgetown since I was in high school to go shopping and it still remains one of my favorite places to shop, eat, and chill. It has just about everything you need for R&R -- drinks, movies, coffee, access to a biking and hiking trail (the C&O Canal trail), and a nice view of the Potomac River from the Washington Harbor.
Drinks & Nightlife
My wife and I met attending a show at the 9:30 Club and I can easily call it my favorite music venue in DC. We make a point to see a show there at least once a year. It's not a huge venue, so if you can catch your favorite act, it's guaranteed to be an up close and personal experience even if you are on the upper level. If your favorite act isn't in town, it's still worth the experience to check out a show. The surrounding area has developed quite nicely too. I suggest pre-show drinks at the Brixton or for a more divey experience, the Velvet Lounge.
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9:30
815 V St NWMy wife and I met attending a show at the 9:30 Club and I can easily call it my favorite music venue in DC. We make a point to see a show there at least once a year. It's not a huge venue, so if you can catch your favorite act, it's guaranteed to be an up close and personal experience even if you are on the upper level. If your favorite act isn't in town, it's still worth the experience to check out a show. The surrounding area has developed quite nicely too. I suggest pre-show drinks at the Brixton or for a more divey experience, the Velvet Lounge.
Getting Around
Columbia Heights Metro station is about a 30m walk, 15m bus ride, or 10m bike ride south of our micro. Both the yellow and green lines run through the station and it is easy to travel from this line to the red, blue, orange, and silver lines that can get you to other central parts of the city. The Yellow line also travels directly to Washington National Airport.
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Columbia Heights Station
3030 14th St NWColumbia Heights Metro station is about a 30m walk, 15m bus ride, or 10m bike ride south of our micro. Both the yellow and green lines run through the station and it is easy to travel from this line to the red, blue, orange, and silver lines that can get you to other central parts of the city. The Yellow line also travels directly to Washington National Airport.
This Metro station is actually closer than the Columbia Heights Metro stop, but the advantage of going to the CoHi metro is the 52/54 bus line that you can catch up 14th to get there that is less than a block from the house.
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Georgia Ave-Petworth Station
3700 Georgia Ave NWThis Metro station is actually closer than the Columbia Heights Metro stop, but the advantage of going to the CoHi metro is the 52/54 bus line that you can catch up 14th to get there that is less than a block from the house.
Essentials
Safeway is the closest grocery store near the micro. It is just a few years old, has good produce, and the prepared foods section offers solid options. It's on the affordable side and you can usually catch good sales on everyday items too. If you are seeking healthier items, find your way to the Yes Organic. It is actually a little bit closer to the house in the same Petworth area and though more expensive, it's a quality organic grocery store.
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Safeway
3830 Georgia Ave NWSafeway is the closest grocery store near the micro. It is just a few years old, has good produce, and the prepared foods section offers solid options. It's on the affordable side and you can usually catch good sales on everyday items too. If you are seeking healthier items, find your way to the Yes Organic. It is actually a little bit closer to the house in the same Petworth area and though more expensive, it's a quality organic grocery store.
Get you organics from this clean, well stocked grocery that features a solid wine list. It's about a 10 minute drive from the micro.
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Yes! Organic Market Petworth
4100 Georgia Ave NWGet you organics from this clean, well stocked grocery that features a solid wine list. It's about a 10 minute drive from the micro.