The AGA National team knows D.C. well, and these are the places we’d tell a friend to check out. Whether you have an extra afternoon or just a free evening, here are some of our favorite spots around the city.
Museum & Cultural Spots
“Centrally located and always free, the Renwick has large-scale installations perfect for strolling visitors and social media feeds alike.” — Matt Boulton
Metro: 🔵🟠⚪️ Farragut West (Blue/Orange/Silver) or 🔴 Farragut North (Red)
Photo credit: courtesy of washington.org
“Who knew the mail could be so interesting? Secretly the best Smithsonian museum… plus the world’s largest stamp gallery.” — Matt Boulton
Metro: 🔴 Union Station (Red)
Photo credit: courtesy of washington.org
“Magnificent mansion museum and splendid gardens.” — Christiane Lauritzen
Metro: 🔴 Van Ness–UDC (Red) + ~1 mile walk or short rideshare
Photo credit: courtesy of washington.org
“Plan on spending 3 hours.” — Julie Robinson
Metro: 🔵🟠⚪️ Smithsonian (Blue/Orange/Silver)
Photo credit: courtesy of washington.org
“You can’t go wrong with any Smithsonian, but this is my favorite — it’s really two museums in one.” — Lyndsay McKeown
Metro: 🔴🟢🟡 Gallery Place–Chinatown (Red/Green/Yellow)
Credit: courtesy of washington.org
“The Bones Hall is one of my favorite museum exhibits. The displays have been unchanged since the 1960s, and you feel like you’re walking through a Wes Anderson set.” — Lyndsay McKeown
Metro: 🔵🟠⚪️ Federal Triangle (Blue/Orange/Silver)
Credit: courtesy of washington.org
“Jazz in the Garden is so much fun—grab a sangria and listen to live music.” — Jennifer Garrett
Metro: 🟢🟡 Archives–Navy Memorial (Green/Yellow)
Credit: courtesy of washington.org
Parks, Gardens & Outdoor Escapes
“Home to the Bonsai & Penjing Museum… plus the original Capitol columns and even a pair of bald eagles.” — Matt Boulton
Metro: No direct stop; best via Union Station + rideshare
Photo credit: courtesy of washington.org
“Retreat from the summer heat exploring D.C.’s largest park.” — Matt Boulton
Metro: 🔴 Woodley Park–Zoo (Red)
Photo credit: courtesy of washington.org
“A wooded island retreat with trails and a quieter perspective on the city.” — Matt Boulton, Meredith Newman
Metro: 🔵🟠⚪️Rosslyn (Blue/Orange/Silver) + walk
Photo credit: courtesy of washington.org
“The cascading fountain is one of the longest in North America.” — Meredith Newman
Metro: 🟢🟡Columbia Heights (Green/Yellow)
Photo credit: courtesy of washington.org
Food & Drink
“Blagden Alley has some of the best restaurants in the city.” — Matt Boulton
Metro: 🟢🟡 Mount Vernon Square (Green/Yellow)
Photo credit: courtesy of washington.org
“Great burger, and Logan Circle is a great neighborhood to walk, shop, and explore.” — Kim Cocuzzi
Metro: 🔴 Dupont Circle (Red) or 🟢🟡 Shaw–Howard U (Green/Yellow)
Photo credit: courtesy of washington.org
“Great mix of food, shops, and places to wander.” — Matt Boulton, Meredith Newman
Metro: 🔴 NoMa–Gallaudet U (Red)
Photo credit: courtesy of washington.org
“Old-school Italian in Georgetown—then go shopping and walk along the canal.” — Kim Cocuzzi
Metro: 🔵🟠⚪️ Foggy Bottom (Blue/Orange/Silver) + walk
Photo credit: courtesy of washington.org
“Tucked in an alleyway in Georgetown, Sovereign has an amazing Belgian beer list and some of the best French onion soup you’ll ever have.” — Lyndsay McKeown
Metro: 🔵🟠⚪️ Foggy Bottom (Blue/Orange/Silver) + walk
Shops, Bookstores & Local Finds
“A D.C. classic bookstore and café—great for happy hour and picking up a new book.” — Jennifer Garrett
Metro: 🔴 Dupont Circle (Red)
Photo credit: courtesy of washington.org
Great for local vendors, art, and weekend browsing. — Meredith Newman
Metro: 🔵🟠⚪️ Eastern Market (Blue/Orange/Silver)
Photo credit: courtesy of washington.org
“Multiple levels to explore with new, used, and rare books.” — Stephanie Shaer
Metro: 🔴Woodley Park–Zoo (Red) or 🟢🟡Columbia Heights (Green/Yellow)
“For needlepoint lovers—pick out a fun canvas or restock on threads.” — Jennifer Garrett
Metro: 🔴 Cleveland Park (Red)
Unique Experiences & Offbeat Picks
“A must for movie fans.” — Susan Fritzlen
Metro: 🔵🟠⚪️ Foggy Bottom (Blue/Orange/Silver) + long walk or short rideshare
Photo credit: courtesy of washington.org
“Locally owned and highly personal tours.” — Crystal Robinson
Metro: 🔵🟡 King Street–Old Town (Blue/Yellow)
Photo credit: courtesy of washington.org
“A great view of the city without the timed entry at the Washington Monument.” — Meredith Newman
Metro: 🔵🟠⚪️ Federal Triangle (Blue/Orange/Silver)
Photo credit: courtesy of washington.org
Beyond D.C.: Easy Metro Trips
“A must—great food, historic atmosphere, shopping along King Street, and a waterfront stroll.” — Susan Fritzlen
Metro: 🔵🟡 King Street–Old Town (Blue/Yellow)
Photo courtesy of virginia.org
“The National Wheel and several restaurants and shopping.” — Julie Robinson
Metro: 🟢Branch Ave (Green) + rideshare
Photo credit: Gary Lopater on Unsplash
“My go-to coffee shop, lunch spot, and wine bar—perfect for sitting outside and listening to local music.” — Jennifer Garrett
Metro: 🟠⚪️Clarendon (Orange/Silver)
“Great place to visit local artists’ workspaces.” — Christiane Lauritzen
Metro: 🔵🟡 King Street–Old Town (Blue/Yellow) + short walk/trolley
Photo credit: courtesy of virginia.org