DC is full of amazing free museums, monuments, and historic sites. If you're looking to explore the city, here are a few ideas:

Tidal Basin: Since it's cherry blossom season, we highly recommend heading to the Tidal Basin for some incredible views of the blooms around the Jefferson Memorial.

Smithsonian Museums: DC’s world-class museums are free! Check out the National Gallery of Art (Akbota loves their guided tours), the National Portrait Gallery/American Art museum (with a beautiful indoor atrium), the African American History and Culture Museum, the Air and Space Museum, and many many more.

Dumbarton Oaks: A beautiful historic garden close to the venue. Make sure to check their website for hours and tickets ($15) beforehand.

Rock Creek Park – A great spot to escape the city with scenic trails and green space. It’s also home to the Smithsonian National Zoo, which is free to visit and recently welcomed pandas back to DC!

Georgetown Waterfront – Walk along the Potomac River, grab a coffee, and people-watch.

The Wharf – A vibrant waterfront area with restaurants and bars. Perfect for a scenic stroll or dinner with a view.

Most of DC’s historic landmarks are free and open to the public, though some require reservations in advance or day-off passes - e.g., U.S. Capitol (with free tours) and the Library of Congress.

DC has an incredible food scene, and here are some of our favorite spots:

Rumi’s Kitchen – Delicious Persian food and possibly our favorite restaurant in DC.

Unconventional Diner – Elevated diner food and one of Jon’s favorites. Get the chicken and waffles—you won’t regret it!

Le Diplomate – A DC institution. A French bistro often frequented by politicians.

Eden Center (Falls Church, VA) – A wild card recommendation! This Southeast Asian strip mall has amazing Pho and unique grocery stores filled with fun imports.

Guapo’s – A casual Tex-Mex spot with great margaritas, enchiladas, and salsa chips that just keep coming.

The Capital Burger – Best burgers in town.

Tiger Fork – A lively Hong Kong-style eatery with bold flavors and fun cocktails.

2Fifty Texas BBQ – Best Texas-style bbq but less of a sit-down dinner vibe.

Pisco y Nazca – A top-notch Peruvian restaurant known for its ceviche and Pisco sours.

Supra – A fancy Georgian restaurant with delicious khachapuri (cheese-filled bread) and khinkali (dumplings).

Looking for a place to grab a drink? Here are some of our favorites:

Jack Rose Dining Saloon – A must-visit for whiskey lovers, with one of the largest whiskey collections in the country.

Denson – A sleek, underground cocktail bar with a speakeasy vibe.

600T – Great cocktails, though it can get pretty loud on busy nights.

Allegory – An artsy cocktail bar tucked inside the Eaton Hotel. Plan to arrive early to get into a live digital queue while you walk around.

Dacha Beer Garden – A great outdoor beer garden with a solid beer selection.

Aslin Beer Co. – A must-visit for craft beer lovers, featuring a rotating selection of creative, flavorful brews in a relaxed setting.

The Admiral – Not a top-tier cocktail bar, but a classic DC happy hour spot—and where Jon and Akbota met!

Tonic at Quigley’s– THE bar for work and school happy hours in Foggy Bottom. Not fancy but has cheap hh drinks and killer loaded tots.