This is Natalie's favorite museum! Free and open 11:30am-7:00pm daily, the National Portrait Gallery has an extensive collection of art, beautiful spaces to walk around, and the best food court on the Mall. This is also, in Natalie's opinion, the best place to buy anything from Washington, DC. Plan on spending at least 2-3 hours to really enjoy the museum and see everything.

Bonus: This is only a 10-minute walk from the National Press Club!

This is Sam's favorite museum! This is also where the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights are located. Free, reserved timed-entry tickets are available through the website, but aren't required. This is about a 15 minute walk from the National Press Club.

We couldn't leave this one off the list for obvious reasons (Natalie works here!), and it's more than worth the visit. The Library of Congress is home to some of the oldest and rarest books and pictures in the world. The LOC is also a beautiful building, full of exhibits and the most stunning reading room you have ever seen. It's especially beautiful when decorated for the holidays.

Admission is free but timed tickets are available for reservation online.

If you're visiting the Capitol or the Library of Congress, you should definitely visit Eastern Market. This historic area stretches beyond just the covered market, where you can buy food, drinks, and flowers. Eastern Market is also home to Capitol Hill Books, Natalie's favorite new and used bookstore, and some very cute and unique restaurants. We recommend Bullfrog Bagels for a quick breakfast or Ambar, Capitol Hill, for an excellent dinner.

This is where Sam and I had our second date and where you can go for a fun evening or brunch out. Swingers has two indoor mini golf courses, a beautiful bar, and lots of snack options. We highly recommend reserving tickets in advance. 21+

If you've never been to Zoolights, the nighttime holiday lights show, we highly recommend it! The zoo is filled with beautiful light displays, music, and special things to do. Of course, you can always visit the zoo during the day, too. The zoo is free during the day and Zoolights is pretty inexpensive, but you should reserve your tickets ahead of time online.

The Zoo has paid parking and plenty of food options during the day. During Zoolights there are snacks and drinks available throughout the walk.

Have you ever seen DC monuments lit up at night? It's stunning. This professionally guided tour 2 and 1/2 hour tour is full of history and classic DC sites. The trolley stops at Iwo Jima Marine Corps Memorial, FDR, Lincoln, Vietnam Veterans, Korean War and Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorials.

*This tour is included for guests staying at the JW Marriott