Trip report Washington DC (June 2025)

Question

I thought I had this submitted already but maybe went to a wrong forum and some details corrected as well.

Anyway thanks again for advice given prior to trip from contributors to this forum in particular re the baseball game/tickets.

Saturday 6th: Arrived in late afternoon and just walked around area and refamiliarised myself with metro. The credit I had left on last card from previous trip was usable which was great.

Sunday: Morning went to market in Dupont circle and then down to Nationals stadium for game. Delay in start for 2 hours due to but was great atmosphere. Experience in stadium was great and some good vendors and shops. Just of note to those using cash all vendors shops in stadium take card only and no cash.

Monday: Had bus tickets and trip planned to go to Annalopolis but on rechecking the admission criteria to Naval museum changed on May 5th this year and from what I could see if coming from outside USA I now needed someone to accompany me on the grounds. Went to Arlington cemetery instead and spent 4 hours approx and went to pentagon mall for food and shopping in afternoon. It's a lovely mall for shopping and very metro friendly as entry is in metro station

Tuesday: Took a chance and went to city cruises on Wharf and booked and went to Mount Vernon. It was a great trip and a lovely warm day so the breeze was perfect on boat. Cuty cruises were great to deal with. You have 3 hours to wander around Mount Vernon and the restraunt food was lovely and gift shops had great selection with a broad price point. For afternoon on return walked around Wharf area. I didnt eat in restraunts in Wharf area but they looked great options to eat out in afternoon.

Wedensday: Had tickets booked for Library of congress for 10am and spent about 2 hours here and walked around mall for afternoon and stopped at coffee shops on route for food. Went to Georgetown for walk in evening.

Thursday: Queued for tickets for US Capital tour and between looking around the visitor centre and the tour it was around 3 hours. The tour guide Geneuive was fantastic and very informative. After this I went to the Botanic garden for an hour and walked around looking at the other building facades etc. This was a long day walking so didn't do much this evening.

Friday: Literally went shopping for the day and ate at Tatte and other random food stops which was the pattern for eating out during the week.

Saturday: I left to airport earlier than normal as I anticipated potential delays from the 250th anniversary celebrations which had I planned better I would have travelled a week later to be able to attend. There were some closures around the mall towards end of week but justified so no criticism for this.

I stayed in the same location and hotel Royal Sonesta in Dupont circle which was as excellent as the first stay and il be back again and stay in same area and hotel. It's so central and convenient for metro. I got metro to and from Dulles with no issues. One bag over and two coming home and metro was grand.

A couple shops and as mentioned above the Nationals stadium did not accept cash so just to be prepared for that.

I visited alot on my first trip museum eise and this trip missed out on Annalopolis but will retry for third visit. There is plenty more to do and on last day found a book 111 places in Washington DC to visit which looks interesting.

Thanks again for advice pre trip and look forward to my next trip to DC

Answer

It sounds like you had a wonderfully structured and enjoyable week in Washington DC! Staying in Dupont Circle at the Royal Sonesta was clearly a great choice, given its central location and metro access, which made navigating the city much easier without a car.

Here’s a summary and some observations from your trip that could help future visitors or even yourself on a return visit:

Saturday Arrival: Walking around the area and getting reacquainted with the metro is a smart way to start, especially when arriving late. Using leftover credit on a previous metro card is a nice tip for repeat visitors.
Sunday – Nationals Game: Even with a delayed start, the atmosphere was enjoyable. A key takeaway is that all vendors at Nationals Park take cards only, so bring a card or use a digital payment method.
Monday – Arlington Cemetery & Pentagon Mall: Visiting the cemetery for about four hours was productive and meaningful. Pentagon City Mall is highlighted as convenient and metro-friendly, which is good to know for anyone planning shopping while in DC.
Tuesday – City Cruises & Mount Vernon: Booking a City Cruises tour to Mount Vernon worked out well. Three hours at Mount Vernon allowed for wandering, enjoying the restaurant, and gift shops. Walking around the Wharf area in the afternoon provides a relaxed contrast after a more structured morning.
Wednesday – Library of Congress & Mall: Two hours at the Library of Congress is a reasonable visit time. Walking around the National Mall with coffee shop stops provides a balance of sightseeing and rest. Evening in Georgetown is ideal for a scenic stroll.
Thursday – US Capitol & Botanic Garden: The US Capitol tour, including the visitor center, took about three hours. Your guide, Genevieve, made the experience informative. The Botanic Garden visit and walking around building facades rounded out a long day of walking, highlighting the importance of pacing.
Friday – Shopping Day: Dining at Tatte and casual food stops fits well for a more relaxed day. Shopping is a nice way to take a break from sightseeing.
Saturday Departure: Leaving early to anticipate closures due to the 250th anniversary celebrations was prudent. Some closures around the National Mall affected the end of the week, but these were justified given the events.

Additional tips from your trip:

Dupont Circle is an excellent central location for metro access and walking to nearby attractions.
Be prepared for some attractions and stadiums not accepting cash; cards or digital payments are necessary.
Some attractions may change entry requirements unexpectedly, as with the Naval Museum in Annapolis, so always double-check in advance.
There is still plenty to explore for future trips, including spots mentioned in books like "111 Places in Washington DC to Visit."

Overall, your trip report emphasizes a good balance of structured sightseeing, relaxation, and shopping. The metro proved reliable for airport access and city travel, and the central hotel location made it convenient. You also noted key details for future planning, such as cashless vendors and timed entries, which are valuable for any first-time or returning visitor.

It sounds like your next DC trip can include Annapolis and any other sites missed this time, with confidence that you have a good base and rhythm for exploring the city efficiently.

Trip report Washington DC (June 2025)

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