What I Actually Did in Washington, D.C.: A 5-Day Trip Recap + Travel Tips

What I Actually Did in Washington, D.C.: A 5-Day Trip Recap + Travel Tips

Washington, D.C. had been on my travel list for a while, and I finally got the chance to spend five days there with my boyfriend, Evan.

This trip was a little different from a traditional vacation because we planned it around one of Evan's work trips. He works for a tool dealer, and his dad owns the company. They were heading to the Snap-on trade show at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center, so Evan and I basically looked at each other and thought, why don't we make a trip out of it?

That's something we like to do when we get the opportunity. I take PTO while Evan works during parts of the trip. Some expenses may already be covered because of his work, and we pay for the rest ourselves. Then we figure out how to squeeze in a little adventure together.

I want to be transparent about that because it definitely affected what this trip looked like. I'm not suggesting everyone start tagging along on their boyfriend's work trips. Evan's dad doesn't mind me coming along, so we're lucky that we're able to do this sometimes.

We stayed at the Hilton Old Town Alexandria in Virginia, while the trade show was at the Gaylord in National Harbor.

Meanwhile, I had created what I thought was a pretty great itinerary for myself.

And when I say itinerary, I mean itinerary.

I had museums picked out and restaurants saved. I researched transportation, mapped out attractions, and organized our days inside my Washington, D.C. travel planner.

It looked fantastic in my planner.

Actually traveling it was a little different.

Snap-on provided a free shuttle between our hotel and the Gaylord. Super convenient. I just hadn't planned around it because I didn't know it existed.

Evan may have known about it and forgotten to tell me, which would honestly be very on brand. 😂

There was also a race happening in the city that weekend. Wednesday and Thursday were fine, but getting around became more complicated as the weekend got closer.

Then there was my decision to visit Washington, D.C. in the middle of August.

So... there's that.

My hair gave up on being straight almost immediately. I was sweating like crazy, wore shoes that were significantly cuter than they were practical, and was absolutely not prepared for the thigh chafing.

Nobody puts that in the cute travel recap, but here we are.

My original itinerary definitely did not survive the trip, but I still got to see some of the places I'd been looking forward to for months.

And that's really what I want these MSM Studio travel recaps to be.

I could give you a perfectly polished list of everything you're supposed to do in Washington, D.C., but there are already plenty of those online.

I'd rather tell you what I actually did, what I loved, what I'd change next time, and what I wish someone had told me before I went.

So, let's start with the good stuff. 

What I Actually Got to See

Wednesday: Our First Nationals Game

We flew into D.C. Wednesday morning and landed around 3 PM. After checking into our hotel, we headed to Nationals Park for our first Washington Nationals game.

Since it was our first game, we stopped by the information center and got a first game certificate. We grabbed some drinks, watched the game, and got ice cream served in the cutest little baseball helmets. We also watched the sunset from the stadium before taking an Uber back to our hotel.

What I'd recommend: Don't overload your first evening. A baseball game gave us something fun to do without trying to squeeze several attractions into a few hours. If it's your first Nationals game, stop by guest services and ask about the first game certificate. And yes, get the tiny baseball helmet ice cream. 😂

Thursday: Ford's Theatre, Museums & Our Failed White House Mission

Thursday morning, Evan and I grabbed Starbucks and headed to Ford's Theatre.

We purchased tickets ahead of time for the theatre and the exhibits across the street. Our tickets were only $5 each, and this ended up being one of my favorite stops of the trip.

Standing inside the actual theatre where such a major piece of American history happened felt completely different from reading about it. You can see the presidential box and imagine what it would have been like to sit there and watch a performance.

If I ever get the opportunity to go back and see an actual show at Ford's Theatre, it's going straight on my bucket list.

Afterward, we continued through the exhibits across the street. One of the guides was incredibly knowledgeable and explained parts of the history we probably would have missed on our own.

Then, naturally, I bought a magnet.

I know. My entire brand says “Collect memories, not things.”

But I'm only human. 😂

I collect magnets from every place I travel and put them on my refrigerator at home. Apparently MSM Studio has one exception to the rule.

From there, we walked toward the White House. I already knew we wouldn't be able to tour it because I had researched that before the trip and even contacted our representative's office.

What I didn't know was that we also wouldn't get the White House view I had pictured. Large black barriers surrounded the area, and we couldn't get a good look from a distance.

The walk wasn't a total loss. We got a beautiful view of the Washington Monument along the way.

We finished the day at the National Museum of American History and the National Museum of Natural History.

This is where Evan and I learned an important travel lesson.

We were waiting to see the dinosaur.

You know. The dinosaur.

Except we were thinking of the museum in New York.

Wrong museum. Wrong city. 😂

What I'd recommend: Reserve Ford's Theatre ahead of time if it's high on your list, and give yourself time to talk to the guides. If you're visiting multiple Smithsonian museums, look up the specific exhibits you want to see before deciding which ones to prioritize.

Apparently simply saying “the one with the dinosaur” is not enough research.

Don't be like us.

Friday: The Capitol & My Solo D.C. Day

Friday started early with our tour of the U.S. Capitol.

This was my favorite day of the entire trip.

The Capitol itself was beautiful, although the tour was a little more limited than I originally pictured. Once you're there, it makes sense. It's a working government building, not just a tourist attraction.

Our guide completely made the experience. She was incredibly knowledgeable and clearly loved her job and the Capitol itself.

One thing to know before you go: Both the Capitol and Library of Congress require reservations. They're free, but you'll want to reserve your time ahead of your visit.

After the tour, Evan and his dad headed to the Snap-on show, which meant I was officially on my own.

My first stop was the Library of Congress. Thomas Jefferson's personal library was easily my favorite part. If you're already visiting the Capitol, I would absolutely make time for the Library of Congress too.

Next, I walked to the U.S. Botanic Garden.

I loved seeing how the environment changes throughout the conservatory to support plants from completely different climates. I originally thought I might sit inside and read for a while.

That plan lasted about five seconds.

It's humid inside. I was already sweaty. Sitting there with my book suddenly sounded significantly less relaxing than it had while I was planning.

The outdoor garden would be a completely different story. With the right weather, I'd happily bring a book and sit outside.

After leaving, I stopped at a little drink stand and bought a lemonade.

Maybe I was dehydrated. Maybe I was exhausted. Maybe it was genuinely the world's greatest lemonade.

Whatever the reason, get the lemonade.

From there, I headed to the National Gallery of Art.

I'm not an artist, and I'm definitely not someone who can give you an educated critique of a painting. But I discovered something I wasn't expecting.

I found the kind of art I like.

I kept gravitating toward the French Impressionist and Post-Impressionist galleries. I couldn't necessarily explain why I liked them, but I did.

You don't have to know anything about art to enjoy an art museum.

By this point, my body had had enough. I called an Uber, went back to the hotel, ate, and took a three hour nap.

Best decision I made all day. 😂

What I'd recommend: The Capitol, Library of Congress, Botanic Garden, and National Gallery work really well together because they're in the same general area. And if you aren't an “art person,” don't automatically skip the National Gallery. Walk around until something catches your attention. You might surprise yourself.

Saturday & Sunday: When the Itinerary Lost

I accidentally slept until 1 PM on Saturday.

So... there went that day.

There were still places on my itinerary I wanted to see, but looking back, my body clearly needed the rest.

Once I finally got ready, I headed to the Gaylord and worked on the MSM Studio website while Evan and his dad finished the show.

Not exactly what my planner said I'd be doing in Washington, D.C., but sometimes the itinerary loses.

Sunday was our travel day. We headed to the airport and ended up with about a three hour delay because of storms.

Because apparently D.C. wanted one final opportunity to remind me that the itinerary is merely a suggestion.

Eventually, we made it home.

What I Wish I Knew Before Visiting Washington, D.C.

Check What You'll Actually Be Able to See

I knew we wouldn't be able to tour the White House. What I didn't know was that I wouldn't even get the view of it I had pictured because of the barriers surrounding the area.

Next time, I'll do one final check on major attractions right before we leave. Construction, closures, events, and security restrictions can change what you'll actually be able to see.

Bring the Comfortable Shoes

Not the cute shoes that are pretty comfortable.

The comfortable shoes.

D.C. involves a lot of walking, even when attractions look close together on a map. Next time, I'm bringing shoes I already know I can comfortably walk in for hours.

Cute can come second.

Humidity and My Hair Were Not Friends

This one might not make every D.C. travel guide, but I wish someone had warned me.

I straightened my hair.

D.C. said no.

If your hair reacts to humidity, bring whatever products you use to control frizz. I will personally be adding a defrizz spray to my packing list next time.

Bring Water, But Check the Rules First

I seriously underestimated how much water I would need while walking around D.C. in August.

Bring water when you can, but check the rules for the attractions you're visiting because they aren't all the same.

Ford's Theatre allows bottled water, the National Gallery allows closed water bottles, and the U.S. Botanic Garden allows drinks and has a bottle-refill station. The U.S. Capitol does not allow bottled water or other beverages inside, although its current rules allow an open, empty container.

My advice? Check the rules for that day's attractions and bring a refillable bottle whenever you can.

Especially if you're visiting in the summer.

Your future sweaty self will thank you. 

Leave Space in Your Itinerary

This was probably my biggest planning lesson from the trip.

I had planned a lot, and on paper, it worked. Then real life happened.

If I planned D.C. again, I'd intentionally leave at least a half day open for something I missed, something I discovered while I was there, or absolutely nothing if I needed a break.

A good itinerary should help you enjoy your trip.

It shouldn't make you feel like you're behind on it.

Would I Visit Washington, D.C. Again?

Absolutely.

There are still so many things I didn't get to see, and I would love to go back during a cooler time of year. Next time, though, I'm bringing better shoes, leaving more room in my itinerary, and packing the defrizz spray. 

This trip didn't go exactly how I planned it, but that's kind of the point. A travel planner gives you a place to organize the trip you want to take. Then you get there and experience your trip with some road bumps and unexpected experiences. 

If you're planning your own trip to Washington, D.C., I created the MSM Studio Washington, D.C. Travel Planner to keep your itinerary, budget, restaurants, transportation, attractions, and trip details organized in one place.

Plan the trip. Leave a little room for the unexpected.

And, as always, collect memories, not things. ✨