Things to Do in Washington, DC

DC Jazz Festival Cherry Blossom Festival Jazz Clubs Nightclubs & Dancing Washington University The Pentagon Lincoln Memorial Space Museum Art Galleries Veterans Memorial

From world-class museums to the nation’s most important monuments and historical sites, you’ll find it all in Washington, DC. Discover the 19 fascinating museums of the Smithsonian Institution, including the National Air and Space Museum, the most visited of all Smithsonian museums. Take your pick historical districts like Dupont Circle and government buildings like the Pentagon and the Capitol Building. And dance the night away or enjoy your favorite music at a variety of bars, clubs and lounges Washington DC has to offer.

DC Jazz Festival.

Come and experience the amazing and electrifying DC Jazz Festival taking place June 1st through June 13. DC Jazz Fest will feature artists that are celebrated around the world! The line up includes Paquito D'Rivera, Dianne Reeves, the Eddie Palmieri Latin Jazz Band, the Roy Hargrove Big Band, James Moody, Claudio Roditi, Edmar Castaneda, Michael Philip Mossman, Akua Dixon and Quartette Indigo, the Berklee World Jazz Nonet, Roberta Gambarini, the Marshall Keys Quartet, the Marian Petrescu Quartet featuring Andreas Öberg, Tony Madruga, Uri Gurvich, and many other talented artists.

The Best Western Georgetown is located in close proximity to all of the DC Jazz Festival events and has all the amenities to make your stay a memorable one! Call 866-263-7212 to make a reservation.

DC Jazz Festival June 1st through June 13th.

Here is just a glimpse of the incredible scheduled performances for the Washington DC Jazz Fetival

• June 8:

  Rising Star concert at the6th and I Historic Synagogue, “A Tribute to Oscar Peterson featuring pianist Marian Petrescu with Special Guest guitarist Andreas Öberg”

• June 9:

  Rising Star concert at the Washington DC Jewish Community Center featuring saxophonist Uri Gurvich

• June 13:

  Kennedy Center Terrace Theater Paquito D’Rivera andThe Jelly Roll Morton Latin Tinge Project with Akua Dixon and Quartette Indigo, Michael Philip Mossman, Music Director, and Pernell Saturnino, percussion, a commissioned National Endowment for the Arts American Masterpieces concert (performances at 5:30pm and 7:30pm)   [Top]

National Cherry Blossom Festival.

The blooming of the cherry trees around the Tidal Basin in Washington, D.C. has come to symbolize the natural beauty of our nation's capital city. The famous trees, a gift from Japan in 1912, signal Washington’s rite of spring with an explosion of life and color that surrounds the Tidal Basin in a sea of pale pink and white blossoms. Thousands of city residents and visitors from across the nation and around the world come here to witness the spectacle, hoping that the trees will be at the peak of bloom for the Cherry Blossom Festival.

Save the Date: The 2011 National Cherry Blossom Festival will be held between March 26 and April 10.  [Top]

Jazz Clubs.

If you are a lover of jazz, you will be sure to get your fix at any one of these spectacular clubs in Washington DC.  Let us know which are your favorite:

• Blues Alley 1073 Wisconsin Ave. NW, Washington, DC (202) 337-4141
• Birchmere Music Hall 3701 Mt. Vernon Ave, Alexandria, Virginia (703) 549-7500
• Bohemian Caverns 2001 Eleventh St., NW Washington, DC (202) 299-0801
• Columbia Station 2325 18th St. NW, Washington, DC (202) 462-6040
• Duke’s City Restaurant and Lounge 1208 U Street NW, Washington, DC (202) 986-9400
• JoJo's Restaurant and Bar 1518 U Street NW, Washington, DC (2020 319-9350
• Kennedy Center Jazz Club 2700 F. St. NW, Washington, DC (800) 444-1324
• Mr. Henry’s 601 Pennsylvania Ave SE, Washington, DC (202) 546-8412
• National Gallery of Art's Jazz in the Garden, Pavilion Café at the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden, 7th and Constitution NW, Washington, DC
• Smithsonian Jazz Café, National Museum of Natural History, 10th St. & Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, DC (202) 357-2700
• Takoma Station Tavern 6914 4th St NW, Washington, DC (202) 829-1999
• Twins Lounge 5516 Colorado Ave. NW, Washington, DC (202) 882-2523
• U-Topia 1418 U St. NW, Washington, DC. (202) 483-7669  [Top]
  

Nightclubs & Dancing!

Here is a list of some of our favorite and highly recommended places to enjoy a great night of dancing and fun:

• 9:30 Club U Street Corridor. 815 V St, NW. Washington, DC. 20001 (202) 393-0930
• 18th Street Lounge Dupont Circle. 1212 18th St, Washington, DC 20036 (202) 466-3922
• Fur Nightclub 33 Patterson St. NE, Washington, DC 20002 (202) 842-3401
• Apex 1432 22nd St NW, Washington, DC 20037 (202) 296-0505
• Habana Village 1834 Columbia Rd. NW, Washington, DC 20009 (202) 462-6310
• Avenue 649 New York Ave NW, Washington, DC 20001 (202) 347-8100
• K Street Lounge 1301 K St NW, Washington, DC 20005 (202) 962-3933
• Love 1350 Okie St NE, Washington, DC 20002. (202) 636-9030
• Lima Restaurant & Lounge 1401 K St NW, Washington, DC 20005 (202) 789-7800
• Lux Lounge 649 New York Ave NW, Washington, DC  (202) 347-8100
• Town Danceboutique 2009 8th St NW Washington, DC (202) 234-8696
• Tuscana West 1350 Eye St NW Washington, DC 20004 (202) 289-7300
• Platinum Nightclub 915 F St NW, Washington, DC 20004. (202)393-3555
• Ultrabar Nightclub DC, 911 F Street, NW, Washington, DC  202-638-4663
• Zanzibar 700 Water St SW, Washington, DC 20024. (202) 554-9100  [Top]

George Washington University.

Located down the street from the Best Western Georgetown Hotel & Suites. The campus is one of the most popular attractions in Georgetown, Washington, DC. The 43-acre, downtown location is referred to as “the Foggy Bottom campus.” The Foggy Bottom area is widely believed to have taken its name from the fogs that often cover the area.

Arlington National Cemetery.

The nation’s most famous military cemetery was founded during the Civil War to honor veterans of that war. Originally part of legendary Civil War General Robert E. Lee's 200-acre family estate, the land was claimed by the government against the Lee family's wishes. Later the Supreme Court ruled that the Lee family was owed $150,000 for land taken to create Arlington National Cemetery.  [Top]

The Pentagon.

Located on five acres in Arlington, Virginia, the Pentagon is deservedly one of the world's most well-know structures and one of the most popular things to do in Washington, DC. The famed headquarters of the United States Department of Defense takes its name from its pentagon shape.

Dupont Circle.

Discover one of the more historic things to do on a Washington, DC, weekend. Since the Civil War, Dupont Circle has been known as one of Washington, DC’s most fashionable residential neighborhoods. Many of the city’s grandest homes can still be found in this area, along with the famous shopping and hotels in Dupont Circle.  [Top]

Lincoln Memorial.

One of the nation’s most important monuments, the stirring memorial pays tribute to fallen President Lincoln. Located on the National Mall, Henry Bacon was the architect who designed the building. Visiting the site of the Lincoln Memorial is one of the most popular things to do every summer in Washington, DC.

National Cathedral.

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, visiting the Cathedral designated as the "National House of Prayer" of the United States is one of Washington, DC’s most popular things to do. More properly known as "The Cathedral Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul in the City and Diocese of Washington," it is an Episcopal Church. The National Cathedral is the sixth-largest cathedral in the world, second in the United States only to St. John's Cathedral in New York.
  [Top]

National Air and Space Museum.

Among the prized pieces in the colleciton are "The Spirit of St. Louis," Charles Lindbergh's famed craft in which he made the world's first solo flight across the Atlantic Ocean and the original Wright Flyer. It’s one of the most popular Washington, DC kids attractions.  [Top]

Art Galleries.

There are many places to see and buy many types of art from national, international and local artists. Here is a list of our favorites:

• Addison / Ripley Gallery, Ltd: 9 Hillyer Court, NW, Washington, DC (202) 328-2332
• Ansel Adams Collection/The Wilderness Society
  Permanent exhibition of noted landscape photographer Ansel Adams
  900 17th St., NW, Washington, DC 20006; (202) 833-2300
• Anton Gallery: 2108 R Street NW, Washington DC 20008 (202) 328-0828
• Baraka: 1875 I Street, NW, Washington, DC (202) 659-3777
• Robert Brown Gallery - Dupont Circle: 2030 R Street NW, Washington DC 20009  (202) 483-4383
• Burdick Gallery of Inuit Art: 2114 R Street, NW, Washington, DC (202) 986-5682
• Burton Marinkovich Fine Art: 1506 21st Street NW, Washington DC 20036 (202) 296-6563
• Susan Conway Gallery: 1214 30th Street, NW, Washington, DC (202) 333-6343
• Corcoran Gallery of Art: 17th Street and New York Avenue, NW, Washington, DC (202) 639-1700
• Creighton-Davis Gallery: 3300 M Street, NW, Washington, DC (202) 333-3050
• Geoffrey Diner Gallery: 1730 21st Street NW, Washington DC 20009 (202) 483-5005
• Foundry Gallery: 9 Hillyer Court NW, Washington DC 20008  (202) 387-0203
• Jane Haslem Gallery: 2025 Hillyer Place NW, Washington, DC, 20009 (202) 232-4644
• Organization of American States Gallery: 17th Street & Constitution Ave, NW, Washington, DC
• Okuda International: 1054 31st Street, NW, Washington, DC (202) 625-1054
• P & C Art: 3301 M Street, NW, Washington, DC (202) 965-4630
• Phillips Collection:: 1600 21st Street, NW, Washington, DC (202) 387-2151
• Renwick Gallery: 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC (202) 357-2700
• Spectrum Gallery: 1132 29th Street, NW, Washington, DC (202) 333-0954
• Studio Gallery: 2108 R Street, NW, Washington, DC (202) 232-8734
• The Tartt Gallery: 2017 Q Street NW, Washington DC 20009 (202) 332-5652
• Washington Printmakers' Gallery: 2106 R Street, NW, Washington, DC (202) 332-7757
• White House Art Gallery: National Press Bldg, 529 14th St N.W. Washington, DC (202)393-6752

Foggy Bottom Metro.

Located at the northwest end of the George Washington University campus, your closest Washington Metro station runs on the Blue and Orange Lines. The Washington Metro Foggy Bottom station is at 23rd and I St. It’s a fast, inexpensive way to get to all the Washington, DC tourist attractions.  [Top]

Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

Solemnly placed in Constitution Gardens adjacent to the National Mall, it's located northeast of the Lincoln Memorial. Designed by American architect Maya Lin, the monument receives more than 3 million visitors each year.

National Zoo.

Another one of the fun things to do with kids in Washington, DC, is to visit the Zoo. The National Zoo’s most famous residents are the giant pandas. All counted, about 2,000 different kinds of animals live at the National Zoo and the Zoo's Conservation and Research Center (CRC) in Virginia. Amazingly, almost all of these species live at the National Zoo’s main location in DC.

The US Capitol Building.

The seat of our Congress is dominated by the central dome that towers over its rotunda and two building wings. The north wing houses the Senate, and the House of Representatives resides in the south wing. Visit the building's famed galleries to see congress in action. It’s one of the best things to do with an afternoon in Washington, DC.  [Top]