Over Labor Day weekend, my mom and I took off for a 4 night trip to Washington, D.C. It was my moms first time there and although I have been multiple times for business, it had been about 8 years since my last visit. Washington, D.C. is the perfect getaway if you are looking for a place for a mom-daughter trip or any kind of fun girls trip! The city has so much to see and do. I knew this was a perfect place for us to explore together. I’ll focus on the the area we stayed in, a newly developed area referred to as The Wharf, and of course, share my thoughts on the spa at our hotel because I consider myself a “spa researcher”. I take my research work in spa-ing very seriously!
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Hotels in Washington, D.C.
There are so many great options to choose from but for convenience sake, I would stay at one close to the National Mall if you plan on doing a lot of sightseeing. It just makes the day trips easier. I decided to stay in an area I hadn’t stayed in before but still only a couple blocks from the National Mall. The Mandarin Oriental Hotel, a five star hotel overlooking the Potomac River was all I had hoped it would be for our girls trip. https://www.mandarinoriental.com/washington/national-mall/luxury-hotel
It offered all the things I prefer when booking a hotel. The Mandarin offered really good bed linens, turn down service, excellent outdoor space to relax in and great options for a cocktail or dining. There is an excellent sushi bar on site as well. The service of the staff didn’t disappoint! They knew it was my moms birthday trip and greeted her with a birthday cake and card in the room shortly after our arrival which was such a special treat! On this trip, I wanted a room with a balcony to enjoy the river view and this hotel offered that. I usually do prefer a room were I can easily step outside for some fresh air. Simply said, our stay there was magnificent!
The District Wharf
When we weren’t out visiting museums along the National Mall, the Capitol or monuments, we headed to the area called The District Wharf of DC. http://the wharf washington dc
Our hotel was walking distance from this vibrant area along the Potomac River filled with music, restaurants, retail businesses and residences. It is a creative, new waterfront development offering many outdoor spaces to relax, listen to live music or people watch. It has such a community feel for such a new development. Walking out to the end of the pier is a must. There are nice chairs to sit out on the deck and take in the water view or watch the boats go by. Located by the pier, the smores fire pit appeared to be a family favorite in the evenings. There are a few restaurants I loved in this area. Rappahonnock Oyster Bar for cocktails, lunch or lite fair. It has a great outdoor patio and a glass enclosed bar allowing you to see all that is going on outside. Toastique was my favorite breakfast spot and it takes the spin of avocado toast to a whole new level! They also had great smoothies, acqui bowls, fresh juice blends, and coffee drinks too. A small place so be prepared to stand but totally worth the wait. Hanks Oyster Bar was a great dinner spot right along the waterfront with plenty of outdoor seating too. It seemed to be busy at happy hour with “the just got off work group” but still plenty of seating to have a nice dinner along the water. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a4uEuwaFjTU
The National Mall
I don’t know if it is possible to see all there is to see along the National Mall in the course of a few days but let me say, you will be bored only if you want to be! Since it was my moms first trip there, we decided to take a tour called Monuments by Moonlight Tour in an open air trolley. https://www.trolleytours.com/washington-dc/night-tours
It was a great way to cover a lot of ground and see the sights at dusk and into the evening. The tour made stops at several of the monuments and we were given time to walk around and see things on foot which was nice to not be stuck in a vehicle for the entire time. I have seen the monuments by day but something about viewing the Lincoln Memorial, Vietnam Memorial, Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial in the evening with all the special lighting strategically in place was a entirely different experience! Washington D.C. is as gorgeous at night as it is during the daytime.
At one end of the National Mall you will find The Capitol and allow at least 2 hours to see all there is to see there. Visiting The Capitol can easily be done by setting up a guided tour time online, upside there is no waiting in line the day of your tour. The day we visited the Capitol, we later stopped over at our congressman’s office and got passes to do the more in depth tour of the Capitol. You can arrange that in advance if you like with your states representatives office. Simply look up their contact information online and follow the directions on their website to make arrangements. We also did a tour of the east wing of the White House and that also can be arranged online but be sure to do so in advance. Visiting the White House was amazing and a highlight of our trip! An unexpected highlight was getting to be only steps away from the presidents motorcade one afternoon as he traveled back to the White House. That was pretty cool to see!
One of things I loved when on the White House tour was seeing the the presidents son’s soccer goal and soccer balls in the side yard which was a reminder to me that normal life is being lived in this historic home with the everyday pleasures kids have such as playing soccer in the yard.
There are many ways to see the sights in Washington, D.C. It’s really just a matter of deciding what’s best for you and how much time you have. I’ve visited D.C. in the early spring and end of summer. Both were great times of year to get around and see the sights. The Metro, public rail system, is easy to use for transportation, bikes are readily available for getting around the National Mall, and there are day passes for hop on and off trolly service. Of course, wear comfortable walking shoes because you will do a lot of walking regardless of how you decide to get around!
Washington National Cathedral
Georgetown is a great place to spend part of a day. The architecture, quaint cobblestone streets, shopping, and unique places to eat offer so much charm to this area. Located just a couple miles north of Georgetown, is the Washington National Cathedral.
It is an Amercian cathedral of the Episcopal Church and the second largest church building in the United States. We went there on a Sunday which was a great decision because we were able to experience their church service with all the sights and sounds of its beauty. The sounds of the choir were amazing as it filled the cathedral. After service, we walked the entire church and the grounds at our leisure. It is breathtaking everywhere you look. You can simply explore the cathedral on your own or visit their website to see options for guided tours they offer. I love visiting places of worship on my travels and this one was awe inspiring. So rich in history, it makes it a definite “must see” in my opinion when you go to Washington, D.C. http://www.cathedral.org
Arlington National Cemetery
We saw parts of the Arlington National Cemetery the fist night we went on the twilight trolley tour and we went back for a day trip on Sunday morning to explore more. We decided to do a self guided walk around, although they offer guided tours as well which can be purchased in advance or upon arrival at the visitors center. The immense sense of gratitude and appreciation I feel when I walk along this place is so hard to describe. It is definitely a place you want to visit while in Washington, D.C. and stopping by to see the changing of the guards at The Tomb of The Unknown Solder is a must.
The Arlington House was under renovations during our visit. Having been to it before, I would suggest it be a stop should you go when the the work is completed. Below where the Arlington House sits is where you will find the grave of President John F. Kennedy and the Eternal Flame burning brightly. There are only two presidents buried at Arlington National Cemetery. The other being President Taft who died in 1930. https://www.arlingtontours.com/?utm_source=arlingtoncemetery.mil&utm_medium=link&utm_content=tours%20main&utm_campaign=arlingtoncemetery.mil
Time to Chill
When you have a trip involving a lot of walking, I like to suggest ending it with a spa service or massage of course! Remember earlier, I mentioned I like to do “spa research” so I’m always sampling the local spas when I travel. We spent the last evening of our trip at The Spa at The Mandarin Hotel. It was a nice way to soothe the body after all the walking around we had done for a few days. They offered a nice selection of services and superb service from the very first phone call when I booked our spa appointments. https://www.mandarinoriental.com/washington/national-mall/luxury-spa
As with any spa at a hotel, book early before you arrive to ensure you get the time frames you hope for. Nothing worse than getting there and finding out the spa is booked solid for the days you are staying there! The spa facilities were very nice and offered amenities such as steam room, whirlpool, cold viche showers, an array of refreshments and a nice relaxation room to lounge prior to your spa treatment. I was really impressed with the steam room! It was over the top with aromatherapy, unique tile work, crystals and stones inlaid throughout the space. The outdoor space was very nice and you could easily retreat to it too which was nearby the main pool. It’s always hard for me to get used to indoor pools at hotels but that is most commonly seen when I have traveled in the northeast area of the United States.
If you are looking for a unique trip for a girls trip or a mom-daughter getaway, this is a great city to enjoy together. You walk away with amazing memories and have an opportunity to experience a place truly rich in history, our nations capitol. God Bless the USA!
