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Washington D.C. Solo Travel
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Washington D.C. is more than just men in suits and monuments; it is one of a few Northeast cities closest to NYC in walkability, transit, gastronomy, culture, and interesting activities.
Per the U.S. Travel Association, Americans are known to leave vacation days on the table resulting in 768 million unused vacation days and $65.5 billion in lost benefits. Thus, I’m grateful to travel fairly well with a 9-5 as a Millennial content creator.
Will This Be Your Year Of Solo Travel? 10 Solo Travel Tips for Novices
#Washington D.C. Solo Travel: Where to Stay
Since I love the finer things of life, I was booked into the hotels below:
Lyle D.C.
1731 New Hampshire Ave NW, Washington, DC 20009
- Closest metro: Dupont Circle (Red)
This is a boutique hotel near Dupont Circle with comfortable rooms in neutral colours, rainfall showers, kitchenette (depending on the suite), bath robes, and a popular restaurant.
Riggs D.C.
900 F St NW, Washington, DC 20004
- Closest metro: Gallery Place (Red, Green)
I absolutely love anything historic so when I discovered that this used to be Riggs National Bank, I was excited. Built in 1891, it was known as the “Bank of Presidents” as it handled the personal finances of U.S. Presidents from Lincoln to Nixon. Its banking interior is maintained and check-in is a teller counter, complete with original counters and fittings.
Each room is created to resemble a safety deposit box and mini fridges have a safety deposit box exterior, complete with the lock! The truly beautiful sight here was Cafe Riggs, the hotel’s modern restaurant with high ceilings, a long bar, mirrors, eye-catching floral decor, and comfy seating.
There are numerous accommodation options in Washington D.C. so browse below for affordable, boutique, and historic hotels >>>
#What to Do
You’ve settled into your hotel and are eager to explore what the city has to offer. For me, arts, culture, historic homes, unique activities, and food, are destination draws, and Washington D.C. has these in abundance for avid solo travelers.
How can you choose the best activities in a sea of so many options? #WashingtonDC #solotravel Click To TweetArts & Culture
Begin with the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture aka The Black Smithsonian for extensive and educational floors of African-American history. From the bottom – The Middle Passage from West Africa to the Americas and Caribbean – proceed upstairs as the culture unfolds through Emancipation, Reconstruction, Jim Crow…through Civil Rights till present day. There are interesting exhibits on African-American musical genres like Jazz, Rock n Roll, Funk; the complex politics of Black hair, Black food, and languages across the diaspora.
A must-see exhibit on Concourse Level C is Afrofuturism: A History of Black Futures. It covers futuristic worlds in fashion, film, TV, comics, art, and science, where Black people exist and thrive in all dimensions. It is bittersweet to see Chadwick Boseman’s Black Panther costume, Regina King’s Sister Knight Watchmen robe, and other costumes on display. Exhibit runs till August 18, 2024.
>> Afrofuturism Exhibit REEL <<<
Honorary mention goes to the ah-ma-zing street art and murals all over Washington D.C., but you’ll find them aplenty in NoMa. From the second you step outside the NoMa metro and walk towards Union Market, you’ll have a field day snapping away.
Free Smithsonian Museums
- Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History – animal skeleton exhibits in Bone Hall, Butterfly Pavilion, and Hall of Fossils
- Smithsonian National Museum of American History – unique exhibits like Menstrual History Collection
- National Gallery of Art – exhibitions like Dante’s Going Through Hell
>>> Alternative Washington D.C. Attractions Reel<<<
More Museums, Exhibits & Galleries
Next is Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, one of my favorite contemporary D.C. museums. New exhibits will begin in Spring 2024 and run until 2025, and they include Revolutions: Art from the Hirshhorn Collection 1860-1960, among others.
Also at Hirshhorn are rooms of thought-provoking multimedia and interactive art – on expansive textiles, depicting social and environmental issues, art specifically from women artists that have never been displayed in galleries…and so much more. It is truly a spectacular museum.
Past exhibitions include an absolute crowd-pleaser, Yayoi Kusama exhibit. This might return in upcoming exhibits at Hirshhorn or other museums so keep an ear out for it.
>>> Kusama Exhibits in Washington D.C. <<<
A new favorite of mine is Rubell Museum in Navy Yard with colorful contemporary portraits mostly from Black artists. Enter the gallery and be arrested by a Kehinde Wiley painting – he painted Prez Obama & FLObama; wander downstairs for taxidermy creatures in giant urns, portraits of materialism, societal issues, Harriet Tubman, and more.
Rubell Museum art
Lastly, Planet Word is an immersive museum for language and word lovers with fun interactive games like Lexicon Lane for word sleuthing, puzzle rooms for large groups, and international word games. RSVP a time slot to avoid the wait list.
Historic Home
Hillwood Estate, Museum, and Garden
4155 Linnean Ave., NW, Washington D,C, 20008
This is by far the most opulent historic home I’ve been to because it is absolutely magnificent! Hillwood is the home of heiress Marjorie Merriweather Post of Post Cereals (which later became General Foods) and she was a prolific Russian and French artifact collector.
The main house has chandeliers, 18th & 19th century Russian art, Faberge eggs, jewellery, and porcelain. The rooms are trapped in time with decor of the 1950s and the dining table is permanently set with silverware and china. Upstairs is the Russian Sacred Arts Gallery with icons, chalices, and robes, as well as more rooms, mirrors, and decor.
The 25 acres of gardens boast a waterfall, French parterre, rose garden, greenhouse, and numerous plants, trees, and space. During cherry blossom season, parts of the estate bloom with pink petals. Wander around, read the history of the collection, and take as many photos as you want because this place is a fitting end to a full day of adventure.
#Where to Eat
Washington D.C. is a foodie’s dream so take your pick of haute cuisine to food truck casual and everything in between. Below are restaurants I dined at:
This is a Latin American marketplace in NoMa with dining options like a Venezuelan bakery, Colombian artisanal donuts, and a Salvadorian pupuseria. There are high quality leather and artist shops with hand-made goods and I dined at Destino, a modern Mexican restaurant, with items like chile chocolate and smoked ice cream.
Also in NoMa, this food hall has a plethora of options so Dine the Market for these: Aboveground, an English pastry shop with pot pies, sausage rolls, and pasties; District Doughnuts for Vanilla bean and Brown Butter; Bun’d up for steamed buns and rice bowls, The District Fishwife for seafood snacks, DC Dosa for South-Indian cuisine and Salt & Sundry for beautiful hand made home goods.
Dubbed “a touch of Paris on the Potomac”, it is on the redeveloped District Wharf waterfront. With menu items like Croque Madame, Moules et frites, and gratin, save yourself the Paris fare and turn up in your beret and striped jumper.
This modern rooftop at the Pendry in District Wharf is absolutely stunning. The ambience is a sophisticated after-work vibe but it is welcoming from opening time. It’s probably best to visit during 9-5 hours to avoid the after work crowd and enjoy cocktails and sushi. The Potomac views in cherry blossom season are lovely.
It is a hotel restaurant in a former bank with Lincoln and other presidents as past clients. Cafe Riggs has a high vaulted ceiling, comfy dining areas, and a long bar with high chairs. Inspired by European brasseries, dinner items include halibut, duck, prawn risotto, a raw bar, and more.
>>> CLICK: Delish dishes I dined on in Washington D.C. <<<
#Neighborhoods to Explore
U Street Corridor
Washington D.C. has everything from vibrant to subdued neighborhoods for all interest types. For a Black/African-American enclave, head to the historic U Street corridor for casual and upscale bars & restaurants, cute storefront shops with handmade home goods, murals, cocktail lounges and so much more.
U Street corridor was home to a thriving African-American community who were refused service and jobs in downtown D.C. due to Jim Crow laws of the time. Click To TweetThe community did business and loaned money within themselves to establish social clubs, theaters, homes, restaurants, and schools. There were architects, hoteliers, bankers, and other famous professionals who visited the area, like Louis Armstrong.
Georgetown
Georgetown is a popular D.C. neighborhood with colorful buildings, cobblestones, and cute storefronts near the waterfront. It is home to some of the city’s luxurious hotels, restaurants, and Cady’s Alley – its shopping and design district – is a prime picturesque area. Get a sugar high at District Doughnuts or lunch at the European style bistro, Kafe Leopold.
There are no metro stops in Georgetown so ride shares, biking, and water taxis are your main options if you’re keen to explore.
NoMa
NoMa – north of Massachusetts Ave NE – is a developing Washington D.C. neighborhood with luxury apartments, boutique hotels, and Union Market with its plethora of diverse restaurants and street murals. I always enjoy visiting NoMa for its chill ambience and casual dining options.
The Wharf
A new favorite is District Wharf “where D.C. meets water.” It has waterfront restaurants – Gordon Ramsey’s Hell’s Kitchen – luxury hotels like Pendry DC, shops, wine bars, scenic views, Anthem theatre, outdoor space for seasonal events and a fire pit in cooler weather. Two metro lines, a free Southwest Neighborhood Shuttle, and numerous buses go to The Wharf so it is very accessible with public transit.
Capitol Hill
The last D.C. neighborhood on my solo travel itinerary is Capitol Hill where I swing by for brunch just before a massive downpour. It is a quiet residential area accessible on the Eastern Market metro stop.
I stumble upon the historic Eastern Market farmer’s market celebrating its 150th anniversary in 2023. I see home made pies, pasta, organic produce, pastries, meat and seafood stalls. Outside are tables with tagine, ceramics, clothing, more pies, and everything you know farmer’s markets to sell. There are independent shops on main street and The Duck & The Peach restaurant for dining.
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This Washington D.C. solo travel was sponsored by Destination D.C. For extensive travel information on all D.C. has to offer, check out the official Washington D.C. site.
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