Fruitful Travels: Washington, D.C.

One big plus of living on the East Coast/in North Carolina, is that we’re only a 4-hour drive away from D.C.!

I have fond memories of going on a trip to the capitol with my family while in high school (we even stayed in the National Cathedral) and visiting with my sister during the Cherry Blossom Festival a few years ago. My husband and I have visited twice in the past three years of living in NC.

We always both fall in love with the weather (we usually luck out with 70-degree sunny skies), unique architecture and walking-friendly vibe of the city. Oh, and the food was also fabulous.

Here were some of our favorite hot spots:

Dupont Circle

This is the area that we stayed in and we really loved it! So easy to walk to restaurants and fun spots nearby (like Georgetown). I would definitely stay in Dupont Circle again!

Le Diplomate

We have now been to Le Diplomate twice, and it just keeps getting better. This restaurant is set up in an old French style with an offering of dishes that honor the French cooking tradition with a few nuances. The oysters are amazing, the main dishes and sides are rich and tasty (and creative) and the desserts (creme brulee) are to die for. Finish your meal off with an aperitif, and you’re good to go.

Baked & Wired

Baked & Wired in Georgetown is a perfect little breakfast stop with hit-the-spot savory biscuits, sweet treats and a nice selection of teas and coffees. All in all, this bakery knows what’s up.

Momofuku CCDC

I’ve been so pumped about trying this OG ramen spot in DC (the original is in NYC), so it was a treat to finally partake. It was also my first time to try “real”/fancy ramen. It was very savory, filling and delicious. And that milk bar! We bought a few cookies while we were there, then we went back the day after to get more. Try the corn cookie!

National Gallery of Art

If you’re a lover of art, then you will likely enjoy spending a few hours in this art museum. The surroundings are beautiful, and there is a ton to see (especially if you like impressionists). Like many activities in DC, it’s also free!

Mitsitam Cafe

I kept hearing and reading good reviews about this restaurant in the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian, so when we were in the area for lunch, we checked it out. You really wouldn’t believe how good the food is coming out of this museum restaurant. It’s all still busy cafeteria-style food, but the offerings are clearly cooked by some amazing chefs. We sampled the chips & guacamole, bison sandwich with nopales slaw and bison chili.

Library of Congress

For book lovers and architecture fiends alike, the Library of Congress is a fun place to poke around in for an hour or so. Although it’s quite popular on the weekends (we had to wait a bit to get in), it is quite beautiful inside and features some interesting exhibits. Also, check out the Folger Shakespeare Library nearby.

Union Market

Although this place was slammed when we went (because of a big craft fair), Union Market had lots to see and do. It’s an indoor market full of food vendors, oyster bars and little shops. While there, I picked up some fun popcorn kernels, and some fun food things from Salt & Sundry. I was pleasantly surprised to see quite a few NC-made goodies at this store, too!