Recently, a group of friends and I did a fun road trip down to Washington D.C. for a Tame Impala concert and a weekend getaway. We explored a variety of areas and adventured around the city making for a well-rounded trip. Read on to see where we went and be sure to visit my YouTube channel for a vlog of our trip! (*SPOILER* This is the one where I tried a grasshopper taco. YES. grasshopper!)

Where to Stay

Kimpton Hotel Palomar Washington D.C.

Located in Dupont Circle, this boutique hotel oozes style and quirky decor. Kimpton Hotels offers various amenities such as complimentary wine hour for guests and even bike rentals. This hotel is conveniently located near various museums and monuments such as the National Mall and Smithsonian Museums.

To start the trip off, we parked at a garage close to the Kimpton Monaco Washington D.C. The garage is around the corner on 560 8th Street NW. Once we settled in, we checking into the gorgeous Kimpton Monaco Washington D.C. for two nights. The thing I love about this hotel is that they have a complimentary wine hour from 4:30-5:30pm daily.

Garage Address: 560 8th Street Northwest, Washington, DC 20004

Hotel Address: 700 F St NW, Washington, DC 20004

Day 1

Dukem

Dukem is a classic Ethiopian restaurant with a variety of platters to choose from. Best of all, there are plenty of vegetarian and vegan options to choose from packed with the rich flavors and spices akin to their non-vegetarian options. We each ended up getting a platter with 5 items and filled ourselves up. It was fantastic and a great dining experience to share with loved ones. My final tip is to prepare to eat with your hands as this is how Ethiopian food is traditionally enjoyed.

Address: 1114-1118 U St NW, Washington, DC 20009

Nightlife on U Street

To aid our digestion, we decided to roam down U Street which was conveniently located near Dukem. We briefly explored Hawthorne’s various levels before retiring for the night. If you have the stamina and energy, there are plenty more exciting options to explore afterwards.

Day 2

Baked and Wired

To start our day, we headed over to the Georgetown neighborhood. Baked and Wired was a highly recommended bakery and it’s apparent why. After my first bite into my pain au chocolat, I was sold. I also ordered a cupcake to go which was dense and perfectly baked. This is definitely a good spot for a light snack or bite; particularly if you have a sweet tooth.

Address: 1052 Thomas Jefferson St NW, Washington, DC 20007

Artechhouse

This is an immersive, visually stimulating exhibition that is held in D.C. I highly recommend checking it out as they have various installations throughout the year. We attended during the Infinite Space exhibition by Refik Anadol. It was truly captivating and we had a great time exploring the spaces and infinity room. At Artechouse, there is also a cocktail bar that serves drinks with a twist. Download their Artechouse app and scan the Augmented Reality code on each drink for a unique visual related to the drink. It’s truly a work of art and fun spin on traditional food and beverage presentation. The drinks are equally delicious. I sipped on one with edible glitter that was blue but had a kick from the jalapeno infused gin.

Address: 1238 Maryland Ave SW, Washington, DC 20024

Oyamel Cocina Mexicana

Unbeknownst to us at the time, it was Restaurant week in D.C. that weekend. We decided to wing lunch and came across Oyamel Cocina Mexicana. Here they have a delicious menu with the option of fresh made-to-order guacamole. The decor is absolutely wonderful and the food is even better. I even was able to same a grasshopper taco which was surprisingly not bad albeit a tad salty.

Address: 401 7th St NW, Washington, DC 20004

Museums in the Area

Washington D.C. is home to a variety of national museums all which have free admission. Originally we were set to visit the National African American Museum but due to an unforeseen power outage, we ended up at the National Air and Space Museum.

The Anthem

Consider stopping into Washington D.C. to attend a concert at one great venue called the Anthem. On this particular visit we were able to see Tame Impala perform. It was a visually captivating show and a memory our group will never forget. The concessions stands are also equipped with a delicious vegan chili dog which I highly recommend. should you get hungry before the show.

Day 3

Busboys & Poets

After all the adventuring from the past couple days, we were ready for a relaxed brunch with vegetarian and vegan friendly options. Busboys and Poets is a great place to dine with a ton of savory and sweet options. I was so happy with their blueberry muffin for starters as it is served warm. Their eggs and plantains were also tasty. It very well may be one of my favorite brunch options in the area.

National Botanic Garden

This is one of my favorite spots to visit anytime I come to D.C. Botanists and plant lovers alike will enjoy the variety of species house in this giant greenhouse with various climates. One of my favorite trees here is a giant monstera in the rain forest area. It is one not to be overlooked.

I hope you enjoyed this day-by-day itinerary as much as we did. While our trip was brief, we managed to cover a variety of activities. If you try out this itinerary or any of the suggestions please let me know in the comments below. Once again, be sure to check out my YouTube video for this trip here and subscribe to me there for more travel and lifestyle related content. You can also follow the adventure in real time on Instagram by following @christineceline.

Lastly, if you liked any of my outfits in this post, please visit Like To Know It for the items! Hopefully this makes your shopping experience more seamless and effortless!

xo,

Christine Celine