6 Great Escapes to Make this Fall
Getaway destinations geared toward everyone from foodies to family adventurers.
Index
Nantucket, MA | Cape Cod, MA | Newport, RI | Washington D.C. | Montreal, Canada | Greenville, SC
___________________________
For the Politico
Washington, D.C.
By Edelinda Baptista
The National Mall and the Lincoln Memorial. Courtesy of Destination DC.
Our family learned about history while soaking up patriotism in the nation’s bustling capital during a whirlwind weekend trip.
Staying at the newly renovated Capital Hilton (hilton.com) granted us close and easy access to the National Mall — “America’s front yard” — as well as notable parks and eateries. Whether you prefer to commute by car, Metrorail (subway) or bus, start the day with a freshly brewed coffee and pastry at the Grind, the hotel’s on-site coffee bar, or the North Gate Grill for some breakfast made with farm-fresh ingredients. In the evening, relax after a long day of adventuring with a drink and some shareable plates and barbecue bites at the Statler Lounge.
In the mood for a breakfast encore? We recommend the upscale Unconventional Diner (unconventionaldiner.com), laidback Ted’s Bulletin (tedsbulletin.com) or Kramers (kramers.com), an ideal spot for bookworms.
There’s a lot of ground to cover in this major city. Check out the iconic monuments and memorials accompanied by a captivating lesson on the history of each one by booking one of the many tours the National Mall has to offer. Ever marveled at the monuments at night? Old Town Trolley (trolleytours.com), Big Bus Tours (bigbustours.com), Unlimited Biking (unlimitedbiking.com), USA Guided Tours (usaguidedtours.com) and WeVenture (we-venture.com) offer sunset and evening tours. We appreciated the beauty of each attraction while working up a sweat and an appetite during Unlimited Biking’s Monuments at Night bike tour.
Freshen up at the hotel before stepping out in style for dinner at the Old Ebbitt Grill (ebbitt.com), established in Washington’s oldest saloon in 1856. Items like steak frites and trout Parmesan are sure to satisfy, while starters like the meatballs and Point Judith calamari (you’re never too far from home) can be shared with the table.
The National Zoo. Courtesy of Destination DC.
Don’t forget about the Smithsonian museums and zoo. Each Smithsonian museum in the city, including the national zoo, is free to enter, though some require timed entry passes. For the Smithsonian’s National Zoo (nationalzoo.si.edu), book your timed entry pass in advance, then roam the grounds to view more than 2,200 animals representing nearly 400 different species. It’s also easy to lose track of time while expanding your knowledge in institutions like the National Air and Space Museum (airandspace.si.edu) and the National Museum of American History (americanhistory.si.edu).
The National Museum of American History. Courtesy of Destination DC.
Keep up with the historic streak at Georgetown favorite Martin’s Tavern (martinstavern.com) for lunch, where legend says John F. Kennedy proposed to Jacqueline Bouvier. You could also visit Ben’s Chili Bowl (benschilibowl.com) for a famous half smoke — a smoked-then-grilled sausage made of half-pork and half-beef or Guapo’s Restaurant (guaposrestaurant.com) for family-friendly authentic Mexican cuisine.
Ben’s Chili Bowl. Courtesy of Destination DC.
Broaden your taste buds with flavors from restaurants that recently brought home 2024 James Beard Awards: Perry’s (perrysam.com), where Masako Morishita won the Emerging Chef category, and Albi (albidc.com), where Michael Rafidi won Outstanding Chef.
The night is still young, and if you have the energy and competitiveness for it, ping-pong it up at SPIN (wearespin.com). The social club is known for craft cocktails and global eats. If you’re in the mood to be amazed, Artechouse (artechouse.com) is an immersive exhibit that combines art and technology to spark creativity and innovation.
An exhibit at Artechouse. Courtesy of Destination DC.
Pick up souvenirs for loved ones at Shop Made in DC (shopmadeindc.com) or City Center DC (citycenterdc.com) before heading back home, and get some snacks for yourself while you’re at it.
The Deets on D.C.
Tips to help you thrive on your next visit.
The Washington Monument. Courtesy of Edelinda Baptista.
To save on parking (and patience), opt for Uber, ride the Metro system (use SmarTrip for quick contactless payments from your phone) or bike/scooter throughout the city as a fun form of transportation.
Take a water bottle with you everywhere, especially if you plan on walking the city streets and parks (sport some comfy sneakers, too).
Planning on visiting the National Zoo? Beat the crowds and the heat by booking your timed entry early in the day when it’s a bit cooler.
A visit to a rooftop bar during the warmer months is a must in D.C., so take in a higher view of the city from locations like Lucha Rosa (moxydcdining.com/lucha-rosa) for Mexican fare and drinks, VUE (vuerooftopdc.com) on the eleventh floor of Hotel Washington, or Moonraker (pendry.com/washington-dc) at the Pendry for sushi and other light bites.
Care for some afternoon tea? Cure your midday slump at the Willard InterContinental (washington.intercontinental.com) and get treated like royalty as you sip on green, black, white and herbal teas paired with scones.
Nuts & Bolts
Travel Time: An hour-and-a-half via plane from Rhode Island T.F. Green International Airport; about six to seven hours via train from Providence Amtrak/MBTA station; or seven to eight hours via car.
How to Get There: Take I-95 South.
Bucket List for Next Time: The National Cherry Blossom Festival fills the city with vibrant pink in early spring.
Worth a Detour: For some extra history, visit the Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens or the U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial in Arlington, Virginia.
Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial surrounded by cherry blossoms. Courtesy of Destination DC.
