A few weeks ago I was craving a little escape from Florida and decided it would be a good opportunity to visit my cousins in D.C. These are the same cousins who joined me in California earlier this year. I’ve been to D.C. many times (mainly when I lived in the northeast) but it had been five years since my last trip, which was strictly a college tour. Side note: I never even applied to the schools but just had to see them. Why didn’t I put University of Hawaii on the list?
I’ve seen the Smithsonian’s, monuments and done all the touristy stuff (a few times) so I was pretty content just hanging out with my cousins and doing smaller activities. Here are some of the highlights from my visit…
D.C. Highlights
Walking around Georgetown
M Street, the main street in Georgetown, is awesome. So many shops, boutiques and restaurants, both brand name and local specialities. M Street is home to the original Sweetgreen and to Georgetown Cupcakes, which had crazy long lines at all hours of the day. The below picture isn’t M Street (I didn’t take one!) but instead along the waterfront on our walk to dinner one night.
I took walks every morning (my ankles were feeling the cobblestone after a few days) and wandered through the Georgetown campus too. I did a summer camp at Georgetown in high school so it felt weird to be on the other side of college now.
Union Market
We walked through Union Market, which is an artisan pop-up market. It reminded me of Gansevoort Market in New York.
Solidcore
Trying new workout studios is always fun for me so I’m including it on this list :) I forgot to add these pictures to yesterday’s post but my cousin and I joked that we thought we had a “solid core” before class. Nope. Not a chance.
Tidal Basin
A mid-afternoon stop at Tidal Basin for snacks and reading. That’s the Jefferson Memorial across the water. And yes, I’m obsessed with that bag of mine.
Phantom of the Opera at the Kennedy Center
One special event was attending a show at the Kennedy Center. The building (inside and outside) is really beautiful and elaborate. The show itself was fantastic! I knew a lot of the songs from the movie.
Running around The Mall
A definite highlight from my trip was running through the city. I talked about it yesterday but it was really special to be out by the monuments before the tourists. This first picture is funny because I’m not smiling at all…couldn’t get in place and pose before the self-timer went off.
Jazz in the Garden
Friday night we went to Jazz in the Garden (in the Sculpture Garden) and I would totally go every week if I lived there. So many people on blankets, drinking sangria, eating appetizers, listening to fun music.
Restaurants
We did some cooking at my cousin’s apartment (we both have food intolerances) but ate out for a few good meals. We went to Fig & Olive for dinner one night, which is in an upscale outdoor mall/neighborhood called City Center.
I had to go to Sweetgreen for a quick lunch.
And then to the Blue Duck Tavern for brunch on Saturday.
I got a few good smoothies too, one from Whole Foods post-run. I make it a point to visit the Whole Foods in every city.
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An atypical D.C. trip maybe, but a fun few days nonetheless. A special thanks to my cousins for being great and welcoming hosts :)
Um, I want to do DC with you! I really ant to go to solidcore, first of all, but then everything else you did and saw and ate, I am so down for (plus we could go for a run :D).
A college that I toured, didn’t attend: University of Richmond. I really liked it at the time, but I”m very glad I didn’t go there. Same thing for Sweet Briar. I toured Hollins and was ready to leave before we got out of the car!
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Sign me up for that trip!
Ha I did the “I don’t want to get out of the car” thing for a few schools too. I toured to be polite.
Looks like such a fun trip! I went to the College of William and Mary…Loved going to Georgetown and DC for some fun weekend trips…So much history, good food, fun running paths. You look so happy…BIG SMILES all the time! :) XOXO
ACKTIVE LIFE recently posted…GIRLS Weekend
What a great place for weekend trips! I should have run there at least one other time. I’ll get my fill during the marathon I suppose :)
So much love! D.C. is fabulous and I can’t say that enough. Definitely need to add Blue Duck and Fig and Olive to my list of restaurants to try, thanks for the recommendations! The Phantom of the Opera is one of my favorite musicals too :) Have a great day Emily! xo
Marina @ A Dancer’s Live-It recently posted…What My Tattoos Mean
There were a few restaurants near Fig & Olive in City Center that looked good! Plus very high-end shopping, which is fun for looking ;)
You’ve got to get in line for GTown cupcake before it even opens :P (or go in the winter!)
I never got to really tour any of the other colleges I applied to…they were all on the West coast! Haha! But of course I’ve toured Princeton since, you know, NJ! But I did not apply there, haha!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine recently posted…One-Pot Vegan Mac & Cheese
That was my thought with Georgetown…fun to tour but never applied! It doesn’t/didn’t even have my major haha.
This makes me want to visit DC even more!! I have been wanting to make a trip out there for years now to visit all the monuments, museums, and sights. I know one day I’ll make it out there ;) And I love that you make a point to visit the Whole Foods in every city haha
Brie @ Lean, Clean, & Brie recently posted…Honey Peanut Butter Protein Bars
You would love it! Everywhere you go there are historic sites. Obviously go during cherry blossom season because it’s extra pretty :)
Georgetown is so pretty! And I love your maxi dress. Truth be told, I only ended up applying to two schools, because I got into my first choice “early decision.” But I toured a bunch of schools on the east coast: Oberlin, Princeton (ha, would not have gotten in there!), Amherst, and Middlebury… it was a nice excuse to travel, anyways. :P
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It’s definitely a nice excuse to travel! I should have thought of that more during the process haha.
Did it hurt to laugh the day after you did Solidcore? I remember that the most from the experience. What’s interesting about the workout is it never actually gets easier; you get stronger, but the workout keeps you from plateauing.
Union Market is one of my favorite places in DC! I only wish it was more in the city, because otherwise it’s not the easiest place to get to on the weekends.
And glad to see you could run in the city while you were there! Just wait until the marathon when people are lined on the streets cheering you on!
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OMG YES! It seriously did hurt to laugh the next day. I can’t imagine it getting any easier because the “regulars” in class with us looked like they were in just as much pain.
This trip made me extra excited for the marathon :)
Glad you had fun! I remember visiting one of my good HS friends who went to Georgetown – she took me to Sweetgreen to grab dinner the first night of the weekend when I arrived and we went back Saturday and Sunday for lunch! It’s a good thing the NYC location is not close to my office or it would be dangerous…of course Little Beet IS around the corner ;)
Alyssa @ renaissancerunnergirl recently posted…Weekly Workouts and Updates 7/11-7/17
Oh gosh…that is just as dangerous! Have you gone to The Little Beet Table? That’s added to my NYC list now.
Sounds like such a fun trip! Like I’ve said, I’m obsessed with DC, so I’m a bit jealous of all of your adventures. Especially of seeing Phantom! It’s definitely one of my favorite Broadway shows and never gets old.
Bethany @ Accidental Intentions recently posted…Chicago Marathon Training Week 6
My cousin suggested seeing Phantom and I’m so happy she did! I probably never would have gone to the Kennedy Center otherwise.
That is a fun way to see DC! I haven’t been since junior high but I want to go back and visit again as an adult.
Kristin recently posted…Currently… In July
It was fun to go back and pick and choose what I wanted to do, rather than tag along with a big school group!
Ahhh this makes me miss DC. The proximity of it to Baltimore was one of my favorite things about living there. I wasn’t really into doing the touristy things there (been there, done that) but you hit everything I used to do regularly. LOVE your outfit for Phantom!
Sarah @pickyrunner recently posted…Rhode Island Weekend Done Right
Yeah I wasn’t feeling the museums, waiting in lines to see the Archives, etc. so this was perfect! A good balance of seeing the cool things and spending time with family doing “simpler” things :)
Lol, I thought we were the only one’s to make it a point to visit every Whole Foods in a new city. We’re strictly looking at neighborhoods within walking distance for our move in the fall. Sounds like a great trip, I can’t wait to try that brunch place on our next trip out there!
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Last summer when I lived in NYC, I made it my goal to go to every Whole Foods and wander at leisure. My favorite is still the big one in Austin, which I didn’t have nearly enough time in!
This looks like such a fun trip! I want to go to DC sometime and along with all the sight-seeing, touristy stuff, this sounds like the ideal trip:) The last place we took a trip to was Omaha, Nebraska.. pretty fancy huh?! Haha
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I’ve actually heard fantastic things about Omaha! My dad visited a few times for work and loved it. You can hit so many different states within a few hours drive from you!
That looked like an awesome trip. It makes me wanna go travelling right now! The last place I visited was Australia and that was quite a few years ago, so I feel I am due for another trip soon!
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Just Australia, no big deal for you ;) I hope you get a trip soon!
Hahaha I visited 20 schools before deciding. Excessive? Yes. Good way to explore lots of places? Also yes! I’d love to go back to DC sometime! I spent time doing medical camp at Georgetown, and explored some then, but I know there’s more to see. Plus, I like re-visiting different cities and getting comfy with them (running is obviously a good way to do that).
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I wish I visited more! I think I saw 10 or 12 officially. I remember being so scared during my camp at Georgetown (first time really alone and away from family) that I stayed with the group the entire time.
I love visiting Whole Foods in different cities, too. I was so bummed that I ran out of time to visit the new Whole Foods when I was in Atlanta a few days ago…I’ve heard it’s so cool. And don’t know if this is a fun fact, but I only toured 2 colleges and applied for 2! I knew the one I wanted to go to but my parents figured I should have at least 1 back-up, justttt in case. Luckily, it all worked out!
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I’ve heard that one is awesome too! It’s not too far out of my reach so maybe I’ll take a (6 hour) day trip one day ;) You were just meant for UNC!
My last travel was San Francisco/Napa Valley in June. It was pretty great. Lots of walking and drinking :)
Some good GF food as well. The only bad part was getting stuck in traffic on the way back from Napa and the prices were so expensive. Oh yea…and i managed to bring a cold back with me and took a red eye with the worst kids i have ever been around on a plane ! they were awful and the parents were clueless. i sh*t you not they got on the plane at 1030 PM with full huge cans of orange pop and suckers almost as big as their face. seriously ? and you wonder why they were running up and down the aisles ? i am by no means a parenting expert but even i know that was not a good idea.