Washington DC Vacation Plans

The author of the Unofficial Guide to Washington DC offers ideas for your next Washington DC vacation!

Stay in Washington’s Penn Quarter Neighborhood for your next DC Getaway.

When you check into the stunning Conrad Washington DC in the vibrant Penn Quarter neighborhood, you’ll be astonished by the eclectic design elements from the soaring atrium to the apres ski-style terrace overlooking the city. What I love are the guest rooms with floor to ceiling windows where you can watch the world go by while snuggling on a comfy couch or sumptuous bed. The Conrad is steps from Washington’s prestigious City Center DC with luxury shops, acclaimed restaurants, and fan favorite, the Smithsonian Portrait Museum. Put a visit to the new Planet Word, an interactive, modern museum that celebrates language and the written word in unique and engaging ways. Dine at the fabulous Turkish/Greek restaurant Zaytinya owned by humanitarian chef Jose Andres, it’s a family favorite. We also love walking around DC’s Chinatown and onto the National Mall, just a few blocks away. Penn Quarter offers easy access to the Metro system so you can expand your horizons as you tour the Nation’s Capital.

Stay in Montgomery County, Maryland for your next DC Getaway

Save money and stay just 25 minutes from downtown Washington DC in Montgomery County, Maryland. This county offers a combination of urban villages like Bethesda, Rockville and Silver Spring and wide open nature preserves and cultural landmarks. Choose to make your home base the sophisticated Pike & Rose in North Bethesda, a walkable town center with dozens of shops, breweries, and an art movie house with reclining armchairs. Dogs are most welcome at the pooch park called Bar Social. Do not miss touring Glenstone Museum, a modern art campus with walking paths and cutting edge galleries. Take a walk along the C&O Canal to the Great Falls overlook to see the mighty Potomac fling cascades of water over massive boulders. Visit the new Josiah Henson Museum to learn about the inspirational man behind Uncle Tom’s Cabin who helped incite the Civil War. This enslaved man led 118 people to freedom on the Underground Railroad. End your day at Owen’s Ordinary, a lively brewery or grab cocktails at City Perch. I love the Canopy by Hilton at Pike and Rose in North Bethesda for an easy commute to Washington on the Metro subway.

art and architecture Attractions; Free Things to Do in DC family travel getaways History Hotels Luxury Resorts Maryland MidAtlantic Travel Top sights in DC

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Freelance writer and photographer specializing in vivid, deeply reported stories about food, travel and family.

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