Travel and Dish

I talked with Mary Collins, the founder of Blue Fern Travel, who is an anthropologist and expert on DC history. I’ve taken her Black Broadway – U Street Food Tour and learned so much, not to mention tried incredible food along the way.

Here are some of her thoughts about why DC is a bargain for travelers and how a food tour can enhance your experience.

“I love when friends and family visit, because I know we will have fun on a budget,” says Mary Collins. “You have so many free options here that it essentially takes the budget you have and frees you up to enjoy paid experiences like meals and tours.” 

A mother of three young children, Mary and her family take advantage of the many free and inexpensive things to do in Washington DC, including the free Smithsonian Museums and community events.

“You know when you go to a museum, and don’t know when someone will be tired or ready to leave. When it’s free, you’re not as stressed about that.” 

Mary and her husband are the co-founders of Blue Fern Travel, offering food tours in the historic neighborhoods of U Street, Old Town Alexandria and Georgetown. They also lead Fizz Tours where you can sample cocktails at several local spots.

As a travel writer, I’ve become a huge fan of guided excursions, especially early in the trip when I want to get the lay of the land and have an understanding of the essence of the destination. Tours are a quintessential way to learn history, sample food and support the local community.

Mary agrees. “Touring the first day is a great way to get a bang for your buck. You get a sense of place and learn where you might want to return. Tour guides can tell you about restaurants and activities you might be interested in.”

Mary describes how food tours are different from other types of tours: “We go deep into the history of the neighborhoods we visit. I genuinely think DC is a microcosm of national politics, whether that’s historically speaking in the case of the Civil Rights Movement, or current issues. I think people are really surprised by how much history they learn about the city itself.”

But the food? “DC is famous for its international cuisine, and you can try just about anything,” enthuses Mary. “My kids love a half-smoke (sausage chili dog) from Ben’s Chili Bowl and Ethiopian food, which you can find in every price point.”  

Blue Fern Food Tours give back the community as well. “One for one, the cost of our food tour goes to support Bread for the City and is enough to feed one person for a full day. So far, we’ve donated 40,000 meals. We are conscious of the role we’re taking,” she adds. “We think food tells a story, a story of that neighborhood.”

Here are some of the Collins family’s favorite attractions:

1. Union Market area is fabulous! You can do your own food tour with such a variety of foods. All are locally owned restaurants, see a lot of local cuisine and small businesses, cute shops and souvenirs. Next door is La Cosecha is a very cool space with a rooftop.

2. DC has such a cool spy history and at the Spy Museum, you can understand it a lot better

3. National Building Museum has an entry fee, but they host lots of special events geared toward kids. It’s such a beautiful building.

4. History buffs will love visiting Fords Theatre and not many people know about the museum featuring the history of President Lincoln’s assassination.

5. The Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery has the Presidential portraits, plus a modern art side. You get a taste of everything in there. It has the beautiful atrium. We sometimes bring our own food and eat lunch in there. It’s a serene and peaceful place.

For more DC tips, check out Destination DC.