The monumental core of Washington, D.C. is so rich in sights that visitors may be tempted to look no farther. But many delights lie within easy reach of the city center. The Michigan Avenue NE area near North Capitol Street is home to the stunning Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception; the U Street NW corridor is a historic town center for the African-American community; Bethesda is filled with every kind of restaurant; the Southwest waterfront is busy with commercial fishing activity; while Old Town Alexandria has a beautifully restored downtown area and fine galleries.
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Morning
Begin at Christ Church (118 N Washington St Open 9am–4pm Mon–Sat, 2–4pm Sun Donation), a handsome Georgian-style building completed in 1773. George Washington’s box pew has been preserved. Then turn right onto Cameron Street toward the harbor. Continue three blocks and turn right onto North Royal Street. The two buildings on your right comprise Gadsby’s Tavern Museum . The half-hour tours are a fascinating introduction to colonial life in the city.
Head back to the harbor, turn left just before the Chart House Restaurant, and continue a half block to the Torpedo Factory Food Pavilion, with its Italian and Oriental specialties, and coffee bar. Take-out food can be eaten on the Pavilion’s deck with its river views, or, a few steps upriver, in the lush Founder’s Park.
Afternoon
Heading out of the Food Pavilion, directly ahead is the ticket booth for the Potomac Riverboat Company, which operates the Admiral Tilp. It provides a narrated 40-minute tour of the waterfront and nearby points of interest.
To the right of the tour boat kiosk is the Torpedo Factory (see Torpedo Factory Art Center). It takes at least an hour for even a quick inspection of the studios of the over 164 artists here, so take a leisurely late afternoon deciding which piece you’d like to take home.
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Maps and travel guides detail everything from the streets of Jakarta to the interstates of Iowa. Many are beautiful in themselves, and all are practical.
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This Dupont Circle gallery specializes in authentic African artifacts of the finest quality. The fabrics are astonishing in design and execution. Masks, sculptures, and jewelry are equally fine.
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A visit to this solemn burial ground brings conflicting emotions – pride in the determination of defenders of freedom, pleasure in the presence of its great beauty, but dismay at the loss of so many lives marked by the arrays of headstones (see Arlington National Cemetery).
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The inexpensive Tex-Mex food here is a cut above similar places. Even the tortilla chips are flavorful. Tacos , enchiladas , and burritos , of course, but also good grilled fish and shrimp.
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The mezze at this Lebanese restaurant are delicious. Marinated chicken, eggplant, hummus, and squid fill numerous little dishes with flavor.
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The gourmet ingredients here are of extraordinary quality, and the selection is astonishing. The wine choice is excellent.
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This mammoth basilica, dedicated in 1959, incorporates more than 60 chapels and oratories that retell the diverse history of the Roman Catholic Church in the United States. Conceived in the grand style – it is the largest Roman Catholic church in the western hemisphere – the building combines Byzantine and Romanesque features, creating an intensely decorative but substantial effect. The interior is simply overwhelming in its grandeur, whatever your faith. There is also a cafeteria on the site, which is convenient because there are few nearby restaurants.
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Locally, Bethesda is best known for its enormous quantity and range of restaurants, most of them clustered into a lively downtown area that still retains the atmosphere of a traditional town center. The high-end employment offered by Bethesda’s world-renowned biotechnology industry, however, has also generated a spirited music, performance, and arts scene catering to its cultured and wealthy residents. The city is especially strong on public art. Its streets and parks spotlight distinguished contemporary works in every style, by way of sculpture and stunning painted murals.
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The menu fuses dishes from around the world. Try crêpes with ham mousse and Gruyère.
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Restaurant price categories
For a three-course meal for one with half a bottle of wine (or equivalent meal), taxes and extra charges.
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