72 Hours in Washington, D.C.

Tucked between Virginia and Maryland on the northern banks of the Potomac River, Washington, D.C. offers a vibrant mix of eclectic neighborhoods, urbane attractions, and natural East Coast beauty. From whimsical winter cityscapes to spectacular shows of cherry trees in full springtime bloom, there’s no time like the present to plan an extraordinary escape to America’s beating heart.

Alternatively known as the District of Columbia, this teeming metropolis boasts museums, memorials, art, statues, and imposing architecture galore, including some of the country’s most iconic landmarks. Whether you’re seeking to walk in the footsteps of the Founding Fathers or to double-down on a scholarly dose of American lore, the country’s original roost is a mere Tradewind charter flight away.

Here’s how to make the most out of 72 hours in the U.S. capital.

Day One

After a morning arrival at Washington Dulles International Airport or College Park Airport, head for your accommodations in downtown D.C., a bustling crossroads of culture, architecture, and world-class cosmopolitan conveniences.

For a quintessential taste of boutique luxury that’s steeped in history, stay at The Jefferson. Apart from its centralized location to main area attractions, the palatial property is a five-star tribute to the life and legacy of America’s third president. Throughout its elegant interior is a collection of art and artifacts borrowed or replicated from Jefferson’s Monticello estate, and in an epicurean thread from past to present, the hotel also houses a modern American restaurant purveying the same ingredients once grown in his garden.

When you’ve settled in, slip on a good pair of walking shoes and venture out to start exploring the nation’s capital on foot. Six store-flanked blocks south of the Jefferson, you’ll come across Pennsylvania Avenue, otherwise known as “America’s Main Street,” where the White House is magnificently perched on its large emerald lawn. (While the interior can be toured publicly, reservations must be made at least 3 weeks—if not several months—in advance.)

After stopping for a delectable lunch of Oysters Rockefeller or bacon-horseradish glazed meatloaf at the Old Ebbitt Grill (D.C.’s oldest restaurant), continue southward for a block so until you emerge into the immense grassy corridor of the National Mall, a sprawling 300-acre strip that harbors the highest concentration of monuments, memorials, museums, and events in the city. Directly ahead and unmissable in its immensity, the Washington Monument’s towering white obelisk rises 555 feet to pierce the sky. A timeless tribute to George Washington, the marble pillar has endured as a treasured national centerpiece for over 150 years.

To the left, the U.S. Capitol Building’s distinguished neoclassical dome caps the eastern horizon, and off to the right, the Lincoln Memorial bookends the mall’s yawning stretch with an architectural ode to Honest Abe. As the historical stage for many famous gatherings, including Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech, the beloved national monument serves as a symbolic focal point for droves of tourists, activists, and locals who mingle about its stately marble structure and shimmering reflecting pool.

Spend the rest of the afternoon discovering the national park’s myriad attractions, including a thorough scattering of sculptures and statues as well as an awe-inspiring display of American war memorials commemorating fallen patriots from WWII, as well as the Korean and Vietnam wars. On the mall’s southwest corner in West Potomac Park, visit the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial, a serene and inspiring remembrance that features the late civil rights leader stoically surfacing from a mammoth block of stone.

While in the area, take a walk around the scenic Tidal Basin to admire the FDR Memorial’s cascading fountains and patinaed statues, then head to the nearby Thomas Jefferson Memorial, a columned rotunda which brings the Roman Pantheon to mind. On the way back to the hotel, pause for dinner at Joe’s, a popular mainstay known for its Florida Stone Crab and key lime pie.

Day Two

To prepare for another day of sightseeing, start off with a hearty breakfast at Founding Farmers, located three blocks west of the White House on Pennsylvania Avenue. Customize a savory spread from their extensive à la carte menu or satisfy a morning sweet tooth with Uncle Buck’s Beignets, served with a generous dusting of powdered sugar and raspberry, chocolate, and caramel dipping sauces.

When appetites are appeased, make your way to the city’s peaceful Cleveland Park neighborhood to visit the Washington National Cathedral, a historically significant marvel of gothic architecture where former President Woodrow Wilson lies entombed. Be sure to bring along a pair of binoculars to admire the church’s handsome pointed arches, flying buttresses, and scowling gargoyles (and see if you can spot the head of Darth Vader peering out from the northeast tower).

Next stop: historic Georgetown, a beautiful riverside neighborhood that’s home to the illustrious university of the same name. Flush with old-growth trees, charming cobblestone sidewalks, and stunning 18th- and 19th-century mansions, D.C.’s oldest suburb predates the establishment of its adjoining federal district by at least four decades. Today, the west-side gem is a vibrant hub of ritzy shops and Michelin-starred restaurants (like the Blue Duck Tavern, which specializes in slow-roasted, locally-sourced cuisine).

On the south side of the neighborhood, take a stroll aside the Potomac through picturesque Georgetown Waterfront Park to The Washington Harbor, a spirited portside square full of exquisite dining experiences, regular live entertainment, and outdoor activities for all ages. From here, you can climb aboard a Potomac Riverboat Company ferry for a narrated tour and unique vantage of noteworthy landmarks like the Kennedy Center, National Mall, Washington Monument, and The Pentagon, as you float the same waters Captain John Smith, George Washington, and General Robert E. Lee once crossed.

When the boat makes a stop in Old Town Alexandria, hop off to explore the former stomping grounds of George Washington, a storied district replete with bricked red-letter establishments dating back to the mid 18th-century. Walk or ride the free trolley down famous King Street to discover over 200 independent boutiques and restaurants, including plenty of opportunities to dine al fresco by the river.

Then climb back aboard the ferry (which departs every two hours in the afternoon) toward its last stop at National Harbor, a lively waterfront district complete with 160 shops, 40 restaurants, and an MGM National Harbor luxury entertainment resort offering one the most robust gaming experiences outside of Las Vegas. On the end of the pier, the iconic Capital Wheel lets you catch a resplendent Potomac sunset from 180 feet up in one of its climate-controlled gondolas.

Float back to Georgetown in time to grab dinner at Fiola Mare, an upscale eatery serving up chef-inspired Italian fare and high-caliber seafood with five-star service and a majestic river view.

Day 3

After a French café-style breakfast in downtown’s Le Diplomate, prepare for a jam-packed day of learning. Between bonsais, the Bible, law enforcement, the Postal Service, international spies, and much more, there’s a museum for virtually every interest in this culture-centric town. That includes the city’s celebrated Smithsonian Museum collection — all 17 of them free to the public and open from 10am to 5:30pm daily (with the exception of Christmas). It makes sense, then, to dedicate the better part of a day to bouncing around these esteemed establishments, with most of them bundled around the vicinity of the National Mall.

Especially for those moved by the country’s colorful heritage, the Museum of American History seems like an appropriate place to begin. With its ample artifact-laden exhibitions, including the original Star-Spangled Banner, the center intimately chronicles the multi-angled assets of America’s past. (Supplement the experience with another fascinating slice of U.S. history just four blocks away at Ford’s Theatre, the site of Abraham Lincoln’s assassination, which still hosts regular live performances and holds museum exhibits dedicated to the 16th president’s life and death.)

Another worthy stop on your exploratory circuit is the Air and Space Museum, where the Wright brothers’ airplane aptly announces the entrance to a vast aeronautical showcase chock-full of fighting, bombing, and transport planes from WWII, not to mention numerous spaceships, rockets, and space-race relics.

And speaking of relics, the nearby Museum of Natural History is an astounding repository for over 127 million unique specimens, including 4.5 million plants, 2 million human cultural artifacts, 1 million birds, reptiles, and mammals, a live butterfly pavilion, and an array of dinosaurs complete with 46 intact skeletons. Don’t miss its Hall of Geology, which dazzles with a mind-boggling collection of rare rocks, gems, minerals, fossils, and meteorites. (Then stop for a lunch of modern Asian fare at the nearby Newseum’s Source by Wolfgang Puck).

Luckily for connoisseurs of creativity, among the area’s art-focused institutions is the National Gallery of Art. One of North America’s largest museums, it’s brimming with paintings, drawings, prints, photographs, sculptures, and medals spanning from the Middle Ages to present day, including works from Monet, van Gogh, Picasso, and the only piece from Leonardo da Vinci in the Americas.

The newest and perhaps most striking addition to Smithsonian’s renowned assemblage is the National Museum of African American History and Culture, a powerfully reflective testament to the story and struggle of African Americans. Before you enter the five-acre space, stop to admire its award-winning façade, a beautiful bronze lattice that floods the interior halls with radiant natural light. In the proximity, there are various other opportunities for cultural wisdom, too, such as the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and the National Museum of the American Indian.

As you reflect on your three action-packed days in the nation’s capital, look forward to a seamless Tradewind charter flight back home, where you’ll doubtlessly be looking an excuse to plan your next trip.

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Tradewind offers charter flights to Washington D.C. year-round. To reserve a charter, call us at 1-800-376-7922 or click here.

Featured photo courtesy of Washington.org.