- Blog
- Bios
- Boards
- Classifieds
- DIY
- Gallery
- Vendor Reviews
- Shop Weddingbee
Weddingbee boards
You should check out this thread that was just started a couple months ago for some great ideas.
Eeek...I should have checked the boards first! 
Anyone with suggestions can post in the thread PinkBubbleGum suggested to keep it active!
Thanks SO much!!!
That old thread is great, but there are some Memorial Day specifics you should know, too:
One of the best things about DC is that the museums and many attractions are free, so you can have plenty of vacation money left over for food! Here are some of my favorite places to eat (all in DC proper and all are metro accessible - I have noted the neighborhood for each):
As far as places to stay, if you want a bit of a splurge and like B&Bs, I highly recommend the Swann House in north Dupont (http://www.swannhouse.com/). It is absolutely gorgeous, plus it is close to everything, and you can walk everywhere.
I absolutely love DC and am so excited that you and your husband have chosen it for your trip this year! You are going to have an amazing time. Please let me know if you need any more information.
Thank you SO much for these wonderful suggestions. I'm a bit nervous though cause both of your words of warning are potential deal breakers for my hubby. He HATES intense heat and is not a fan of motorcycle conventions! lol!!
BUT...your suggestions were wonderful and I really appreciate it. The Tabard Inn looks just like the type of place we love to eat and Swann House is right up our alley as well! So hopefully he won't let the heat and motorcycles change his mind and we'll be able to check out all or most of your spots! :)
Rolling Thunder is not necessarily a convention. I would recommend that you google it. It's AMAZING what it stands for.
Re: Rolling Thunder: missyjane77 is totally right. Sorry for being lazy and not getting into the full details - "convention" was the best word I could come up with. Do NOT let that keep you from DC over Memorial Day - Rolling Thunder is an amazing (and very respectful) event. I only mentioned it because it brings a lot of people to DC that weekend, so I thought you would need a heads up on reservations.
Re: heat: I am not going to lie, it can be ugly. It can also be incredibly beautiful and breezy. You just never know. The first time I went to Boston for Memorial Day, I packed like it was DC and was freezing the whole time. My husband is from Boston and every time he talks about moving back, I am like, no way - it's cold there at the end of May!!! :o)
I looked up Rolling Thunder..what a great event! :)
Thanks again for the suggestions...I may have a battle on my hands with the hubby! He says the heat and humidity are a deal breaker! I told him to stop being such a wimp! lol!
I wrote a response, but it did not load. I hate that!
I live right next to the Swann House (I can see it from my window) and it is wonderful - beautiful rooms, breakfast always smells great, they have a pool during the season (probably memorial day weekend until labor day weekend). However, it is also directly across the street from a very busy dog park. Weekends, it opens at 8am so if you want to sleep in or relax, trust me - it will be difficult. I haven't slept in since it opened...and I have a dog! It's super irritating. However, you'll be in a part of town that rolling thunder probably won't be in - and they tend to travel in larger groups.
Kimpton hotels are also funky and great. The one we are having our wedding at - the Palomar - also has a pool.
Also, memorial day weekend is the start of DC tourist season. I always recommend to people to visit DC in the spring (March or April) or the fall (Columbus Weekend would be great) if possible because the weather is better and it's not as crowded.
tabard inn has the best brunch! other meals there aren't always worth the cost, in my opinion, but the homemade doughnuts at brunch are to die for!
i second the kimpton hotels - hotel monaco and palomar are both cute boutique hotels in good parts of town to stay in. rolling thunder is awesome, but definitely something to be aware of that weekend. i can remember once having to wait like an hour to be able to cross a street while the whole parade of motorcyclers went by. don't be put off by the heat....honestly it's that time of year when the weather is totally unpredictable. i can remember memorial day bbqs in jeans and hoodies, and other years wearing shorts and tanktops. if it makes you feel better, my FI also hates extreme heat and humidity, and so doesn't really love going to see my parents (in DC) during the hottest months there. but he loves it there in may/early june. we usually always go down at the beginning of june and then don't return until september. the worst humidity is in july/august.
Thanks everyone for the reassurance! I think I may be able to convince him to not factor in the heat cause it sound like it definitely varies!
We stayed at the Monaco in Salt Lake City a few years ago and really liked it...so we'll have to check out the Kimpton properties in DC! :)
I think if I mention the homemade donuts I would get a little leverage too! HA HA! :)
Is there a list somewhere of the free attractions in DC? That's a HUGE selling point too!
i'm sure this isn't comprehensive but it gives you a great start:
http://washington.org/visiting/browse-dc/attractions/100-free-things-to-do
Excellent...thanks!
I got my hubby back on board! I just mentioned that a lot of our time will be spent indoors at museums and such...so looks like that we'll be headed down! Woo hoo!
If you like Asian food go to OYA for lunch http://www.oyadc.com/ they have awesome lunch specials and the sushi is ammazing, the steak is also great for people who dont like Asian food. Its also right in Chinatown and super convienent to the monument/museum areas.
Oh and if you like BBQ check out http://www.rocklands.com/ its some of my fav BBQ ever (Carolina style) I miss it so much since I moved from DC!!
If you can splurge at all for it, The Mansion on O Street is a VERY funky bed and breakfast. :-)
I recommend exploring Georgetown for dinner one night while you're in town. There are lots of great restaurants there. :-)
@Lovespearls:Best BBQ! I love this place. My FI and I would eat there every weekend if we could!
WITHOUT A DOUBT go eat at Founding Farmers in NW DC. You will have to call and make a reservation in advance because it's gets really crowded but the specialty drinks are amazing as is literally EVERYTHING on the menu!!!
I second founding farmers, i really love it. While you're checking out the capitol and other fed building in capitol hill you should stop by good stuff eatery for some tasty burgers (and toasted marshmallow milshakes!)
My fiance and I LOVE Ben's Chili Bowl...
http://www.benschilibowl.com/ordereze/default.aspx
Get a half smoke and cheese fries...OMG so good!
@dorsay: LOVE good stuff eatery! I am on my way to DC right now actually...hmm maybe burgers for lunch tomorrow??
and by on my way, I actually mean that I've been sitting in Penn Station for TWO hours because our train was delayed and then the second we boarded the train the engine broke down. so maybe I'll actually make it to DC by lunch tomorrow...
mmm Good Stuff. best veggie burger I've ever had.
I wanted to get married at the Tabbard....but alas not good for people with very old guests - too difficult to get to the private rooms so unfortunately we couldn't.
I second OYA - we had our Valentines dinner there this past year and it was delicious and the decor is ridiculously nice.
If you are able to (and have the money) DO NOT MISS the Newseum and the International Spy Museum! They are my favorite museums in DC even thuogh they cost money they are SO worth it! The newseum is just really really interesting and the International Spy Museum has a really fun thing where you get to actually "be" a spy! Its really cool!
Keep these great suggestions coming ladies! My husband and I are thinking of renting a condo through Homeaway or VRBO rather than a hotel or B&B...seems to be a bit cheaper.
I don't know how we're going to choose places to eat. All these suggestions are amazing...but we only have four days down there! Has anyone heard of Blue Duck Tavern? I've been checking it out online and it looks amazing!
@PitBulLover: Newseum is definitely on my list!!
@sarahd07: Blue Duck Tavern is good, but I am not sure I would pick it over some of the other suggestions made here. The food is good, but it is pretty expensive for what you get (the portions are really small and everything is a la carte), and the vibe is kind of loud and hotel-y. BUT. It is yummy. :o) If you are looking for that type of food in a better setting, you might want to check out Restaurant Eve or The Majestic. Both are in Old Town Alexandria, but that's a great place to spend an evening (about 15 minutes from downtown DC on the metro). Lots of great restaurants, pretty river walk, historic architecture, etc.
Keep the questions coming - I know a lot of the DC girls (myself included) are big on checking out all the newest restaurants, so we have a pretty good grip on the food scene.
@septcabride: PERFECT! Those are exactly the types of tips and suggestions I am looking for.
My husband and I are foodies (he more so than I) and while we LOVE amazing food...what really makes it for us is the atmosphere. And it sounds like the scene at Blue Duck may not match what we prefer. We like dimly lit room in quaint older buildings. I'll def check out those places in Old Town Alexandria as well as that area in general. Sounds like a nice late afternoon/evening side trip.
@sarahd07: If you go to Old Town, there is an amazing store on King Street (I can't remember the name right now). They only sell vintage barware (think "Mad Men"-esque martini pitchers), and it is a super cool place to browse.
Ohhhh just checked out Restaurant Eve. MAJOR points for being a chef-owned restaurant. We always seek those out! Definitely looks like a place we would enjoy...so thanks again! :)
Yeah Blue Duck is great, but I'm going to plus up Tabard again. It's where I went the night I got engaged :) HIGHLY recommend making recommendations - for brunch they can be booked a month out! Also, when you make a reservation, ask to be seated in the upstairs smaller dining room. Way more intimate and quieter. And also I second Marvins...great bar in the U Street area, and funky Belgian-Southern (such a fun mix) and has the most AMAZING mussels...at least in my biased opinion :) Also....Founding Farmers has the greatest lobster mac and cheese eveerrrrr.
In terms of hotels, there are places that you can stay and not break the bank where you can walk to MANY things. This includes the Carlyle Suites in Dupont (http://www.carlylesuites.com/) which is not super awesome on the outside but actually has pretty nice rooms. We've had friends stay there and have liked it. Plus you can walk to Dupont, U Street and more in a heartbeat. Also the Loews Madison which is a little bit further in town. (http://www.loewshotels.com/en/The-Madison-Hotel) And even the Hilton in Dupont can have rooms for under $120.
If you have any questions, I've lived here for 4.5 years and just adore it nd have been to a lot of places around here, so absolutely PM me!
Um also I am loving how many DC brides are on here! And loving the suggestions as I couldn't have recommended any better. Speaking of good stuff eatery, has anyone tried We the Pizza yet? Curious to see how Spike is mixing it up with pizza, since his burgers are AWESOME (and mayo dipping sauces? delish)
@septcabride: OH I wish I could remember the name I was just there on Saturday!! DO go to Old Town it is so cute and will remind you a lot of a street in New England!!! You wont miss the barware store...if you are walking down old town towards the water the store is on the left hand side of the street - its awesome!
Okay so second attempt at posting this - moderator gods I am not spamming!
Anywho...totally second Tabard, but biased because that's where we went the night we got engaged :) But aboslutely recommend reservations, as their brunch can be a month in advance kind of thing! When you make reservations, ask for the second floor dining room...it's small and intimate and much less noisy than downstairs! Also I do love the Blue Duck, but it is pricey, and I think there are better options. The lobster mac and cheese at Founding Farmers is to. die. for. And also second Marvins, as it is really a cool spot on U Street, they even have a roof bar, and their food has always been a hit.
In terms of hotels, you can also stay places that will cost you less than $150 a night. Good deals are the Loews Madison and even the Carlyle Suites, which is not pretty on the outside, but we've had friends stay there and have been really happy with it. Even the Hilton in Dupont you can get for under $120. Check hotels.com.
If you have any questions about DC or where to go, please feel free to PM me any time. I've lived here for 4.5 years and just LOVE it.
Also LOVE LOVE that there are so many DC brides here!! And with excellent taste :) Also has anyone tried out We the Pizza, Spike's new place after opening Good Stuff? PS the rave reviews are spot on...if you like burgers you would love this place!
You must log in to post.
| Visit our sister sites | eHarmony Online Dating |
eHarmony Advice Dating Advice |
Project Wedding Wedding Songs |
JustMommies Pregnancy Calendar |
Create the honeymoon of your dreams.
| User | Posts Today |
|---|---|
| MissBoPeep | 94 |
| ndreighton | 64 |
| hisgoosiegirl | 56 |
| beargoose | 55 |
| Mrs.KMM | 46 |
| akp0702 | 42 |
| BetterSherm | 42 |
| MrsBlueSeptember | 38 |
| MrsPom | 37 |
| Beckster329 | 37 |
Sorry, there are no users yet.
Hello hive! My husband and I like to travel to a different US city every Memorial Day weekend and this year we chose Washington DC!! :) I've been there once for the day while visiting a friend who lived in a suburb of DC...but now that I'm trying to plan a long weekend I'm looking for some fun suggestions for places to stay, eat and see.
Just a little background...my hubby and I LOVE to walk around and explore and are big fans of museums and historical attractions (DC is perfect huh?). We're also BIG foodies so some great restaurant reccomendations would be wonderful. We prefer funkier boutique type hotels that are tucked away but we also want to be close to all the action.
Thanks in advance! :)