Why You and Your Pals Must Plan a Trip to Georgetown This Fall

The riverfront destination you shouldn’t overlook.

We all sleep with the Smithsonian museum are great , as is the National Mall , and a White House tour ( incentive points if you were a precious kid and shook the President ’s mitt ) . But amidst all this culture and political punch , you may be overlooking one delightful D.C. district : Georgetown .

It ’s brimming with history ( it was actually founded before D.C. in 1848 and is currently a National Historic Landmark ) , gorgeous homes , stellar eateries , shopping aplenty , and , yes , those famed cupcake you ’ve heard all about . There ’s also plenty of outdoor action at Georgetown Park along the Potomac River and the C&O Canal cuts decently through the winsome quarter . in front , how to make the most of a mathematical group getaway to Georgetown .

Stay at a smaller boutique hotel

As any traveler knows , where you make your home base set the timber and itinerary for your entire slip . Kick things off on the veracious note atRosewood Washington , D.C. , where things are anything but biscuit pinnace . Walking in , you sense more like you ’re at an intimate neighborhood building than a hotel , and the foyer has the most welcoming of sit areas complete with a library , comfy seating area , and a cappuccino machine .

Or , to the right of the lobby , you may take the air right on intoCUT Bar and Lougeby Wolfgang Puck and grab a deglutition or bite at the bar . learn into your very own townhouse — go at $ 1,500 per nighttime , they ’re certainly a orgy but up to four guest can split the elegant quad ( apply Zelle ® to make part your mental reservation be a cinch . ) The hotel also has a wizard rooftop lounge , CUT Above , with sweeping views of the city , a rooftop pond , bespoke bikes and picnic catering on offer , andCUT , the upmarket bistro from WP where the Maryland Blue Crab fried rice is something you ’ll need to order again and again . ditto mark for the brioche French toast and buttermilk - Polygonum fagopyrum pancakes you ’ll be gobbling up here for breakfast , chased with stellar coffee .

For something more low-priced , send up atPendry Washington DC - The Wharf(from $ 645 per night ) , in the newly developed waterfront harbour . It ’s about a 20 - minute car ride to Georgetown and thespaandoutdoor poolhere are pretty larger-than-life .

courtesy of Washington.org

Take aD.C. by Footwalking tour

Centrally located to both the waterfront and the historical nursing home dominion , Rosewood Washington , D.C. is just a few minutes walk to the meeting point for D.C. by Foot ’s fabuloushistoric Georgetown walk tour , flop along the C&O Canal ( in Chesapeake And Ohio Canal Historical Park if we ’re being expert ) . We do n’t want to give too much away , but on the tour , you ’ll see handsome home in Federal - vogue architecture , the former repair of JFK and Jackie O. , andMartin ’s Tavern , a beloved local gin mill set up in 1933 that ’s said to be where the Kennedys got engaged . You may also con aboutone very suspicious escape human action from a Russian spy at a French restaurant . The term of enlistment concludes by the pastoral Georgetown University campus , which you ’re gratuitous to research at your leisure time — inquire the friendly scout to point you in the right management or give you a restaurant recommendation or two . If the spooky side of things is more your scene , you may also need to weigh the outfitter’sghosts of Georgetowntour . humbled on cash ? demand your tour guide if they go for Zelle ® as a fast and fuss - free way to bring home the bacon them with gratuity .

Have a meal atMartin’s Tavern

Okay , we hump it ’s mentioned above , but we ’d be neglectful if we did n’t share a bit more about this Georgetown institution . Celebrating its 90th day of remembrance this fall , the cozy locus ( think : wooden John Wilkes Booth , Tiffany - style lamps , a bartender that knows regulars ’ names ) has hosted every U.S. president from Harry S. Truman to George W. Bush to President Biden , as well as political top banana , extraneous dignitaries , renown , jock , and musician . postulation to be seat in the " marriage proposal booth " if you want to ladle up your French onion soup and diminutive Cancer cakes in the same smirch as the Kennedys .

Other local spots in Georgetown to add to your tilt : Brasserie Libertéfor French transportation andFarmers Fishers Bakersto chase your brunch and Bloody Mary with Potomac River views .

Hit the water

Georgetown ’s waterfront , theWashington Harbouris a mixed - use development with running and biking trails , restaurants , a howling spring ( that turns into anice skatingarea in the wintertime ) , and boating accession to the Potomac River . In the spring , summertime , and go down , we advocate booking an outing withSeaSuite Cruisesfor a retro gravy boat renting or boozy , tiki gravy holder adventure . Or , hops on the Potomac Water Taxi maneuver byCityCruises , connecting Georgetown to Old Town Alexandria , National Harbor , and The Wharf .

Go shopping, and then some

Whether you try art veranda , menage intention stores , or clothing and jewelry , Georgetown delivers . M Street is the main drag with rafts of retail outlet and mainstream epithet ( forth luggageand Italian article of furniture groupB&B Italiaare two starter ) , but we suggest hazard off to quieter streets . Meander over to nearbyCady ’s Alley , with restore row house host gamy - end stores and showrooms parallel to the C&O canal . If you ’re a dwelling house decor enthusiast , you ’ll also want to dangle byManse , a housewares ' emporium with no famine of artisan dainty that opened in October , and furniture designerMolteni&Conce it ’s slated to give this wintertime .

Gorge on Georgetown cupcakes

Georgetown and cupcake go bridge player in hand . And if you and your supporter would like to go hand - into - mouth with such a goody , you ’ve come to the right place . adust and Wiredis a must for its crimson velvet cupcakes , vegan Oreo cupcake , and a slice ( or eight ) of the swoon - worthy banana kale . Avoid line of products by ordering ahead online for same - Clarence Day pickup truck for you and your pals and have them reimburse you for their orders via Zelle ® .Georgetown Cupcakealso allows pre - parliamentary procedure but postulate notice the mean solar day before ; from these notable cupcake slinger , we ’d maneuver you towards the double Milk River chocolate birthday cupcake , cocoa ganache , and the vanilla and drinking chocolate . If you ’re craving something savory as a lead - up to your confections , book it toCall Your Mother , a Jewish deli , where you ’ll also want to arrange online to skip the lines .

Stroll, stroll, stroll

One of the nicest parts of journey is explore a new city by foot , stumbling upon postcard - desirable scenes and unexpected restaurant that wind up being your favourite store from a trip .

Georgetown is perhaps one of the most attractive walkable neighborhoods in the U.S. with its sett pavement , gas lantern , brick row household , and the C&O Canal snaking through it all . Yes , it ’s a morsel hilly and some of the street could utilize some paving , but wandering around this district is really a delightful style to spend a first light or good afternoon wonder at architecture and popping into depot and cafés . Part of the magic is bumble upon your own precious stone , but some steps in the correct guidance let in any that take you towards the gardens ofTudor PlaceandDumbarton Oaks Gardens , catching a live idle words show atBlues Alley , and noshing atKafe Leopold , Fiola MareandChez Billy Sud .

Stumble upon the Scandal Room

Our personal favorite amble is from the C&O Canal along the Washington Harbour toThe Watergate Hotel(if you start around the Rosewood Washington D.C. , it ’s under 15 min total ) . Before a bona fide spread at the storied hotel’sKingbird(which should in spades include the tagliolini with Maryland blue crabmeat , red pepper tomato sauce , bottarga , and scratch bum ) , ask kindly at the front desk if theScandal Roomis occupied . If not , a staff member should be able to take you up to the infamous elbow room , in the first place room 214 , that was HQ for the 1972 Watergate break - in . It ’s fit out with authentic artifact from the geological era like a typewriter and tape recorder , book collection , and framed periodical covers and articles .

Biking is another hearty pick in these share , and easy to do with bike rentals from Rosewood Washington D.C. or viaCapital Bikeshare , where you’re able to charter a cycle from one tying up station and return at any of the hundreds around town for $ 8 a day . There ’s a pretty toe path from Washington Harbor , under the Kennedy Center , to the Lincoln Memorial . The savourless , one - Admiralty mile way of life travel along the Potomac River and is keen for a jog , too .

deserving noting : There ’s unluckily and infamously no Metro ( the belowground ) lay off in Georgetown . To get around via public transit , you’re able to use theDC Circulator , red buses that draw in 10 - minute musical interval . From Georgetown , the yellow line execute through the heart of downtown to Union Station . The blue cable connect Dupont Circle and Rosslyn via Georgetown . Fare is a dollar and you’re able to pay off with cash or use your Smartrip card orapp .