Nicole Schnitzler | Chicago Tribune

Washington, D.C., which is home to some of the nation’s most iconic sites, monuments and museums, has always been a destination for those looking to learn about the origins and operations of our country.

But 2024 seems like a particularly poignant time to visit. As we delve further into this year’s presidential election and with Presidents Day approaching in a few weeks, Washington reminds us that our nation is built on democracy and the ideas and institutions it readily creates.

Couple that with Washington’s major events, such as JazzFest and Theatre Week, the boundless green spaces, and a dynamic dining scene boasting 25 Michelin-starred restaurants, and it’s no wonder the town welcomes an annual average of 22 million visitors.

From serene memorials and engrossing museums to chef’s counter dining and sky-high cocktails, here are some of the best ways to enjoy a long weekend in D.C. this year.

WHAT TO DO:

Museum of the Bible

Opened in 2017, this museum features thoroughly curated exhibits and collections spanning 4,000 years of Bible history. Visitors can explore seven floors of immersive exhibits, including The Hebrew Bible Experience (an award-winning, multimedia encounter with the Old Testament), or Impact of the Bible (featuring the Bible’s global influence across arts, culture and government).

Discover rare artifacts throughout them all, including the earliest known copy of the Psalms in Greek, or Thomas Jefferson’s 1809 letter on religious freedom. The museum also hosts expertly sourced special exhibits, such as The Prophets, a display of Jewish artist Jacob Barosin’s life-size paintings of the Old Testament figures.

International Spy Museum

A block away from the National Mall, this museum explores the international impact, history and tradecraft of espionage. Explore the largest publicly displayed collection of international espionage artifacts and hear the fascinating ways they were used in special operations.

Those details are fun intel for those engaging with the interactive kiosks throughout the museum, which assign visitors a cover identity and create challenges to crack codes and uncover hidden sites. Check out their website to learn more about upcoming exhibits and special programming for a variety of communities, including those with memory loss, neurodiverse individuals and hospital patients.

U.S. Capitol

First-time visitors will marvel at the grandeur of the U.S. Capitol, whose design — comprising 1.5 million square feet and more than 600 rooms — was appointed by President George Washington in 1793. See where Senate and Congress meet, and take a tour, reserved in advance, to see the building’s historic spaces and artwork. Across the way, you’ll find the Supreme Court, where the public can visit the courtroom and parts of the first and ground floors, depending on that day’s business of the court.

People use an umbrella to shelter from the Sun while looking at the Washington Memorial in Washington, DC, on July 23, 2022. – The heat wave blanketing the region is expect to peak this weekend with temperatures near 38C (100F.) (Photo by MANDEL NGAN / AFP) (Photo by MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images)

National Mall

No visit to D.C. is complete without walking the National Mall, the country’s most frequented park, which sees millions of visitors each year. Considered “America’s front yard,” and spanning more than 2 miles, the area encompasses several of our nation’s most venerated sites, including the Lincoln Memorial, the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, the World War I Memorial, the World War II Memorial, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, and the Washington Monument. Keep an eye out for the DC Circulator — the bus system makes a seasonal loop around the mall, offering a welcomed break from walking.

Water taxi

Cruise along the Potomac River with a narrated ride on one of the city’s water taxis, which offer a different perspective of some of D.C.’s top sites. Board one of the vessels in Georgetown — after exploring the neighborhood’s many shops and restaurants — and head to the Wharf, a new waterfront development featuring hotels, music venues, shops and restaurants.

WHERE TO DINE

L’Ardente

The Obamas have been spotted at this downtown restaurant, along with Supreme Court justices, ambassadors and members of the House and Senate. Credit that buzz to Chef David Deshaies’ decadent, modern interpretations of Italian cuisine, found in orders like the 40-Layer Lasagna, equal parts housemade pasta and short-rib sugo, or the Duck Hunt, duck ravioli in truffled foie gras foam. Whatever you order, consider doing so at the chef’s counter for a prime view of the kitchen team members, who move quickly readying plates of pasta, pizzas, starters and large-format entrées. And then, there’s dessert! Opt for the Tiramisu Flambé, a chocolate sphere filled with lady fingers, espresso and mascarpone that’s flambéed tableside.

Le Diplomate

Joe and Jill Biden, Dick Durbin and Kamala Harris are just a few of the regulars at this Logan Circle restaurant, which has spent the last decade gaining a loyal following for French brasserie fare in quaint, café-inspired digs. Lined with red banquettes and warm woods, the modern-day bistro wins over locals and visitors alike with its daily breads, bespoke cocktails and an array of house favorites, such as onion soup gratinée, steak frites and escargots. With owner Stephen Starr behind the venue, expect hospitality at its finest — the same kind of polished welcome you’ll find across the team’s D.C. venues, including the Union Market district’s St. Anselm, El Presidente and the forthcoming Pastis.

Urban Thai

Sen. Tammy Duckworth is one of many who make the trek to nearby Arlington, Virginia, for this Thai restaurant, where an extensive menu of noodles, soups and curries await. Kick things off with chicken satay and pot stickers, then try signatures like the grilled shrimp papaya salad, Tom Kha Gai soup, and pad thai.

Good Stuff Eatery

Obama also has been spotted at this family-owned operation, which is known for its American comfort fare using high quality, farm-fresh ingredients. Try one of the many handcrafted burgers alongside an order of hand-cut fries — and top it all off with their famous made-from-scratch shakes.

Cafe Milano

Come for the regional Italian fare at this Georgetown restaurant and stay for the people watching. More than 30 years in, Milano remains one of the city’s hottest cafes, seeing presidents, heads of state and Capitol Hill parties on the regular. Once you settle into the scene, choose from an array of flavorful starters and pastas, such as burrata with heirloom tomatoes, charred Mediterranean octopus or wild mushroom risotto.

Inside view of the Pineapple And Pearls restaurant on September 21 2016, in Washington, DC. / AFP / Olivier Douliery (Photo credit should read OLIVIER DOULIERY/AFP via Getty Images)

Pineapple & Pearls

Fine dining meets big fun at this two-Michelin-stars restaurant, where the team hopes diners leave feeling like they’ve just celebrated New Year’s Eve each and every time. Credit those memories-in-the-making to warm hospitality and a menu of playful dishes that subvert the status quo. Just steps away you’ll find sister restaurant Rose’s Luxury, a locally loved spot for thoughtful, contemporary American cuisine.

WHERE TO STAY

Pendry

Situated in the heart of the Wharf, this recently opened property boasts an excellent location and offers sophisticated comfort throughout, thanks to stylish design and ace hospitality. Find that hospitality at popular rooftop restaurant and cocktail bar Moonraker, where skyline sunset views are the perfect backdrop for an evening of sushi and small bites. In the morning, grab breakfast at Flora Flora, an all-day dining destination featuring Latin American-inspired interiors and offerings. Later, break a sweat at the hotel’s state-of-the-art fitness center before an afternoon at the spa and pool, complete with panoramic Potomac River views.

The Darcy

This charmingly outfitted boutique hotel is located between Logan Circle and Dupont Circle, near restaurants, shopping, and entertainment—all of which make it a great homebase for the weekend. Enjoy plates of Paratha Tacos and Korean Crispy Chicken Wings at Gerrard Street Kitchen—it’s just a taste of the globally inspired fare the team puts forth for breakfast, brunch, and dinner. Come morning, walk it off with a stroll to The White House and National Mall (but first, coffee at the hotel’s on-site, Aussie-inspired café Bluestone Lane).

WASHINGTON, DC – MAY 12: The former Trump International Hotel at the Old Post Office Building is seen on May 12, 2022 in Washington, DC. The Trump family completed the hotel’s sale Wednesday and the hotel will reopen as a Waldorf Astoria. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

Waldorf Astoria

Upon entering this luxe hotel, you might need a moment to take it all in. It’s housed within the nation’s Old Post Office, an architectural tour de force with a spot on the National Registry of Historic Places. Those lobby views are even more spectacular from the dining room at The Bazaar, where chef José Andrés serves the whimsical, engaging cuisine for which he’s best known. For dinner, that means bites like the Beef Cheeks Eisenhower Stew, a tribute to President Eisenhower’s go-to dish, or “Philly Cheesesteak” Airbread and Ora King Salmon “En Papillote.” Post-meal, make your way to the newly unveiled Tasting Salon for private tastings of rare spirits and wines from around the globe.

Nicole Schnitzler is a freelancer.