Lunch
By now you are probably ready for some lunch and when in DC it is always fun to power lunch with the politicians. That’s why I recommend either the Capital Grille (601 Pennsylvania Ave, (202-737-6200) or Charlie Palmer, 101 Constitution Ave, NW, (202-547-8100). Both steak houses offer exceptional dining experiences and you are bound to rub elbows with a member of Congress, high level congressional staffer or lobbyist. Reservations are not required, but as busy as it is at lunchtime in the District, I highly recommend you plan in advance and make one. The Orange Line can get you within walking distance of either place so get back on the trolley until you reach your destination.
Afternoon Tour
After lunch you can either walk to the Capitol or get back on the trolley’s Orange Line. I suggest walking. There is something truly magnificent when you walk up that hill towards the Capitol.
Tickets are required for a timed tour of the Capitol and are given out on a first-come, first-served basis at 9:00 a.m. Go to the Capitol Guide Service kiosk located along the curving sidewalk southwest of the Capitol (intersection of First Street, S.W., and Independence Avenue). You can also try contacting your Member of Congress to see if they might be able to arrange a VIP tour of the Capitol that is generally given by a staffer trained to give such tours.
After you are finished with what is sure to be a highlight and awe-inspiring tour of the Capitol, consider stopping by either the Folger Shakespeare Library or get back on the Trolley and head over to Union Station.
Evening Tour
Once at Union Station you can hang-out and do some shopping or grab a quick snack before the Moonlight Tour of the Monuments which departs Union Station at 6:30 p.m. daily. This is a two and a half hour tour and offers a spectacular opportunity to view the monuments illuminated. Buy your tickets online. The cost is $28.80 for an adult and $14.40 for a child (ages 4-12). Children under four are not permitted on the tour.
You will see the FDR Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, Vietnam Veteran's Memorial, Korean War Veteran's Memorial, and the Iwo Jima Memorial.
Dinner
After your tour by moonlight concludes, you will surely be hungry. Skip the ride back to Union Station and instead hail a cab to take you to Old Ebbitt’s Grill. This restaurant is a local haunt for many a politico and was made famous by Clint Eastwood in the movie, In the Line of Fire.
After dinner, walk up the street to Hotel Washington and take the elevator up to the Sky Terrace for one last viewing of the city and a night cap or hot beverage. From the Terrace you can see the White House, the Treasury Department, and many of the illuminated monuments. By the evening’s end you will be planning your next trip to our nation’s capital.
