A perfect winter day in Washington, DC begins with a nice jog or brisk walk around the monuments along the National Mall just as those first rays of sunrise hit the District. There is something so tranquil yet so invigorating to see the icons of the nation’s capital as the city wakes up and begins the day.
After your morning work-out head over to Bistro Bis (15 E St, NW, Washington, DC) at the Hotel George for breakfast. Back in the day when he was just a Senator, Barack Obama is said to have frequented the Bistro. These days the likes of Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif) and Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine) can be seen drinking coffee at this power spot. I suggest ordering the Croque Madame - toasted gruyère cheese and westphalian ham sandwich with a basted egg, mornay sauce,crisp onion rings and salade maraîchère ($15.50). This gourmet breakfast sandwich is both satisfying and a culinary delight. Breakfast is served daily from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m.
Jimmy T’s Place (501 E. Capitol St. SE, Capitol Hill, Washington, DC) is another great morning dining option. This is a local fave, no-frills, read the newspaper, kid-friendly diner where you can get grits, pancakes, bacon, scrambled eggs and all the favorite breakfast foods. Bring cash, no credit cards accepted.
Next head over to the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center and tour the Capitol’s newest addition. Tickets are required and can be obtained by contacting your member of congress. Or consider going to the U.S. Botanic Garden. In this greenhouse is an eternal spring. Visitors will enjoy the orchid garden and kids love the jungle. Admission to both the U.S. Capitol and the U.S. Botanic Garden is free.
For a change of pace, head over to the International Spy Museum (800 F St NW Washington, DC). Located in Penn Quarter, just a block from Chinatown/Gallery Place /metro stop, this museum captures our culture's unique fascination with espionage. Learn the tricks of the trade, see the famous James Bond car and learn the fascinating history of spying. Admission is $15 for children, ages 5 – 11 and $18 for adults, ages 12 – 64. Another favorite spot is the National Gallery of Art. Admission is free and after you get your Degas, Monet, da Vinci or Renoir fix you can put on a pair of ice skates at the Sculpture Garden and take a spin around the outdoor rink.
Time for lunch and I highly recommend one of DC’s great sandwich shops or Five Guys for a burger. These places are quick, easy and will leave your stomach completely satiated.
After all that walking, consider treating yourself to a relaxing spa treatment. Try the Oriental Harmony treatment at The Mandarin Oriental Hotel. The treatment begins with a soothing foot bath in purifying waters. Next two therapists provide a warm scrub that smoothes and replenishes the skin and later a harmonious massage that balances the body. The treatment concludes with a simultaneous head and foot massage.
Once you feel relaxed and replenished its on to the Willard’s Round Robin for a hot toddy or a signature mint julep, rumored to have first been mixed by none other then Henry Clay at the hotel’s bar. The Willard is steeped in history and its opulence makes it a must see for all visitors to DC. This is the sight where Julia Howe Ward penned “The Battle Hymn of the Republic”, Martin Luther King, Jr. wrote his famous “I Have A Dream” speech and where the literati — Mark Twain, Walt Whitman, and Emily Dickinson to name a few - would stay during their own visits to the District.
To top off your evening and mark the finale of your perfect day, consider a night at the theatre, an elegant dinner at Georgetown’s famous Citronelle or dine like the President and Mrs. Obama and make a reservation at Equinox.