Part 3: Boston – New York – Washington D.C. in Two Weeks – 3 Part Series
Part 3 – 4 Nights in Washington D.C.
This is Part 3 of a blog on a multi-city visit to Boston, New York, and Washington D.C. – 4 nights in Boston, 5 nights in New York City, and 4 nights in DC (13 nights or 14 days). You can, of course, change the number of nights in each city depending on what you want to do. Go here for our Boston itinerary, the first city-stop on this multi-city trip, and head over here for our New York City itinerary, our second stop on this multi-city trip.
Some links on this post are affiliated links, which mean that if you book something through our affiliated links, the booking platform may share a portion of their commission with us.
DAY 10 – LEAVE FOR WASHINGTON D.C. VIA TRAIN
Arriving in Washington D.C. via Amtrak/Acel in Union Station
Take the Amtrak train from New York City Moynihan station to Washington D.C.’s Union Station . We have a comprehensive Washington D.C. Guide in our Destinations page, including information on getting around.
From Union Station, take the public transportation or a taxi to your hotel. For a guide on how to use the public transportation in Washington D.C., go here.
In general, to plan your route, we recommend:
WMATA App (Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority)
SmarTrip App. The SmarTrip is the app you need to pay for your public transit fare. Learn how to use it for payment and route planning here.
You may also use your iPhone Map or Google Map to plan your route – we have had great success in easily planning our public transportation trips using the Map app on our smartphones.
Accommodations
We have specific hotel recommendations in Washington D.C. For a full list, go to our Washington D.C. Hotel Recommendations guide. Our short list: for a 5-star experience, we recommend Conrad Hotel or the Jefferson Hotel. AC Hotel or the Marriott NoMa Capitol Hill Hotel for a semi mid-range option. citizenM, Hotel Hive, or the Phoenix Hotel for the budget conscious. If you’re looking for a home away from home accommodation complete with the amenities of a home such as a kitchen, we recommend the Hyatt House.
Things To Do
On arrival day, we always recommend taking it easy, especially if you’re travelling with kids. Depending on where you’re staying, we suggest exploring your area by strolling around taking note of places to eat or other things that might be of interest.
NATIONAL MALL MAP
Map Source: https://www.nps.gov/state/dc/upload/nps-map-washington-dc.pdf. Click to zoom.
DAY 11
Itinerary Summary:
State Capitol Tour
National Archive
Boat Cruise on a Potomac River
*This is a whole day tour with tickets to the National Archive, reserved Entry to the State Capitol, and a boat cruise on the Potomac river.
Option 2 – On your own
US State Capitol Building – guided 3 hours (can be longer if you decide to visit the House or Senate Gallery.
National Archive
Walk around the National Mall
Go to the Wharf and take a boat cruise on your own on the Potomac River
DESCRIPTION OF THE STOPS
The U.S. Capitol Building
Visiting the US Capitol is a must, especially for those who are interested in understanding the essence of American democracy. You can spend at least 3 hours here or longer. I ended up spending most of the day here because I opted to visit both the House Gallery and Senate Gallery.
The US Capitol is open on a limited basis and you can easily schedule your guided tour, up to one month in advance, through this link. If you are a US resident, you can also visit the Senate and House Galleries through your state’s Senator and/or Representative (you have to physically go to their office because they want the possibility to meet you, but most of the time, it is just the receptionist greeting you and giving you the passes to the galleries). Visiting the Senate and House Galleries during sessions is a great way to learn how your Senators and Representatives work. Admission is free.
What you do next depends on how much you decided to spend at the US Capitol.
National Archive
701 Constitution Ave. NW
Learn about the story of our nation and government through documents and records. The Declaration of Independence, the Constitution of the United States, and the Bill of Rights can be seen here. Admission is free. They recommend reserving in advance between March and Labor Day to avoid long lines. Tickets are available 90 days in advance.
Boat Cruise on the Potomac River
If you decide to go on your own, the Potomac Taxi has a narrated tour through an audio guide to Georgetown from the Wharf. The Georgetown route will pass by famous monuments along the Potomac. For schedule and more information, go here.
The Wharf, located in the SW area of D.C., is a fun energetic place especially during the evenings and happy hours, with shops and eating options. We have recommended 3 hotels at the Wharf in our Hotels section.
DAY 12
Itinerary Summary:
Guided Tour of the Holocaust Museum
Washington Monument
Walk to White House and take a view
2 hours Georgetown Tour, 4:30pm – 6:30
Dinner at Georgetown or take the boat from Georgetown to the Wharf for dinner there.
DESCRIPTION OF THE STOPS
Holocaust Museum
When we visited the Holocaust Museum, we did not take a guided tour, but I wished I had. A guided tour always deepens my understanding of any sights we see. Even without a tour guide, I found this museum very powerful. We (re)learned about Hitler’s rise to power and the increasing tide of antisemitism. There were powerful exhibits - one that struck me is the plaster model of the Auschwitz concentration camp where it depicted the hundreds of Jews going down below the ground to undress, then moved into another chamber where they were gassed and killed. But not until the exhibits of old shoes worn by these victims, piled up together, now all gray in color from the passing of time did I allow myself to cry – I couldn’t help it anymore. Those shoes looked like old bodies piled up callously just like the victims.
Confronting the horrors of genocide and antisemitism can’t be described as “enjoyable”, but let your heart be touched and spoken to by this moving exhibit to such a horrific and diabolical event in our history.
Washington Monument
The Washington Monument is near the Holocaust Museum (it’s also next to the National Museum of African American History and Culture).
There are several ways to secure a time-stamped tickets to the Monument.
Same day tickets to the Washington Monument are distributed daily at 8:45am for a timed-entry ticket on a first come, first-served basis – we suggest getting there early as line forms quickly before it opens. One person, age 16 years old or older, can obtain up to 6 tickets.
You can order tickets online up to 30 days in advance. You can book here or by calling 877-444-6777. Though admission is free, online reservations will incur a non-refundable $1 fee for each ticket.
A limited number of tickets are available at 10am for the next day. You can book here or by calling 877-444-6777. Though admission is free, online reservations will incur a non-refundable $1 fee for each ticket.
Walk to the White House and View from the South Lawn
This itinerary only considers a pass by of the White House and viewing it from the South lawn. If you’re planning to tour the White House, the tour times are only from 9:30am to 12:30 pm and only from Tuesday through Saturday, so it might require you rearranging the itinerary depending on when your tour time begins.
How to Visit the White House.
You can visit the White House by contacting your US Representative. Contact them early as tickets sell out fast and the waitlist can also be full. If you’re unable to visit the White House, you can still visit the White House Visitor Center located down the street which has exhibits on the history of the White House and historical artifacts from the building.
Tour requests must be made no later than 21 days prior to your requested visit date and no more than 90 days in advance. No reservations will be considered outside of the 21 – 90 days window.
Tours are available Tuesday through Saturday except on any Federal holidays. So, there are no tours on Sundays and Mondays.
Tours start can be any time from 9:30am to 12:30pm. Time will be assigned to you when your tour is confirmed.
If you are a tourist from another country and not a resident of the United States, you musth contact your embassy in Washington D.C. for the tickets. For a list of Embassies in Washington D.C., go here.
Georgetown
The Northwest area of Washington D.C. is where the illustrious neighborhood of Georgetown resides, with its cobblestone streets, historic row houses, and vibrant shopping scene. You will find a lot of boutique shops and eateries along Georgetown’s M Street NW. Start or end at the Four Season’s Hotel in Georgetown and end or start at Wisconsin Ave NW.
We suggest taking a 2-hour tour.
End your day by having dinner here in Georgetown.
DAY 13
Itinerary Summary
Arlington Cemetery Tour (3 – 4 hours), start early at 8am
National Museum of African American History and Culture. Reserve a time-stamped pass for 2pm.
Early Dinner
Washington D.C. Monuments by Moonlight tour by Trolley or visit the Monuments on your own by taking the DC Circulator to each stop. The DC Circulator is free.
DESCRIPTION OF THE STOPS
Arlington Cemetery Tour
The only authorized interpretive bus tour for the cemetery is Arlington Cemetery Tour. It’s a narrated hop-on hop-off tour that makes stops at: President John F. Kennedy gravesite, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and Arlington House, and U.S. Marine Corps Memorial. The stops tend to change depending on construction and other concerns. There are 6 stops during weekdays and 9 stops during weekends. So, make sure to check before you book. The tram departs every 30 minutes from 8:30 am to 4:00 pm. Here are the details:
Tickets may be purchased 3 ways:
Inside the Welcome Center
Outside where the tram is in a marked podium
Or online.
The tram departs every 30 minutes from 8:30 am to 4:00 pm.
There are 6 stops during weekdays and 9 stops during weekends but may change due to construction or other concerns.
Valid ID will be checked for each participant, so make sure to provide a State or Government identification (passport, license). For kids 16 and 17 years of age, a student ID will be accepted. All foreigners must bring a Passport, no other identification will be accepted for foreigners.
National Museum of African American History and Culture
In 2003, President Bush signed the legislation to establish the National Museum of African American History and Culture, and it finally opened its doors in 2016. The museum houses artifacts and other media that reflects the story of the African American culture and transformations, from slavery to current times. Admission is free, but reservation is required.
I wished I had taken a tour of this museum as it relates to the history of slaves all the way to civil rights, but I really couldn’t find one. Having been to and incredibly moved by the National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorrain Motel in Memphis, Tennessee (I still end up crying every time I relate what I felt and witnessed in this museum), this museum was just meh for me. It was super crowded when we went, and it was up to you to read every installation to get a sense of the whole picture or you’re getting bits and pieces of history. It’s good to visit as every person takes away something different from their personal experience, but having something else to compare it to, it didn’t quite do it for me. Still, if you’ve never been to any museums that have delved deeply into the history of the African American experience starting with slavery, this is definitely worth a visit! I especially enjoyed the 4th floor, the Culture Galleries, showcasing how the African American culture shaped their music and arts. They have different exhibits depending on when you go, so make sure to check that out.
Washington D.C. Monuments Moonlight tour by Trolley
If you haven’t had a chance to visit all the monuments – this is a great way to do them all at once. I found this enjoyable because I’m not sure I would have seen FDR’s and MLK’s memorials, for example, if it hadn’t been for this tour. I also enjoyed the narrated tour because I learn so much from it. So, if you’re a bit of a history buff and want to learn more about the memorials, we highly recommend taking a tour in the evening as, perhaps, your last hurrah in the D.C.!
DAY 14
We hope you enjoyed your multi-city trip to Boston – New York – and Washington D.C. On this last day, it’s time to pack, check-out of your hotel, and catch your flight.
Happy Travels!
Zellie, your forever a traveler.
