In a day and half of my stay in Washington DC I saw so many historic and cultural artifacts in museums that it’s hard to compute the shear vastness of it.
The US does most things big and brash, and in the capital, museums are no different – but are delightfully free and navigable by foot, housed in architecturally impressive buildings.
And on foot, you’ll see the likes of the Capitol Building, White House and Washington Monument all baked in, so your sightseeing bucket list can receive a tick every 10 minutes.
It was recently claimed UK travellers to the US was on the wane – but new reports now suggest it is strong as ever.
Part of that is likely to be down to a strengthened pound against the dollar, making it a good – and crucially, cheaper – time to visit.
But I wouldn’t necessarily have Washington down as a must see US spot for Britons, like London is for Americans.
I think we’re more likely to head to New York, Florida, Boston, Las Vegas or Los Angeles, than America’s capital.
Hello, Mr President: The first thing I did in DC? Headed to the White House of course to (allegedly) see the President land and (probably) greet my arrival
So on this trip, I soaked in as much as I could in DC in a couple of days with a trip to neighbouring Maryland and Virginia bolted on, the so-called Capital Region which turned out to be the perfect peaceful yang to the hectic Washington ying.
From visiting George Washington’s tomb, to seeing the very hazmat suit that Walter White wore in hit TV show Breaking Bad; being face-to-face with $24million of freshly printed dollars to being overwhelmed by a giant statue of a pensive Abraham Lincoln, it was a whistle stop tour of US history and popular culture that will live long in the memory…
Washington DC: Adult Disneyland of free museums
As soon as I checked into the Willard InterContinental hotel in Washington, I bolted out the door like a whippet for a five-minute walk to the The White House, channeling my inner Francis Underwood.
Perhaps the building I have seen most in my life without visiting, I managed to time it just as the US President was landing in his green Air Force One chopper (well, that’s what a local told me anyway – it was nice to be personally welcomed).
The hotel is the perfect spot for a whistle-stop Washington tour – central and steeped in history, with plenty of past Presidents having visited. If you’re going to visit DC, you may as well do it properly.
I crammed in so much in Washington it’s hard to crunch down into one travel review – although, most of it can be done on foot, where I quite enjoyed Cybertruck spotting (the novelty hasn’t worn off yet, four in total).
I love London, but Washington gives it a run for its money in the free museum stakes – and is far quieter and easier to navigate.
If you love your history and impressive museums, I cannot recommend it enough. I was simply blown away.
This leg of the trip was broken down in two parts – firstly, to get a lay of the land, a bus tour to soak in all of the sights and sounds.
I did this at dusk with USA Guided Tours, and the guide had the perfect blend of humour with facts that will live long in the brain.
The trip took us to the Lincoln, Jefferson, MLK, Vietnam and World War II Memorials, as well as a better look at the White House and Capitol Building. Highly recommended.
The second part was just how many museums you can cram in by foot. In 36 hours I managed to visit six – and there were still plenty of more I could have done.
It is truly the Disneyland of Museums – but unlike Disney, no huge prices to get in or lengthy queues.
This included the National Museum of the American Indian; National Museum of African American History and Culture; National Museum of American History; the National Archives; National Portrait Museum and I even managed a sneaky trip to the Bureau of Engraving and Printing.
A brief note on each. The American Indian museum was a history lesson of how the US came about and filled a huge knowledge gap for me on how a huge land grab transpired. Hat tip here for the excellent Pocahontas exhibition.
The African American museum had an excellent Emmett Till Memorial and again helped fill some of my knowledge gap around this part of history. Also, as a huge sports buff, I loved seeing Mohammed Ali’s boxing gloves and Shaquille O’Neal’s gigantic Reebok ‘Shaq Attack’ trainers.
I could have easily spent two whole days perusing the American History museum, home to the Star-Spangled Banner – the original flag that inspired the national anthem.
In a darkened room with no photography allowed, it has an unmatched aura.
The design of this museum is brilliant. It takes you from the bottom floor on the origins of US history from the industrial revolution to the car, then up to American democracy and then to my favourite part: Entertainment Nation.
Here was a smorgasbord of the impact the US has had on the world of film, music, TV and sports. Literally, America’s history, from bottom to top.
Prince to Breaking Bad: The National Museum of American History has the Star Spangled Banner… plus Prince’s yellow cloud guitar and Walter White’s hazmat suit
The Walter White hazmat suit from TV show Breaking Bad was there in the flesh, as was the original Dana Scully FBI pass (I’m currently rewatching X-Files from the start) and Prince’s yellow cloud guitar from 1983.
Honestly, all goosebump inducing – I’d fail to see how anyone couldn’t find at least one exhibit of interest here.
The National Archives is a must to see the original Declaration of Independence, Constitution and Bill of Rights – and next year could be a good one to visit.
That’s because 2026 marks 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776.
Meanwhile the National Portrait Museum was marvellous to get a run down of every single US President in running order, and the portrait they had commissioned.
Lastly, no visit could be complete by me without visiting the Bureau of Engraving and Printing – here’s where it prints half of the US bank notes for the entire country, near the centre of Washington.
Photos weren’t allowed at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing – here is just a measly $1m in an alarmed case
While there, I saw the notes being printed and from the viewing gallery, a bale of $100 bills with a note on top saying ‘$24million’.
Listen, I love a bank notes and coins and was in my element – I even bought a fresh sheet of $2 bills to take home, and $150 worth of shredded notes.
There are also some excellent spots to eat – Succotash Prime and the Old Ebbitt Grill were exquisite, the latter being steeped in history.
A great spot for a first night meal to feel grandiose and dine like a President (you can pick which one you want to be).
Washington was one of those spots where I didn’t have any huge expectations, but I came away wanting to go back with my children… there is just so much to do.
I even saved the National Air and Space Museum on purpose, because I know I’ll be back with the kids… and that will be our first port of call.
Washington is steeped in history – Abraham Lincoln was assassinated at a theatre a few blocks away from the hotel – and being surrounded by monuments, events, artifacts that have shaped the modern world, while not ancient as say seeing the Colosseum in Rome or Pantheon in Athens, is still awe-inspiring, nonetheless.
If you’re a history buff, I’d highly recommend at least four days in DC to soak it all in – and come away completely awash with every single piece of American history you’ll ever need to glean.
Kent Narrows: A beautiful meal overlooking Prospect Bay was a great spot for bird-watching and general tranquility
Jack…pot: Local historian Jack Broderick brought the tales of Kent Island to life – here he is proudly displaying an older version of the Star Spangled Banner
Maryland’s crabbing coastal charm
Question: What is the perfect nearby getaway after miles and miles of Washington pavement pounded by foot, with helicopters buzzing around and cars beeping their horns, and exercising your brain reading hundreds of placards in museums…?
Answer: Maryland.
An hour drive east and I was transported into a peaceful, tranquil world where I could properly process all the amazing sights I had mopped-up in the capital.
Kent Island Resort is where I spent three days of blissful relaxation. The island itself is accessible by one of the longest bridges in the world, stretching over Chesapeake Bay.
There has been an English settlement on Kent Island since 1631 and was named by settler William Claiborne after his native county.
The rural charm of this area could mean you were in the English countryside, and the small hamlets of Stevensville and Queenstown are worth a visit for their quaint charm – and I found from experience, local shopkeepers and cafe owners like hearing the English accent.
It hasn’t lost its charm in this neck of the woods.
Jack Broderick, President of the Kent Island Heritage Society, was our guide and whenever you visit these places, it’s always good to get the decades of tales straight from the horse’s mouth.
A boat trip through the Kent Narrows is also recommended for birdwatching and to get to grips with Chesapeake Bay – where Captain John Smith explored in 1608 and 1609 to map the region, commissioned by The Virginia Company of London.
Maryland is famous for crab and oysters – and in my best Forrest Gump voice, we visited The Jetty in Kent Narrows where we devoured crab pizza, crab cakes, crab soup, cream of crab soup and soft crab BLTs. Crab until your heart is content.
Also, Libbeys overlooking the bridge is another great seafood spot – indeed, I enjoyed it so much that I came home with a t-shirt from the restaurant, a surefire sign I’ve fallen in love.
While DC was great for seeing the history locked away in exhibitions, Maryland was great for seeing it in the flesh – including Queen Anne’s County Court House, erected on a plantation known as ‘Chesterfield,’ the ancestral home of Judge Joseph Hopper Nicholson.
He was the man who suggested the music for the Star-Spangled Banner – Francis Scott Key was his brother-in-law.
Great Falls: Before visiting Mount Vernon, the Great Falls is worth a stop to stretch your legs – one side of the Potomac River is Maryland, the other Virginia
Washington’s crib: Mount Vernon houses George Washington’s tomb – and is perfect for another afternoon of fun peppered in with history
Virginia’s scenic historic beauty
At first glance in Virginia, I felt like I’d be transported to Beverly Hills. Every few seconds there were gasps from the tour bus, as we admired multi-million dollar homes from afar, surrounded by lush greenery.
On our way to Mount Vernon, we stopped at Great Falls Park. The perfect spot for Instagram-worthy photographs, it is part of the Potomac River that flows through to Washington.
George Washington surveyed the area in the 1750s and recognised the potential of the Potomac River as a transportation route – and later he helped fund canals to help bypass these falls.
And onto Washington. Mount Vernon is America’s most visited historic home which belonged to the first President of the US, located on the banks of the Potomac.
I’ll be totally honest here… I genuinely hadn’t heard of Mount Vernon.
You can immerse yourself here in the restored gardens, working 1700s farm, outbuildings, and stunning mansion.
At the tomb, you can visit the final resting place of George and Martha Washington. Another true piece of American history.
Onwards south and a stop at St.John’s Church in Richmond, Virginia.
This is one of America’s most important historic sites, where – swayed by Patrick Henry’s powerful argument – the delegates made a decision that changed the course of history, lighting the spark of the War for Independence.
Also in Richmond is the Museum of History and Culture, which currently has a ‘Give Me Liberty’ exhibition – the first-of-its-kind exhibit in honor of America’s upcoming 250th anniversary.
Charm: Williamsburg and Jamestown are a time capsule – and a must visit staple of Virginia
Last stop was Williamsburg and Jamestown – the latter a living history museum in Virginia that commemorates the original 1607 Jamestown settlement, the first permanent English colony in North America.
A private walking tour of Williamsburg is a must. It’s like being transported back in time, with horse and cart, and you’ll see the Continental Union Flag flying outside many buildings.
Also known as the Grand Union Flag, it was the first official flag used by the US, and it prominently featured the Union Jack in its top-left corner.
You could easily roam here for the day, soaking in the history, the beautiful old-style buildings and also do some old-fashioned shopping.
Christiana Campbell’s Tavern is a must-visit here. George Washington is said to have frequented it for its exceptional seafood.
I ordered what was said to be a Washington favourite – a cocktail called the Cherry Bounce, with brandy, all spice dram and lime – and soaked in the history once more.
This trip opened my eyes fully to US history – something I may have sneered at a little in the past – and I’d highly recommend retracing the footsteps of English settlers, in Maryland and Virginia for the liveable history, and soak in the wonderful museums in Washington to cement it in.
I genuinely arrived home to give my brain a rest from all of the information I had gathered in the week I was in the US – who knew a trip could be such a brain workout…
