Washington DC is mostly about the National Mall, stunning buildings like the Capital and of course the White House. But also the many free Smithsonian museums in the city and the many green parks close to the Capital. My tip is to discover the many lovely neighborhoods of Washington DC like; Georgetown, Alexandria, The Wharf and National Harbor. All located at the Potomac river and easy to travel by water taxi.
Georgetown; European look and feel
Georgetown is one of the nicest and historical neighborhoods in Washington D.C. It is known for the architecture, colored traditional, historical bricks and cobblestone streets. The neighborhood is green and colorful and feels European to me. The vibe is really good with nice, trendy, Michelin-approved restaurants and boutique style shops. It is so different and smaller scale compared to the National Mall, almost a small village.
Start the day with a nice coffee and cupcake at Baked & Wired and then walk through the neighborhood. Here you can shop very nicely and find many boutiques and original stores. But also the more famous brands have a branch here like Sephora. I’m really a fan of Aerie’s (American Eagle), a sporty lifestyle brand. In the movie The Exorcist, a number of locations in the Georgetown neighborhood are used, such as the staircase on Prospect Street. The prestige Georgetown University is also located in this neighborhood. This is very nice to stroll and rest a bit in the green area after some shopping.
We cycled all the way from Bethesda to Georgetown, a 17 km long but slowly downward sloping stunning ride next to the Potomac. Back with the metro, where you can take your bike onboard for free!
In Washington D.C. there are also many larger stores on the shopping streets like Macy’s and of course you can also go to, for example, the Pentagon City Shopping Mall to stock up or you can go to one of the outlets, which are more outside the city. We went to Clarksburg Premium Outlets, a huge outlet with a lot of high-end shops.
For me the outlets felt like real stores, instead of outlet stores: all clean and organized!
The Wharf: Trendy Hotspot
The Wharf is the harbor and trendy location in Washington D.C. right on the water with top notch hotels, restaurants and beer and wine bars. The breeze over the Potomac makes it very comforting to sit here at the waterfront. You can also get a fried fish at the fishing pier and watching the colorful crabs at the Municipal Fish Market at The Wharf. Gordon Ramsay has a Fish and Chips restaurant here as well. We had a drink and some appetizers on the terrace of The Grill.
Check out the real Ben and Jerry’s Ice cream shop to try the most amazing named ice-creams!
The area is also popular among runners. The boulevard is new and well maintained and you can take the ferry to Georgetown or Alexandria.
In the hot summers and spring you can also kayak, canoe and SUP on the Potomac, I’ve seen several rental locations. And then bike, walk or hike in one of the many parks, such as Great Falls and/or Shenandoah National Park. And definitely soak up culture in one of the many free museums; so plenty to do and certainly varied!
Did you spot the presidential helicopter? They use the Potomac river as a kind of highway.
Lovely Old Town Alexandria, Virginia
What a great vibe here in Alexandria!! Loved the street with terrasses and the charming cobblestone streets of Old Town. The 18th and 19th-century buildings are well-preserved and house a lot of nice boutiques and restaurants. King Street is the main street straight from the harbor to the center of the Old Town. Perfect for shopping some souvenirs and have a great seafood meal.
Relax along the picturesque Alexandria waterfront, where you can enjoy views of the Potomac River and watch boats sail by. It’s a perfect spot for a leisurely walk or a picnic and pick up some breeze from the river.
Modern National Harbor, Maryland
We took the water taxi from The Wharf via Old Town Alexandria to the National Harbor for the most scenic experience. When you arrive with the boat you already see the 180-foot Capital wheel in the harbor. The National Harbor is different and more modern than Alexandria. Nice to see the difference in type of restaurants and surroundings. There is a giant sculpture (The Awakening) at the entrance of the harbor and you can visit the Tanger outlet or MGM entertainment nearby.
We had a late lunch at Bond 45, with a lovely view over the Potomac River.
Must Do: Take the Water Taxi!
For a scenic and unique way to reach all the above-mentioned locations: Georgetown, The Wharf, Alexandria and National Harbor, consider taking the water taxi operated by the City Cruises. Departing from The Wharf in Washington, D.C., this option not only provides transportation but also offers stunning views of the Potomac River and iconic D.C. landmarks along the way.
We bought a day pass of the water taxi for 36 USD per person. Check here the site to buy the tickets and schedule of the boat.
From The Wharf to Old Town Alexandria takes about 30 minutes and the same time from Alexandria to National Harbor. We decided to travel directly the farthest location National Harbor and then head back.
Keep in mind the schedule before you departure the boat in order not to wait or miss the boat you like!
The water taxi operates seasonally, usually from March through December, with regular schedule updates available on their website. It’s advisable to book tickets in advance, especially during peak tourist seasons and weekends, to ensure availability. Traveling by water taxi is very convenient and is also very enjoyable. Feels like you booked a separate tour but do it all by yourselves!
My Takeaways of the Neighborhoods of Washington DC
The nice thing about Washington D.C. is the variety. Downtown with the National Mall with its iconic stately buildings with the many museums to the more cozy, colorful and village-like neighborhood Georgetown and Alexandria. Then it’s cozy sitting by the water of the Potomac at The Wharf or Georgetown Waterfront or even all the way to the National Harbor.
