DC is back open and better than ever. There are plenty of outdoor spaces keep you COVID safe, and of course the Smithsonian museums are all free. Summer is also the value season, during which hotel rates are reasonable. Plus, it is arguably one of the Gayest cities in America.
You can walk practically everywhere. And yes, you will run into famous folks. I had the pleasure of meeting White House Deputy Press Secretary (now Press Secretary) Kareen Jean-Pierre, a Haitian immigrant raised in New York City, at the Victory Fund Brunch at the Grand Hyatt, as well as the attorney general of Massachusetts, Maura Healy, who is running for governor there. The Equality PAC also had a fundraiser at the Number 9 bar, where I ran into my friend, Arizona state Rep. Daniel Hernandez, who is running for Congress in the 6th District (Tucson). Long story short, expect to run into someone famous in DC.
What to do
Don't miss the National Portrait Gallery at the Smithsonian American Art Museum (Metro: Gallery Place/Chinatown) for its orchid display in the atrium, the portraits of every US president, and the new Watergate display. The nearby National Building Museum is another must. Check both websites to see if they require (free) tickets in advance and their hours of operation.
The US Botanic Garden on the grounds of the Capitol features orchids and a tropical garden, as well as an outdoor garden that showcases mid-Atlantic native plants. The climate is so mild in DC that it even has a palmetto.
Walking around the Dupont Circle, Thomas Circle, and Logan Circle neighborhoods is fun. Meet up with the walkers at DC Frontrunners at 23rd St. at P St. NW (near Dupont Circle) Saturdays at 9:30 a.m. (or run with them at 10 a.m.). They meet next to a statute honoring Taras Shevchenko, a Ukrainian poet. I walked with them around Georgetown and then down along the Potomac River. Usually, they walk or run up Rock Creek Park, which runs down to the zoo. This friendly group is a great way to meet locals. DC folks are an interesting and highly educated bunch: lots of politicians, political types, etc. As it is also a very transient city, it is easy to meet people from all over.
Plus, don't miss the Sunday farmers' market in Dupont Circle, where you can grab locally grown produce or sample the local coffee at Zeke's.
I snagged tickets to the spring White House Garden Tour as well. You can check with your congressperson or senator to see about White House tours, or simply walk around the National Mall and to the monuments on your own.
Nightlife
The Gay scene is no longer in one neighborhood as in days past (when it was in Dupont Circle then 17th St. NW). The new Kiki Bar at 919 U St. in the Shaw neighborhood has an upstairs dance floor. It's the place for Sunday afternoon see-and-be-seen and mingling with the Stonewall Kickball crowd. The next-door companion bar, the Dirty Goose, is also a lot of fun, as is Nellie's, the sports bar across the street.
My favorite is the Number 9 on P St. NW (across from Whole Foods), which has something going on every night on its second floor. Around the corner is Trade (on 14th St. NW), which features a large outdoor patio.
The Green Lantern (1335 Green Ct. NW) is another downtown bar that features a fun happy hour and other events. The As You Are bar on Capitol Hill (500 8th St. SE) is the newest addition to the scene.
Where to eat
DC has a great restaurant scene, with innovative dishes featuring chefs from all over. You cannot beat Sweetgreen, the fast-casual salad concept restaurant chain (there's one on P St. NW) started in DC by two guys sick of dorm food at a local college; it's now going national. Try the fish taco salad with steelhead salmon.
Zaytinya (701 9th St. NW) is my favorite for Mediterranean food. The small dishes let you sample a lot. Rasika (633 D St. NW) is a must for the best Indian food in the US which my friend tells me is showcasing Indian street food.
The Red Bear Brewery in the NoMa neighborhood (209 M St. NW) has great IPAs. (The next-door REI Co-op is also a shopping experience in a historic recycled building that was once a music hall.)
Try the new Planta vegetarian restaurant in nearby Bethesda (4910 Elm St.). You can even bike up from DC.
Annie's Paramount Steakhouse (1609 17th St. NW) is a long-time staple for the LGBTQ+ crowd and great for people-watching or Sunday brunching. It has outdoor seating as well.
Where to stay
I always stay at the Comfort Inn Downtown DC/Convention Center at 1201 13th St. NW. It's close to the stores, restaurants, and shopping on 14th St. NW and an easy walk or Metro ride to museums and other attractions. Other great options I have stayed at include the Washington Plaza Hotel, the Tabard Inn, and the Beacon House.
Getting there and getting around
I took American Airlines nonstop to convenient Reagan National Airport (aka DCA). It took just 35 minutes to get from the airport to the Comfort Inn (take the subway to the Convention Center/Mt. Vernon stop, from which it is just a short walk west).
Amtrak goes to the magnificent Union Station; the Acela express train from New York City will get you there in under three hours. The MARC commuter rail can take you from BWI (Baltimore) airport and other destinations.
DC's Metro subway system is great. The Metro Bus and the Circulator take you where the subway does not.
Under no circumstances rent a car. Parking is in short supply, and the DC drivers have one hand on the horn at all times. You can walk everywhere or hop on the Metro.
Helpful hints
The Washington Blade (in print and online at https://www.washingtonblade.com/) comes out every Friday. Metro Weekly is your other source for LGBTQ information. Visit DC has the local happenings at washington.org, the city's official tourism site.
You will run out of time before you run out of things to do in this amazing city. Consider a trip to the DMV today (DC-speak for DC, Maryland and Virginia).
Special thanks to Visit DC for their travel tips and to friends at the Comfort Inn Downtown DC/Convention Center.
Bill Malcolm is a syndicated LGBTQ travel writer based in Indianapolis. His column appears or has appeared in publications and on websites around the country. He writes as a hobby at no charge to publications to support LGBTQ journalism.