New exhibits at galleries in Washington, DC make it just right for a weekend visit. And most of the museums are free. Upcoming events include the Cherry Blossom Festival, World Pride, the May open-house tours of the embassies, and a new Gay bar (the DC Eagle) on top of the five that have opened in the last two years. Indeed, the district now has over 10 bars counting.

What to do

Walk or run with the Frontrunners in Rock Creek Park (https://dcfrontrunners.org).

GoGayDC (https://www.meetup.com/gogaydc/events) has Friday night happy hours where you can meet the locals; the location varies. I went to the one at the bar at the Hotel Zena in Thomas Circle.

Walk around the great neighborhoods. I like the Dupont Circle area, although NoMa is a lot of fun as well.

Take in an exhibit at the many free museums. Don't miss the Frank Lloyd Wright and Brutalist architecture exhibits at the National Building Museum (https://nbm.org). The National Portrait Gallery (https://www.si.edu/museums/portrait-gallery) is a must, as is the DC History Center (https://dchistory.org/about/carnegielibrary). All are free.

The Phillips Collection (https://www.phillipscollection.org) in Dupont Circle (1600 21st NW) is not free, but its new "Timeless Mucha: the Magic of Line" exhibit is great.

Where to eat and drink

Le Pain Quotidien in Dupont Circle (2000 P St. NW) has great French food and is your go-to fast casual or sit-down brunch spot.

Sweetgreen (various locations, including 1461 P St. NW) is my favorite. I like the steak salad.

I like Trade (1410 14th St NW), a Gay bar with a happy hour that runs until 9 p.m. There are events every night and a great outdoor patio. Number 9 nearby is also fun (1435 P St. NW).

Try the garlic shrimp at Jaleo (480 Seventh St. NW, across from the Kimpton Monaco). It's the best Spanish food in town.

Enjoy a drink at the Denson Liquor Bar (600 F St. NW).

Pick up some great food to go or some Route 11 Virginia potato chips at Streets Market (1221 Mass. Ave.). The Wawa nearby on Thomas Circle is open 24 hours and has great salads.

Where to stay

I always stay at the Comfort Inn (1201 13th St NW). It's walkable to all the bars, museums, and the great Logan Circle/14th Street shops and restaurants.

I also like the Washington Plaza nearby (10 Thomas Cir NW). The Hotel Zena (1155 14th St. NW) has been rebranded and is also an option. I have stayed at the Kimpton Monaco (700 F St. NW) as well, although the Penn Quarter neighborhood is boring.

Also beware of resort fees (aka amenity fees and destination fees). I boycott hotels that charge them as they are a total ripoff.

New stuff

The Cherry Blossom Festival runs in March and April. Look for peak blooms this year in late March.

World Pride is coming to town in May and June. Details at https://worldpridedc.org.

Some of the must-see museums and new exhibits that Visit DC recommends include the following:

Essex Hemphill: Take Care of Your Blessings (The Phillips Collection): May 17—Aug. 31 (https://www.phillipscollection.org/event/2025-05-17-essex-hemphill-take-care-your-blessings)

Felix Gonzalez-Torres: Always to Return (National Portrait Gallery): Oct. 18, 2024—July 6, 2025 (https://npg.si.edu/exhibition/felix-gonzalez-torres-always-return)

Guerrilla Girls: Making Trouble (National Museum of Women in the Arts): April 12-Sept. 28, 2025 (https://nmwa.org/exhibitions/guerrilla-girls-making-trouble/)

LGBTers in the Federal City (Capital Jewish Museum): Opens May 16 (https://capitaljewishmuseum.org/exhibition/lgbtjews-in-the-federal-city/)

Getting there and getting around

I took American Regional Jet's Republic Airlines nonstop into Washington Reagan and hopped on the Yellow Line metro to get to my hotel (the Comfort Inn, at Mt. Vernon Square/Convention Center). It's cheap and easy to find at DCA, and it only takes 15-20 minutes. I walked everywhere after that.

Other options include IAD (Dulles Airport), about a 40-minute metro ride on the new Silver Line, and BWI (you can take Amtrak or the MARC train down to DC).

Best of all, DC has great Amtrak service, including the Acela express train to NYC.

Under no circumstances arrive by or rent a car. Parking is expensive, the drivers are rude, there are lots of toll roads, and the traffic is terrible.

For more information

The two Gay publications are the DC Blade (print and online) and Metro Weekly (online only).

There's always something new in DC. And this visit was no exception!

Special thanks to Destination DC for the update.

Bill Malcolm is a syndicated LGBTQ travel columnist who resides in Indianapolis.