1. The Library of Congress
The Library of Congress is the world's largest library with more than 32 million cataloged books in 470 different languages. The library is intended to be used by high-ranking Congressional employees, but materials can be checked out by the public with special clearance. The building was finished in 1800 and includes what I think is some of the most impressive architecture in DC, including the expansive reading room featured in the film "National Treasure 2."
2. Baked and Wired
Most tourists come to DC in search of the renowned Georgetown Cupcakes attributed to the show "DC Cupcakes." However, true DC residents know that just down the street is the real hidden gem. Baked and Wired is a small cafe with a hippy vibe serving coffee, tea, and cupcakes the size of your head. Popular flavors include "Texas Sheetcake," "Elvis Impersonator," and my favorite "Razmanian Devil."
3. Eastern Market
Located in the heart of the original Capitol Hill neighborhood is Eastern Market, an extensive building filled with incredible food, drinks, crafts and artwork. Weekends tend to be the most popular, with musicians and street vendors also contributing, so I would recommend taking the metro downtown and walking there.
4. Kayaking the Potomac River
During the hot summer days when every paddleboat on the Tidal Basin has been rented, I would recommend driving down to the Canal in Georgetown and renting a kayak or canoe and paddling down the quieter parts of the Potomac River. If you're really motivated you can paddle down towards the monuments, or simply just stick around the Georgetown area.
5. The Exorcist Steps
One of Georgetown's best-kept secrets is the Exorcist Steps featured in the 1973 movie "The Exorcist." Just blocks from Georgetown University in Northwest DC, the steps now serve as a great workout for many DC residents, as well as a tourist attraction for horror movie fanatics.
6. Lincoln's Summer Home
President Lincoln's Summer Home served as a summer getaway for him as well as President's James Buchanan and Rutherford B. Hayes. It is most famous for being the location where Lincoln wrote the first draft of the Emancipation Proclamation. The building, which is located in the Parkview Neighborhood of Northeast DC, was just opened to the public in 2008 and features special exhibits on Civil War soldiers and Lincoln's presidency.
7. Theodore Roosevelt Island
Roosevelt Island is an 88-acre island located in the middle of the Potomac River just west of DC. The island has been inhabited by a variety of groups including Native Americans, Union troops during the Civil War, and a research group testing dynamite away from the city. In 1931, the island was purchased by the Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Association and a memorial was erected in his honor. Today, it is most popular for its hiking trails and views of the river.
8. The National Cathedral
The national cathedral of the Episcopal church is the sixth largest cathedral in the world and the second largest in the United States. Construction on the Neo-gothic structure began in 1903 and was finished in 1990 under President H.W. Bush. Due to the earthquake in 2011, the cathedral is once again under construction but visitors can still tour the interior and view the incredible stained glass pieces.
9. The Renwick Gallery
The gallery is a branch of the Smithsonian American Art Museum with a central focus on American art from the 19th to 21st centuries. Most exhibitions are rotated about every six months to a year. Some of the most popular exhibits from the past year include a rainbow made of 60 miles worth of thread, and an art exhibit made entirely of dead insects.
10. The Lincoln Memorial (at night)
Every tourist knows that the Lincoln Memorial is a must-see, but instead of fighting hundreds of people to see the memorial during the day time I recommend going late at night. Sit on the steps of the memorial and enjoy the view of the Reflection Pool and the Washington Monument without the hustle and bustle of the daytime crowds.
