1.Dine like a Bedouin in the backyard tent atCompass Rose ; lavish pillows and more plates of internationally - urge street food than anyone could ever finish .
2.Snag a qualification inRose ’s Luxury’sexclusive enclosed ceiling garden , where syndicate - style platter by Chef Aaron Silverman will keep all inter - crew arguing to a minimum .
3.Step 1 : Get a bushel of crabs atMaine Avenue Fish Market . Step 2 : Take those crabs a brusk distance to the bank of the Washington Channel . Step 3 : Sit down , get to crackin ’ , get real mussy , and feast .
Julie Clopper/Shutterstock
4.Or , haveCappy ’s Crabsdo all the oeuvre for you . The new tenant of the outer space that used to house Crane & Turtle , Cappy ’s is as close as you ’ll get to an veritable Maryland crab hutch . A dozen hard scale and a bucket of something to go with it sets everything right .
5.Spread out in the back terrace area ofIron Gate , one of DC ’s most gorgeous restaurants . Summer night , red-hot as they may be , are always right when you ’re smother by crawling ivy and lanterns .
6.Try tangible - deal Northeastern Thai intellectual nourishment atLittle Serow . for sure , you ’ll have to get in line at 4:30 pm to make that first seating , but it ’s summer … do n’t dissemble like you were n’t all ducking out early on from body of work anyway .
Alamy
7.Wander aroundUnion Market , eating everything in sight . A Lox’d and Loaded Bloody Mary crowned with a newly - baked bagel and fume Salmon River from Buffalo & Bergen ? Sure . Empanadas , brisk oysters , a dosa , Korean wetback , and fish and chips ? Yeah , all that , too .
8.Have an indoor campfire session atBonfire . Indulge in a Campfire Skillet ( Hazelnut hot chocolate , marshmallow , and a homemade graham cracker ) or one of their sign made S’mores .
9.Make the trip toEden Centerfor an all - day nosh school term on Banh mi , noodles , rocket salad - fuel Vietnamese coffee , and fry tofu – just to start .
Alamy
10.Once a month , over a dozen solid food trucks congregate at DC ’s Fairgrounds by Nationals Park forTruckeroo . nomadic vendors catapult everything from lobster bun to crêpes to frozen custard .
11.Drinking outside is the summerest thing you could do in summer . Good matter DC is now packed with lieu to do it : make metre forBiergarten Hauson H St. NE;Neal Place Tap and Gardenby Union Market;Canteenin West End;Dachain Shaw;Bardoon Bladensburg Road ; andWunder Gartenin NoMa .
12.Midwesterners can get a taste of home atShaw ’s Ivy & Coney . Even better , the Detroit and Chicago - themed bar now has an heart-to-heart - line back patio area , doubling the blank space of the old bar and get in that treasured , precious sunshine . Just remember : NO KETCHUP ON THE HOT weenie .
Red Derby/Facebook
13.Get to recognize DC well ! First , do a mini crawl of14th St. NW– ca n’t omit spots includeChurchkey , home to one of DC ’s most extensive beer selections;2 Birds , 1 Stone;Left Door ; and theGibson , all of which dish up out incredible cocktails .
14.Next up : a mini crawl of H St. NE . Stops includeBoundary Road;Le Grenier;Copycat Co.(where you ’ll be served by a Barmini alum);Church & Statefor a gloomy , hidden vibe ; andThe Pugfor a no - frills end to the night .
15.Finally , do a mini crawl around Nationals Park after ( or before , no legal opinion ) a Nats plot . get at theBullpen , try beers you ’ve never even heard of atBluejacket , take in a real sports bar experience atThe Big Stick , then end the night chatting up locals atJustin ’s Cafe .
N. Lewis/NPS/Flickr
16.Sip a drink on the Georgetown waterfront , where the views alone are deserving a million horse . The better views are from the bar atFiola Mare , butOrange Anchorwill also get the occupation done .
17.Roll up to Ivy City and tourthe distilleries(New Columbia , One Eight ) and breweries ( Atlas Brew Works , DC Brau ) , then head to lunch atIvy City Smokehousefor some peel and eat up shrimp to help douse up all those free “ taste . ”
18.Snag some drinkable at the recently reopenedColumbia Room . take your own adventure at the gorgeous new iteration of this DC landmark : a reservation - only cocktail taste menu , or carefully crafted punches and bottled cocktail in the outdoor Punch Garden .
Courtesy of Jack Fire
19.Get your kitsch on atArchipelago . Multiple storey house all kinds of outlandish ( in a good means ) tiki taproom decoration . Ease off the somerset - flops , order a drinking that ’s served in a whole pineapple , and enjoy .
20.Know what makes DC ’s gorgeous horizon look even better ? find it from one of the city ’s rooftop bars . expert of the best isPOV , the W Washington Hotel ’s iconic rooftop lounge , but trust us , you ’ve gota LOT of option .
21.Charlottesville , Virginiahas something for everyone . Love vino ? You ’re right in the center of some of Virginia ’s best wineries , with over 30 to choose from in the surrounding area . chronicle buff ? Visit Monticello and tour the historical UVA campus . Feeling touristy ? Walk one of the long pedestrian mall in the country in downtown Charlottesville , pelt with numerous bars , restaurants , shops , and medicine venue .
Getty
22.Maryland ’s Deep Creek Lakeis the spot to go for your water sports fix . Rent a gravy holder ( enceinte for pee skiing and wake embarkment ) or jet ski , or take it up a notch with their legendary lily-white water rapid risky venture .
23.A unforesightful drive from DC and an promiscuous property to spend a weekend , National Harboroffers fresh oyster , gorgeous view of the Potomac River , and , best of all , rides on an enormous ferris bike . Get started with a boat ride , then end up at Bobby McKey ’s Dueling Piano Bar .
24.Less than an hr forth from DC , Annapolisoffers gravy boat for twenty-four hour period , the gravitas of the United States Naval Academy , and good chow . seize a pizza on the deck at Vin909 , then check out some bars around the Main Street traffic circle .
Kevin Harber/Flickr
25.St . Michaels , Marylandboasts a ton of summertime fun like sailing , kayaking , stand - up boat paddle embarkment , shopping , biking and a expectant brewery , Eastern Shore Brewing – which host live music every Saturday afternoon .
26.Turn a beach Clarence Shepard Day Jr. into a weekend trip at theDelaware beaches . You have your pick of Dewey , Bethany or Rehoboth beach , and each has its own vibration , whether it ’s party like it ’s 1999 , find a stead to chill with friends , or something in between .
27.Pack a tent and some tramp boots , and get quick for awaterfall weekend . Great Falls happens to be a big starting , but do n’t sleep on Gunpowder Falls State Park or Dark Hollow Falls and South River Falls , both conveniently place in Shenandoah National Park . We would say no cheeseparing dipping , but really , no legal opinion .
28.HitHarper ’s Ferry , West Virginiato float down a lazy river with a tank full of something on a hot solar day . Take it a step further by fall in one of the tour of duty that paddle to the award - winning Bloomery Plantation Distillery .
29.Spend a weekend inBaltimore , DC ’s northern neighbour . Our selection ? deglutition and a bite at Inner Harbor , an Orioles plot , and wander the soon - to - be - complete R.House food for thought market .
30.Get yourselves toStaunton , Virginia . Chef Ian Boden ’s restaurant , The Shack , is worth a trip on its own , but throw in a $ 10 turn of “ foot golf ” ( it ’s precisely what it sound like ) and your weekend is made .
Because summertime without a little warmth would be moderately boring . summate even more spice to your plan by escaping withJack Fire , a red - hot blend of cinnamon liqueur and Jack Daniel ’s Tennessee Whiskey .
31.You ca n’t spend a summertime in DC without hit up at least oneWashington Nationals plot . Sunshine , a segmentation leader , and , last but not least , a handy guide to pre and post - gaming around the approximate range .
32.The National Mall is legit unbelievable . Start at the U.S. Capitol , hit the American and Natural History Museums , take in the Washington , World War II , and Lincoln Monuments , then swan over to the Tidal Basin and take out off the FDR , MLK , and Jefferson Monument trifecta .
33.Bored with your distinctive Washington 9 to 5 ? Consider a new calling route and take sometrapeze lessons ! $ 58 gets you a two - hour flying session .
34.DC ’s football teamhas a long and storied story . Check out their first home preseason plot to see if Washington can keep the momentum going from last year . beginning against the New York Jets is at 7:30 pm at FedEx Field .
35.Did we note that summertime in DC is hot ? The perfect remedy is , of class , stagnate by the pond . Top picks are the newly revivify Liaison Capitol Hill or the Capitol Skyline Pool .
36.For outdoor peach with a side of tramp , check out theBilly Goat Trail . The climb itself is not to a fault strenuous , and you ’re reward with some of the upright nature sight in and around DC .
37.Round up a gang of thrill seekers and make your way toKing ’s Dominion . A morning driveway south of DC , it ’s home to the Intimidator 305 , one of the scariest roller coaster in America . No big mickle .
38.Rock Creek Parkis vast , gorgeous , and right here . When you ’re done geeking out over the park ’s 32 hike trail , there ’s also tennis , golf , aquatic activity , and horseback equitation .
39.Gokayaking or tolerate - up paddle boarding on the Anacostia Riverand say hi to some native wildlife like beaver , eagles , 188 dissimilar species of birds , and nearly 50 coinage of fish .
40.Take asunset party cruiseon the Potomac River . Boomerang Boat Tours offer party boats with fully stocked bars . Sip a cocktail while watching the Dominicus jell over the monument .
42.You’ve in all likelihood been to Union Market before . BUT , did you know thatUnion Market host take - in movieson its outside paries ? CatchRatatouilleon August 5th orGreaseon September 2nd .
43.Go area for a solar day at theLoudon County Fairin Leesburg , Virginia . Where else can you eat up all kinds of gross / scrumptious fried foods , dearie a infant calfskin , enter in a livestock auction , check a hay Basel pass ( that ’s a real thing ) , and see a PBR event ? ( That ’s Professional Bull Riding , for you squares . )
44.Take the metro south and wander around beautifulOld Town Alexandria . restaurant , bars , and shop run along both incline of King St. , which is pretty coolheaded considering it was originally position out in 1749 .
45.The National Zoo’sBrew at the Zoofeatures beers from more than 70 craft brewery , springy entertainment by local band The Reagan Years , lawn games , and animal presentation . Plus , proceeds from the effect do good the Smithsonian ’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute in its delegacy to save metal money .
46.Go listen to a legend whenPaul McCartney come to the Verizon Centerin DC . Will tickets be cheap ? Nope . Will it be an incredible experience ? Yup .
47.Visitthe ICEBERGS exhibitin the Great Hall of the National Building Museum . First it was an tremendous formal pit ; now it ’s a winter wonderland , with icebergs built from reclaimable construction stuff .
48.See a show at Wolf Trap– certain , it ’s not as well have it away as , say , the 9:30 Club , but its condition as the first national park for the perform arts and its seating room capacity of 7,000 make it a full of life part of the DC euphony fit .
49.Laugh your piece of tail off atDC Improv . The open mic nights are epic ( sometimes great , sometimes … not so great ) , but August and September are packed with big - name headliner .
50.Take a date toJazz in the Garden , which claim place in the Sculpture Garden on the grounds of the National Gallery of Art every Friday eventide this summer from 5:30pm - 8:30pm .
