Exclusive for America's 250th
Follow the story of the American people as memorialized in the nation’s capital.
There’s no better place to celebrate America’s 250th birthday than Washington, DC. In the itinerary below, we present experiences focused on the nation’s founding, construction of government and building of a national identity: the story of the American people.
Whether you plan to visit the nation’s capital in 2025 or 2026, the itinerary below will serve your adventure well. Learn more about how the District plans to honor the semi quincentennial.
Your stay: DC is rich in historic hotels perfectly suited to your itinerary.
Day 1
Morning
Start your voyage where all the action happens. A public tour of the U.S. Capitol is free and open to anyone who makes an advanced reservation, although there are some same-day tickets available by standing in line at the U.S. Capitol Visitors Center (note that lines will be long during spring and summer). We recommend reserving a tour date and time.
Afternoon
Try a recreated Inauguration lunch or simply choose from a wide array of options at the Capitol Restaurant, the perfect way to round out your experience there.
Next up, it’s time to check out the Library of Congress, the largest library in the world that doubles as a museum. The jaw-dropping Gilded Age architecture of the Thomas Jefferson Building is supported by galleries packed with knowledge.
Nearby, you can also peruse the stalls at the iconic, 150-year-old Eastern Market (if you happen to end up there at breakfast time, try the blueberry buckwheat pancakes from Market Lunch).
Evening
You’ve worked up another appetite, so it’s time to embrace the vibrancy of American coastal cuisine to round out the day. California meets New England with a menu that masterfully mixes the sweet and the savory at The Duck & The Peach.
Day 2
Morning
No American history-themed itinerary can leave out the National Archives. The top of your to-do list is to head to the Rotunda for the Charters of Freedom to view the three most important documents in American history: the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights.
Road to Revolution is another must-see; the rotating exhibition series uses National Archives records to document major milestones and provide critical context to our collective understanding of the Revolution.
Afternoon
Round Robin
Lunchtime in Penn Quarter presents a litany of options when it comes to innovative takes on American food. The neighborhood roster includes Succotash Prime, Joe’s Seafood, Prime Steak and Stone Crab and Yard House.
Once you’re fueled up, the National Museum of American History awaits. You can view the original Star-Spangled Banner and dresses worn by First Ladies as well as learn about the nation’s cultural, automotive, culinary, sports and racial history.
Stop in the Willard InterContinental Hotel, one of the city’s most historic locations, for a pre-dinner cocktail at the iconic Round Robin Bar.
Evening
History has been made in DC well beyond the halls of Congress and Smithsonian museums. Old Ebbitt Grill, which has welcomed a long list of famous politicians and celebrities since it opened in 1856, is the oldest tavern in the city but still knows how to deliver an incredibly satisfying meal. Among the décor, be on the lookout for a carved bear once owned by Alexander Hamilton and animal heads hunted by Theodore Roosevelt.
Finish the day by seeing DC’s jaw-dropping monuments and memorials bathed in moonlight with Old Town Trolley Tours. The National Mall and the history and figures it celebrates take on new significance when illuminated at night. The two-and-a-half-hour experience is narrated by a licensed tour guide.
Day 3
Morning
Head to George Washington’s Mount Vernon (go by boat for an on-the-water adventure). George Washington’s former estate features a museum, a mansion, lavish gardens, tombs, a distillery and a gristmill, all of which can be toured. You can also visit the quarters where enslaved people lived.
Afternoon
For lunch, check out the Mount Vernon Inn Restaurant, which provides a tranquil atmosphere akin to the 18th century and dishes that showcase the flavors of early America.
Take a water taxi back to the city (you’ll be following the path of John Smith’s 1608 expedition to chart the Chesapeake Bay) and spend the rest of the afternoon at the DAR Museum. In addition to rooms outfitted with period-accurate furniture and accoutrement, check out the museum’s major 2026 exhibit, Revolution in Their Words: How the Cause Became Revolution if your trip aligns.
Evening
Majority owned by American family farmers, Founding Farmers in Foggy Bottom carries a sterling reputation and a dynamite menu with food and drinks made from scratch and inspired by the country’s vast culinary history.
Round out your epic sojourn through the past with a show at one of the city’s most illustrious theaters. Ford’s Theatre is known for being the site of Abraham Lincoln’s assassination, but it also hosts acclaimed productions on its stage to this day. The National Theatre, a downtown mainstay since 1835, frequently welcomes Broadway plays.