Evening Activities
Evening Attractions
Enjoy dinner at Juniper, and then take a limousine/sedan tour of the monuments and Capital sights. (OR- the Grayline Evening tour “L”) Stop at the Iwo Jima Marine Corps memorial, the Air Force Memorial by the entrance to the Arlington Cemetery. Cross the Arlington Memorial Bridge back into the District, passing the Lincoln Memorial and turning onto Ohio Drive. Pass the FDR Memorial, Jefferson Memorial to Independence Avenue. Go to Constitution Avenue to view the Capitol building. Take Pennsylvania Avenue West to the White House, passing the Willard Hotel (where the word “Lobbyist” was born). View the White House from both the Ellipse and Lafayette Park sides. End at the hotel.
Sightseeing
Start at the Capitol Building, and leave time to enjoy the structure thoroughly. Next, head over to the Supreme Court building, followed by the Library of Congress, the Folger Shakespeare Library and Garden, the US Botanic Garden, and the National Gallery of Art. After enjoying some lunch, spend the rest of the afternoon at the National Postal Museum and Union Station. You can also save your tour of the Washington Monument for last. Moonlight Tours of the monument are available nightly, and many travelers feel that the monument is actually most impressive when viewed by the evening light.
Cruise Tour
Take a dinner cruise with Odyssey Cruise line. The cruise travels from the Washington Marina, down the Channel to the Potomac River, where it follows the river past the Monuments and Georgetown. (OR- Dandy Cruise ship from Old Town Alexandria, enjoy walking through Alexandria before.)
Or add the mule drawn barge trip from the C&O Canal up through the locks on the Canal. Departure is from the National Park Service office on the Canal at 1057 Thomas Jefferson Street. Available April through October.
Georgetown
Walk into Historic Georgetown. Window shop, or shop at the unique boutiques. Check out the many restaurants, (with menus posted European style). Turn left on 30th Street and stop by the C&O Canal on the way to Washington Harbor on the Potomac River. Sit at an outdoor area and watch the boats and people go by. Before dusk in the summer, you can even walk along the path by the Potomac River to the Kennedy Center and Lincoln Memorial.
Carriage Tour
Take a ride in a horse drawn carriage and view the Capital. Most evening rides depart from near the Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill (400 New Jersey Avenue, NW) from about 7 p.m. until 11 p.m. During the Christmas holiday season, rides often depart from the Ellipse, near the National Christmas Tree. From April to January 1 and on weekends from January 1 through March, Charley Horse Carriages frequently park on Madison Drive, near the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden Ice Rink. It is possible to find a ride here on a first come, first served basis, although reservations are always best. During the rare times when there is enough snow, Charley Horse also offers sleigh rides. They will also customize tours for special occasions.
2-3 Hour
Half Day