As summer is coming to a close, what better way to soak in the last few weekends of the season than to take a weekend away with your girlfriends? Thanks to the Kimpton Carlyle DuPont Circle in Washington D.C. that’s just what my friends and I did to ring in August and the final weeks of summer. In todays post I am sharing our experience with The Kimpton along with a 2 Day Itinerary for the ultimate girls weekend in Washington D.C.!
ACCOMMODATIONS
With D.C. being such a walkable city, we wanted to make sure that we stayed somewhere that was fairly central to a majority of the places we wanted to visit which is how we landed on The Kimpton Carlyle Dupont Circle. If you’ve never been to the Dupont Circle area, it is a gorgeous part of the city with a European feel (yes, please!) and several restaurants within a 5 minute walking distance. From the moment you arrive at the Kimpton Carlyle Dupont Circle you’ll feel like you’ve just stepped into the streets of London with the overhanging trees and picturesque homes lining the streets. Both the neighborhood and hotel have such a charming appeal and felt very safe.
As for the hotel, it was just what we needed for our girls weekend with the spacious rooms and large bathrooms. Oh and did I mention the complimentary wine hour in the lobby from 5-6pm everyday? Well, they have that too! Coming back to the hotel for a glass (or two!) of wine from a busy day exploring was everything we needed to unwind and prepare for the busy nights we had planned ahead. While we never made it to a meal at the Riggsby (the hotels on-site restaurant), we popped our heads in to take a peek and it looked like a great place to grab a bite to eat and the aroma lingering in the lobby from the food smelled delicious!
Overall, we were very happy with our stay at the Kimpton Carlyle Dupont Circle. The friendly staff made our stay amazing and the location truly can’t be beat!
WHAT TO DO
Looking to plan a girls getaway to D.C. but aren’t quite sure where to begin? No worries! I’ve got you covered. Below I’m sharing our 2 day itinerary for visiting in D.C. in 48 hours or less. With a balance of sites, shopping, sips and snacks, there is surely something to keep every one of your gal pals satisfied.
DAY 1
⁃Neighborhood Stroll: Kick off day one with a stroll around Dupont Circle (if that’s where you chose to stay). The neighborhood is full of shops, cafes and even has a farmers market on the weekends during the summer months.
⁃The Phillips Collection: Looking for a fixing of art? Allow your neighborhood stroll to take you right to the Phillips Collection which is nestled in the heart of Dupont Circle. Admire the art and grab a coffee from the on-site cafe!
⁃Brunch at The Pembroke: After a morning out and about, satisfy your tastebuds (and eyes!) with brunch at The Pembroke. Located right in Dupont Circle, this is by far the most gorgeous spot to grab a mimosa and some avocado toast with your girls!
⁃Visit the Monuments: Whether you’ve never been to D.C. or have visited 100 times, a stroll through the monuments is always a must. Walk off your tasty brunch by strolling through the monuments. We had our Uber drop us off at the Washington Monument and we made our rounds from there. Be sure to wear comfortable walking shoes!
⁃ The Wharf: After an afternoon of walking around, you’re definitely going to need a “one-stop-shop” to get everyone re-fueled. The Wharf is a district of D.C. that is situated right along the water and features tons of restaurants, cafes, bars and even a fresh seafood market. With all of us being in the mood for different things, it was the perfect place to satisfy every taste bud in a fun and bustling atmosphere.
⁃ Wine Hour: If you choose to stay the The Kimpton Carlyle Dupont Circle, you can’t miss out on the complimentary wine hour! Head back to the hotel and catch “Wine O’clock” from 5-6pm in the lobby, un-wind, and get ready for a night out in D.C.
⁃ Tacos & Tequila: No girls trip is complete without tacos and tequila, am I right?! Another great spot within walking distance from the hotel is Mission Dupont. Definitely be sure to make reservations in advance and request an outdoor table on their patio for the ultimate experience! I’d also recommend catching happy hour which begins at 10pm for discounted margarita pitchers and small bites!
⁃ Night out on U Street: Grab your girls and set out for a night in D.C. on U Street! Again, U-Street is within walking distance from the Dupont Circle area and has tons of bars lining the street making your options endless! We recommend picking one spot and getting there a little early (before 11pm) as the lines to get into the bars were CRAZY. Our favorite is Takoda for a nice atmosphere, rooftop and frose!
DAY 2
⁃Cafe Georgetown: Kick off you morning with coffee & pastries at Cafe Georgetown – insta famous for their gorgeous coffees! If you’re not sure what to order, I highly recommend asking for the Specialty Drink which rotates by the season. While we were there, they had an iced banana latte and it was incredible! Picture banana bread whipped into a coffee… so, so good.
⁃ Shopping in Georgetown: After a sweet morning treat, kick off your day with a little shopping in Georgetown. M street is lined with shops and can easily fill your morning with plenty to see and do. For my Rent the Runway gals, be sure to stop in the RTR Store and swap out your rentals! Or if you’re looking to begin RTR, you can do that here too!
⁃ Georgetown Cupcake: No visit to Georgetown is complete without a stop by the famous Georgetown Cupcake. Pro tip: Pre-order your cupcakes (at least 1 day in advance) to skip the line and make your cupcake experience a breeze.
⁃ Snap Pics: Georgetown is an instagrammers dream and what girls trip is complete without a few fun pics?! Snap some photos in front of the colorful homes and Greenworks.
⁃ Dinner at Flavio: You’ve shopped till you’ve dropped and it’s time to treat yourselves to a delicious Italian meal at Flavio. You deserve that pasta & bread!
⁃ Georgetown Piano Bar: In the event that you’re looking for one more thing to do before calling it a night, pop into Georgetown Piano bar for a glass of wine and some one hit wonders to wrap up your girls weekend in D.C.!
Who would’ve thought that Washington D.C. would have so much to do?! I was pleasantly surprised by how much I love visiting Washington and I hope that this itinerary gives you a little bit of inspiration/insight as to why a weekend in D.C. is a must – whether you’re with your friends, family or significant other! No matter what you decide to do, I hope you put D.C. on your list of places to visit, you won’t be disappointed!
Thank you to the Kimpton Carlyle Dupont Circle for hosting our stay – all thoughts & opinions are my own.
Leave a Reply