The first time Ben and I visited his parents in DC last Spring, they had our entire fantastic vacation planned out for us, eager to show off their favorite spots in their new city. This time, however, they had nothing on the agenda for our week-long stint out here.
Say what?
Instead of creating an itinerary themselves, my in-laws thought it’d be fun to get the whole family involved in deciding what to do this week.
Sweet!
The day we got here, they set out 6 tiny boxes (one for each of us) that each contained 5 different activities to do in-and-around DC. Activities ranged anywhere from an hour at the shooting range (…) to dining at specific restaurants, visiting the capital to see the Christmas lights, wild cards, and much more.
We all picked a box, then chose 3 out of the 5 activities inside that we for sure wanted to do. Yesterday was our first day of hand-picked activities and it started with a stop at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. Ben’s Dad had been before, but still chose it from his box, as he wanted to make sure the entire family experienced it firsthand.
(All pictures are from the USHMM website.)
The US Holocaust Memorial Museum is free to the public and has over 900 artifacts, 70 videos and four theaters over three floors, covering three parts of the Holocaust:
- Nazi Assault, covering Hitler’s rise to power
- Final Solution, covering the mass murders of the Holocaust
- Last Chapter, covering the aftermath of the Holocaust
As you can imagine, each floor was even more heartbreaking than the next and, although I felt somber and sickened by the end, I’m so, so, so glad we went. I learned so many things about the Holocaust that I never knew, and feel an even greater urge to be more kind and tolerant in my everyday life.
So, GO if you ever get the chance. It’s a must-see for everyone in this world!
It was pouring rain when we left the museum – kind of fitting for the mood – but we all cheered up when we realized what was next on our agenda…
Gut bombs at Ben’s Chili Bowl!
Hand-picked by yours truly… ;)
Ben’s Chili Bowl is a DC landmark. Established in 1958, it was one of the only business that remained open and helped restore the area after it was largely destroyed in the 1968 DC riots when Martin Luther King, Jr was assassinated.
Besides being a cornerstone of the community, Ben’s Chili Bowl has played host to a ton of famous people, including Bill Cosby, Nat King Cole, and even President Obama, whose photos eating Ben’s delicious menu cover every open inch of wall space.
From the moment we walked in, we knew were in for a treat. The line snaked all the way to the back of the restaurant, and we listened to everything from hip hop to 80’s pop music bump from the speakers throughout the restaurant as we waited in line to order.
None of us had a clue what to get, but there were signs everywhere advertising Ben’s famous Chili Half-Smoke. Seeing as how we were at Ben’s Chili Bowl, we decided to go with it and ordered 6 straightaway!
15 agonizing minutes later (we were starving) we found out exactly what a Chili Half Smoke was! A hot, snap-cased sausage nestled in a steamed, almost garlic tasting bun, smothered in Ben’s famous chili.
It was insane!
Salty, smoky, soft and snappy. We could not have been more happy.
Plus, we actually didn’t feel as bad as we were anticipating after devouring chili smothered sausages. Win! ;)
Just as we walked out and hopped into the car to head home, the rain stopped, the sky started to lighten, and a rainbow even made an appearance!
We were driving through Georgetown home (my favorite DC neighborhood – seriously obsessed) when off to the right we spied it…
I was lucky enough to stop for a treat at DC-based Georgetown Cupcake the last time we were in DC, and had – honest to God – the best cupcake I’ve ever had in my life.
There was no way we were going to pass by without stopping.
I hopped out of the car, surveyed the menu, and got 1/2 a dozen for the family to take home and enjoy after we made some room in our stomachs from the chili half smokes.
I mean!!
The abundance of cupcake flavors really tempted me – salted caramel, white chocolate peppermint and eggnog, oh my! – but in the end, I had to go with the tried and true…Lava Fudge.
“Valrhona chocolate cupcake with a rich fudge core topped with a vanilla icing with a fudge star drizzle”
I know! It’s the same one I got last time, but it was TOO good to pass up!
No regrets. ;)
Back to time with the fam! Hope you’re having a great week!
~~~~~
What’s more important, the cake or the icing?
Hey! I’m from the District (that’s how the locals say it, btw :) and am so sad that you’ve been to Georgetown Cupcakes several times but not Serendipity!! It’s just down M street on the corner of Wisconsin and is essentially a high-end, sit-down desert place famous for their frozen hot chocolate, although my boyfriend and I are much more fond of the Black&White ice cream sundae. I think they might have started in NYC actually…but it such a cool place with old Tiffany chandeliers and such. It definitely seems like you would appreciate it! Also, I saw another person mentioned it already, but next time you’re out here you MUST take a trip to Old Town, Alexandria on a nice evening. Any restaurant is a pretty sure bet, but make sure you hit the Pop’s ice cream and the waterfront as you’re walking around! Lastly, the National Gallery of Art. ’nuff said. Anyway, so glad you’re fond of our great city! Love all the pics!
I totally agree – their cupcakes are the BEST! :D
Love your blog as an Iowa transplant.
Word to the wise though, visiting G-town = fun, living there… another story.
Next time you’re here in DC, here’s some suggestions:
CoCo Sala – The cocojito
Zaytinia (Jose Andres is amazing)
Sonoma – capitol hill
Hit the Eastern Market farmer’s market in the summer, best produce sellers there are the Barbours out of PA. Their stand is all the way in the back.
2 Amy’s… one of a handful of pizzerias certified D.O.C from Italy, the Margherita Extra is one of the best things that has ever happened.
Proof, one of the best wine lists in the city
Bistrot Lepic (wisc ave in glover park), Bistro du Coin, for feeling like you’re in a homey bistro in France (dupont circle) and patisserie poupon for the pastries and homemade speculoos cookies (upper g-town)
Policy, strange decor phenomenal food, and hit the lounge upstairs for dancing later
Ping Pong, chinese food but go for the cocktails
Cava, a few locations, personal favorite is capitol hill area… small plates and some genuine mediterranean mezze
Marvin’s – moules et frites, if you like Belgian food.
Cork and Veritas – both wine bars
Mate (pro. Mah-tay like the drink) – South American and Sushi fusion (yeah it’s weird, but it’s good)
Neyla – Middle eastern
Peacock Cafe – brunch here is okay.
Peking Gourmet – Falls Church. Place looks completely shady, and not a great part of town, but even presidents go there for the duck.
Pie Sisters is opening soon in Georgetown. They just might give the cupcake conglomerate up the street a run for their money.
If you’re back here soon enough, the National Archives (of all places) is hosting an exhibit called America Eats! and Jose Andres (odd choice imo) set up a little pop up restaurant too. It closes on January 3rd though.
Happy New Year!
One of my family members attends school in DC and brought us cupcakes back to enjoy at Thanksgiving. It was sooooo funny to hear my 90 year old aunt oh and ah and claim it was the best thing she’d EVER eaten (and she’s been alive a LONG time, hehehe!). Glad you had such a good time!
Ahhh, welcome to DC! Not to be a total creeper, but the pic from your in-laws gym is in the same town that we live in! Drove right by there last night to hit up TJ’s :D Hope you’re enjoying your trip- looks like you are!
P.S. Depends on the bakery, if the icing is good, then icing > cake…
Another vote for baked and wired!! I work right up the street at the Kennedy Center and it’s pretty unanimous that B&W > GC (I know, you think it can’t get any better, but it CAN!). And next time you’re there, stop in to Paper Source right next door. It’s my favorite store of all time, a pinterest lover’s DREAM!
LOVED Ben’s Chili Bowl!! The flavor of the chili was aaaaaahhhhhhmazing. We went on Saturday of our weekend trip this fall.. and then back again on Sunday. After we tried to go to We, The Pizza (also awesome) but they are closed on Sundays, my husband picked a round 2 of Ben’s for lunch. I tried to pick Georgetown Cupcake for my lunch… but alas, the line was so long and my stomach too hungry.
Ooh, I love your pics! Did you get a new camera? They just seem so crisp. Never been to DC, but I can’t wait to go someday. I’m much more a cake person than an icing person.
The hubs has a conference in D.C. in mid-May and we’re extending the trip. Can’t wait! I already checked and there are two fun runs the weekend we’ll be there. Whoo! The Holocaust Memorial Museum is already on the list of must sees. Now chili and cupcakes are on the list of must eats. Keep the ideas comin’!
OO I love the Georgetown Cupcake show on TLC! It’s good to hear that they are just as delicious in real life. :) I can’t choose – I think the right balance of cake and frosting is the most important.
Gotta add in my vote for Baked and Wired. I am from DC and their cupcakes and amazing coffee are definitely my favorite in Gtown.
So jealous you went to DC cupcakes! I have always wanted to go there.
Both!
I was just in DC at the beginning of the month and also went to everything you did except Ben’s Chili Bowl! I had so much fun there, and the DC Cupcakes were so amazing, I brought home a dozen to share with family and friends! One of my favorite activities was the National Air and Space Museum where I watched the Hubble 3D Imax movie! Enjoy your trip!