Breakfast: Van-Ness UDC

Walk north on Connecticut Avenue for 0.25 miles to Bread Furst, founded by Mark Furstenberg, 86, a longtime Washingtonian who received a James Beard Award for Outstanding Baker in 2017. Bread Furst bakes handcrafted breads, pastries, and other baked goods made with high-quality ingredients. “Some 800 baguettes a day fly out of the bakery on weekends” according to the Washington Post.

Morning: Woodley Park-Zoo

Giant Pandas returned to Washington DC on January 24 when Bao Li [BOW-lee] and Qing Bao [ching-BOW] made their public debut. Although pandas have been a mainstay for Zoo visitors over the decades there are also more than 1,500 other animals to admire. The National Zoo is free with plenty of indoor spaces to warm up on a cold day. Walk north on Connecticut Avenue for 0.25 to the main entrance

Lunch: Gallery Place Chinatown

Spanish-American chef Jose Andres is celebrated for his culinary achievements and his extensive humanitarian work. His non-profit organization, World Central Kitchen (WCK), has provided millions of meals to people in disaster-stricken areas worldwide. His relief efforts include responses to major hurricanes in Puerto Rico, the Bahamas, and the U.S., as well as feeding refugees and displaced individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic and the conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza. Try some small plates from the man with a big heart at Jaleo or Zaytinya, both located a few blocks from the Metro station.

Afternoon: NoMa Gallaudet-U

Union Market is a ten minute walk from the NoMa Metro station. It originally opened as a wholesale market in the 1930 and reopened in 2012,as a contemporary food and community hub. It is known for supporting small businesses, local farmers, and up-and-coming chefs. In addition to food, the market features unique retail shops selling locally made products, home goods, and crafts. Check out the witching hour candle from Salt and Sundry , hand crafted knives from District Cutlery or look into renting a plant from Jungle and Loom.

Dinner: Silver Spring

More Ethiopians live in the Washington, D.C., region than any other urban area outside of Addis Ababa, according to the Migration Policy Institute, a non-partisan think tank. Historically, most Ethiopian immigrants lived in the District, but more recently Downtown Silver Spring has become a “little Ethiopia” filled with Ethiopian and Eritrean-owned restaurants, coffee stores, markets, and nightclubs. From the station, head east on Wayne Avenue, cross Georgia Avenue and walk south to grab dinner at Langano or Betesub. On your way back to the station, head downstairs to the Quarry House Tavern, a hometown favorite with a laid back vibe and a vast beer menu.

Breakfast: Takoma

Beginning in the 1970s, DC became a major hub for the American punk rock scene, known for its distinctive sound, DIY ethos, and political activism. These days, when some punk rockers aren’t performing or rehearsing, you can find them baking treats at Donut Run. Walk under the railroad overpass and down 4th Street to the brightly lit, pink building for vegan donuts that come not only in classic flavors, like chocolate glazed and cinnamon sugar, but also non-traditional flavors, such as matcha, French toast, and mango coconut.

Morning: NoMa Gallaudet-U

The neighborhood around the NoMa Metro station has a flourishing public art scene with over 100 murals, sculptures, and art installations. You can explore using this map or head directly to Aletha Tanner Park to check out 14 vibrant murals from local artists and a three-story piece paying tribute to the workers who built the Lincoln Memorial. (From the station, cross M Street and walk up the entrance to the Metropolitan Branch Trail, which leads to Aletha Tanner Park).

Lunch: Metro Center

Warm up with pho, Hong Kong-style egg noodles, curry with vermicelli, and tom yum soup at Noodles on 11. Then visit the National Museum of Women in the Arts , which is dedicated to celebrating the achievements of women artists. The collection features a wide range of art, including painting, sculpture, photography, and decorative arts, from the Renaissance to contemporary works.

Afternoon: Dupont Circle

Spend an hour or two in one of the city’s most iconic and walkable neighborhoods. From the Metro station’s north exit, head west to Massachusetts Avenue, also known as "Embassy Row," for a tour of diplomatic mansions. Or walk north on Connecticut to Kramers, one of the city’s oldest independent bookstores which also has a good coffee shop.

Dinner: Bethesda

Bethesda Row was developed in the 1990s in order to create a mixed-use area that embraced both the convenience of the suburbs and the vibrancy of an urban environment. This vision has been realized as the area has become a major destination for shopping, dining, and entertainment. Choose from dozens of restaurants in the area or find something for everyone at the Tastee Diner, a beloved local chain.

Breakfast: Anacostia

From the Metro station, walk a block to Martin Luther King Junior Avenue and then walk 0.5 miles to Busboys and Poets. Founded by activist, artist, and entrepreneur Andy Shallal, the restaurant serves comfort food and includes a bookstore featuring a wide selection of titles with a focus on social justice, activism, African American history, women's rights, LGBTQ+ issues, and more.

Morning: Navy Yard

Take the New Jersey Avenue exit and then walk south to Yards Park. The park opened in 2010 as part of a broader revitalization effort in the area and offers green spaces, recreational activities, and beautiful views of the Anacostia River. Stroll along the Anacostia Riverwalk Trail, which connects parks and neighborhoods along the river.

Lunch: Archives

Head north on Seventh Street to Carmine's. Unless the restaurant is hosting an event, you should be able to find a seat at one of 750 tables in the 20,000 square foot establishment. Once your bellies are full, continue north on Seventh Street to the National Portrait Gallery and visit the nation’s only complete collection of presidential portraits outside the White House.

Afternoon: Shaw/Howard University

Howard University has educated luminaries such as Thurgood Marshall, Toni Morrison, Vernon Jordan, Chadwick Boseman, and Vice President Kamala Harris. Walk north on Seventh Street to visit the Howard campus. On your way back to the Metro, stop off for a happy hour microbrew at the Right Proper Brewing Company

Dinner: U Street

In the early 20th century, U Street was the center of African American culture and nightlife in Washington, DC, earning the nickname “Black Broadway.” It was home to some of the most famous Black-owned businesses, theaters, and nightclubs in the country and remains one of the city’s most vibrant neighborhoods today. U Street was heavily affected by the riots that followed the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. Metro construction in the 1980s also hampered local businesses. Through it all, Ben's Chili Bowl continued to serve loyal customers and has become a regional icon. From the Metro, head west on U Street to Ben’s for a half-smoke or dine at one of the numerous other restaurants nearby.

Lunch: Columbia Heights

The neighborhood around the Columbia Heights Metro station has a rich history of immigration, particularly from El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. Immigrants from these countries sought refuge from civil strife and opportunities in the United States. Today, Latin American restaurants, shops, and festivals are integral parts of the local culture, especially around 14th Street and Park Road. Follow your nose for lunch at Corado's Restaurant, a neighborhood staple since 1983, or pick up pupusas from Don Julio Grocery

Afternoon: Archives

Cross Pennsylvania Avenue and walk a few blocks towards the National Gallery of Art East Wing. Designed by I. M. Pei and completed in 1978, the East Wing is famous for its sharp angles, open atriums, and the extensive use of glass and marble. It houses works by artists like Mark Rothko, Alexander Calder, and Roy Lichtenstein, showcasing pieces from the 20th century onwards. Be sure to take a selfie with the "Blue Chicken", the informal name given to the sculpture titled "Hahn/Cock" by the German artist Katharina Fritsch.

Dinner: Waterfront

From M Street, walk two blocks west toward The Wharf, a major mixed-use redevelopment project that has transformed the city's waterfront along the Potomac River. Spanning more than 3.5 million square feet, The Wharf revitalizes what was once a largely industrial and underutilized area into a neighborhood filled with dining, entertainment, residential, and recreational spaces. It also includes theMaine Avenue Fish Market, the oldest continuously operating open-air fish market in the U.S. Grab some seafood for dinner at Hank's Oyster Bar or one of the many other eateries nearby.

Breakfast: Huntington

Fuel up for your day on the Metro at Bob and Edith's Diner, which is located two blocks south from the Huntington Station and has been family-owned and operated for the past 54 years. Grab a seat in the bright and lively interior for breakfast offered 24 hours a day.

Morning: L’Enfant Plaza

Washington’s Metro Stations were designed in the “brutalist” style, known for its stark aesthetic and heavy, exposed concrete. This style was in vogue in the decades after the Cold War and gave rise to buildings such as the Robert C. Weaver Federal Building (the headquarters of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) which is located on 7th Street near several Metro exits. Two different HUD Secretaries, one Democrat, one Republican, have compared it to “ten floors of basement.” From L’Enfant Plaza, head north to Independence Avenue for two additional Brutalist buildings: the Headquarters of the U.S. Department of Energy and the Hirshorn Museum

Lunch: Mt. Vernon Square

2016 was a bright one for DC pizza when All Purpose made its debut as the city’s best restaurant, according to the Washington Post. It is still going strong serving Jersey-style pizza and Italian-American antipasti. (From the Metro, head west on M Street then north on 9th Street). After lunch, walk south to the Carnegie Library, across from the Convention Center which is home to the DC History Center. Exhibits include “DC Home Rule 50,” which “explores urgent themes of self-governance, full citizenship, free elections, and DC statehood."