My Washington, DC Area 2023 Bucket List!

*JUST* in case you didn’t already know, I am a Washington, DC area-based blogger! While I do travel frequently especially to where I have family and friends in Delaware, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey and love every minute of my adventures, I LOVE LOVE LOVE getting to explore my Washington, DC area backyard, too. On my Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee!), I am ALWAYS posting about my local adventures which I am SOOO blessed I am able to do close to home. Every now and then, well every year at this point since I moved LOL, I have shared a Washington, DC area bucket list, so here we go for 2023!!

Read my Washington, DC area bucket lists from the past two years’ past here:

Looking back at my Washington, DC area bucket lists from the past few years, I am lucky enough to have completed several of the items that I had desired to do. One of the highlights of my time in Washington, DC was dining at the bar at Old Ebbitt Grill – the oldest saloon in Washington, DC at least and a former boarding house for former President McKinley during his time as a Congressmen – which I will be dining at *yet again* for my birthday weekend (!!!) at the end of April. I have also enjoyed a gorgeous few strolls along Georgetown’s Waterfront Park and the food scene many times in nearby Arlington, Virginia. Touring the historic Tudor Place, National Cathedral, and Library of Congress have each been highlights of my own, too. My best friends and I enjoyed ice cream, sailing, and strolling in Annapolis, Maryland – a highlight of mine from when I first moved! Overall, looking back at both bucket lists, I feel beyond blessed that I have been able to do many of the things that I have previously desired to do.

Before I get into my Washington, DC Area 2023 bucket list, I do want to share that it is always likely that not all items will be completed in a year. Luckily for where I stand with where I want to go in my career, I will not be leaving the Washington, DC area anytime in the near-term future or even the next few years. More adventures to come both near and far!!

My Washington, DC Area 2023 Bucket List

  • See the cherry blossoms at the Tidal Basin at sunrise
  • See a performance of The Nutcracker
  • Check out Cafe Georgetown
  • Visit the Renwick Gallery
  • Go mini golfing at Puttery
  • See Aladdin at National Theatre
  • Explore City Center
  • Enjoy pizza and/or Thursday night trivia night at The Winery at Bull Run
  • Tour the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland
  • Explore downtown Leesburg, Virginia
  • Visit the DAR Museum and Library
  • Take a day trip to St. Michael’s Island, Maryland
  • Try Ralph’s Coffee for the first time-ever at Tyson’s Galleria
  • Have a picnic at The National Mall
  • See The Lion King at The Kennedy Center
  • Visit an embassy for a free event/exhibit
  • See the orchid display at the United States Botanic Garden
  • Explore the Dupont Circle, Adams Morgan, Capitol Hill, U Street Corridor, and Shaw neighborhoods
  • Eat at The Point in Washington, DC
  • Admire the flowers at Greenspring Gardens in Alexandria, Virginia
  • Explore downtown Fairfax, Virginia
  • Enjoy a warmer weather evening at Fairfax Corner
  • Explore Shirlington in Arlington
  • Visit the Meadowlark Botanical Gardens
  • Watch the sunrise or sunset from Lincoln Memorial
  • Take a walk along the Tidal Basin not during cherry blossom season
  • Attend a blogger meetup
  • Try Cameron’s Coffee & Chocolates in Fairfax, Virginia
  • Go mini golfing at The Perch
  • Try LeBon Cafe
  • Dine at a restaurant in Chinatown
  • Tour The Carlyle House
  • Eat at Ambar
  • Try Chateau de Chantilly Cafe
  • Enjoy coffee flights at Loud’n Roasted Coffee Roasters
  • Visit a Basilica
  • Visit the Dumbarton Oaks Museum
  • Go back to Tatte Bakery & Cafe
  • Visit The Crossing at Clarendon *yet again*
  • Try 54
  • Try Breeze Bakery Cafe
  • Go to another National Gallery of Art After Hours event
  • Go back to the Library of Congress
  • Tour the Hillwood Estate
  • Visit the newly-updated Air & Space Museum
  • Visit the Old Post Office Pavilion

Here’s to MANY more adventures in the Washington, DC area!

XOXO – Katie <3

My Updated Washington, DC Area Bucket List!

If you know me or perhaps follow me on Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee!), then you know that I LOVE LOVE LOVE where I live! Living in the Washington, DC area has been nothing but a blessing to me ever since I moved here back in May 2021. When I first moved here, I made my own Washington, DC Area Bucket List (read it here!) and haven’t looked at it since then. SO, I figured I would provide an updated bucket list based off of the one I made back in May and some new things that I want to do in the area.

Washington, DC

  • Have a picnic at The National Mall
  • See a show at The Kennedy Center
  • See a show at Warner Theatre
  • Eat dinner at Old Ebbitt Grill
  • Attend a blogger meet up downtown
  • Walk along Dupont Circle and U Street Northwest
  • Try Baked & Wired’s Cupcakes in Georgetown – DID IT!
  • Admire the aisles and enjoy some delights at Eastern Market 
  • Watch the sunrise from the Jefferson Memorial 
  • Take blog photos in Georgetown – DID IT!
  • Hike at Aldie Historic Park
  • Try Urban Roast for brunch – DID IT!
  • Walk around Capitol Hill
  • Go to a Nationals baseball game – DID IT!
  • Tour the White House, the Capitol, the Supreme Court Building, and the Library of Congress
  • Take photos along the cobblestone streets of Georgetown – DID IT!
  • Walk around the Sculpture Garden
  • Tour the National Cathedral – DID IT!
  • Walk along the Tidal Basin when the cherry blossoms are in full bloom at sunrise 
  • Tour the Tudor Place – DID IT!
  • Enjoy cocktails at The Wharf 
  • Watch the sunset from the Lincoln Memorial
  • Have a high tea at Lady Camellia
  • See The Nutcracker at the Kennedy Center
  • Take a stroll along Georgetown Waterfront Park – DID IT!
  • Go to the Renwick Gallery
  • Have a picnic at the United States National Arboretum
  • Admire the flora of the United States Botanical Garden
  • Visit Ford’s Theatre
  • Learn ways to not repeat history ever again at the Holocaust Museum 
  • Ice skate at the Sculpture Garden (probably won’t do this – haha!)
  • Enjoy doing work at a local cafe 
  • Visit Enchante at Nationals Park at Christmas time – DID IT! 
  • Watch The National Christmas Tree Lighting 
  • Shop in Georgetown – DID IT!
  • Walk through the Freer Gallery of Art *yet again*
  • Get a Washington, DC library card

Virginia

  • Visit George Washington’s Mount Vernon Estate at Christmas time 
  • Explore downtown Fairfax 
  • Enjoy dinner at a local Irish pub in Arlington
  • Get a Virginia library card
  • Go back to Carlyle Grand for dinner in Shirlington
  • Stroll through the cobblestone streets of Old Town Alexandria *yet again*
  • Take a day trip to Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello – DID IT!
  • Go back to Busboys & Poets for dinner in Shirlington
  • Visit the Meadowlark Botanical Gardens 
  • Hike yet again at Great Falls Park
  • Spend an evening at the outdoor picnic areas in Reston Town Center
  • Visit James Madison’s Montpelier for a day trip near Charlottesville
  • Make it to all of the Charlottesville vineyards on the Monticello Wine Trail
  • Drive through the countryside of Loudon County, specifically Middleburg and Leesburg 
  • Admire the sunflowers and/or tulips at Burnside Farms 
  • Explore downtown Vienna – DID IT!
  • Sip some wine at one of the many Middleburg vineyards 
  • Enjoy dinner and strolling along the streets of Shirlington 
  • Take a hike at Occoquan Regional Park
  • Shop at the Leesburg Premium Outlets
  • Enjoy a meal out and shopping at the Mosaic District – DID IT!
  • Go iceskating at Reston Town Center (probably not doing this anytime soon!)
  • Spend an evening at the outdoor picnic areas in Fairfax Corner
  • Explore downtown Washington
  • Hike along Shenandoah National Park and drive along Skyline Drive – DID IT!
  • Explore Fredericksburg
  • Shop at the Potomac Mills Tanger Outlets 
  • Enjoy the nightlife and food scene in Arlington – DID IT!
  • Walk along Clifton and take blogger photos there – DID IT!

Maryland

  • Stroll through Annapolis at Christmas time – DID IT!
  • Enjoy dinner at National Harbor – DID IT!
  • Take a day trip or weekend excursion to St. Michael’s Island 
  • Enjoy a night at MGM in National Harbor 
  • Have a high tea with family in Annapolis 
  • Admire the Christmas lights at the Gaylord National Hotel – DID IT!
  • Shop at the Tanger Outlets at National Harbor 
  • Admire the downtown Annapolis area and enjoy ice cream there in the summer time – DID IT!
  • Visit Baltimore, Maryland 
  • Walking around Fells Point in Baltimore 
  • Tour downtown Frederick
  • BONUS: Visit Harpers Ferry, West Virginia at Christmas time
  • BONUS: Visit Harpers Ferry, West Virginia yet again

Now, onward to many more Washington, DC area adventures!!!

XOXO – Katie <3

My Washington, DC Area Bucket List

Now that I am *finally* starting to get settled into my apartment in the Washington, DC area, I am more than excited and ready to explore my new backyard! There are oh so many things that I want to do here in the Washington, DC area. So, today I will be sharing my Washington, DC area bucket list & some of the things that I have already done and enjoyed doing!

My Washington, DC Area Bucket List!

Washington, DC

  • Have a picnic at The National Mall
  • Eat dinner at Old Ebbitt Grill
  • Attend a blogger meet up downtown
  • Walk along Dupont Circle and U Street Northwest
  • Try Baked & Wired’s Cupcakes in Georgetown
  • Admire the aisles and enjoy some delights at Eastern Market
  • Watch the sunrise from the Jefferson Memorial
  • Take blog photos in Georgetown
  • Try Urban Roast for brunch
  • Walk around Capitol Hill
  • Go to a Nationals baseball game
  • Tour the White House, the Capitol, the Supreme Court Building, and the Library of Congress
  • Take photos along the cobblestone streets of Georgetown
  • Tour the National Cathedral
  • Walk along the Tidal Basin when the cherry blossoms are in full bloom at sunrise
  • Tour the Tudor Place
  • Enjoy cocktails at The Wharf
  • Watch the sunset from the Lincoln Memorial
  • Have a high tea at Lady Camellia
  • See The Nutcracker at the Kennedy Center
  • Take a stroll along Georgetown Waterfront Park
  • Go to the Renwick Gallery
  • Have a picnic at the United States National Arboretum
  • Admire the flora of the United States Botanical Garden
  • Visit Ford’s Theatre
  • Learn ways to not repeat history ever again at the Holocaust Museum
  • Ice skate at the Sculpture Garden
  • Enjoy doing work at a local cafe
  • Visit Enchante at Nationals Park at Christmas time
  • Watch The National Christmas Tree Lighting
  • Shop in Georgetown
  • Walk through the Freer Gallery of Art *yet again*

Virginia

  • Visit George Washington’s Mount Vernon Estate at Christmas time
  • Explore downtown Fairfax
  • Stroll through the cobblestone streets of Old Town Alexandria *yet again*
  • Take a day trip to Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello
  • Visit the Meadowlark Botanical Gardens
  • Make it to all of the Charlottesville vineyards on the Monticello Wine Trail
  • Drive through the countryside of Loudon County, specifically Middleburg and Leesburg
  • Admire the sunflowers and/or tulips at Burnside Farms
  • Explore downtown Vienna
  • Sip some wine at one of the many Middleburg vineyards
  • Enjoy dinner and strolling along the streets of Shirlington
  • Take a hike at Occoquan Regional Park
  • Enjoy a meal out and shopping at the Mosaic District
  • Go iceskating at Reston Town Center
  • Hike along Shenandoah National Park and drive along Skyline Drive
  • Explore Fredericksburg
  • Shop at the Potomac Mills Tanger Outlets
  • Enjoy the nightlife and food scene in Arlington
  • Walk along Clifton and take blogger photos there

Maryland

  • Stroll through Annapolis at Christmas time
  • Enjoy dinner at National Harbor
  • Take a day trip or weekend excursion to St. Michael’s Island
  • Enjoy a night at MGM in National Harbor
  • Have a high tea with family in Annapolis
  • Admire the Christmas lights at the Gaylord National Hotel
  • Shop at the Tanger Outlets at National Harbor
  • Admire the downtown Annapolis area and enjoy ice cream there in the summer time
  • Visit Baltimore, Maryland
  • Walking around Fells Point in Baltimore
  • Tour downtown Frederick
  • BONUS: Visit Harpers Ferry, West Virginia at Christmas time

Things I Have LOVED Doing:

  • Walking and hiking along the Appalachian Trail at Harpers Ferry, West Virginia
  • Enjoying dinner in Clifton, Virginia
  • Visit my favorite local Mom & Pop place for breakfast food 24/7 – Lincoln’s Waffle House
  • Hiking Sugarloaf Mountain in Dickerson, Maryland
  • Shopping at Tyson’s Corner Center Mall or Tyson’s Galleria Mall in Tyson’s, Virginia
  • Admiring the many museums at the Smithsonian in Washington, DC
  • Enjoying a cupcake at Georgetown Cupcake
  • Taking a hike to Great Falls Park, Virginia
  • Walk along the Tidal Basin
  • Enjoy a soup and sandwich at Cosi Cafe
  • Shop at the TJ Maxx in Georgetown – y’all it is an AMAZING TJ Maxx!!!
  • Tour the Washington Monument – tickets are free & it’s an amazing experience
  • Admire the mountains and farm side of Catoctin Mountain Orchard in Dickerson, Maryland
  • See the cherry blossoms along the Tidal Basin
  • Take a sail in Annapolis
  • Enjoy a sip of wine at The Winery at Bull Run in Centreville, Virginia – see my blog post here!

I am oh so excited to be able to start my next chapter here in the Washington, DC area AND explore my brand-new backyard. Cheers to new adventures!!!

XOXO – Katie <3