Where does time go these days? Between kid birthdays, holidays, and once-in-a-generation Florida snow days, over four months have somehow passed by. I’m now getting caught up on posts so buckle up while we get caught up on our last few travel recaps!

Back in the fall, I was looking at our family calendar and the thought occurred to me that I hadn’t had a girls’ weekend in far too long. My friends have all long been married and had first babies, so the days of girls’ weekends for weddings, bachelorette parties, and baby showers appear to be behind me. I was feeling the need for a weekend where I could catch up with a friend, sleep in, and have no set itinerary. I called up my best friend Meryl to ask if she was free in September and voila – our girls’ weekend in DC was born!

Meryl is the consummate hostess and immediately asked what type of vibe I was hoping for: Moms’ night out party or relaxing vibes? These days, I’m more into the latter – I told her my only requests were a long run on the Mall and a sushi dinner. She put together the perfect weekend plan for us and I’m excited to share our itinerary with you here. If you’re into fall vibes – think fall festivals, hikes, and wineries – you might want to save this itinerary to recreate this fall!

Friday: We planned to go to dinner in Georgetown, but due to travel delays, I didn’t arrive until late evening. We pushed the dinner plan to Saturday and just caught up on our lives over Liquid IVs (tell me you’re in your late 30s without telling me you’re in your late 30s, right?).

Saturday: On Saturday morning, we woke up early to the most perfectly crisp fall morning and headed to the National Mall for a five-mile run around the monuments. There is nothing better to me than a sightseeing run in Washington, DC with my bestie! We ran from the Lincoln Memorial to the U.S. Capitol and back, passing many other runners and running groups along the way.

After our run, we drove over to Northside Social in Arlington for breakfast sandwiches and coffee. It was a hot spot and for good reason! If you go, don’t miss the Sage Sausage and Poached Egg sandwich.

Once we freshened up after our run, we headed to the Falls Church for the annual Falls Church Festival, where we attended the Taste of Falls Church. I felt like I was a judge on Top Chef as we walked around tasting samples from various local restaurants and vendors. Taste Tickets for food and beer were $3 each and food cost anywhere between 1 and 3 tickets.

From there, we walked to Clare and Don’s Beach Shack for a taste of home with funky beach vibes and Florida decor. We enjoyed way too big cups of ice cream before attending Meryl’s son’s baseball game that afternoon!

After a break to get ready for dinner, we headed out for dinner at Kyojin Sushi in Georgetown. Since we had missed our Friday reservation after my flight delay, we showed up early hoping for the best and were pleased when we were able to snag two seats at the bar. In law school, Meryl and I had a tradition of going to sushi dinners, so it felt just like old times to chat away over shared rolls and sake. Kyojin is a spinoff of the Arlington flagship Yume Sushi. Start with the Kyojin gyoza, which is filled with wagyu beef, iberico pork, and lobster – it’s incomparable!

The weather was splendid that evening, so we walked around Georgetown for a while before stopping for one last cocktail at Martin’s Tavern. Martin’s is a Georgetown favorite since 1933 and the spot where JFK proposed to Jackie. One of my favorite things about visiting DC is being surrounded by American history everywhere you go!

Sunday:

On Sunday morning, we woke up and drove to Virginia to complete the Raven Rocks hike, which is just under 6 miles with a vertical gain of 1,530ft. The trailhead parking lot is small so we arrived early and got one of the last spots. (If you go and can’t find parking, there’s a larger lot across highway VA 7). About a half mile from the overlook, we passed a sign marking the Virginia/ West Virginia border. We kept going to the Raven Rocks overlook and enjoyed fantastic views southwest over the Shenandoah Valley. It was a clear day and we could see for miles! If you go, make sure you wear good hiking boots or shoes as the trail is very rocky.

After our hike, we stopped at Twin Oaks Winery for flights of wine and sandwiches. The food menu is small, but perfect for a light afternoon lunch. The winery is in a lovely setting with gorgeous views over the valley. We met the owner, Donna Evers, who is one of those people that immediately makes you feel welcomed and enjoyed chatting with her while we waited for our food.

On our drive back, we stopped at Hill High Marketplace for apple pie and Moorenko’s wild blueberry ice cream. Hill High Marketplace is a cute little grocery with lots of items from local purveyors. It even has a covered wagon out front.

Since I had an early flight on Monday morning, we ended the weekend with takeout Chinese food and a walk around the neighborhood. It was a great weekend that was so very good for my soul. As I recap this, I realize how much we did in quite a short amount of time. I can even say I visited two states and the capital! I love visiting our nation’s capital and my best friends, so this was a major highlight of my fall! Thank you, Meryl!

I’ve been to Washington, DC in all four seasons, and have to say the fall is my favorite. Have you ever been to DC? If so, what is your favorite memory and season to visit?

RECAP