Weekend in Washington, D.C.
15,000 Steps a Day in the Nation’s Capital
We did a quick weekend trip to Washington, D.C. — and averaged nearly 15,000 steps per day.
In just two days, we visited three major Smithsonian museums and most of the iconic landmarks along the National Mall. Fast-paced? Absolutely. Worth it? Definitely.
Day 1 – Inside the U.S. Capitol & White House
We started strong with interior tours of the United States Capitol and the White House. Yes — you can go inside both. But you need to reserve months in advance. White House tours require submitting a request through your Member of Congress (for U.S. citizens), and Capitol tours also fill up quickly. We somehow managed to secure both this time, which felt like winning a mini lottery. Walking between the two already racks up serious steps. Add security lines and tour time，and Day 1 is basically a workout disguised as history.
We ended the day with the National Air and Space Museum.
Day 2 – Museum Power Day + Lincoln Memorial
Day two was our full Smithsonian sprint.
We visited the National Museum of Natural History and the National Museum of American History. We walked along the National Mall, passed by the Washington Monument and the World War II Memorial, and ended the day at the Lincoln Memorial.
Though our pace might've been a bit too quick, it was still exciting and enjoyable.
All Smithsonian museums are free, but don’t underestimate how massive they are. You could easily spend half a day in each.
The One That Got Away: Washington Monument Tickets
The only thing we didn’t manage to do? Going up the Washington Monument. Tickets are released daily at 10:00 AM for the next day. They disappear in less than a second. As soon as we refreshed the page and even found where to click, all the tickets had been reserved. Truly competitive. Maybe next time.
Final Thoughts – Is a Weekend Enough?
Two days in Washington, D.C. is doable, if you’re ready to walk.
We covered:
- 2 interior government tours
- 3 Smithsonian museums
- Most of the National Mall landmarks
- ~15,000 steps per day
It’s intense but incredibly educational and surprisingly kid-friendly. Just wear good shoes, book early, and don’t get your hopes up too high about the monument tickets.
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