Washington D.C. Trips, Tips and Beyond

How Much Time Until the Government Shutdown? What is a government shutdown? Washington, DC is home to federal agencies, national museums, and iconic landmarks—so when a government shutdown is possible, travelers often wonder what will stay open and what may close. If you’re planning a trip to Washington, DC during a potential shutdown, here’s what you need to know about museums, monuments, national parks, airports, and federal services. Current short-term funding for most federal agencies expires January 31, 2026, requiring Congress to pass full-year spending bills or another temporary extension to avoid a government shutdown. As the United States Congress approaches its deadline to pass a U.S. funding bill, uncertainty surrounds the potential for a government shutdown. Stay informed with this live countdown, which tracks the days, hours, minutes, and seconds remaining until the anticipated shutdown date. The official shutdown time for the U.S. federal government occurs at...

Metropolitian Washington Restaurant Week, January 2026 There are restaurants located within easy walking distance of museums in the city of the District of Columbia (Washington D.C.) making them ideal choices for a museum day. This year's Winter Restaurant Week is scheduled for Monday, January 19, 2026, to Sunday, January 25, 2026 . Often the Restaurant Week period is extended for a week or two. For a limited window, restaurants create curated prix-fixe menus that highlight signature dishes. It’s a chance to experience food choices at approachable prices, all while supporting local eateries and the people behind them. If you are exploring museums in Penn Quarter or near the White House, there are two possibilities to choose from: China Chilcano or Immigrant Food — White House , both featured in Restaurant Week. Restaurant Nearby Attractions Distance Lunch Cost: $25 Dinner Cost: $40 China C...

Winter in Washington, D.C. officially begins with the winter solstice in late December. Washington, D.C.’s hotel industry welcomed hundreds of thousands of visitors in January, with occupancy showing a slight dip compared to the previous year. In January 2025, an estimated 260,000 unique visitors stayed in Washington, D.C. hotels. Despite January 2025 being a US Presidential Inauguration year, hotel stays were slightly lower than the previous year. In January 2024, approximately 279,000 unique visitors occupied the city’s roughly 36,000 hotel rooms, about 10,000 more visitors than in January 2025. In the Washington, D.C. region, January is typically one of the driest months of the year. While visitors may encounter snow, snowfall amounts are generally modest compared to many other parts of the United States. Snow is possible, but usually light and short-lived. It is also very unpredictable! The average temperature is a high of 40s°F (4–9°C). The nights can drop into the 30s°F or lower....

For six nights, starting December 31, 2026, we were able to see the illuminiation of the U.S. Washington Monument. The 250 Anniversary Commission put on a great show. The monument’s illumination created powerful moments—inviting reflection in the heart of Washington, DC. The last display followed by fireworks was Monday, January 5, 2025. More celebrations to come... View this post on Instagram A post shared by Explore DC and Beyond (@exploredc_andbeyond)

This Christmas Tree (Holiday) Walk  is a festive and easygoing way to experience a Washington D.C.'s holiday on foot. Designed to be both enjoyable and accessible, the full walking experience is an estimated 2.8 miles taking about 1.5 hours, with an estimated 1 hour of walking and 30 minutes set aside for photos, sightseeing, and taking in the trees and decorations along the way. For the most part, the route is straight, flat, and easy to follow, making it ideal for a relaxed stroll in December or early January. Much of the walk follows the historic stretch of Pennsylvania Avenue placing you at the heart of the Federal City of Washington D.C. Here is the link to the walking route:  Tree Walk Google Map Route   and  Another walking route My pictures were captured during a  CHISTMAS TREE WALK  . These are the trees that were on display and caught during the walk. The pictures below are not in the order of the walk.  ...

This Christmas Tree (Holiday) Walk is a festive and easygoing way to experience Washington, D.C.’s Christmas holiday on foot. Designed to be both enjoyable and accessible, the full walking experience is an estimated 2.8 miles taking about 1.5 hours, with an estimated 1 hour of walking and 30 minutes set aside for photos, sightseeing, and taking in the trees and decorations along the way. For the most part, the route is straight, flat, and easy to follow, making it ideal for a relaxed stroll in December or early January. Much of the walk follows the historic stretch of Pennsylvania Avenue, placing you at the heart of the Federal city, Washington D.C. Here is the link to the walking route:  Tree Walk Google Map Route   and  Another walking route Norwegian Holiday Tree Union Station, Main Hall 50 Massachusetts NE Washington DC 20002, USA   Each year, the Royal Norwegian Embassy donates a large Christmas tree to be displayed and lit in Union Station’...