You thought we were done traveling, didn’t you? No such luck at KKDL! We’re always on the move looking for what’s new and what’s next and meeting up with our favorite familiar faces in different places all over the US. This week’s latest stop? The nation’s capital for a little program put on by the Sacramento Metro Chamber called Cap-to-Cap where peeps from Sacramento head to Washington D.C. to learn more about policy and public service to bring it back home and apply to our sunny California city.
We tagged along on this adventure to accomplish a few things:
- Peek at the capital from a designer point of view.
- Do a little sight seeing. Who doesn’t want to spend a day in a museum after all?
- Meet up with some of our East Coast peeps that we missed at High Point.
- Visit the ASID Headquarters. One word: SWOON!
Here we go!
Stay: The Mayflower Hotel
Historical meets luxurious at this swanky Washington DC hotel. The Mayflower Hotel opened its doors in 1925, meaning this spot had some serious history behind it, and what’s not to love about old-world architecture mixed with modern design? While the hotel itself is almost 100-years old, the beautifully designed rooms are not. Refined and restated, the well-appointed spaces are complemented by innovative culinary explorations downstairs and signature experiences all over the hotel. The Mayflower is steps away from the White House and Georgetown, making sightseeing a literal walk in the park. 10/10 would recommend this beautiful, history-telling space to stay.
Shop: Georgetown
When we first head that Georgetown is the place to shop we figured it was lined with bookstores for all of the super-savvy pre-law kids attending the world-famous university. What we actually found was two separate districts to satiate our shopping needs. The first, a design district, housed some of our favorite vendors like DWR, Waterworks, Baker Furniture, Boffi, and Circa Lighting, to name a few. If we hadn’t gotten our design fix from High Point the week prior, this was sure to satisfy.
The next stop was the fashion district. J. Crew, Ralph Lauren, and Tory Burch all waved hello as we gladly toured through each beautiful store. While we may have these favorite shopping stops at home in Sacramento, it’s fun to see how the stores differ from coast to coast, and the East Coast versions did not disappoint (just ask our wallets!).
See: The National Museum of African American History and Culture
When in Rome, right? In a city (er, district) full of museums, it was hard to choose just one to spend the day perusing. Because we were traveling with a group of other Sacramentans we tagged along on their day at the National Museum of African American History and Culture. This sold out museum is Washington’s hottest ticket in town, showcasing years and years of African American history and culture that would take days to fully see and absorb. If you’re in town and want to get the most bang for your history-buff buck, head this way.
Savor: RPM
Two words: Guiliana Rancic. After a full-day of sight seeing and shopping, we were in the mood for something hearty, somewhat healthy, and super stylish. Enter RPM. Located in the heart of the city, RPM offers old-country Italian food in a tranquil, contemporary environment– A feast for all of your senses, really. The third collaboration between R.J. Jerrod, Molly Melman, acclaimed chef Doug Psaltis, and celebrity couple Bill and Giuliana Rancic (!!!), RPM’s menu lists more than a dozen handmade pastas, seafood options, and signature cocktails. To say were fat and happy after that meal would be a total understatement.
Sip: Hay Adams Hotel
Whether you’re in the basement at Off The Record or on the Rooftop at Top of the Hay, you’re bound to have a fantastic time at this DC hotspot. We were hob-knobbing with 40-elected officials (thanks Kaiser!) at this swanky stop and it was easily one of our favorite parts of our Washington tour. When the lounge’s catchphrase is ‘Where happy hour lasts longer than an hour”, you know you’re in for a treat (and a few delicious cocktails, too)!
We can’t believe we were only in this beautiful city for a few days. Imagine what we could have done with a week! We can’t wait to be back in DC scavenging for more finds and delightful destinations!
