I wasn’t expecting the slow, laid back, relaxed pace that Washington D.C. offered. The non existent hustle and bustle that are the hallmarks of other major U.S. cities, were a welcomed absence in the nation’s capital…and I enjoyed every single minute of it!

Normally on vacations the goal is to “TURN UP” for the entire stay in a new city or country, but for me, this time, I wanted nothing but rest, relaxation, good food and quiet fun! We stayed at the beautiful Marriott Marquis in downtown D.C.! With my trusty personal travel agent by my side, I grabbed my camera, coats and boots and went out to explore the DMV! In no particular order, here are my top 5 memories!

The Food – This is the one thing we seem to luck out on, on every single trip! Thanks to Trip Advisor and their reliable and honest rates and comments, we scour for the best restaurants to visit on all our travels and end up with the most amazing dining experiences. Typical chain restaurants are never on the menu, as we try to find homegrown spots that are symbolic of the culture and mood of that particular city. We satisfied our tastebuds at several of them.

• Legal Seafoods – we had the best New England clam chowder, gumbo and crab cakes!
• Clyde’s – perfect for comfort food like chilli and we were introduced to an egg salad and smoked salmon sandwich.
• Busboys and Poets – for the artist in all of us! A great eclectic, colorful spot that pays homage to writers and artists, with great food!
• Cuba Libre – I love Spanish food so this was a must visit! The food was so good! From the bread, to the hand shaken daiquiris!
• Cadillac Ranch – An all-American bar and grill with the perfect mix of burger and fries and tuna tartare and mashed potatoes!
• Bakers and Baristas – Sorry Starbucks! We wanted a coffee shop that was born and raised in D.C. and found everything we were looking for here. Good coffee and hot chocolate, pastries, deli sandwiches and a D.C. feel!

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The Concerts – Listen! I got my life at the concerts we went to! Due to major flight delays, we got into D.C. about three hours later than expected. So after we arrived at the hotel and checked in, we had to head off to our first concert. Jetlagged, tired and hungry we couldn’t miss it!

• The Roots at The Fillmore – I didn’t know what to expect from The Roots, but the way the concert venue filled up so quickly with excited fans, I knew I was in for a treat. While waiting in the standing room section for a good 2 hours before the event started, the DJ certainly kept the crowd rocking in the meantime! The Roots put on an amazing show!

• Ms. Lauryn Hill – LISTEN! I don’t usually get starstruck, but when I do, it’s in the presence of greatness! I absolutely love Lauryn Hill, so when I learned we got tickets to her show I was elated! A perfectionist at heart, a true artist, a lover of her fans, a damn good singer and musician, Lauryn Hill was everything! Her concert was held at the Howard Theater where she sang me back in time with “Zion”, “That Thing”, “Killing me Softly” and some of her new material! She is amazing!

The Sightseeing – I’m a real tourist! I love to go sightseeing in new places and visiting historical landmarks, monuments and buildings and what better place to do this than in D.C.? From visiting the White House, to the Lincoln Memorial, the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, The World War II Memorial and the Washington Monument…we traveled throughout the National Mall and loved every bit of it.

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The Nightlife – So yes, partying wasn’t a part of my main agenda but I slipped it in their just because!

• Sax Lounge – this was the first stop and was so beautiful and dreamy. It screamed old school glamour with it’s chandeliers and red velvet seating and reminded of those clubs where men got dressed in bow ties and the women wore gloves up to their elbows to attend.
• POV – who gets to party right opposite the White House and use the Washington Monument as their backdrop for photos and a good time! POV is located in the W Hotel and has the most amazing location and view. Seeing as this was the last night in town, it was only right that we copped a VIP table and a bottle of something! 🙂

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The New Year’s Eve Party – My winter vacations are usually designed around a NYE party! This trip, it was all about Big Night D.C. at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center – an epic NYE party spread across 8 ballrooms, with live bands, DJs, a silent disco…and BIZ MARKIE!

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Let’s see where NYE 2016 takes me!

Check out my Who. What. Wear. (Washington D.C.) blog here for details on all my looks!