Some cities are bright during the day when the sun is shining; others glitter at night when the city lights are on. Washington DC does both. The city is fun and enjoyable during the day and also at night. I have been to the nation’s capital several times in my life. I have actually toured most of the famous memorials and monuments in the city. But I have always taken these tours during the day. On my last visit to Washington DC last year, I decided to spice things up a little bit. I decided to experience the city at night. On my previous visits, I had occasionally visited a pub at night or caught a late night show but I had never planned a full night out. This time I decided to have all my fun at night in the big city. The experience was memorable and here’s why.
Take A Night Tour Of The City’s Memorials And Monuments
The first thing that I can tell you about DC is that the city never sleeps. After touring the city so many times during the day, I never imagined what it was like at night. During the day the city is bustling with people and traffic. But at night it’s more peaceful and all the good places are still open. I started my night in DC with a city tour. You can take a personal tour of the city or go on a guided night tour with a group. I joined a group from my hotel and we went on a guided tour. It was amazing. We visited all those famous memorials and monuments that you see during the day; the Lincoln Memorial, the Washington Monument, the Jefferson Memorial, and many others. They are spectacularly lit at night and the view is breathtaking. The best part is that there were fewer tourists at night and hence you could take your sweet time to see everything and even to take photos. I can confidently say that the best time to tour Washington DC is at night.
Visit The Smithsonian Museums
I never knew that most of the Smithsonian Museums do not close that early. Some of the museums like the National Air and Space museum, National Museum of Natural History, and the National of American History are open in the early evening. You can even catch a talk or an exhibition at this hour. I visited these museums on my second night in DC at it was incredible.
Catch A Sports Game
You will get all kinds of sporting events in the capital at all hours of the day and night. Whether you are into basketball, baseball, hockey, football, soccer, or any other game, you can count on a live match on most evenings. The city’s teams include the Washington Wizards, Washington Nationals, Washington Capitals, Washington Redskins, and the D.C. United for soccer.
Hit The Bars In Dupont Circle
And you can’t say that you have tasted the nightlife in any city without hitting the hottest clubs. The right place to be at night in DC is Dupont Circle. This is the happening circle in the city. There are many pubs, sports bars, and restaurants offering all kinds of treats to patrons at night.