One Day in Washington, DC: See the Most in 24 Hours
If you had only one day in Washington, DC, just 24 hours to take in the monuments, museums, and stories that define America’s capital, where would you go?
This episode lays out the definitive plan to see the very best of DC without wasting a minute. From sunrise at the Lincoln Memorial to standing under the dome of the Capitol, we’ll show you how to fit a week’s worth of history and culture into one unforgettable day.
Along the way, we’ll explore the highlights every visitor expects, the White House, the Washington Monument, the Smithsonian museums, but also the details most people miss. Where can you actually eat near the Mall without losing precious time? Which museums are worth stepping into when you’ve only got an hour? And how do you line up your day so you’re walking forward through history, not doubling back and losing daylight?
This is more than just a sightseeing checklist. It’s the story of Washington, DC told through its landmarks, its neighborhoods, and the way these places connect to the country’s past and present.
Whether you’re planning your first trip to the capital or just want to understand how the city works as a living stage of American history, this one-day journey will give you a new way to see DC, efficient, thoughtful, and unforgettable.
Chad’s Top DC Picks
Dupont Circle
A historic, stylish neighborhood and gathering point in NW DC, centered on a fountain-roundabout. Think elegant embassies, quiet residential side streets, lively shops and cafés, and a sense of constant energy—perfect for strolling and people-watching.
📍 Intersection of Massachusetts, Connecticut & New Hampshire Avenues NW, plus P St & 19th St NW, Washington, DC
🌐 washington.org – Dupont Circle
Kramerbooks & Afterwords (“Kramers”)
More than just a bookstore: a landmark indie bookshop with a café and bar. Browse new titles, linger over meals, catch an author event, or simply soak up the Dupont Circle vibe.
📍 1517 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC 20036
🌐 kramers.com
Second Story Books
One of the best used and rare bookstores in the DC area. Great for uncovering out-of-print treasures, bargains, or rare finds. The Dupont Circle location is especially charming.
📍 2000 P Street NW, Washington, DC 20036
🌐 secondstorybooks.com
O Museum in The Mansion (Mansion on O Street)
A delightfully eccentric DC landmark with over 100 rooms, dozens of secret doors, and a rotating collection of art and memorabilia. Every visit is an adventure.
📍 2020 O Street NW, Washington, DC 20036
🌐 omuseum.org
Union Market
A bustling food and culture hub in NE DC. Part gourmet hall, part community space, with local vendors, global flavors, and plenty of energy.
📍 1309 5th St NE, Washington, DC 20002
🌐 unionmarketdc.com
Matchbox
A reliable neighborhood favorite for creative pizzas, sliders, and comfort food. Friendly atmosphere with multiple convenient DC locations.
📍 Capitol Hill: 521 8th St SE, Washington, DC 20003
📍 Penn Quarter: 750 E St NW, Washington, DC 20004
🌐 matchboxrestaurants.com
Franciscan Monastery Garden
A hidden oasis in Brookland featuring gardens, replicas of Holy Land shrines, serene walking paths, and beautiful architecture. A quiet escape within the city.
📍 1400 Quincy Street NE, Washington, DC 20017
🌐 myfranciscan.org
United States National Arboretum
A sprawling 446-acre research facility and public garden. Home to bonsai and penjing collections, wide meadows, trails, and the famous Capitol Columns. Free admission.
📍 3501 New York Avenue NE, Washington, DC 20002
🌐 usna.usda.gov
Jaxson’s Serves Up Great Food & the “Kitchen Sink”
Stepping into Jaxson’s Ice Cream Parlor & Restaurant in Dania Beach is like stepping into a time capsule of Americana.
The rustic interior has been the signature at this South Florida institution since the 1960s. That’s when late owner Monroe Udell started to display his immense collection of antiques and license plates from across the country.
The eclectic decor has only grown in size over the years and it’s one of the reasons families keep coming back.
Another reason is the food.
Jaxson’s is known for delicious ice cream. Dozens of flavors with names like Tropical Coconut, Rum Raisin, and Fudge Ripple are made in-house everyday using the same methods that have been used for decades. While you can order a simple scoop in a dish or cone, most regulars opt for a Colossal Parfait, a Spectacular Goblet, Banana Split, or Hot Fudge Sundae.
Hot fudge sundae with Rocky Road and Mint Chocolate Chip.
Varieties of ice cream and toppings are endless. A fan favorite only available to parties of four or more continues to be Jaxson’s Original Kitchen Sink — a gargantuan sundae topped with sparklers and accompanied by an old-fashioned siren.
The restaurant is also a popular lunch and dinner spot serving up large portions of comfort food. (You can’t go wrong with Jaxson’s Titanic Burger, one of the Hot Diggity Dogs, a hot deli sandwich or a gourmet platter.) The best part of all is that you get a bowl of freshly-popped pop-corn while waiting for your food!
And if you’re looking for that vintage brand of candy you haven’t seen in years, it’s probably at Jaxson’s in the candy shop. You’re guaranteed to take something home. Even hand packed ice cream, which is available by the heaping pint or a heaping quart!
A Town Built on Fried Green Tomatoes
Well off the beaten path near Macon, Georgia is the small town of Juliette. To movie goers, this unincorporated community is perhaps best known as Whistle Stop, Alabama — the fictional town where the 1991 film Fried Green Tomatoes is set.
Evelyn Couch is having trouble in her marriage, and no one seems to take her seriously. While in a nursing home visiting relatives, she meets Ninny Threadgoode, an outgoing old woman, who tells her the story of Idgie Threadgoode, a young woman in 1920’s Alabama. Through Idgie’s inspiring life, Evelyn learns to be more assertive and builds a lasting friendship of her own with Ninny.
The film’s producers chose Juliette because, at the time, it was almost completely abandoned, giving them the look and feel they wanted for the Depression-era story. They transformed a building that had been used as a general merchandise store into the famous Whistle Stop Cafe. A horseshoe counter was built inside to allow for easy camera movement.
After the film’s success at the box office, Juliette suddenly found itself a hot spot on the map. Folks started to open up antique and gift shops with merchandise geared toward fans of the movie.
Locals kept the Whistle Stop Cafe a homestyle eatery that serves authentic southern cuisine like fried chicken, country fried steak, pork chops, sandwiches and salads, peach cobbler and pound cake. Of course the star of the menu will forever be fried green tomatoes.
