Washington DC Things to Do

Independence Day is well-known in the U.S. for being a holiday in which one can enjoy fireworks and parades – but the historical significance (July 4th being the day the Declaration of Independence was approved) makes Washington DC in particular a perfect location to experience this showcase of patriotism and American tradition. After all, what better place to celebrate the birth of a nation than the nation’s capital?

Just like her Spanish grandfather, Maricar Donato had always dreamed of traveling far away lands, which is why she ended up in the Travel and Tourism Industry for the past 35 years. Because he moved to the Philippines as a soldier before meeting her grandmother and setting up a permanent base, Maricar grew up speaking Spanish, Tagalog, and English, the three of which have become the basis for her ability to speak and give tours in 6 different languages. Maricar now lives and works as a local guide in Washington DC, providing an interesting take and perspective on this American capital district. With tours like ‘The Spanish Stroll’, ‘Italia: Cuore e Cultura’, and ‘Obamarama Power Trip’, she strives to showcase the city ‘through the lens of cultural diversity’.

Happy Hour at a bar or restaurant has the tendency to evoke images of done-with-work sighs and jolly group hangouts. Sightseers are perfectly content with relaxing at the bar a bit early after a long day of lines, crowds, and navigating. There are, of course, too many options for happy hour locales in our nation’s capital to list them all here, but below are some great picks in Washington DC (all of them not too far from where you’ll be all day) to mark on your map.