WASHINGTON 鈥� 听With congested roadways, never-ending Metro track work and high rates for city parking, sometimes it鈥檚 nice to plant yourself in one place 鈥� even for a whole day.
Thankfully, in D.C., there are plenty of neighborhoods where you can do just that. Some areas are perfect for bouncing between cocktails and dinner, while others are great for slow Sunday mornings 鈥� and quite a few provide a mix of both.
The next time you鈥檙e making plans and want to keep all the activity within a block or two, here are some destinations worth checking out:
Connecticut Avenue, between Nebraska and Fessenden This is the perfect block to spend a relaxing Sunday morning. Start with a cup of coffee and a paper at (opens at 8 a.m.) inside D.C.鈥檚 famed bookstore听. When the bookstore opens at 10 a.m., spend some time perusing the stacks of staff picks, sale books and new fiction. Kids will also love the children鈥檚 room, which is filled with old and new favorites. Then, grab another coffee and mid-morning snack next door at . Sit outside on the patio and watch the neighborhood go by, or thumb through your recent bookstore purchases. You can also pick up a few local cheeses, a baguette and a bottle of wine for an easy dinner. Lunch at is the perfect way to end the morning, and if you feel so inclined, you can continue your Sunday Funday across the street at . 听 (Photo: Coffee at Little Red Fox, 草莓传媒/Rachel Nania)
Photo: Coffee at Little Red Fox, 草莓传媒/Rachel Nania
Upshur Street, between Georgia Avenue and 8th Street NW Two of the three D.C. restaurants that landed on Bon App茅tit鈥檚 list of are on the same block 鈥� and they鈥檙e just two options diners have when they visit Upshur Street in Petworth. and have the food world buzzing, but , and 听are also worth checking out on this stretch. Go hungry 鈥� maybe wear your stretchy pants. (Photo: Tacos at Taqueria del Barrio, Courtesy Jai Williams)
Photo: Tacos at Taqueria del Barrio, Courtesy Jai Williams
T Street NW, between 14th and 13th One of the best places to hang out on a weekend afternoon is the intersection of T and 14th streets NW. In just a small block, the options for eating are endless. on T Street serves Cuban coffee, small bites and cocktails. There鈥檚 also , 听and within an arm鈥檚 length. On the other side of T Street is , which has an endless number of showrooms displaying modern furniture and design, and across 14th Street, there鈥檚 , and for drinks and dinner. If you need to squeeze some errands into your fun day, Trader Joe鈥檚 is just a few doors down. 听 (Photo: Ice Cream Jubilee, 草莓传媒/Rachel Nania)
Photo: Ice Cream Jubilee, 草莓传媒/Rachel Nania
Tingey Street SE to Water Street SE You won鈥檛 find all of these businesses on the same block per se, but you don鈥檛 have to walk far to get to each. The Yards has something for everyone: There鈥檚 the and for families, for craft beer enthusiasts, and and for food lovers, plus plenty of greenery and waterfront views听鈥� all along the Anacostia Riverwalk Trail. And this fall, D.C.鈥檚 first urban winery, , will open in the area. (Photo: The splash/water park at Yards Park, Getty Images/Alex Wong) (Getty Images/Alex Wong)
Getty Images/Alex Wong
5th and Penn streets NE There鈥檚 plenty to do (and eat) inside D.C.鈥檚 , but there are other activities outside the warehouse, as well. Across 5th Street NE, there鈥檚 听distillery, where visitors can do a rum tasting and order cocktails;听 houses pop-up businesses. On the other side of Penn Street NE, there鈥檚 the , an independent movie theater, and . One can spend hours at this destination, especially when there鈥檚 an art fair at Dock 5 or a festival in Union Market鈥檚 parking lot. 听 (Photo: Cotton & Reed, Courtesy Cotton & Reed)
Photo: Cotton & Reed, Courtesy Cotton & Reed
V Street between 8th and 9th streets NW There鈥檚 more to do on V Street than go to a show at D.C.鈥檚 famous . In the last few years, the neighborhood has exploded with restaurants, residences and entertainment options. Before a concert, grab a meal at , or . serves boozy milkshakes, and听 shows new releases and independent flicks. 听 (Photo: Landmark Atlantic Plumbing Cinema, 草莓传媒/Rachel Nania)
Photo: Landmark Atlantic Plumbing Cinema, 草莓传媒/Rachel Nania
Photo: Chaia, Courtesy Chaia
Photo: Noodles at Maketto, 草莓传媒/Rachel Nania
8th Street SE between E and G streets Pop into for a class or tasting, breeze through an exhibit at , and choose from a number of restaurants for a dinner out, including , and . If you feel like venturing off the block, there are plenty of shops and eateries, plus Eastern Market just across Pennsylvania Avenue. (Photo: A tasting at DCanter, 草莓传媒/Rachel Nania)
Photo: A tasting at DCanter, 草莓传媒/Rachel Nania
