I would drop Dupont/waterfront from Day 3 and spread Day 2 over both 2 and 3. Dupont Circle and the waterfront are okay for going out for dinner but not worth a full day unless you have some particular connection to them.

100% recommend visiting the mall and monuments w a capital bikeshare bicycle rental. Every time I have fam in from out of town we rent bikes and it’s fantastic.

Do an early morning in DuPont grabbing coffee and checking out books. Then go check out the mall or closer to Georgetown.

Your site, but may I suggest DC + metro accessible at least. For example, this sub will overwhelmingly vote Pho 75 the best in that category and it's in Rosslyn

Even the Michelin guide isn't that strict

Great point.

Maybe even 10 per Yelp, given you’d go to all 10 or even half. Personally, I live in that place called NOVA and work near Gallery Place so only a few matter in my local.

It takes a long time. I think I submitted end of January 2022 and didnt get a NOE until end of March. Some of the partner organizations submit applications in monthly bunches, so that could add a few weeks delay, but eight weeks I think is typical. So it should be soon. The GW Urban League Staff are very nice and will field questions if you're call them directly.

I started the process with my first webinar early December 2021. So it was almost four months from starting to getting a NOE, and then a while after that to find a house, get under contract, and close. It is a very long process.

And the absence of the piss/weed/stale subway ashy air smell

There’s at least three

Besides all the other stuff noted, I want to say that New York City is a whole other beast. I lived in downtown Philadelphia (which I would say is possibly more busy that DC depending on time of day), and had no issues. I've travelled to many cities and have had no issues but I really don't like being in NYC for more than a couple days. It's a great city but it's dirty, and crowded (and I still think its great for most people) but definitely a bigger "culture" shock compared to DC.

Unless you’re really moving day 2 is too much

I figured day 2 had more sights but they were all close and quick hits with memorials and what not!

Does the morning checking out national mall/monuments and memorials then the afternoon checking out the capital buildings sound doable or should I shift any of it to day 3

I'm already looking forward to the follow-up post on how things are going.

Day 2 is way too much depending on how long you want to spend at each place

Bookstores - new and especially used. I’ve lived in Boston, London, and NYC, and DC/the greater metro area is hands down the best for an inveterate bibliophile like me.

Baltimore Bike Party, it's on Fridays

One thing to note is that DC is a Southern city. I'm from further north on the East Coast where ignore and walk away is definitely the thing to do. But in DC, I've found that even if you don't want to engage, nodding no politely, or a "sorry" no (thanks) is good to defuse potential hostility. Most people will just then move on.

NY bagels and pizza are overrated as fuck

I think DC is just prettier in general. I suspect the lack of skyscrapers plays quite a big part in the greenery being so widespread.

Coming back to DC from NYC feels almost serene. Especially if you ride the metro, you have a good 3 months of loving it after experiencing the NYC subway

If you’re not comfortable with buses and metro, walking is a hell of a thing here. I recommend you set an exploration plan for yourself. If you love donuts, find the best donut place in each neighborhood and use getting there as practice and a way to see parts of the city along the way. Sometimes it’s overwhelming how much you can do here but it also means you’re not losing out because you can find whatever fits your fancy.

Take advantage of your student discount. Check out smaller, live music places that play genres you like. People are pretty friendly in those spaces.

this x 1000

Everyone rightly talks shit about how awful DC summer is. Winter isn’t great either, though it’s far from as bad as someplace like Chicago. DC in the spring and autumn, though, is absolutely fucking beautiful*

*i do not get bad seasonal allergies, YMMV

When you live with so few people, a community finds you. In a city, you have to make your community. In DC, there are casual sports leagues, religious or political orgs, community service groups, alumni associations, your future classmates, even certain types of gyms are geared towards groups. Find a hobby you enjoy with people you enjoy and lean into it. Then the city won’t feel so big. Also walk like youre in a rush at all times when alone🤣

Counterpoint: tiddi

Hey, you’re on r/washingtondc, did you forget the rules??? Metro is always bad according to me, a person who hasn’t ridden the train for years. Also fare evaders should be executed on sight or something