13 Reasons Fall is the Perfect Time to Visit Washington, DC

A Fall Day in the Napa Valley III Ι 
A Fall Day in the Napa Valley III Ι  | © James Daisa/Flickr
Nicole Hampton

The cherry blossoms and paddleboats that are the signs of springtime in Washington, DC can sometimes steal the show. But there is nothing quite like the endless activity and things to see that comes with fall. There’s much more to it than cool weather and auburn leaves raining down on us. Among the fantastic fall foliage, there’s less of you-know-who (tourists), fall festivals galore, and fireplaces that are outside the home. Here’s how to make an awesome time out of DC, fall style.

Fewer tourists

Even for the tourists, this is a good thing. You get to go to all the sightseeing monuments and important museums without any other selfie stick getting in the way of yours. It’s also one of the most beautiful times of the year, besides the famous cherry blossom season, and there are plenty of local spots and festivals to check out to get really immersed in the DC culture.

DC in the fall

Weather

Free stuff

This always makes it to the best things about DC lists, but it is especially true when all the free stuff has a gorgeous, leaf-changing-color backdrop. It’s more scenic than even the cherry blossoms, and much less crowded since you can find it in every park and garden in DC. If you’d like to spend some time indoors, go to one of the free concerts at the National Gallery of Art, or many of the other galleries and museums among the city that are free of charge.

Museum at Eldridge Street in New York City

Attractions

Full disclosure: fall doesn’t only happen in DC, although we do do it best. There are plenty of places around the city that are well worth the day trip. Take Skyline Drive through Shenandoah National Park, and set up camp for the day or the weekend. George Washington’s Mount Vernon is always an enjoyable day trip, and there is nothing like a good wine tour in autumn.

The foliage

Oh, how your Instagram will stand out from the crowd with eye-catching auburn and yellow hues and top notch autumn vibes. Some of the best places to get those like-worthy pictures are The National Mall, the monuments and memorials, and Rock Creek Park.

Halloween

We have it all for a spooktacular holiday. After-hour zoo events, one for kids and one that’s an adult version. Fright Fest at Six Flags from September 23 to October 27. A drag queen race in heels down 17th Street, a mansion scavenger hunt, and several bars and pop-ups that are going all out for the haunting holiday.

Courtesy of Black Country Living Museum

Holidays

Speaking of holidays, there’s more celebrated in autumn than any other time of year. We have Labor Day in September, Halloween in October, and Veterans Day and Thanksgiving in November. So you have your options of which events you’d like best—a good scare for the kids in the zoo or seeing the President pardon a turkey.

Pay tribute

Another option is Veterans Day, where you can pay tribute to servicemen and women at many of the memorials and monuments. Almost all museums in the city portray military history, which brings awareness to the sacrifices that American soldiers have made to protect their country. There are commemorations at the memorials and museums to honor the holiday.

Concerts and theater

This is the best time to experience the culture of the capital. It’s when the action starts, when performers can be on stage for hours without breaking a sweat and everyone wants to drink outdoors. Each week you can find a new play or concert happening in the city. The Anthem, one of the larger music venues in DC, is ready to blow your mind with the concerts they’ll be hosting. The National Theatre always has exciting hits coming out. Here’s more on the best concerts to go to this fall.

Beyoncé

Root for the home team

Fall means only one thing to a lot of people in DC—sports season is here. Be a part of the waves of sports fans that come to see the Nationals play baseball, the Capital play hockey, and the Wizards dribble down the court. If you’re not much of a sports fan, at least come for the tailgates.

Beer gardens

DC has a love affair with beer gardens, and fall is the perfect time to see what we’re all head over heels for. It takes you out of time and place for a moment, and suddenly you’re celebrating Oktoberfest in Munich with your friends and coworkers. Go to Biergarten Haus, Dacha Beer Garden, The Brig, The Midlands, or many others and raise a traditional brat and stein of beer to fall glory.

Beer

Outdoor festivals

When the weather starts to cool, Washingtonians need a reason to be outdoors, and DC gives it to us. Some of the biggest festivals in the capital happen from September to November, like Taste of Georgetown, Colonial Fall Harvest at Mount Vernon, H Street Festival, Capital Food Fight, and the Oyster Riot at the historic Old Ebbitt Grill. Here’s more on the best fall festivals.

The fireplaces

It seems as if more and more restaurants and bars around the city are making fireplaces a must-have. Hopefully enough that even the Chipotle on the corner will have one someday. It gives every restaurant a cozy, homie vibe that can’t be matched without it, and makes the food and drinks feel like it just came out of your grandmother’s kitchen, even if you’re having an apple martini and ribeye.

Roaring fire
landscape with balloons floating in the air

KEEN TO EXPLORE THE WORLD?

Connect with like-minded people on our premium trips curated by local insiders and with care for the world

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.

Winter Sale Offers on Our Trips

Incredible Savings

X
Edit article