A couple months ago we got to explore Washington D.C. — a family trip squeezed around one of Shinod's work meetings.
DC is a city that I once called home, filled with community I love dearly. It was also a city where I made a life decision that changed everything. I had a job I loved, a career that made sense on paper, and I said yes to leaving it — to moving to India, to work I couldn't fully explain to people yet. I had no idea that yes would lead to Shinod, to Lily, to kantha, to Dignify. I just knew I had to go.
So going back with all of them felt like something I didn't quite have words for.
We brought a kantha. Obviously.
Day 1 — Sunday: Arrival + Capitol Hill
The kantha came out before we even landed.
The flight was cold, snacks were abundant (#lifewithatoddler), and somewhere over the eastern seaboard a toddler needed a pillow. Some call it a blanket, we also call it a crumb catcher, makeshift pillow, swaddle for her baby doll — all before 10am.
This is what we mean when we say a kantha travel blanket earns its place.
(Wondering if you can actually bring a blanket on a plane? Yes — and it doesn't even count as a carry-on. We wrote the full guide here.)
If I've learned anything getting older, it's that being able to pivot with ease and joy is one of life's greatest and most valuable skills.
We'd planned on heading straight to the Washington Nationals season kick-off the moment we landed — so Shinod could experience his first glorious baseball game in real life. We were so excited. And then: a big hiccup at the car rental center. We made some new friends and all waited together for over an hour. By the time we got out of there, the game was already over.
That evening, we met dear friends from our days living in India and spent hours reminiscing over dinner.
Day 2 — Monday: Capitol Hill, the Mall & the Lincoln Memorial
Capitol Hill is truly special. It's my old neighborhood from years ago — the streets I walked for years before I moved to India. We passed Frederick Douglass' former home on A Street NE. We stopped in front of the row house I used to live in.
I just adore the historic row houses, the stories that mark those streets, the beautiful vines climbing brick homes. There's lot of great breakfast spots like Jimmy T's and Eastern Market. We landed at Ted's Bulletin and it was lovely. 10/10 recommend.
Then: a Capitol tour. Lily was completely unimpressed by the rotunda and absolutely delighted by a marble floor she could slide across.
It was special to be exploring it with my whole family.
That afternoon we spread the kantha on the grass near the monuments and had a picnic. The airline had lost our stroller on the way in, so we'd grabbed a temporary one — the kantha had already been Lily's layer for miles of walking, tucked around her whenever she needed it.
We brought a Classic. It was versatile enough and perfect for the three of us — though I thought more than once that a Large would've been the right call for all of us properly spread out on the grass.
That evening we walked to the Lincoln Memorial. We stood there for a while — the three of us, Lily asleep on Shinod's shoulder — and I thought about all the times I'd stood in that same spot alone. There's something about going back to a place that knew a younger version of you.
Just nearby is the People's Museum — a gem of a find that tells the stories of the many people who serve in the White House across administrations, regardless of party. The butlers, the chefs, the housekeepers, the staffers who show up faithfully no matter who is in office. It's a beautiful reminder that so much of what keeps things running is the quiet, committed work of ordinary people. We loved it.
Day 3 — Tuesday: The Zoo, the Museums & Ethiopian Food
Morning at the Smithsonian National Zoo, a perk I'm appreciating even more in this season of parenting is the many free activities and museums for kids. Go early before the heat settles in.
In the afternoon we headed to the National Museum of the American Indian, specifically the imagiNATIONS Activity Center. It's a wonderful, relatively unknown interactive kids' space that was honestly one of the best finds of the whole trip. Hands-on, thoughtful and Lily was fully absorbed.
We had dinner at a wonderful Ethiopian restaurant called Feru that was exactly what we were hoping for.
We had hoped to visit our old friends at the International Justice Mission office while we were in the city — a mission that is very close to our hearts. It didn't come together this trip. Next time, for sure.
It was sweet to be back in such a different life season — a new person who's experienced so much since I lived there. And the best parts, the people and the places that exist outside of politics, are still the heartbeat of the city for me. That hasn't changed.
We're already talking about where the kantha blanket goes next.
A few of our recommendations & favorites
Places to eat:
- Little Pearl — A beautiful coffee and pastry spot on Capitol Hill. The kind of place you want to linger in on a slow morning.
- Ben's Chili Bowl — A DC institution. Half-smoke, chili, history on the walls. You have to go at least once.
- Rose's Luxury — For a special dinner without kids. It's Michelin-rated, which feels extra-fancy to us. Warm, inventive, genuinely wonderful. The staff is generous and will always bring a complimentary dish. I once had Strawberry Spaghetti (!) and often think about how delicious it was.
- Malai — A South Asian-inspired ice cream handcrafted by founder Pooja Bavishi from the spices of her childhood. Cardamom, rose with cinnamon-roasted almonds, masala chai. You'll want to try more than one scoop.
- Feru — There's just nothing like it. We love the injera bread, veggie sides and the experience of home-style ethiopian food.
- Eastern Market — Weekend market on Capitol Hill with fresh produce, flowers, art, and food vendors. A neighborhood staple worth building a morning around.
- Union Market — A cute, quaint food hall in NoMa with a rotating cast of great vendors. Good for grazing with a toddler, and a darling curated shop inside.
Things to do:
- Downtown Alexandria + the Waterfront — A short drive from DC and a completely different pace. Walkable, charming, and great for a slow afternoon with kids by the water.
- Renwick Gallery — The Smithsonian's art and craft museum just off the Mall. Stunning building, thoughtful exhibits, and almost always less crowded than its neighbors.
- Jazz in the Garden at the National Gallery of Art — Friday evenings in the summer, live jazz in the outdoor sculpture garden. Free, easy, and genuinely lovely. Bring a blanket and a snack.
- Eastern Market on a weekend morning — Half errand, half outing. Great neighborhood energy.
Pro tips and resources:
- 111 Places in Washington D.C. That You Must Not Miss for Kids is a wonderful resource written by our friend Austin Graff and his daughter Addie — it's a handy guide to exploring DC with children, neighborhood by neighborhood. He's lived there for decades and has so many unexpected gems beyond the well-known monuments.
- Book your building tours weeks in advance — Tours of the Capitol Building, the White House, and the FBI Building are all free but need to be requested ahead of time through your local representative or congressman. Don't wait until you're planning — do it early.
