I recently traveled to Washington, D.C., for a family wedding. We stayed at InterContinental Washington, D.C. – The Wharf, also the site of the wedding. We took the opportunity to make it a long weekend and explore The Wharf and some museums.

After checking into the hotel, we enjoyed a late lunch outside at Hank’s Oyster Bar. We shared small plates of calamari and octopus, plus oysters from the raw bar. I opted for an arugula, avocado and asparagus salad and added shrimp. Between the beautiful weather and refreshing meal, our trip was off to a great start!

The next day we had no wedding obligations, so we spent time exploring museums. Before we made our way out, we decided to fuel up with brunch at Bistro Du Jour. My simple but perfect plate of eggs, potatoes, bacon and a croissant hit the spot. We then decided to walk to our first museum of the day: Smithsonian National Museum of American History. The museum featured interesting collections from our nation’s history. I particularly enjoyed an exhibit on the First Ladies, with gowns and presidential china on display. Up next, we went to Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. I have been to this museum many times before, but the stunning displays never fail to amaze me. Our final museum was National Gallery of Art. We made our way through much of the collection and made a stop in the café for a snack and coffee.

The rest of the weekend was spent with family, preparing for and celebrating the wedding. The hotel is a perfect location for an event, and everything was perfect.

— Katie Skrzek, vice president/digital director