Are you a Hawkeye visiting from out of town? Welcome to the nation’s capital! Over 1000 University of Iowa alumni and friends call this area home, and we want you to enjoy it as much as we do while you’re here.
Everyone knows about the White House, the Smithsonians, the Capitol and other monuments on the national mall, but what are the hidden gems? We asked our members to recommend the best places in DC for just about everything. Below is a list of recommendations of tours, sports bars and restaurants by fellow Iowans for Iowans.
Make sure you check our Events Calendar to see if there are any events planned during your stay that you can join.
Everyone knows about the White House, the Smithsonians, the Capitol and other monuments on the national mall, but what are the hidden gems? We asked our members to recommend the best places in DC for just about everything. Below is a list of recommendations of tours, sports bars and restaurants by fellow Iowans for Iowans.
Make sure you check our Events Calendar to see if there are any events planned during your stay that you can join.
Tours
Bureau of Engraving and PrintingSee millions of dollars being printed! Public tours of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing are available Monday through Friday, and free, timed tickets for public tours are handed out at the 14th street entrance starting at 8:00AM Monday through Friday.
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Holocaust Memorial MuseumThis is an extremely powerful museum – as well as extremely popular. Tickets are extremely limited and lines are long, so it’s worth ordering advance tickets for a nominal fee ($1).
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Kennedy Center of Performing ArtsCatch a show or take a tour of the nation’s performing arts center and living memorial to President John F. Kennedy. Information about shows and tours are available on their website. One of the best deals is to catch a free performance every day at 6:00 p.m. at their Millennium Stage.
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Library of CongressTake a free hour walking tour or attend a lecture or concert at the historic Jefferson Building. A full schedule of events is listed on their website.
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National Cathedral
A beautiful building with gardens, exhibits, and if your timing is right, live music! The National Cathedral offers different types of tours at different price points, including a “Tour & Tea” and “Spiritual Reflections Tour”. More details are listed on their website.
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Pentagon
Check out the source of military's offices as well as the 9/11 memorials inside and outside the building. You can request a tour of the Pentagon through a more formal process. Fill out the form on their website.
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Heurich House MuseumOne of Washington's best-kept secrets, The Brewmaster's Castle is the most intact late-Victorian home in the country, and a Landmark on the National Register of Historic Places.
What Iowan's have to Say: I would like to recommend Heurich House for a tour. It is a mansion just a block south of Dupont Circle, was built in 1894 by the only brewery magnate to live in Washington, DC. It is German in decor, has beautiful carved wooden fireplaces (yes, wood!) and there are 17 of them! It is a lovely tour, includes the family history, takes about an hour, and they just ask for a 5 dollar donation at the door. They have 3 tours on Saturdays, I think the hrs are 11:30am, 1pm, and 2:30pm. A friend and I went last fall and it was lovely. Then we did a little window shopping and lunch right there at the Circle. A little known gem, right in the middle of everything downtown. |
George Washington Masonic MemorialThe George Washington Masonic Memorial is more than a colossal memorial and museum. It is a tourist attraction and destination; research center and library; community center; performing arts center and concert hall; banquet and celebration site; and meeting site for local and countless visiting Masonic lodges and organizations. Located in Alexandria, VA.
What Iowan's have to Say: I nominate the crazy George Washington Masonic Monument in Alexandria as the best non-famous monument and/or tour. Not only does it look like a phallic wedding cake on the Alexandria skyline, but it has a bizarre collection of stuff inside: an Egyptian room, a Medieval room, one of the largest Persian rugs in the world, a giant mechanized model Shriners parade, and lots of secret rooms & weird Masonic symbols. One of the strangest tours I've ever been on. |
Albert Einstein StatueNot really a tour, but definitely a hidden gem. The statue is one of the most popular in Washington, particularly with school groups. The relaxed, informal pose of Einstein lends itself to great group photos and it's one of the few statues for which no one will yell at you if you climb in his lap. Located at the corner of Constitution Ave and 23rd St NW in Potomac Park
What Iowan's have to Say: Kind of hidden, but a must stop for tourists. |
Recommended Sports Bars
(non-gamewatch locations)
To visit our official Iowa bars, go to our gamewatch page
Ivy and Coney aims to be a great, little bar with simple drinks and food, sports, music and good conversation. We try to leave pretension at the door and have a shot and a beer in its place. Cheers.
Located in Shaw neighborhood by the Convention Center. What Iowan's have to Say: This is the Chicago bar for the Cubs fan. Almost as good as Wrigleyville, well, almost... |
Penn Social is your solution to boredom! We are a multi-faceted establishment capable of catering to the needs of almost every group’s needs — large or small.
Our space boasts 13,000 square feet over two floors, with 3 bars, patio seating, 30+ draught beers, 2 stages and tons of games. Penn Social facilitates game watches, corn hole leagues, trivia, and gameshows, skeeball, shuffle board, foosball and even more- we have something for everyone. What Iowan's have to Say: This is a great sports bar in the fall for all the college football you can handle. |
Restaurants
Capitol City Brew CompanyCapitol City Brewing Co. opened its doors in 1992 as the first brew pub in our nation's capitol since prohibition, thus giving its citizens and its many visitors the freedom to enjoy some of the finest hand-crafted beer in the country.
What Iowan's have to Say: A Washington DC tradition at it's best. |
Hank's Oyster BarAt Hank’s Oyster Bar patrons enjoy coastal favorites and New England beach fare classics like lobster rolls, daily fish specials and meat ‘n’ two. Lightly fried items such as the popcorn shrimp and calamari and Ipswich clams balance Hank’s ice bar options which consist of a selection of raw oysters, tartar and ceviche.
What Iowan's have to Say: Great east coast food for those Midwestern travelers. |
Agua 301Agua 301 celebrates the culture and cuisine of Mexico taking contemporary Mexican cuisine and infusing it with modern flair. This is not Tex Mex! Our chef tweaks traditional Mexican ingredients and flavor profiles through experimental ingredient combinations and serves it up waterside in Yards Park.
What Iowan's have to Say: This is a great place owned by an alum which has a great view of Navy Yard and close to Nat's Stadium. |