10 Things to Do in Washington DC in Fall

There are many reasons why autumn is considered the best season of the year to visit Washington DC. Starting with the autumn colours that stain the large green areas of the city and give us an unparalleled postcard and adding some unique events and festivities of these months to which we must add a good balance between the influx of visitors and the prices of the same in autumn.

For all these reasons, and apart from the usual things to see and do in Washington, in this post I'm going to recommend 10 perfect plans to make the most of the virtues of autumn. These plans are designed to get to know the best places in the city to enjoy good temperatures and autumn foliage.

An arboretum is a botanical garden dedicated especially to trees, practically a forest. And in the US capital you'll find one of the most spectacular ones you can visit.

Located in the eastern part of the city, about a 10-minute drive from the Capitol, this place is a favourite with locals and tourists in autumn thanks to the blanket of reddish colours that covers it and makes it one of the most beautiful postcards of Washington.

The National Arboretum features a variety of trees including conifers, picnic areas, walking trails and even a bonsai museum.

But the symbol of this place are the capitol columns. A monument formed by 22 original columns of the capitol that were installed in 1828 in its portico and that years later were removed when it was realised that they were badly placed and were moved to this spot. It is undoubtedly one of the places you must visit in Washington in autumn.

Information of interest

• Price: Free
• Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
• Location: New York Ave, Washington

A national park in the middle of Washington? Yes, it is. Rock Creek Park is an urban park in the northwest of the city, but it is recognised as a national park.

In fact, it's the third oldest national park in the United States, named in 1890, after Yellowstone National Park in 1872 and Mackinac National Park in 1875.

It covers an area of more than 7 square kilometres in which, in addition to a beautiful forest and a stream, there is a zoo, a golf course, a multitude of trails...

Autumn is its best season, not only because of the colours of the trees, but also because it is the best time to see animals, such as deer, in the forest.

From downtown Washington you can take the blue metro line to get there in just 50 minutes.

Information of interest

• Price: Free of charge
• Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
• Location: Glover Road, north of Washington

On any trip to Washington DC, you'll be visiting the National Mall. This 3-kilometre-long area is home to Washington's best and most important monuments, such as the Capitol, the Washington Monument Obelisk and the White House.

But in autumn you can give it a different approach, taking advantage of the fact that it is a green area that becomes more photogenic than ever in autumn.

Strolling through its many green areas is a real treat, especially if you love photography. The reddish colours combined with the autumn sunsets make this area one of the favourite places for amateur and professional photographers to take incredible postcards.

The area south of the National Mall, where the Thomas Jefferson Memorial is located, among others, is the best in this respect, being around a lagoon on the banks of the Potomac River and with abundant vegetation.

Veterans Day is a very special day in the United States. It is celebrated every 11 November, the date on which the armistice of the First World War was signed, to honour those veterans who have fought in some of the conflicts in which the United States has participated.

On this day you can visit both Arlington Cemetery and the war memorials on the dates around 11 November or on the day itself, as the tributes, offerings and impromptu events at these memorials give it a unique character.

Washington, as the nation's capital, is the focal point of this holiday, where several tributes take place.

The US president himself goes to Arlington National Cemetery to make a wreath at the tomb of the unknown soldier.

And Washington's many memorials are also the scene of commemorations and tributes. This is especially true of the Vietnam War veterans' memorial.

Every year to welcome autumn in Washington, a night-time art festival is held at the end of September known as Art All Night. It's an artistic and cultural event that fills the streets with street artists of all kinds and a multitude of exhibitions, concerts, talks and activities throughout the city.

It is usually held on the last weekend of September and has the particularity that most of the performances and art shows take place at night.

The festival is spread throughout the city and has earned its own right to be recognised as one of the best cultural events in the capital of the United States.

Here is a link to the event's official website so you can check out all the activities if you happen to be travelling to the city around that time.

The city of Washington is surrounded by vineyards and apple orchards, so there is a long tradition of wine and cider making. Autumn is the best time to enjoy this tradition, as it is harvest time. So much so that in early October there is even a wine festival.

The forerunner of this festival is the Mount Vernon estate. Located south of the capital, on the banks of the Potomac, this wine and cider producing estate is no ordinary estate.

The place belonged to the first president of the United States, George Washington, and today you can visit the place and taste its vintages.

Taking advantage of this festival at the beginning of October, I recommend a visit not only for the history of the place and its wines and ciders, but also for the beauty of the estate with its autumn mantle.

It's only a 30-minute drive from the city, but fortunately there are plenty of excursions to Mount Vernon from Washington.

Interesting facts

• Price: From 20 euros approx
• Hours: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
• Location: Mount Vernon, Virginia, South of Washington

Just as autumn is the season of wines and ciders, so it is also the season of food and gastronomy that are almost exclusive to this time of year.

This is the case of pumpkin, an ingredient that in Washington is not just for Halloween, but is one of the bases of many of the best local dishes and recipes. So much so that even the city's coffee is served with hints of pumpkin.

Other typical Halloween treats include pumpkin doughnuts, pumpkin ice cream and pumpkin cakes. The best way to sample these autumnal delights is with a good food tour of Washington.

When autumn arrives and the summer heat is left behind, it is the beginning of a very sporty season in the capital of the United States. Taking advantage of the good weather, several interesting sporting events are held, but the main and best known is the Marine Corps Marathon.

After the Boston and New York Marathons, this is the most important marathon on the east coast of the United States.

It is held on the last Sunday in October and although it was originally a Marine Corps race, registration is open to the general public.

Every year, some 30,000 runners gather to participate in this race, which takes in some of Washington's most iconic landmarks such as the Capitol, the White House and Arlington National Cemetery, from where the race usually starts.

Whether you want to take part or not, the atmosphere around this race makes it a great way to enjoy another side of the city.

Perhaps the best known American holiday is Thanksgiving. It was George Washington who proclaimed this celebration on 14 October 1789 to give thanks for the harvest of the fields.

Since then, the holiday has been celebrated on the fourth Thursday in November in the United States.

There are few places better suited to join in the celebration than the nation's capital itself. In Washington it is celebrated in a more discreet way compared to cities like New York where there are big parades, but you' ll be able to enjoy it just the same.

Although it's a day to be at home with the family, if you're a tourist in the city you can enjoy the festive atmosphere and eat the traditional turkey in many of the city's restaurants.

Washington is a city well suited to cycling, with its large, wide streets and esplanades and its many green spaces. That's why it's one of the best ways to get around the city, with the added bonus of warm autumn temperatures and the beautiful colours of the season.

Bicycles are so important that they even have their own events. This is the case of the DC Bike Ride, which takes place at the end of September and thousands of people go out to cycle around the city. And of course, you can always go on a sightseeing tour of the city on pedals. Find out which ones are the best at this link.

The weather is one of the best assets in favour of autumn. Average temperatures are milder than in summer and more similar to those of spring.
Highs range from an average of over 25 degrees Celsius in September to 20 degrees Celsius in October and drop to an average of about 15 degrees Celsius in November.

As for the minimum temperatures, in September they average 15 degrees Celsius, in October they drop to 10 degrees Celsius and in November the cold starts to set in and the minimum temperatures drop to 5 degrees Celsius.

Rainfall is the main drawback of autumn and is more common at this time of year.

Another reason why it's a good idea to visit the US capital in autumn is because of the number of tourists. After winter, autumn is the season with the fewest tourists in the city.

It's not empty, but queues and crowds are less common and it's somewhat easier to get reservations at hotels, restaurants and monuments.

There are some exceptions to this, as there are major holidays in autumn, such as Veterans Day and Thanksgiving.

The drop in tourists and demand also affects prices, which are down slightly. It is still an expensive city, but many of its monuments and sights are free all year round, including autumn. Again, the exception is on national holidays when demand and hotel prices, especially, do rise.

When it comes to packing for Washington in autumn, there are two factors to take into account: temperatures and rainfall. To make sure you don't forget anything, here's a little reminder of the essentials to take with you to Washington in autumn:

• Wear light but warm clothing. And if you're travelling in November, when temperatures drop, it's a good idea to pack a coat.
• Rain showers are common, so keep an umbrella or rain jacket handy.
• As you'll be mostly on foot, wear comfortable, waterproof shoes.
• Remember that plug sockets in the USA are different from those in Europe, so bring an adaptor.