4 Things To Do In Washington, DC In 2020

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Maybe you’re new to the DC Metro area, or perhaps you’ve lived here your whole life. Whatever the case, there is so much to do here that likely you haven’t experienced it all. As New Year is a time to renew yourself, and try new things, we at The Estridge Group decided to put together a solid list of things to do to get your New Year’s started off right in Washington DC.

#1 – Visit the Chinese New Year Parade

It’s 4718 Chinese Lunar New Year, the year of the rat! Bring it in right in Washington DC’s Chinatown by attending the parade. Traditional lion and dragon dances, Kung Fu demos, firecrackers, live music, marching bands, and other community talents.

  • When: January 26, 2020, 2:00 PM
  • Where: 6th and Eye St. NW, Route End: 6th and H St. NW, Gallery Place Chinatown Metro Station

#2 – Pay a visit to honest Abe at the Lincoln Memorial

There is no more inspirational way to start the New Year than reading from the words of Abraham Lincoln — the second inaugural address and the Gettysburg Address, etched on the Lincoln Memorial’s opposing walls…

“Fourscore and seven years ago our fathers brought forth, on this continent, a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.”

How many people can say that they can access such splendor in their backyard?

  • When: 24/7, daily
  • Where: 2 Lincoln Memorial Circle NW (The western end of the National Mall, reached by walking from Foggy Bottom-GWU Metro station or taking DC Circulator’s National Mall bus)

#3 — Go to a coffee shop and reflect

As overrated as New Year’s resolutions may be, there is something undeniably freeing about the start of a new year. Most of us have spent the holidays surrounded by family and friends. Why not take some time for yourself to reflect, and plan out what you want from the next year? Grab your laptop, or a pen and paper if you’re more of a traditionalist, and head to one of DC Metro’s best local coffee shops. Here are three wonderful choices, whether you’re in Washington, DC, Montgomery County Maryland, or Northern Virginia:

  • Bakers & Baristas, 501 7th St NW, Washington DC
  • Philz Coffee, 247 Woodmont Ave, Bethesda, MD 20814
  • Republik Coffee Bar, 4401 Wilson Blvd, Arlington, VA 22203

#4 – Volunteer your time

It’s easy to focus on all of the things you want for yourself in the New Year but consider starting 2020 doing things for others rather than for yourself. Research shows that volunteering can help contribute to lower blood pressure and reduce stress (source).

There are plenty of ways to volunteer in the DC Metro area, but one event that stands out to us in the New Year is the Clean Waterways Volunteer Cleanup. Help clean Washington DC’s waterways while celebrating the work of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Joseph Glover, the founder and Chair of Pope Branch Park Restoration Alliance. Everything you need will be provided. Just come ready to work, with clothes you don’t care about and closed-toe shoes.

  • When: Mon, January 20, 2020, 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM EST
  • Where: Pope Branch Park, 2900 M Place SE, Washington, DC 20019