Like I mentioned on Friday, Bridgette and Rob were in DC visiting this weekend! I always have the best time when we’re together, and this weekend was definitely no exception.

They explored the Newseum, and then I met up with them for lunch at Cava Mezze Grill (a favorite of ours!) in Chinatown. And any visit to Chinatown includes a quick stop at the colorful arch!

We then trekked up to Northwest DC to visit the Smithsonian National Zoo (which means it’s free – amazing!). Bridgette is a little in love with Bao Bao, the baby panda, who was out to play and chomping on plenty of bamboo! We also had great sightings of the elephants, gorillas & chimpanzees, lion, tigers, and cheetahs. It may have been chilly, but the sun was shining!

After the zoo, we visited the awe-inspiring National Cathedral, which isn’t too far from the zoo. In fact, mine & Bridgette’s grandma grew up quite close to the Cathedral, a fact that I love! The sun was setting beautifully on the National Cathedral – oh how I love golden hour. We then ventured to one of my all-time favorite restaurants in the city, Lincoln. It’s a must if you are looking for a great meal in DC! They have locally-sourced, farm to table seasonal small plates, and we shared an amazing winter kale salad, farmhouse mac and cheese skillet, sweet potato tots, sausage, roasted Brussels sprouts, and great drinks (go with the Honest Abe Moonshine or Lady Lincoln!). The decor is amazing, too!

And Sunday wasn’t the most beautiful of days (think: cold rain), but we enjoyed several museums (indoors and free!). The Air & Space Smithsonian is always a favorite – Bridgette is on the moon in this shot! I distinctly remembered this museum from childhood, and I always like coming back as an adult, too. We went to ShopHouse for a delicious lunch (a fast-casual must-try), and then headed to the Newseum and National Gallery of Art!It was a wonderful weekend, for sure!