Somehow, we’ve already made it to the end of August.
Labor Day weekend always feels like summer’s unofficial last hurrah, even though anyone who has spent September in Washington, DC knows the summer weather usually sticks around a little longer. Still, there’s something about that extra day off that makes you want to squeeze in one more summer weekend before September really arrives and everyone starts pretending fall is here.
The good news is that you don’t have to leave the city to make the most of it. Whether you’re staying in DC for the long weekend, visiting from out of town, or simply looking for an excuse to get out of the house, there are plenty of ways to enjoy the extra day without putting together some elaborate itinerary.
Here are a few of our favorites.
Start the Weekend With a Morning on the National Mall
We know, we know. Suggesting the National Mall in a Washington, DC guide isn’t exactly breaking new ground, but there’s a reason people keep going back.
If you live here, Labor Day weekend can actually be a great time to play tourist in your own city for a few hours. Grab a coffee, head down early before the afternoon heat really kicks in, and take a walk between the monuments without feeling like you need to see everything at once.
One of the best parts about the Mall is that you can make the day as ambitious or relaxed as you want. Spend a few hours walking outside, duck into one of the Smithsonian museums when you need some air conditioning, grab lunch nearby, and see where the day takes you.
Sometimes the best DC days are the ones without much of a plan.
Pick a DC Neighborhood and Spend the Afternoon Exploring
Instead of trying to bounce around the entire city, pick one neighborhood and actually spend some time there.
You could wander through Georgetown and walk along the waterfront, grab brunch and explore Adams Morgan, spend an afternoon around Shaw, head toward Eastern Market and Capitol Hill, or make your way down to Navy Yard.
Even if you’ve lived in DC for years, there’s probably a neighborhood you haven’t really explored in a while. New restaurants open, old favorites change, and there always seems to be another coffee shop, bar, store, or little side street you somehow never noticed before.
It’s one of our favorite things about Washington: you can travel a few Metro stops and end up having a completely different kind of afternoon.
Squeeze in One More Summer Picnic
Labor Day may technically mark the end of summer for a lot of people, but DC weather tends to disagree.
If the forecast cooperates, pack some food, grab a blanket, round up a few friends, and find somewhere outside to spend the afternoon. Rock Creek Park is always an easy choice, but Meridian Hill Park, the National Mall, and neighborhood parks throughout the city give you plenty of options.
And there really doesn’t need to be much more to the plan than that. Bring some food, something cold to drink, a speaker if appropriate, and enough snacks to ensure nobody has a reason to leave early.
After a summer that somehow always ends up busier than expected, sitting in a park for a few hours and doing absolutely nothing can be pretty great.
Make It a Patio or Rooftop Weekend
If we’re approaching the unofficial end of summer, we might as well take advantage of patio season while we still have it.
Washington has no shortage of rooftops, patios, beer gardens, cafés, and outdoor restaurants, so Labor Day weekend is a good excuse to finally visit somewhere that has been sitting on your list all summer.
The best part is that you have the extra day. Sunday afternoon can turn into Sunday evening without that usual moment when everyone realizes they have to go home, get ready for work, and pretend they didn’t stay out too late.
For once, Monday can wait.
Catch a Baseball Game
There’s something about spending a late-summer afternoon at the ballpark that feels right around Labor Day weekend.
If the Nationals are playing at home, heading to Nationals Park can make for an easy afternoon or evening, even if you aren’t someone who follows every game. Grab something to eat, walk around the stadium, hang out with friends, and enjoy a few hours outside before baseball season starts winding down.
Just make sure to check the current schedule before making plans, since home games and start times obviously vary.
Escape the City Without Actually Leaving It
One of the best things about Rock Creek Park is how quickly you can forget that you’re in the middle of Washington, DC.
If the weather is nice, spend a few hours walking one of the trails, riding a bike, bringing lunch somewhere quiet, or simply getting away from buildings and traffic for a little while.
You don’t need to turn it into some intense outdoor adventure, either. Sometimes a walk through the park and a few hours away from your phone is enough to make the weekend feel longer.
And considering how hectic DC can be, that’s not a bad way to head into September.
Give Yourself a Day With Absolutely No Plans
This might actually be the best part of Labor Day weekend.
You can spend Sunday doing absolutely nothing and still wake up Monday with another day off.
If you’ve already spent Friday night and Saturday running around the city, there is nothing wrong with turning Sunday into a stay-at-home day. Order some food, put on a movie, invite a few friends over, have a game night, or finally start the show you’ve been saying you were going to watch all summer.
Not every long weekend needs to become a three-day itinerary. Sometimes having nowhere to be is exactly what makes it feel like a vacation.
Try Something You’ve Never Done in DC
Living somewhere has a funny way of making you ignore all the things people travel there specifically to experience.
Labor Day weekend is a good opportunity to finally cross something off that mental DC list. Visit a museum you’ve somehow never entered, try a restaurant in a neighborhood you rarely visit, rent a kayak, check out a local market, see some live music, or just spend the afternoon walking somewhere you normally drive past.
It doesn’t have to be a major event. The goal is simply to do something that makes the weekend feel a little different from your normal routine.
You might even find a new favorite spot along the way.
Staying In? Let DC Come to You
Of course, there’s also a very real possibility that after a few days of running around DC, the couch is going to start looking pretty good.
Fortunately, we live in a city where almost everything can come to you. You can order dinner, have groceries delivered, and, for registered medical cannabis patients, have medical cannabis delivered as well.
Local’d provides medical cannabis delivery throughout Washington, DC, so if your Labor Day plans eventually turn into staying home, you can browse online and place an order without adding another trip across the city to your weekend.
After all, sitting in DC traffic isn’t exactly the relaxing end-of-summer experience anyone is looking for.
Enjoy the Long Weekend, DC
Labor Day weekend doesn’t need to involve an expensive trip or a perfectly planned schedule to be memorable. Spend some time outside, revisit a favorite neighborhood, try somewhere new, meet up with friends, or take advantage of the extra day to stay home and recharge.
Summer may be winding down, but there’s still plenty of time to enjoy Washington before we start talking about pumpkin spice and pretending a 78-degree September afternoon counts as sweater weather.
However you spend it, we hope you have a safe, relaxing Labor Day weekend.
And if staying home ends up winning, Local’d offers medical cannabis delivery throughout Washington, DC. Visit our Weed Delivery in DC guide to learn more about how delivery works and the neighborhoods we serve.
For registered medical cannabis patients 21+. Please consume responsibly and never drive while impaired.
