How to visit DC during the Shutdown

With the government shutdown, it seems like the worst time to visit DC. But though visiting now might not be the ideal time, there are still ways to make the best of it if you’ve already set the date. In fact, there are even some perks to the government being shutdown.

Though getting to DC from Baltimore is about as crowded as usual, once you arrive, you might find that the metro is less crowded. All non-essential government workers are not working during the shutdown, which means no massive crowds of commuters. But this may only apply to weekdays. I went this weekend over fall break and the crowds seemed to be average.

The biggest bummer of the shutdown is probably all the closed Smithsonian museums. Most DC museums are government funded so it feels a bit like everything is closed. But if you’re still desperate for some museum viewing, a few private ones are still open. I would recommend the International Spy Museum, located right in between the Metro Center and Chinatown metro stops.

The exhibits at the International Spy Museum are definitely worth the rather pricey $21 ticket, especially right now. Their main exhibit is titled Exquisitely Evil: 50 Years of Bond Villains and goes through all the main James Bond villains with cool props from all the movies. The rest of the museum covers the interesting history and work of real spies, including interviews and real stories.

Chinatown is also a great alternative to more typical DC attractions. Though the area is not as culturally Chinese as Chinatowns in other major cities, it offers a lot of entertainment options that are not affected by the government shutdown. There are several decent Chinese restaurants and bakeries nearby as well as a major shopping center a block away from the International Spy Museum.

The shopping center is great for stopping by if you’re planning on going to the museum, but if you’re focused on shopping and don’t plan on going to the museum, Georgetown is the place to go. The Shops at Georgetown offer a greater selection of stores and are close to many great cupcake eateries. Though most people tend to hype Georgetown Cupcakes, I would recommend either Sprinkles or Baked and Wired, which are all very close to the main shopping area.

If shopping doesn’t appeal to you or isn’t in your budget, try taking a walk around the monuments and the White House. The monuments are all blocked off with metal barricades with sad signs, but they are all visible. You are just unable to get up close to them. But many tourists have taken to “anarchy” and have crossed the barricades to get closer to the monuments.

For my DC visit during the shutdown, I expected a more limited experience. But other than the museums, I don’t think my visit was disappointing. In fact, it was interesting to see our capitol in the midst of a shutdown.

There was definitely a noticeable change with more protestors and signs in restaurants advertising discounts for government workers and I’m glad I was able to experience it.