Jess Moss Travel

Category: USA

  • What to Do When You Visit D.C. in Winter

    What to Do When You Visit D.C. in Winter

    A friend wrote me in late December asking for some tips for some friends visiting D.C. Since a lot of my favorite spots are better in summer, here’s a list of some winter recommendations I sent over.
    Overall for food/drinks I’d recommend going to these neighborhoods: 14th St./Logan Circle, U Street and Shaw. 14th/U is really the hub of dining and nightlife so you can walk along til you find a place that has something you like. Shaw is a tad less corridor-like; you need to have more of a destination, but it’s where a lot of the new hotspots are opening. Dupont Circle and Adams Morgan are still good food and drinks spots. I wouldn’t recommend Gtown these days, except for a few spots or for shopping during the day.

    A few of my favorite bars are:

    • Churchkey: beer galore (we got drinks here when you were in town a while back)
    • Bar Pilar: cozy & classic bar on 14th
    • McClellan’s Retreat: a good one for history nerds, this bar is Civil War themed
    • Board Room: board game-themed bar, good for holing up on cold nights
    • Vegas Lounge: live band turns this place into a Motown/Pop dance party
    • Wok and Roll: drunk latenight (or not so latenight) karaoke

    Some restaurants to look at:

    Local Booze: there are a ton of great local beers to try/breweries (3 Stars, Atlas, DC Brau, Right Proper, Port City), but other local booze is also buzzy, like the ANXO Cidery and District Distilling Co.

    Quintessential “DC” spots:

    • The rooftop bar at the W Hotel is probably one of the best views in DC, overlooking WH/Mall
    • Off the Record in the Hay Adams hotel has fun political cartoon coasters you can steal
    • The Watergate Hotel opened and I think it’s overdone but if it happens to be warm there’s a great new rooftop bar overlooking Gtown

    Other things to do:

    • I’d say good luck getting tickets to the new African American museum … they’re booked til April, though there are some daily giveaways I think.
    • The East Wing of the National Gallery of Art just reopened and is cool
    • The Renwick Gallery is really fun for some Instagram action
    • One of my favorite lesser known spots on the Mall is the US Botanical Garden – in winter it’s a nice tropical jungle to escape into.
    If they’re Hamilton fans, then this guide might be of interest 🙂
  • The Ultimate Guide to the National Mall

    The Ultimate Guide to the National Mall

    December 15, 2016 on U.S. News Travel || No trip to the District of Columbia is complete without a visit to the National Mall. The site of presidential inaugurations, historic protest marches and a brand-new Smithsonian museum, this 2-mile-long grassy lawn that runs through the heart of the nation’s capital sees over 25 million visitors per year. Here, you’ll find the city’s iconic marbled monuments and museums. Plus, the White House and Capitol are steps away. If you’re visiting the city for the first time – or if you want to give your feet and camera a workout – plan on spending a day here. And if you’re short on time, check out these top sights and museums.

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  • How to Spend 2 Days in Austin: Travel Guide

    How to Spend 2 Days in Austin: Travel Guide

    I went to Austin for a few days for a work summit. Most of our time was spent in meeting rooms in the W hotel, but I was able to check out a few things while there. Here’s what I did:

    How I Got There

    There aren’t too many direct flights from D.C. to Austin; I flew United nonstop from Dulles. 

    Where I Stayed

    W Hotel: Good location a short walk from Sixth Street. The hotel had a chic design with an industrial edge. Large rooms had awesome attention to detail, especially the bathroom toiletries. Two words: face wash!!! 

    Day 1

    Blue Dahlia: Cute spot for tartines and breakfast/brunch food. It’s a bit dark inside, but there’s a nice outdoor seating area if it’s not too hot out. 

    La Condesa: Upscale Tex Mex is the name of the game at this large high-ceilinged restaurant with moody lighting. 

    Rainey Street: When this residential area was rezoned into commercial real estate, historic houses were turned into quirky bars. Most of them have back yards or outdoor patios, and food trucks pull up to serve eats. Basically it feels like you’re drinking in a buddy’s backyard, not a bar.

    Day 2

    Bat Cruise: Every night between March and November thousands of bats that live in the crevasses under the South Congress bridge fly out around sundown to feed. You can stand on the bridge to look down at them, or hop on a boat cruise to tour a bit of Lady Bird Johnson Lake. The boats float beneath the bridge to watch the bats. You’ll get better photo ops from the boat because you get the bridge scene too. Tip: get a boat with a covered roof; it’ll protect you from the bat droppings.  

    Swifts Attic: Not your average menu here. Inventive courses whip up weirdness like spicy edamame with pop rocks and bacon-wrapped Gorgonzola. Try the ball cocktails: the flavored ingredients are frozen in an ice cube ball that flavors the liquor in the glass as it melts.  

    White Horse: An east side honky tonk where you’ll find a quirky mix of folks. Think sleeve tattoos and ironic hipster t-shirts with unironic cowboy hats and two-step dancing. 

    Rain on 4th: This gay bar on 4th Street has a dance floor with cages and an outdoor back bar. 

  • The 7 Best U.S. National Parks for Wildlife Spotting

    The 7 Best U.S. National Parks for Wildlife Spotting

    September 10, 2016 on U.S. News Travel || As the U.S. National Parks Service celebrates its Centennial this year, there’s a lot of buzz around the country’s incredible natural resources. And to many (if not most) of the millions of visitors to these natural wonders, the most exciting part of a trip to the national parks is the chance to see wild animals. From close encounters with grizzly bears to snorkeling with sea turtles, here are the best national parks for wildlife-watching.

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  • The 8 Best New Rooftop Bars in Washington, D.C.

    The 8 Best New Rooftop Bars in Washington, D.C.

    August 2, 2016 on Conde Nast Traveler || Want to find D.C.’s hottest bars? Just look up.

    There’s something missing from the D.C. skyline: skyscrapers. A height limit has kept most of the District’s buildings shorter than the Capitol dome, creating a town-like atmosphere while offering unobstructed views. It’s the perfect recipe for rooftop bars—and this summer, the city’s nightlife mavens have taken note. D.C.’s in a rooftop boom, with nearly a dozen new drinking perches open this year. From cozy cornertops where you can people-watch the street below, to Instagram-ready sunset and stadium views, here are some of Washington’s best new rooftop bars.

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  • The Best Road Trip from Seattle to San Francisco

    The Best Road Trip from Seattle to San Francisco

    July 2016 on Marriott Traveler || That PCH route from San Francisco to Los Angeles gets all the attention, but it’s not the only West Coast drive that should be on your map. A road trip through the Pacific Northwest and Northern California is equally epic, but with less traffic. You’ll see some of the West Coast’s fastest growing cities, majestic national parks, windswept beaches and sunsets that need no filter. Here’s the route.

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  • Baseball Fanatic? Here’s Your Dream Road Trip

    Baseball Fanatic? Here’s Your Dream Road Trip

    July 2016 on Marriott Traveler || You’re a baseball stat wunderkind, not unlike Jonah Hill’s character in “Moneyball.” So your ultimate summer road trip has to be all about baseball, beer, and modern Americana. If you’re in the Midwest, the drive from Chicago through Ohio and Kentucky and on to St. Louis is a must. You’ll cheer with some of the sport’s most spirited fans, pay respects to one of its oldest ballparks, see where bats get made and learn how the game was played back in the day. Here’s the route…

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  • The Ultimate Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip

    The Ultimate Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip

    June 17, 2016 on U.S. News Travel || When you imagine driving along the Pacific Coast Highway, you might think of the thrilling stretch of coastal road between San Francisco and Los Angeles. This is one of the country’s most famous drives, and for good reason. But stick to this route and you’ll only see a fraction of the spectacular scenery that lines the West Coast. For a real adventure, hit the road for a longer coastal journey, from Vancouver, British Columbia, to San Diego, taking in soaring redwood forests, hidden beaches, big cities and charming seaside towns. Read on for route highlights.

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  • An Insider’s Guide to Minnesota’s Boundary Waters

    May 2016 on Visit the USA || The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness encompasses some 1,000 glacial lakes over 400,000 forested hectares of the Midwest along the U.S. and Canada border. It’s one of the largest wilderness areas in the USA. There are no roads here. No stores or restaurants. No other people, once you paddle your canoe far enough. You go here to canoe, fish, camp and hike, and to find peace away from the busy world.

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  • 10 Tips for Choosing the Right Hawaiian Island

    10 Tips for Choosing the Right Hawaiian Island

    May 21, 2016 on U.S. News Travel || First, let’s get one thing straight: There’s no wrong Hawaiian island. All six of the major islands in the chain have the ingredients for paradise: stunning beaches, awe-inspiring scenery and a warm aloha spirit that’s palpable the moment you step off the plane. That said, depending what you’re looking for in a Hawaiian vacation, some isles may be a better fit for you than others. Whether you’re on a budget, traveling with the family or simply want to see some volcanic lava, here are some tips for choosing the best Hawaiian island for you.

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    (Story also appeared on MSN.com: 10 Tips for Choosing the Right Hawaiian Island)