The Girl's Guide to DC
Issue 12: She's a Day Tripper
I’m back! Did you miss me?
Things are a little different around here — let’s see if I can get this new name, “The Girl’s Guide to DC,” to stick! As always, if you missed the most recent issue, find it here.
I want this newsletter to be about you, the ladies of DC, so send me your healthy lunch recipes, bad date rants, and #hatgirlsummer pics by replying to this email.
What They Don’t Tell You
What they don’t tell you before you move to DC is that there’s a world of possibilities that await you every weekend if you have a car — or a friend with a car (I got most of my friends just by telling them I had a 2009 Honda Accord).
I think DC may be one of the best-positioned cities for day trips, whether you’re into hiking, history, or quaint small towns with cozy diners. Here are my favorite day trips, as well as some reader recommendations!
Evie’s Favorite Day Trips
Bluemont, Virginia
If you like to hike, head about an hour outside DC to Bears Den in Bluemont, Virginia. Park at the bottom of the hill and you’ll have a roughly 45-minute hike to a beautiful overlook of the Shenandoah Valley and Blue Ridge Mountains. Time it right and you’ll have the best view of the sunset for miles around!
If you need a caffeinated pick-me-up before your hike, head to Happy Creek Coffee in nearby Purcellville, Va. If you’re hungry after your hike, head to Cordial Coffee Co. in Berryville, Va., for iced coffee and waffles — they always have delicious seasonal waffle flavors like pumpkin spice and lemon blueberry!
My fiancé Nick and I just did our engagement photos at the Bears Den overlook with Christine McDonald of Captured by CM. If this pic doesn’t make you want to visit, I don’t know what will!
Harpers Ferry, West Virginia
Summer is here, and that can only mean one thing: lazy river tubing. I had a blast renting tubes from Harpers Ferry Adventure Center last year with a group of friends. Was my favorite part the special tube for our cooler where we kept the White Claws? Maybe.
Hiking at Harpers Ferry National Historical Park is a blast, too. Be ready to give your legs an uphill workout, but the overlook of the historic village is totally worth it!
Brunswick, Maryland
What’s in Brunswick, you ask? The one-of-a-kind coffeeshop Beans in the Belfry! It’s a historic church turned into the coziest cafe. When my family visited me for Mother’s Day 2019, we went to Beans in the Belfry for a delicious brunch. Try the quiche!
Here are some reader recommendations for day trips:
Sperryville, Virginia
“By far, my favorite day trip that I have taken was to Pen Druid Brewing outside of Shenandoah National Park. They have mostly outdoor seating and a lot of people bring their dogs and coolers full of food. They also have a gorgeous view of the mountains which is amazing. We picked up pizza on the way there in Sperryville, which was definitely the way to go!” - Demri Scott
Charlottesville, Virginia
“My boyfriend and I go on a lot of weekend trips in the DMV area — my favorite was Charlottesville! We stayed at the Quirk Hotel (so cute!) and I found my absolute favorite bookstore — the Daedalus Used Bookshop. It has three floors and mazes of used books. There are so many vineyards in the area, Jefferson’s Monticello, and Carter Mountain Orchard (a favorite in the fall for Pumpkin patches and year-round fruit picking).” - Grace Davis
Woodbridge, Virginia
“Going to IKEA. Do I even need to elaborate???” - Ellen Dunlavey (read my interview with her here)
Annapolis, Maryland
“I love venturing to Annapolis for a day trip. It's perfect for taking a stroll in the state capital, eating fresh crabs, and experiencing that small town charm sometimes lacking here in the DMV. I can't recommend it enough!” - Gabriella Hoffman (read her interview below!)
Interview with Gabriella Hoffman
Every week, I introduce you to a woman who knows the ins and outs of DC.
Meet Gabriella Hoffman, a woman who can do both — “both” being a DC professional and rugged outdoorswoman, that is. Check out her podcast District of Conservation and give her a follow on Twitter and Instagram.
What does your job look like during quarantine?
I'm a freelance media strategist, consultant, and outdoor writer (find my Townhall column here!). Working from home began for me when I first entered the freelance economy in summer 2016. It wasn't a major adjustment, thankfully. However, going a few weeks and months without seeing clients early on in the pandemic was a bit painstaking. Zooms and calls helped though, nothing can replace in-person meetings, gatherings, and conferences. Oddly enough, 2020 was my best year of business despite the circumstances. I was still able to travel for reporting trips but cut back quite a bit.
What’s your favorite eatery in DC?
To narrow this down to one place is hard. But one of my favorite restaurants is Caphe Banh Mi in Old Town Alexandria. It's a little hole-in-the-wall spot a block from King Street. (Their food is delicious!) I just ate there again recently for the first time since the pandemic began.
What hobby are you known for?
As one can tell from my social media accounts, I love to go fishing. I first picked up fishing at 8 and got hooked on it seriously by the time I turned 12. Fast forward to today: I've become fond of fly fishing now. I'm about four years into this style and love this technique for targeting trout or steelhead. It keeps me grounded here in the DMV and makes me stand out here. It's a great conversation starter!
What’s your quarantine beauty routine like?
Funny enough, I haven't really had a strict regimen with meetings going virtual and trips being more infrequent. I try to keep my look more natural and often do more things sans makeup (especially since I spend time outdoors). But I love using my Urban Decay Naked 2 Basics eyeshadow and All-Nighter Waterproof Longwear Liquid Foundation. Although I have naturally long eyelashes, I don't mind boosting them occasionally with Maybelline SnapScara Waterproof Mascara and NYX Epic Wear Waterproof eyeliner. For eye makeup removal, the Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water is my go-to. African black soap is perfect for washing your face and has helped my skin heal tremendously after years of acne. Coconut oil for hydrating helps keep my skin looking fresh and not dry. I try to keep it simple.
What’s your best piece of advice about DC?
Something I've learned living in DC for almost a decade and working in politics/media is this: don't treat others like trash. Reputation goes a long way in This Town. If you develop a nasty reputation here and others pick up on it, you won't — and shouldn't —survive here. (That's one redeeming quality to The Swamp at times.) Be nice, be humble, remember where you came from — no matter how Twitter-famous or popular you become. You'll go far being nice and extending grace to others!
Ask Evie
Have a question you want me to answer in the newsletter? Click this link to send your question anonymously!
I can’t promise to have all the answers, but I will consult with the experts, a.k.a. the plotlines of my favorite 2000s romcoms.
The Haps
Olivia Rodrigo Visits the White House
No, Joe Biden did not invite Oliva Rodrigo to the White House because he’s a fan of “Driver’s License” (that we know of!). Olivia’s working with the administration to use her platform to encourage young people to get vaccinated against COVID-19. Honestly, name a bigger star to come to the White House since that 2018 Kanye/Trump meeting.
Georgetown Gets the Hollywood Treatment
In case you missed it, actor Christoph Waltz made his directorial debut with a film simply titled “Georgetown,” based on this 2012 article “The Worst Marriage in Georgetown” about con man Ulrich Mott and his wife Elsa Brecht. I won’t give too much away, but there’s murder, mystery, and Georgetown cocktail parties.
Read Collider’s review of the film by clicking here.
Congrats & More
Forgive me for spotlighting MYSELF, but I just joined District Media Group as an account executive! I’m looking forward to exploring “the dark side” (PR) after getting my start in journalism.
MARY ROSE CORKERY joins Beck & Stone as an executive assistant. She was previously at the Daily Caller News Foundation. Connect with her on Instagram.
ABBY SCHWARTZ was accepted to Antonin Scalia Law School at George Mason University, where she’ll be attending this fall! What, like it’s hard?
Reader’s Corner
Reader Jasmine Marani is absolutely killing #hatgirlsummer! Read her recent GGDC interview. She’s competing for the People’s Choice Award in the Miss District of Columbia USA Pageant, so be sure to vote for her by clicking here!
Got feedback, or just need to vent about a bad date? Email me at girlygirlsguidetodc@gmail.com.
Thanks for reading! Find me on Instagram and Twitter, where I’ll spread the word about future Girl’s Guide to DC events!