White House Tours, Skyline Views, and Cigar Lounge Conversations in D.C. (Wanderlust Wednesday)

What’s it really like to step inside the White House? In this Wanderlust Wednesday episode, Nick and Wil take listeners along on their second trip to Washington, D.C. This time, the highlight was a long-awaited tour inside the White House, thanks to a friend’s help securing approval. They share the detailed process for getting in, the security checkpoints, the self-guided tour of iconic rooms like the Green Room, Red Room, Blue Room, and State Dining Room, and the surreal experience of standing in spaces where history has been made. Beyond the White House, they also visited the People’s House replica museum, the Old Post Office Tower with panoramic city views, the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum, and enjoyed evenings at Proper 21, Shelly’s cigar lounge, and MGM Harbor. They emphasize that D.C. is not only rich in history and culture but also surprisingly affordable, with many free museums and attractions. Whether you’re a first-time visitor or considering a return, this episode offers insider tips, entertaining stories, and practical advice to make your trip unforgettable.

Key Takeaways:

• The trip to Washington, D.C. centered around finally experiencing a White House tour.
• Approval for the White House tour requires a background check, real ID or passport, and passage through four separate security checkpoints.
• The tour is self-guided, allowing visitors to move at their own pace and ask questions of staff stationed in each room.
• Highlights included the Jackie Kennedy Garden, the Green, Red, and Blue Rooms, the State Dining Room, and presidential portraits such as George Washington and John F. Kennedy.
• White House rooms remain in active use, with carpets rolled back into place after public tours to accommodate official events.
• A humorous moment occurred when a tourist asked if the White House was “really” the White House and whether the portraits were of “famous people.”
• The People’s House museum offered a replica Oval Office and interactive exhibits about presidential pets, staff, vehicles, and instruments.
• The Old Post Office Tower provided panoramic city views, coinciding with the day Armenia and Azerbaijan signed a peace accord with Donald Trump in the same building.
• The Smithsonian Air and Space Museum showcased interactive exhibits, space artifacts, and historic aircraft.
• Additional highlights included a night at MGM Harbor casino and an IMAX movie, underscoring the variety of entertainment options in the D.C. area.
• Washington, D.C. offers world-class history, culture, and food, with many attractions accessible for free, making it a rewarding destination for any traveler.