Neoclassical monuments, Smithsonian treasures and cherry blossoms frame America's storied capital.
Most people think DC is all stiff politicians and eighth-grade field trips. Wrong. This city throws down harder than you'd expect—rooftop bars overlooking the Capitol dome, Smithsonian after-hours parties, and enough free museums to fill a week without spending a dollar on admission. Your friend group gets to feel cultured by day (those neoclassical monuments really do hit different in person) and absolutely feral by night in Adams Morgan or U Street. The city's built for group logistics too. Everything's walkable or Metro-accessible, there's no Uber surge pricing nightmare like NYC, and you can actually split accommodations without someone sleeping in a bathtub. Plus, when you're traveling with friends who can't agree on anything, DC delivers: history nerds get their Lincoln Memorial moment, art kids disappear into the Hirshhorn, and your one friend who just wants to drink can post up at a dozen different rooftop spots. Spring timing? Cherry blossoms turn the Tidal Basin into an…