I went on a trip to Washington, D.C. with my husband last week. No surprise there. I often travel with him. And I’ve been to D.C. with him about a bazillion times. (Ok, that might be a slight exaggeration, but still!) We’ve stayed at several different hotels in the city over the years, but the one we’ve stayed at the most—and the one we returned to this trip—was the Mayflower Hotel. (Yes, that Mayflower Hotel, if you are old enough to remember the Mayflower Madam scandal.)
It’s a lovely historic hotel, nearly 100 years old. The elevators have that old brass exterior. The chandeliers are huge crystal wedding cakes. The rooms along the oldest halls are all quirky in shape and size and filled with vintage touches—like black-and-white basket weave tile on the bathroom floors—alongside modern amenities.
Vintage wallpaper alongside lit mirrors. 
The bathroom floor tile 
Gorgeous frescos 
Beautiful chandeliers
View from the mezzanine 
Looking up at the mezzanine
But I especially love the Mezzanine. Overlooking the lobby, the area is populated with mid-century modern couches and chairs and small tables. The perfect place to both work and people-watch. Because isn’t that the writer’s job as well? As usual, I loved our stay between walls that have seen so much history.
And yet my favorite part of DC trips over the past few years is getting together with my dear friend Siri Mitchell, whose book State of Lies, her first suspense novel after years of historical novels, recently released. (Loved the book, by the way. And I’m not even really a suspense reader!)
Years ago, when I began writing for Bethany House, I went to D.C. on a business trip with hubby but didn’t want to spend all those days wandering the city alone. So I asked on a writers loop if anyone lived in the D.C. area and wanted to get together for coffee or something. Not a usual action for this major introvert! But apparently a Holy Spirit inspired one, for Siri answered with a resounding yes—not something usual for her either, also being a major introvert!
We soon recognized our kindred spirits. Over the years, she and I have spent wonderful days at history exhibits or art exhibits together. These outings are, of course, always followed by long lunches where we catch up on family news and writing news and then set about solving all the world’s problems. This year we went to the National Gallery of Art and saw a fascinating exhibit called The Touch of Color: Pastels at the National Gallery of Art. I loved learning things I didn’t know before!
The truth is, it was a quick trip, the kind I usually decline. But I’ve missed my day with Siri over the past couple of years. So I went. And I’m not in the least sorry I did. My favorite hotel. One of my favorite writing friends. And finding myself, 35 years younger, around every corner in the city where hubby and I first met.
Have you been to Washington D.C.? What was your favorite part of the trip?
Latest posts by D'Ann Mateer (see all)
- The Cheer Squad - May 7, 2025
- Guest Post: Crystal Caudill - April 16, 2025
- D’Ann’s Favorites - April 13, 2025
While I’ve been to Washington, D. C. many times since I grew up in Richmond, Virginia, my most memorable trip was as a child going by train with my mother, my sisters, the next-door neighbor mother, and her two children. We visited various monuments and the mint, but my favorite memory is of climbing the zillions of steps to the top of the Washington Monument. That’s no longer allowed for safety reasons, so the memory is all the more precious.
Wow! I can’t imagine climbing to the top of the Washington monument! What a great memory! And how fun to go by train to visit. Love that.
What a wonderful trip, D’Ann! I love that you and Siri got together. That’s so fun. And what a gorgeous historic hotel. Over the last couple years I’ve started foisting historic B&Bs on my husband when we travel for my book related events. We don’t get out very often, but when we have a chance for a weekend excursion, I’ve started looking for historic places to stay. We did one in Bonham, TX last June and Fort Worth last weekend. I think I might be developing a new addiction. 🙂
I’ve only been to DC once in recent years, and by far my favorite part of the trip was visiting the Library of Congress – a book & history nerd’s happy place.
The Library of Congress is so fun. I would love to work in the reading room there one day. And yes, hubby and I pretty obsessed with historic hotels and B&B houses!
I have the pleasure of working in DC!
I worked in Penn Quarter/Chinatown neighborhood for several years so my late morning drive would take me through the area where the Mayflower Hotel is located.Now I’m in a different part of the city so I don’t get there often nowadays.
How fun! When we were young, that was our dream. Life (and the Lord!) took us in another direction, but we still love the time we get to spend in the city!
My mother grew up in Washington D.C. – same house all her young years through school – then she went away to college… (I say that cuz I’ve moved so much on my life.) So, I’ve done a lot of sightseeing in D.C. and I do enjoy visiting there. One of my favorite trips to D.C. was when my ex and I made a “memory lane” album for my mom – my aunt drove us around & we took lots of pictures. I felt like I was getting to know my mom even better. ❤️
What a great idea! I’m sure things had changed so much from what your mom remembered, but how special that she had pictures of those places!