Shopping for Souvenirs
It's fun to shop for Washington souvenirs. You can bring home an array of mementos, from an FBI baseball cap purchased from a street vendor to a Hard Rock T-shirt. But it's also a lot of fun to visit the souvenir shops and see what they have to offer in terms of miniature Washington monument paperweights or commemorative plates.
Capitol Coin and Stamp
This is a shop that specializes in political paraphernalia, so it's perfect for the nation's capital. The merchandise here is unique and reasonably priced (the owner is nice, too), mainly post-World War II objects, although there are items going as far back as Lincoln's time. The offerings include buttons, bumper stickers, and presidential items, as well as autographs, photos, coins, and a lot more. Capitol Coin and Stamp is open Monday to Friday, 10
T-shirt wagons and souvenir stands line the side streets of the Mall and the streets along 10th and F Streets surrounding Ford's Theatre and the Petersen House. If you are planning on taking T-shirts and hats to the folks back home, these street vendors offer a good selection at a fraction of the cost of more expensive locations.
Destination D.C.
Destination D.C. offers everything your heart could desire in T-shirts and sweats and D.C.-related souvenirs such as postcards, buttons, and sports bottles. Most items are under $15. Destination D.C. is located at Union Station; another branch can be found at the Fashion Center, Pentagon City, in Arlington, Virginia (703-415-4115).
