I run my business like it was designed to cater to DC locals, though it is popular with plenty of visitors and tourists. I absolutely love showing visitors our waterways, but I think running it like how it is makes it a bit more authentic, with deep roots in my local communities. So I was excited to find Daycation DC! This blog highlights attractions, activities, restaurants and local small businesses, but with a truly local twist.
A lot of ‘what to do in DC’ listings are made for tourists. Worse yet, they are mostly paid promotions. I know this because I am always trying to get listed on these publications, and they can charge anywhere from $1,000 to $3,000. It is probably money well spent, but I am stubborn, so I am still trying to build this business in a completely organic manner.
While looking for an online blog or publication I could work with, I found Daycation DC. A name like that makes it sound like it is almost a sister company! But it is not. Its run by an amazingly pleasant person named Kelley Smith. She lives and works in Washington DC as a marketing professional. In some ways, she is a very ‘typical’ DC person which makes her the perfect person to write a blog like this. A side note – for this reason, I offered her a cruise on Cortina — the lovely write up can be seen here.
Most tourism/activity blogs are full of things like monument viewing, cherry blossoms, and bar hopping at the biggest, most popular spots in town. Yes, these activities are amazing! But what I really love about Daycation DC is that it truly features ‘hidden gems’ in the city. Much of the establishments she covers in Daycation DC, you will not have seen anywhere else.
Here is an example: she has an article talking about the National Arboretum. Out of scores and scores of friends I have in DC, I only know one person that goes there regularly. Sure, a bunch of us have been there, but it really isn’t something that stands out among all the Smithsonian museums and the monuments in DC. Its the perfect thing for visitors and locals alike — appeals to a lot of people, yet a bit special and unique. The last two traits seem to go hand in hand with being a bit lesser known. And yes, I’ve been there, and it is amazing.
I think Kelley’s true passion is enjoying food and drinks. Daycation DC has an amazingly comprehensive coverage of the incredibly diverse restaurant scene here, called ‘Munchies.‘ I can’t call myself a foodie, but I would definitely trust her to make great recommendations for many different types of food.
I really haven’t had a lot of free time in a long time, but I think the next time I have a date, or have family visiting from Korea, I’ll definitely go to her website for recommendations!