Under $100: Southwest Washington, D.C.

As the smallest of the District’s four quadrants, all named for their location relative to the Capitol building, Southwest D.C. has seen a renaissance of late. Formerly comprising a port where fishers can unload their catch and grab a beer at a waterfront shack on the shores, Southwest is now a hot spot with restaurants, bars and more to do than ever before.

The central spot around Southwest’s recent reawakening is the District Wharf, a mile-long waterfront boardwalk of shops, restaurants and activities where visitors can easily spend a full day. First, visit the longstanding staple of Southwest, the Municipal Fish Market, the oldest open-air fish market in the country, and grab fresh seafood from the market or from one of the surrounding eateries to eat outdoors on Market Pier.

Among the bevy of shops are D.C.’s well-known Politics and Prose independent bookstore, A Beautiful Closet boutique and a few spas and salons.

For a more active day, rent a kayak or paddleboard at the Wharf Boathouse on Recreation Pier. Single kayaks cost $16 per hour while paddleboards cost $22 per hour. During the summer months, the Wharf hosts free concerts on Wednesday nights and free yoga sessions on District Pier on Tuesday evenings.

After a busy day exploring the area, grab an outdoor table at Kirwan’s Irish pub or Kaliwa (Southeast Asian cuisine) on Wharf Street for a casual dinner with sunset views of the river.