Day five of our journey brought a refreshing change of pace as we explored The Wharf, a vibrant waterfront neighborhood in D.C. with more than 80 restaurants and shops, four hotels, and a mix of residential buildings. We had lunch at Lupo Marino, a cozy Italian bistro with a modern twist. Cliff enjoyed the grilled octopus with quinoa salad, cherry tomatoes, marinated artichoke, and lemon aioli. Jon opted for the Italiano panini, served with perfectly seasoned house-made potato chips. Cliff also enjoyed speaking Italian with our Neapolitan server.

After lunch, we strolled along the waterfront and admired the Constance, a 197-foot superyacht owned by tech entrepreneur Alan Dabbiere. Sailing under the Marshall Islands flag, this Italian-designed vessel is a floating palace, capable of hosting 12 guests and 17 crew members. At an estimated value of $50 million, it was a jaw-dropping sight.

We then ducked into Kirwan’s Irish Pub for a pint, soaking in the warm, wood-paneled ambiance and waterfront views before heading to our 2 p.m. “mission briefing” at the International Spy Museum.

And what a mission it was!

The museum offers a deep dive into the world of espionage, with interactive exhibits and real-life spy stories. We began with the Undercover Mission, where we received our cover identities and tested our spy skills at digital stations throughout the museum. From code-cracking and deception detection to surveillance and strategic thinking, each challenge was immersive and fun.

The exhibits included a showcase of spy gadgets and the minds behind them; code-breaking and analysis exercises; stories of spying that shaped history; a look at sabotage, propaganda, and lethal missions; and an immersive Cold War exhibit featuring original sections of the Berlin Wall and a recreated Stasi interrogation room.

During the mission debrief, Cliff and Jon were awarded for their spy skills: technical know-how and strong memory.

After three hours of spy games and secret histories, we returned to Cloud 9, where Cliff prepared a delicious dinner of grilled salmon with roasted carrots and English peas. We ended the evening with another episode of The Diplomat before collapsing into bed, exhausted.

Three things we learned worth sharing:

1. Superyachts are fun to admire, but we’ll stick with our Airstream, thanks.
2. The Spy Museum proves we’d make decent agents…if espionage involved more touchscreen quizzes.
3. Grilled octopus and Irish pints pair surprisingly well with international intrigue.