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Planning a trip to Washington DC

TallBill

TallBill

Lifer
Probably looking at a 4 night stay either in late May or early June. Looking on Expedia flight + hotel for 2 will be around $900-1100 which is ok. I was looking at spending around $2000 for the whole vacation so that should leave plenty for dinner/etc.

I definitely want to go to Arlington National Cemetery, The Smithsonian, The Vietnam Wall, the WW2 memorial, and the Holocaust Museum.

Also on the list according to time would be Jefferson memorial, lincoln memorial, cold war museum, ...

I've been once when I was really young. Honestly the thing that I want to do most is go to Arlington. Controlling my emotions will be difficult.

 
Depending on what kind of music you like a trip to the 9:30 club might be something fun to do at night. Check their concerts about 2 months before coming, pretty much any band that stops in DC for a tour plays there.

club website
 
get yourself an all-day metro pass. dont plan on driving anywhere in the city.

Mt vernon might be of interest to you.
 
DC is an amazing place.

Arlington was the most emotional place I have ever been to. So amazingly sad and yet so beautiful.

Also, The Smithsonian is incredible.
I have not been in several years but would love to go back.
 
Email your Congressman about obtaining tours to the Capitol, the White House...I believe the State Department (Foggy Bottom) and the Pentagon (Arlington) offers tours as well, but you'll need to plan ahead, as it's necessary to submit all your information at least two-three months prior (all the information can be found on their website(s)). If you can catch it - the Naval Observatory (NW DC) also offers an excellent tour. They're only given once a month. (http://www.usno.navy.mil/USNO/...rvation-request-form/). Have fun.


Oh, I can't leave out perhaps the most overlooked building in Washington --- The Library of Congress' Jefferson Building. It's my second favorite building after the Capitol.
 
You could easily spend 2 days at the Smithsonian. Most of the other places can be hit in one day. i.e. Lincoln Memorial - you'll stand in front of it for a few minutes, say "Gosh, it's pretty big!" Stare. It doesn't talk to you or have any interactive stuff, so you take a couple pictures, and think to yourself, "I wonder if the Jefferson Memorial talks" and off you go on a long walk. Still, those monuments are must-see types of things. I'm not sure if they allow visitors in the Washington Monument any more - that was pretty cool when I was a kid. Spectacular view.
 
Originally posted by: SneakyStuff
Depending on what kind of music you like a trip to the 9:30 club might be something fun to do at night. Check their concerts about 2 months before coming, pretty much any band that stops in DC for a tour plays there.

club website
Click to expand...

just remember to ignore the crackheads(although they come up with dome
funny reasons to get some money) coming out of the club
 
Originally posted by: DrPizza
You could easily spend 2 days at the Smithsonian. Most of the other places can be hit in one day. i.e. Lincoln Memorial - you'll stand in front of it for a few minutes, say "Gosh, it's pretty big!" Stare. It doesn't talk to you or have any interactive stuff, so you take a couple pictures, and think to yourself, "I wonder if the Jefferson Memorial talks" and off you go on a long walk. Still, those monuments are must-see types of things. I'm not sure if they allow visitors in the Washington Monument any more - that was pretty cool when I was a kid. Spectacular view.
Click to expand...

They do allow people up the Washington Monument. You'll need to get in line very early (think 7AM).
 
A few of the less well known or newer spots:

Newseum
Air & Space Museum annex at Dulles Airport (this one's in VA though, so it's a little bit out of the way)
WWII memorial
Spy Museum
Museum of the American Indian (I *think* that's what it's called)
 
PM me with any questions you have. I live in NW DC.

Perhaps we can meet along with some other ATers here? What do you think?

Let me know when you want to book a hotel room. I can give some advice. Restaurant suggestions too.
 
Originally posted by: TallBill
Probably looking at a 4 night stay either in late May or early June. Looking on Expedia flight + hotel for 2 will be around $900-1100 which is ok. I was looking at spending around $2000 for the whole vacation so that should leave plenty for dinner/etc.

I definitely want to go to Arlington National Cemetery, The Smithsonian, The Vietnam Wall, the WW2 memorial, and the Holocaust Museum.

Also on the list according to time would be Jefferson memorial, lincoln memorial, cold war museum, ...

I've been once when I was really young. Honestly the thing that I want to do most is go to Arlington. Controlling my emotions will be difficult.
Click to expand...

Sounds like a nice trip. If at all possible, stay in DC. You can stay in Arlington, but it's fun to stay in the city. I live in Arlington, though, so PM me if you have any questions.
 
arlington is absolutely breathtaking. row upon row upon row of limestone gravestones. my grandfather & grandmother are buried there so i always make the trip. changing of the guard at the tomb of the unknown soldier is not something to miss if you like military tradition.

the air & space museum is great too. lots of cool things there.

of the war memorials i would also suggest the little known korean war memorial. excellent memorial.

try not to beat the ever living shit out of the kids running around like jackasses at the vietnam war memorial.
 
If you like the Air and Space Museum at the Smithsonian, then the annex at Dulles airport is awesome, but I think they stopped running the direct bus that went between it and the Mall, so you'd probably need a car to get there, unless you want to fool around with Metrobus.

I thought the Nat'l Archives building was cool.

Spy Museum was kind of cool too, though it costs money when most of the other things are free.
 
I took a quick vacation there with my wife and my son who is almost 2 while I was visiting my mom in Virginia. In our case we actually flew into BWI in Baltimore instead of IAD (Dulles). We saved at least $600 that way. We took the train from Baltimore into DC and if I remember right it was $12 a person both ways. If you go on the weekend, only the Amtrak runs and its $25 one way. After arriving from Union train station we basically walked to the Capital then to Arlington Cemetery back back to the Regan building. We did alot of walking and ended up taking a cab from Regan to the Jefferson Memorial. One of the things that was unexpected was how cool it was to see the toothpick and Jefferson monument at night. There were buses and tours and security still out after the sun went down.

I 2nd gar598 recommendation to get a hold of your congress person about taking the tours. It's one of the things I wish I could have done while we were out there.
 
Originally posted by: GTaudiophile
PM me with any questions you have. I live in NW DC.

Perhaps we can meet along with some other ATers here? What do you think?

Let me know when you want to book a hotel room. I can give some advice. Restaurant suggestions too.
Click to expand...

Possibly, but only if the wife had something to do for a few hours. I doubt that she'd be crazy to meet a bunch of stranger.

Once we pick a date I'll definitely email my congressman about a white house tour, the capitol, and the pentagon.
 
Originally posted by: DrPizza
You could easily spend 2 days at the Smithsonian. Most of the other places can be hit in one day. i.e. Lincoln Memorial - you'll stand in front of it for a few minutes, say "Gosh, it's pretty big!" Stare. It doesn't talk to you or have any interactive stuff, so you take a couple pictures, and think to yourself, "I wonder if the Jefferson Memorial talks" and off you go on a long walk. Still, those monuments are must-see types of things. I'm not sure if they allow visitors in the Washington Monument any more - that was pretty cool when I was a kid. Spectacular view.
Click to expand...

Exactly, WWII, Vietnam, Korea, Lincoln, & Jefferson is a decent morning's walk. Comfortable walking shoes are a must.

IMHO, the view from the Old Post Office tower is better than the Washington Monument.

Also, IIRC, the Holocaust museum requires tickets for timed entry. They are free the door, or available ahead time through ticketmaster for all of those fees.


mall map
One thing this map doesn't show are the museum entrances. With the exception of two wings of the National Gallery, there are no side doors. The hike between museums adds up by the end of the day.

TallBill since you won't know if it'll rain until the last minute, have a plan B of indoor stuff as well.
 
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