would you stay an extra night or two in Washington DC

[skim milk]

I'm flying up there on a Thursday to attend a event which lasts until Friday. All expenses are paid for so I'm thinking of making the return flight for Saturday or Sunday. There's nothing to do in my current town and I'm looking for a different scene. The only problem is that hotel costs are expensive and I wouldn't even know what I would do for the day or two.

 

[gooseman]

Absolutely. There are a TON of things to do and see there and many of them are free.

 

[CrackRabbit]

If nothing else go to the Smithsonian.
I would go to DC just for that alone.

 

[Kelvrick]

Yep, I was glad to stay an extra two days just to sightsee. I didn't wanna pay for the hotel either, so I took a redeye in and checked in that morning (slept on plane) then took the red eye the night after and slept on the way back.

 

[Xstatic1]

Originally posted by: gooseman
Absolutely. There are a TON of things to do and see there and many of them are free.

heck yeaaaahh! u're gonna regret it if u don't stay and explore the city. bring ur camera and a good pair of walking shoes! i vote for leaving DC on Sunday.....night!

 

[Dr. Detroit]

Gotta love DC

Hit the National Zoo and check out the Pandas.

The Korean War memorial is awesome as well. Don;t forget to hit the National Archives.

 

[BigJ]

If you've never seen the sights and touristy stuff, sure.

Otherwise, it's not worth the extra money in hotel costs.

 

[Sho'Nuff]

Originally posted by: fritolays
I'm flying up there on a Thursday to attend a event which lasts until Friday. All expenses are paid for so I'm thinking of making the return flight for Saturday or Sunday. There's nothing to do in my current town and I'm looking for a different scene. The only problem is that hotel costs are expensive and I wouldn't even know what I would do for the day or two.

<--------------- DC native (one of the rare ones)

There is a ton of stuff to do in DC... much more than can be done in a measly two days. Heck I lived there the better part of 30 years and still did not manage to see everything.

Assuming you haven;t been to DC before, your best bet is to do the monumuments and some of the Smithsonian. I recommend the following (all of which are within easy walking distance of each other and near "the mall"):

(Not in any particular order)

1. Walk around the tidal basin, taking in the Jefferson and Roosevelt memorials
2. the Lincoln memorial
3. the Capital building
4. Smithsonian Air and Space Museaum
5. Smithsonian Natural History Museum
6. National Gallery of Art
7. Sculpture Garden on the mall
8. Botanical Gardens (on the mall)
9. Washington Monument
10. self guided segway tour
11. Vietnam memorial
12. Korean war memorial
13. National Portrait Gallery
14. White House (need to buy tickets for a tour online way in advance)

If you have time, and want to get out of the city, I recommend popping over the river to Arlington Cemetary, the Iwo Jima Memorial, and the new Air Force Memorial (by the pentagon).

As for food, the following are good places:

1. Five Guys: burger chain originating in alexandria, bring your cholesterol reducing drugs0
2. Zengo: asian/latin fusion, a tad pricey, but worth it. near agllery place china town metro
3. Zatinya: mediteranean tapas, a tad pricey, but worth it. Walking distancefrom gallery place/chinatown metro
4. Old Ebbit Grill: one of the oldest restaurants in DC, and the food is excellent
5. Chipotle: They're pretty much a natiowide chain now, but still relatively small. if you have never been there, it is worth checking out (there is a reason their stock is selling for ~$117/share)

 

[Sho'Nuff]

Originally posted by: Fmr12B
Gotta love DC

Hit the National Zoo and check out the Pandas.

The Korean War memorial is awesome as well. Don;t forget to hit the National Archives.

Has the zoo improved recently? Last time I was there they were killing animals every few weeks and most of the exhibits were closed for months at a time.

 

[GTaudiophile]

I would look at the weather first. If it looks sunny, then sure, stay a few more days. There is lots to see!

Too bad we won't have a "DC ATOT" meet planned or anything.

 

[PokerGuy]

Nice post soxfan, that about sums it up. Of course there are lots more things to see and do, but the things he listed are all mostly free, within walking distance etc etc.

Take some time to look around, you'll wonder how the idiots we have in DC representing us (congress, white house etc) seem incapable of drawing any kind of inspiration from it.

 

[theknight571]

When I visited DC... I stayed in Arlington, VA and took the subway into DC ... ended up being cheaper, and the subways there are top-notch. (Well they were 15 years ago... that's the last time I was there)

But if you can do it... I'd say go for it... all kinds of stuff around there.

 

[dbot]

I pricelined a 4 star hotel in DC right near all the lounges and clubs for 70$ a night. Give it a shot, priceline comes through sometimes.

 

[Scarpozzi]

Great place to go, but you really need a car....just be careful where you park it.

 

[mikej007]

You totally dont need a car in DC.

<-- Went to school at GWU

The Metro is one of the better major metropolitan subways in the country.

 

[ScottyB]

No. I went there a few month ago to visit a friend that is now living in El Salvador for two more years. I found everything to be a disappointment. The pool next to the Washington Monument was filthy. The museums were all sub par. The people were rude. There were no decent restaurants in sight, and the ones that were there were ripoffs (>$9 for a McDonald's extra-value meal). And there were beggars everywhere! I thought one was going to mug me in the middle of a crowded area. The traffic was also horrible.

 

[lokiju]

WTF?

YES!

There is so much to see and do in DC that's free!

See the Smithsonian Museums! DO it!

 

[imported_Dingster1]

Most defintely. Mueseums, zoo, monuments!!

 

[mikej007]

In all honesty, the zoo is kind of a let down. It takes a while to get to and just isn't all that breathtaking.

 

[Vonkhan]

I lived in the area for a couple of years, never a fan of the museums and crap tho ... great bars n stuff, lots of hot chicks

 

[dainthomas]

Originally posted by: CrackRabbit
If nothing else go to the Smithsonian.
I would go to DC just for that alone.

Definitely

 

[mwmorph]

If you're up for some night life, check out H20 and 18th Street Lounge.

 

[jonessoda]

In your case, yes, I would. See the Smithsonian, the zoo, maybe the arboretum, the National Archive, the National Galleries (the Hirshhorn is particularly nice), the Lincoln and Jefferson memorials, all of those for free.

In my case, no, I'd stay about fifteen minutes south in my parents' house, also for free