and no private transportation. What would you go and see? I'm in Crystal City for a conference Sunday night through Wednesday night. Looks like the hotel is only half a block from the Blue Line with Monday afternoon and Wednesday afternoon available for sightseeing. Plan on hitting the Smithsonian on Monday, any suggestion on Wednesday?

I know Washington DC is now considered a Sundown Town so need to plan accordingly.

You can get around DC really easy. Hit the Mall and Arlington. With only 6 hours the Air And Space Museum would the only place you get to visit.

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In case of emergency call 1911

Depends what you like. I lived in D.C. for years downtown, at 20th & N, N.W., just south of Dupont Circle, and no way is it a Sundown Town. Only people who have never lived in D.C. believe that. Virtually all of the street crime occurs east of Rock Creek Park, and I would feel safe any place in the N.W. quadrant of the city, although like any big city, situational awareness is your friend.

Air & Space is very cool, but so is the National Museum of the American Indian, right next door.

If you like art, my personal favorite is the Phillips Collection, near 21st and Q, NW, just a block and a half from the north entrance to the Dupont Circle Metro stop (Red Line). This is one of the foremost collections of impressionist art in the world. Renoir, Matisse, Monet, Gauguin, and a lot more.

Another overlooked gem is the National Portrait Gallery, at 8th & F, Northwest, adjacent to the Gallery Place stop on the Red Line. Presidents, military heroes, Indians, and right now I think there is an exhibition about John Glenn there.

You can take the Orange Line out to the last stop in Virginia and take a cheap taxi or bus over to the NRA Museum. There's a bus/taxi stand at the exit of the last Orange Line station (Vienna/Fairfax). I don't have to tell you about that awesome place, now run by the editor of the Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson, Jim Supica. They have it all. . .including a 50-yard indoor range in the basement.

Those a just a few ideas. Give me an idea of what you're interested in, and I will come up with more. Here's a link to a printable map of the Metro system: http://www.wmata.com/rail/docs/colormap_lettersize.pdf


Bullseye

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Five screws and 3-1/2 inches.

Thanks for the map, Bullseye, misplaced mine a year or two ago,
and like to have a quick reference for the next trip. TACC1

TACC1, you bet.

Walnutred, here's another map to reassure you out-of-towners: Murders through Sept. 27th in Washington, DC 2005-2010

It takes a couple of seconds to load. But here's the point: if you're not black, if you are over 30, if you don't do drug deals, and if you stay west of 16th Street, N.W. (roughly the eastern boundary of Rock Creek Park), D.C. is actually one of the safest places you can be when it comes to big cities. I mean, there's the Metropolitan Police, the Uniformed Secret Service Police (which protect the embassies), the Metro Police, the Capitol Police, the Supreme Court Police, The George Washington University Police, and on and on. . .including the U.S. Mint Police! The Federal Enclave is one of the most heavily policed pieces of real estate in the galaxy, and the rest of Northwest is heavily covered. Like I say, exercise the same caution and situational awareness you would anyplace else, and have a good time.


Bullseye

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Five screws and 3-1/2 inches.

I suggest you spend Wednesday visiting all the downtown monuments and memorials. There is a relatively low cost shuttle (Tourmobile) that services all but if you are able and so inclined, do a walking tour.

Frankly, you could walk across the 14th Street Bridge from Crystal City, stop by the Jefferson Memorial first, wander up to the Washington Monument, then head west to the World War II, Vietnam, and Korean War Memorials and then on to the Lincoln Memorial. Then cross Independence Avenue and visit FDR. Very easy to do; gurantee you'll be a bit impressed...and proud to be an American.

Be safe.

NRA museum, Tomb of the Unknowns, Korean War Memorial, Vietnam Memorial Wall.

I'd also throw-in the National Archives. Standing within literally a foot or two of the original Declaration of Independence & the US Constitution gave me chills.

Check at the desk of your hotel. Most of them have info on bus tours that have a mix of various sites and schedules to choose from...both night and day. The bus picks you up at the door of your hotel. Don't try to drive, especially if you're not familiar with DC. The traffic is a nightmare, there is no place to park, and the buses will drop you off and pick you up at the entrance to whatever attraction you want to see.

I would go see some some of our politicians and tell them what I think. Don

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"Don't worry be happy"

I think I would check to see if there is a "Glory Flight" scheduled to come in and assist the WWII Vets to see the various memorials dedicated to the military. I think the whole visit is about 6 hours. Would love to see it myself. But to hear the stories would be the best part.

I agree completely with Bullseye's suggestions.You can't go wrong. Crystal City is a Sundown Town. It empties out in the evening except for a few restaurants and some shopping. Enjoy your time here.

If you have never been to Arlington National Cemetery I recommend it first. It is always a moving experience. From Crystal City the subway takes you right to it, just passed the Pentagon.

From the visitor center, take the trolley to the tomb of the unknowns. Then walk down to the mansion (Robert E. Lee's home) where the tomb of the unknowns from the civil war is located. Then farther down the hill is the Kennedy grave site.

If you are going to the Air and Space, I think the yellow line is quicker from Crystal City.

While you are in Crystal City, take a walk through the "underground" for inexpensive restaurants. There is a grocery store and drug store that are much easier to get to than above ground.

If you get tired of the hotel, the Pentagon City Mall area is only a few blocks away and has lots of restaurants. It is also on the Metro.

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6/23/2022

Thanks for the suggestions. I've been to the Washington Mall several times so do not plan on stopping there on this trip. The National Air and Space museum would have potential except that the Air Force Museum at WPAFB is only a couple hours away from me.

I've never been to Arlington though so if it's not raining I'll head for there. I'd love to see the NRA museum so I may head there or the Native American Museum. However I recently had some foot surgery and seem to be recovering slowly. Those bus tours that let you get on and off are looking tempting.