7 hr layover in DC, what would you see?

walnutred

US Veteran
Joined
Jan 24, 2007
Messages
4,609
Reaction score
3,456
Location
Ohio
This will be next Wednesday and if the weather is nice I'd like to do some sight seeing. Last year I saw Arlington and one of the Smithsonian museums.
 
Register to hide this ad
I don't think you can beat the Smithsonian, but depending on what's showing, National Art Gallery may be worth checking out, and if it holds any interest for you, the National Arboretum, and particularly its spectacular bonsai collection is well worth a visit, especially if the weather's nice. Take a cab --- it's not well served by public transport, and is well away from the mall and most of the attractions.
 
You could stand outside the White House and wonder "what in the world is going on in there".
 
If you don't mind spending a little on cab fare you might make the trip out to Fairfax and visit Jim Supica at the NRA Museum.....
(Last time I was there, I couldn't figure how to get there using Metro and/or buses...)





















9
 
Another vote for the museums at the Smithsonian

National Gallery, Natural History. If it were me, I'd go to the National Gallery.
 
I suggest the ww2 memorial, The Iwo Jima Memorial, The Vietnam Memorial Wall, and the Korean War Memorial, also the washington and the lincoln memorial and last but by no means least Arlington Cemetary.
 
7 hours? I'd stay in the airport huddled in a corner somewhere. I HATE commercial air travel.... mostly dealing with the airports and.. well.. people.

Factor in the time it will take to get out and back in (including going through security again) you cut the free time down to what?.... 45 minutes? :confused::p
 
Speaking as a D.C. native, I suggest the Smithsonian(s), the Lincoln and Jefferson Memorials. The cafeteria in the Museum of Natural History is pretty good. Get there before noon. Leave your pocket knife in your checked bag, all the museums have security.
 
7 hours? I'd stay in the airport huddled in a corner somewhere. I HATE commercial air travel.... mostly dealing with the airports and.. well.. people.

Factor in the time it will take to get out and back in (including going through security again) you cut the free time down to what?.... 45 minutes? :confused::p

You have 7 hours to kill. I was thinking, why not have lunch with a TSA employee, hopefully he will pick up the tab. Then when he "pats" you down later, you won't feel as violated. Who knows where that relationship may go? :)
 
I would suggest that you do some research on the net as to what you would like to see. For example, pick one of the Smithsonians - and devote your time there. Another choice might be to get on one of the tour busses that gives you an overall tour of the most visited attractions, By all means, don't stray off the beaten path, if you don't want to be beaten. Flapjack.
 
Washington

If you are at the Dulles airport then go to the Air and Space Museum which is at the airport.
Admission is free but parking is expensive --so take a cab and you can kill hours.
 
If you come into Dulles go to the Air and Space Museum uber cool and you are very close.
If you land at National and it’s not between 7-9 AM or 3-7 PM. or a Friday (traffic is a real bear)check out the Natural History Museum or the NRA Museum, the Postal Museum is rather interesting as well
Penmon
 
Minimal info provided by OP... :confused:

Train? DCA? BWI? IAD?

Choices for your layover are very site specific.

Be safe.

This will be next Wednesday and if the weather is nice I'd like to do some sight seeing. Last year I saw Arlington and one of the Smithsonian museums.
 
+1 to all the other suggestions, especially the WWII and Vietnam memorials. If you're going to be at Reagan, the Air Force Memorial is close by. If you are going to be there at night, the view of DC from there, looking from the Washington Monument to the Captial, is great.
 
Back
Top