What to do in DC?
- Thread starter Jeb Stonewall
- Start date
Call your Congressman for tours of the Capitol, the White House, and the Congressional tour of Mount Vernon. On the latter, my Granddaughter got to place a wreath inside George Washington's tomb.
Stay in Alexandria. Most hotel shuttles will take you to Reagan National to pick up the Metro to downtown. Get a multiday pass for the Metro - saves money and time. Make sure your hotel has an in-room safe - you can store your gun there for trips into the District.
Restaurants: The George Washington Inn at Mount Vernon - excellent old-time recipes. Villa D'Este in Alexandria - good Italian food. There are several good restaurants near the harbour at Annapolis.
The Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknowns is one of the more moving moments there is. I went to the Vietnam Memorial and found the names of everybody I lost. The WWII Memorial is impressive, but the Marine Iwo Jima Memorial is something you must see.
Buck
Stay in Alexandria. Most hotel shuttles will take you to Reagan National to pick up the Metro to downtown. Get a multiday pass for the Metro - saves money and time. Make sure your hotel has an in-room safe - you can store your gun there for trips into the District.
Restaurants: The George Washington Inn at Mount Vernon - excellent old-time recipes. Villa D'Este in Alexandria - good Italian food. There are several good restaurants near the harbour at Annapolis.
The Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknowns is one of the more moving moments there is. I went to the Vietnam Memorial and found the names of everybody I lost. The WWII Memorial is impressive, but the Marine Iwo Jima Memorial is something you must see.
Buck
ChuckS1
US Veteran
Go see the Air and Space Museum out at Dulles (not the one at the Mall). It's got the Enola Gay and a space shuttle. Free admission, but $8 to park. Definitely worth the visit.
Also go down to Quantico (30 minutes south on I-95) and go to the Marine Corps Museum. It's free. Definitely worth the trip.
Also go down to Quantico (30 minutes south on I-95) and go to the Marine Corps Museum. It's free. Definitely worth the trip.
GatorFarmer
Member
Skip the snack bar if you go to the Marine Museum. Skip the new Globe and Laurel location too. It used to be a fine place to go at their old location, the new one, eh, not so much.
Anyway, current D.C. gun law seems to only allow a resident to have a gun in their home if they register it. It's a mandatory year in the rather unsavory D.C. jails if you're caught carrying last I knew. Tourist areas should be safe enough during the day. Don't go exploring if you don't know where you're going.
Anyway, current D.C. gun law seems to only allow a resident to have a gun in their home if they register it. It's a mandatory year in the rather unsavory D.C. jails if you're caught carrying last I knew. Tourist areas should be safe enough during the day. Don't go exploring if you don't know where you're going.
Two outstanding attractions are the Smithsonians' National Zoo, and the real National Arboretum (not the garden on the mall that mroyal98 mentioned) The real National Arboretum features a stunning display of Japanese bonsai trees in a fastidiously maintained garden (gift to the US from the Emperor), a water garden, and other cool botanical stuff. It's an idyllic natural oasis surrounded by rough, tough urban slums --- don't try to use public transport to get there, take a taxi. Google both sites for more info. If you go to the zoo (it's conveniently between two Metro stops) while you're in the vicinity, you might enjoy a lunchtime stroll thru Georgetown, which epitomizes civilized urban living, to my way of thinking.
2000Z-71
Member
+1 on the Air & Space Annex out at Dulles. Really impressive displays with mezzanines and catwalks that allow views into, from below and up top of various aircraft, not what you would typically see walking around looking at static ground displays. Besides, they have my favorite aircraft on display, the SR-71.
The War of Northern Agression battlefields around the area are extremely interesting of you know the history. I gained a deeper appreciation of battles and the men who fought in them after actually standing in their footsteps. The Bloody Lane at Antietam was especially cgilling.
The War of Northern Agression battlefields around the area are extremely interesting of you know the history. I gained a deeper appreciation of battles and the men who fought in them after actually standing in their footsteps. The Bloody Lane at Antietam was especially cgilling.
morsecode
Member
I replied earlier about the Mint, but all these suggestions reminded of the great time I had there.
One memory particularly - the wife and I were on on our way back from a honeymoon in Williamsburg, VA and we stopped for a couple days in DC. One night, just milling around the Washington Monument with several other couples, a security guard asked if we all wanted to take the last 'ride' up to the top. Must have been 10pm or so. Quite the view up there. I recall it had some pretty tiny windows. Looking down on the White House I said to my wife there seems to be a lot of activity going on for that time of night. Next day we read in the paper about the failed rescue mission when the choppers went down in the desert attempting a rescue of the Iranian hostages.
The Reflecting Pool and the Lincoln Memeorial...spectacular on a Spring evening.
One memory particularly - the wife and I were on on our way back from a honeymoon in Williamsburg, VA and we stopped for a couple days in DC. One night, just milling around the Washington Monument with several other couples, a security guard asked if we all wanted to take the last 'ride' up to the top. Must have been 10pm or so. Quite the view up there. I recall it had some pretty tiny windows. Looking down on the White House I said to my wife there seems to be a lot of activity going on for that time of night. Next day we read in the paper about the failed rescue mission when the choppers went down in the desert attempting a rescue of the Iranian hostages.
The Reflecting Pool and the Lincoln Memeorial...spectacular on a Spring evening.
OP
Jeb Stonewall
Member
- Joined
- Nov 21, 2008
- Messages
- 194
- Reaction score
- 5
Thanks for all the info everybody
The wife is amazed at how much you all have jumped in and gave us so much info.
(I) knew I could count on you folks for help
The wife is amazed at how much you all have jumped in and gave us so much info.
(I) knew I could count on you folks for help
Pasifikawv
Member
Just a few odds and ends not yet covered:
For that quick lunch while on the mall or museums: Head over to the Old Post Office Pavillion rather than eating from street vendors or the museum cafes. Better food and better prices.
For an entertaining evening of drinks and intrigue: Check out the International Spy Museum. Not part of the Smithsonian's and has a door charge, but some of the evening funtions are lots of fun.
For a bit of night-life (if that's your thing): Adam's Morgan area. Lots of restaurants, live music clubs, etc. to choose from. Madams Organ in Adams Morgan offers blues, bluegrass, rock, etc. depending upon the night. Typically, the bluegrass and jazz is on weeknights with blues or rock on the weekends. Can get a bit crazy with the overconsuming college kids on weekends, but a weekday night with bluegrass...
If you like animals, consider the zoo.
Relativily new attractions: Native American History Museum; National History (just renovated); Air and Space addition at Dulles.
For that quick lunch while on the mall or museums: Head over to the Old Post Office Pavillion rather than eating from street vendors or the museum cafes. Better food and better prices.
For an entertaining evening of drinks and intrigue: Check out the International Spy Museum. Not part of the Smithsonian's and has a door charge, but some of the evening funtions are lots of fun.
For a bit of night-life (if that's your thing): Adam's Morgan area. Lots of restaurants, live music clubs, etc. to choose from. Madams Organ in Adams Morgan offers blues, bluegrass, rock, etc. depending upon the night. Typically, the bluegrass and jazz is on weeknights with blues or rock on the weekends. Can get a bit crazy with the overconsuming college kids on weekends, but a weekday night with bluegrass...
If you like animals, consider the zoo.
Relativily new attractions: Native American History Museum; National History (just renovated); Air and Space addition at Dulles.
All the places and sights mentioned here are well worth the visit and then some.
Some are recaps but my favorites are--in no particular order:
Stay in Georgetown--last time we stayed at a dog friendly hotel with a kitchenette and brought in dinner from Dean and Delucca. Some of the stores are also dog friendly. Course if accompanied by Fido turns have to be taken visiting Museums etc. Plus in the summer it gets mighty hot. (Old Alexandria--worth the visit-- has bring your pup to Happy hour at a couple places.)
The National Cathedral, The Smithsonian, see the Declaration, the National Gallery, walk the Mall and visit all the usual Memorials and Monuments, the Botanical Garden, go into the Capitol.
Eat at Hacienda Casa Grande Uncle Julio's. We like the one in Bethesda. (Both Pres. Bushes liked to eat there.)
Eat one night at one of the restaurants on the river. Last time we visited with a wonderful elderly life long resident of DC while we waited for a table and I heard some great memories.
Some are recaps but my favorites are--in no particular order:
Stay in Georgetown--last time we stayed at a dog friendly hotel with a kitchenette and brought in dinner from Dean and Delucca. Some of the stores are also dog friendly. Course if accompanied by Fido turns have to be taken visiting Museums etc. Plus in the summer it gets mighty hot. (Old Alexandria--worth the visit-- has bring your pup to Happy hour at a couple places.)
The National Cathedral, The Smithsonian, see the Declaration, the National Gallery, walk the Mall and visit all the usual Memorials and Monuments, the Botanical Garden, go into the Capitol.
Eat at Hacienda Casa Grande Uncle Julio's. We like the one in Bethesda. (Both Pres. Bushes liked to eat there.)
Eat one night at one of the restaurants on the river. Last time we visited with a wonderful elderly life long resident of DC while we waited for a table and I heard some great memories.
Folterung
Member
Just stay out of the Dupont Circle area...its the closest thing America has to Sodom and Gomorrah.
(Lots of rainbow flags)
(Lots of rainbow flags)
Similar threads
