What to see in Washinton DC?

[RockMonkey]

I'll have about four days, what should I see?

So far tops on my list are:

1. The Smithsonian Air and Space Museum (there's some family memerobilia in there I need to visit.)

2. The Holocaust Museum (several people have told me not to miss it)

3. The natural history museum (supposed to be the best in the country)

What else? Sounds like lots of good stuff is right on the mall. The Washington monument, the Vietnam ond WWII memorials, and tons of other museums and stuff. White house and Capitol are closed to tours these days I guess. Anyone been there recently? What are the best things to see?

 

[TRNDRVR]

I was in DC once. The best thing I saw was the view of it in the rear view mirror. Absolutely the most scummiest POS town I'd ever been in. :sick:

Dan.

 

[mbryson]

I thought the 'mall' was pretty cool (Washington, Lincoln, Jefferson & war memorials). Good luck seeing the Smithsonian. That place is HUGE....(just off the mall) I could never get out of classes soon enough to get down there. Arlington Cemetary is worth seeing (seriously, one of the more humbling experiences of my life--lots of people there that gave their lives so we could have what we have).

 

[PierCed_3]

All of the above are great places to check out. I would suggest a 2 day smithsonian visit. There is so much stuff to look at there!

 

[OCNORB]

We just went over Easter weekend. We spent 1.5 days at the National Air and Space Museum on the Mall. It is awesome. They also have a new museum out near Dulles. You can buy shuttle tickets that will take you there and back for $14. Do not eat at the Museum if you can help. Most expensive McDonalds anywhere. Best place we found for lunch was the cafeteria under the House of Representatives. Lots of Variety and reasonable prices. It's within walking distance of the Museums. Natural History Museum was pretty cool, but my family probably enjoyed the American History more. They are in the middle of preserving the original "Star Spangled Banner" that insprired Francis Scott Keys song. It is set up so you can watch the work. Lots of cool exhibits.

Call your local Congressmans office. They can usually hook you up with tickets to many sites. We were able to get in the White House tour and the Bureau of Printing and Engraving.

The Lincoln Memorial is a must see. We started at the WWII memorial and walked through the gardens to the Vietnam Memorial and then it's just a few hundred feet to the Lincoln Memorial. The Washington Monument is open now and the ride to the top is supposed to be a must do. (It opened a week after we left) You have to get in line early to get tickets though. (It's free, you just need a time ticket.)

Sounds like TRNDRVR had a negative experience there. Ours was just the opposite. The people in D.C. were VERY friendly. I have never been treated so well on any vacation trip overall. We rode the Metro everywhere. Very easy to use, safe and clean. Metro employees are very well trained and friendly to tourists. We stayed near GWU.

Take some good walking shoes. My feet were pretty sore every day. My wife has a pedometer and we averaged 6 miles per day. Definitely a must do trip.

 

[Russnut]

the best part of DC is the dudes who sell fake rolexes and oakleys and stuff. you could spend like $80 and come back with an extra suitcase of crap. but the good kind of crap.

 

[RockMonkey]

I was in DC once. The best thing I saw was the view of it in the rear view mirror. Absolutely the most scummiest POS town I'd ever been in. :sick:

Dan.

Thanks, that's really helpful.


So, how early do you guys think we need to get in line for tickets up the Washington Monument? Also, I thought the whitehouse was closed to tours now. It's open? I'd really like to do that if I can. Unfortunately I don't think there's any way I can get more than one day at the Air and Space museum, but that's okay. I've been there before, and there's a lot more things to see than just that.

 

[RockMonkey]

Just read my email. Looks like we've got tickets to go up the Washington monument at 10:30 Saturday morning. No wait'n in line for me! Now I'm seeing what I can do about that Whitehouse tour. I got connections in the Supreme Court, yo. :greg:

 

[Stephen]

Arlington. I spent hours (I really dont know how many) just walking around it, and I probably only saw a quarter of the cemetary. Also, DO NOT TAKE THE TOUR. I cant stress this enough, just strike out on your own, you will find graves and memorials that you would never see on the tour, plus its much more humbleing when you arent stuffed in a bus with a 300 pound hillbilly that has no idea what the place is all about.
Walking around Embassy street is kinda cool too. The most impressive structure in DC is the National Cathedrial. I'm not religious at all, but it is amazing.
And of course, the mall. Just walk the length of it, its pretty cool. The WWII, Korean and Vietnam are quite humbleing. Walk it at night too, thats the best way in my opinion.
And dont forget the Jefferson Memorial, breathtaking. Also, the Roosevelt Memorial in West Patomic Park its very good too.
As for the comment of it being dirty, your god damn right. It was incredible to see how dirty that city is. Really a shame too. :-\

 

[Russnut]

don't forget about Jorge' Washington's house and that stuff.

 

[utahxjer]

is someone going with you?

If so:

Dress them up in black, give them two suitcases and tell them to stand in front of the White House, and stand back and watch the show.....

On a serious note:

Go see the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.... haven't been there myself, but that is one of the first on my list

 

[GETBENT]

Go see the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.... haven't been there myself, but that is one of the first on my list

I saw a thing on the TV about that the other day, it is very interesting. I think they said that the soldiers that guard it have to spend like 3-4 hrs a day just getting their uniforms ready! You have to follow some crazy rules and meet some insane requirements to be a guard!

 

[TexasTJ]

The Smithsonian is awesome... I could spend a week there.

 

[mbryson]

I saw a thing on the TV about that the other day, it is very interesting. I think they said that the soldiers that guard it have to spend like 3-4 hrs a day just getting their uniforms ready! You have to follow some crazy rules and meet some insane requirements to be a guard!

Very cool and very worth it. I'm taking my boys in a few years (when they are old enough to appreciate things a little more). Not to throw a 'religion' thread in here, but that is one of the most 'reverent' places I've ever been (Arlington Cemetary). Like SRN said, don't do the tour, walk around.....check things out.

 

[camicaztoy]

i'm from virginia, about an hour south, and i love going to dc deffinatly go to arlington. the tomb of the unknown soldier is a must and go to kenedys tomb while your there. air and space is cool also do the american history museum. you've got monument tickets already and the potomac river boat tours are neat. you'll probably run out of time before you see everything you want to.

 

[RKCRWLR]

I am a Virginian as well. Spent a lot of time looking and working in DC. Ditto on Arlington. You'll get choked up for sure. Vietnam and Korean memorials as well. If you get time, head out to Dulles to the air and space annex. Got the shuttle Enterprise there, along with the Enola Gay, and a host of great aircraft. Have fun!

 

[mbryson]

I am a Virginian as well. Spent a lot of time looking and working in DC. Ditto on Arlington. You'll get choked up for sure. Vietnam and Korean memorials as well. If you get time, head out to Dulles to the air and space annex. Got the shuttle Enterprise there, along with the Enola Gay, and a host of great aircraft. Have fun!

I think the Korean 'speaks' to you.......not to discount any other memorials (I haven't seen the WWII mem.), but that one is very striking.....

 

[RockMonkey]

I will be going with Chicky and my mom. I'm sure I could spend a year there and not see it all, so I'm trying to find out what the best things are. Sounds like Arlington's in. The Whitehouse is booked through may, no way we can get in at this point. So, the things that are on my to-do list right now:

Smithsonian Air and Space
American History Museum
Natural History Museum (should I skip this one?, no one here really mentioned it.)
Holocaust Museum
Arlington Cemetary
Washington Monument (got tickets)
Capitol, and Supreme Court tour (got tickets)
Walk the mall, including the war memorials and presidential monuments

What should I change? Is this enough, or too much for four days?

 

[camicaztoy]

thats a pretty good list for four days. you'll always find more stuff to do if that doesn't fill you up. the natural history museum is pretty cool just not as high on the list of must does in the small time frame you have. also if you use the metro rail to get around go to union station and take a quick walk around and maybe one day eat lunch at the old post office building.

 

[JackKeslerCustoms]

I will be going with Chicky and my mom. I'm sure I could spend a year there and not see it all, so I'm trying to find out what the best things are. Sounds like Arlington's in. The Whitehouse is booked through may, no way we can get in at this point. So, the things that are on my to-do list right now:

Smithsonian Air and Space
American History Museum
Natural History Museum (should I skip this one?, no one here really mentioned it.)
Holocaust Museum
Arlington Cemetary
Washington Monument (got tickets)
Capitol, and Supreme Court tour (got tickets)
Walk the mall, including the war memorials and presidential monuments

What should I change? Is this enough, or too much for four days?

I personally got a little bored at the Natural History museum. I think two Smithsonians is plenty. Make the Holocaust Museum first priority. Or maybe even save it for last. That's the one thing you should not skip. Arlington is also awesome, take your time there, and go see the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The capitol and Supreme court tours are awesome also, ask them to see the Basketball court at the supreme court. While your right there, I thought the Senate and House were pretty cool to observe for a few minuites. The monuments are great, FDR's was my favorite, and do that one at night. The memorials are cool too, you can pretty much do all of these (monuments and memorials) the same day you do the Washington monument. If you like to go out to eat, go to The Old Ebbott Grill. It's a couple of blocks from the White House, and it is outstanding. My list would be, Holocaust, Old Ebbott, Arlington. If i broke my leg and missed the rest of the trip it would still be worth it.