i'm visiting DC soon and am looking for things to do and see during my five full days there.
i already plan to visit the usual suspects: Smithsonian, Capitol, White House, Spy Museum and assorted memorials and monuments.
what else do you recommend?
is there a good day tour that hits the highlights? i might even take in a MLB Nationals game.
i have no car, no bike. it's just walking and public transportation. i'm near a Metro station.
i'm flying solo and am up for just about anything.
Thanks and Ciao!
Quote from: r_ciao on March 19, 2010, 09:40:01 AM
i'm visiting DC soon and am looking for things to do and see during my five full days there.
i already plan to visit the usual suspects: Smithsonian, Capitol, White House, Spy Museum and assorted memorials and monuments.
what else do you recommend?
is there a good day tour that hits the highlights? i might even take in a MLB Nationals game.
i have no car, no bike. it's just walking and public transportation. i'm near a Metro station.
i'm flying solo and am up for just about anything.
Thanks and Ciao!
I was carted around the standard memorial tour. Two of them made an impression. The Vietnam Memorial was pretty moving, slowly sinking in to that quagmire of death all the while seeing your own reflection in the wall inscribed with the names of the dead. And the Jefferson memorial is interesting if just for his words that are all around the thing. I understand that DC has a really good microbrew scene now as well.
sac
/or do what the politicians do
//hookers and blow
don't forget to ask the CAMmers what they think.
http://ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?board=20.0 (http://ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?board=20.0)
Walk through Arlington and see if you can get some quiet time at the Tomb of the Unknowns.
FYI there are 17 museums that are part of the smithsonian. There's also the national gallery of art, national archives and more. There's the FDR memorial which isc worth a visit.
For evenings - we've got every sort of food you can imagine. Got any likes?
For beers - lots of places. Most famous for beer is the Brickskeller.
They have around 10,000 different beers on the menu,15 or so rotating taps and assorted other specials. And unless you get into the costy stuff it's one of the cheapest places to drink up in dc.
i liked the Hirshorn Museum.
I really liked the Newseum. It was the highlight of our last DCa trip.
Take a pass on the Brickskeller. We saw mice in there.
You can sign up or just show up and tour the National Red Cross HQ. Say hi to my big boss!
http://www.redcross.org/museum/history/visitorinfo.asp (http://www.redcross.org/museum/history/visitorinfo.asp)
Air and space museum
Lincoln memorial
Vietnam memorial
Museum of American History (if only for "old glory")
The Holocaust Museum
Cherry Blossom Festival soon: http://www.nationalcherryblossomfestival.org/cms/index.php?id=405 (http://www.nationalcherryblossomfestival.org/cms/index.php?id=405)
18th and U. Lots of nice restaurants from different parts of the world. Clubs etc if you into that sort of thing.
www.nga.gov (//http://)
Start at the Botanic Garden. Facing the Capitol building it's the first building on the right closest to the capitol -great big greenhouse. It's a great place to start and a very uplifting experience.
National art gallery. I could spend weeks there. The building itself is worth a look. Hirshorn is a little too, well ..... modern for me.
Museum of Nat History.
National Air and Space Museum.
China Town for lunch or dinner or Union Station is very good for lunch too.
The metro's all you need.
LA
Stop by the office of your Representative, and tell him, or her, that he's (she's) doing a good job, or not. ;)
Duck tour out on the Potomac of course! Drive down GW Parkway in what feels like an open top school bus. Next thing you know, yer on a boat ramp driving into the water and taking a tour.
Its different.
One that we saw on vacation in DC that was really cool. In the Smithsonian " Castle" was a display hall of patent models.
You used to have to submit a 12" by 12" by 12" working model of your idea to the patent office. The detail and workmanship were unreal.
After 3 hours the wife drug me out of there.
I don't think it's been mentioned yet the Libarary of Congress is worth a visit.
Smithsonian's Natural History Museum opens its Hall of Human Origins:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/18/AR2010031800820.html (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/18/AR2010031800820.html)
For beer, the new hip and happening place is Birch & Barley (restaurant downstairs) / ChurchKey (the bar upstairs). The food downstairs is pricey, but really good. I haven't eaten upstairs but heard its a smaller bar oriented menu. They have multiple (6? 7?) ales on cask (most places seem to just have one) and something like 30 on tap, plus a million bottles. The upstairs has a really long bar, and the word is get there before 7ish otherwise it's packed. Just had a cask bitter there that was great.
http://www.churchkeydc.com/ (http://www.churchkeydc.com/)
If you're in Georgetown (sorry, no Metro stop but buses do go there) Pizza Paradiso has it's Birreria downstairs with a great selection. Pizza is really good too!
http://www.eatyourpizza.com/about_birreria_paradiso.php (http://www.eatyourpizza.com/about_birreria_paradiso.php)
They also have expanded their Dupont Circle location, which *is* right near the Metro.
Best time of year in this city! Spend as much time outside as you can. If you are into flowers and vegetation, I highly recommend a stroll around the tidal basin for the cherry blossoms. There is also the National Arboretum and a great botanical garden at Wheaton Regional Park.
If you like modern art, I second the Hirschorn. They have a great sculpture garden right out front and there is another sculpture garden just across the mall.
I would avoid the Brickskellar as well. Awful food, terrible service and the place smells like old yeast and piss. Just about every bar has a really deep tap selection now days.
What kind of food are you looking for? How about nightlife? Check out this thread http://ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=25104.0 (http://ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=25104.0)
+ another for the Holocaust Museum. It's pretty moving (and REALLY well designed)! I went with a coworker who was a survivor. A bunch of the stuff on display were his personal donations.
As a kid, I loved the Air and Space museum. I'd go there again in a second. Same with the Jefferson Memorial. I've never been to the national cathedral, but I'd like to go sometime. One of the gargoyles is a darth vader bust.
I don't know what kind of music you like, but it might be fun to check out the new 9:30 club or the Black Cat.
thanks all for the great suggestions.
wow, what a great resource for moto info and other.
now, i've got some research to do to plan out my time.
musical tastes range greatly from new country, to classic rock, to adult contemporary. not so much into punk or too heavy metal.
so i might get to see Elvis at Newseum? cool.
cherry blossom festival = getting outdoors, check.
hirschorn, probably.
air and space, definitely.
national bldg museum, interesting.
georgetown, cool college scene?
pizza and cool hang out bars? bring 'em on.
my trip is still two weeks away so any more suggestions are still welcomed.
Pretty worthwhile to actually stop by your congressman's office and ask for a tour of the capitol. Unless you're from some major congressional district, most offices are really big on constituent service when you're in front of them and will give you a great 1-2hr tour through the nooks and crannies of the Capitol complex.
Quote from: positivecarry on March 21, 2010, 01:19:22 PM
Pretty worthwhile to actually stop by your congressman's office and ask for a tour of the capitol. Unless you're from some major congressional district, most offices are really big on constituent service when you're in front of them and will give you a great 1-2hr tour through the nooks and crannies of the Capitol complex.
+1
Check your congressman and senators' websites. My favorite Senator hosts breakfast for constituents on Monday mornings and my house rep hosts office hours to meet and greet.
+ another one. I worked on Capitol Hill for about seven years, and really enjoyed having folks stop by from "home." I don't know what it's like with Capitol security these days, but there are some really fascinating spots all around the network of buildings & tunnels that connect to the Capitol, and a lot of them you can only get to in the company of someone with an ID badge. I'd consider calling ahead before you go, because there are some cool things your Congressional office can arrange in advance, like tours of the White House, etc. The Capitol Visitors Center complex was still in the early stages of construction when I worked there, but I've heard it's quite well done.
I also loved the Mall at night, with the monuments lit up. The Vietnam Memorial is moving any time of the day, but at night, after the crowds have thinned, it'll be an experience that will stick with you for the rest of your days. The Lincoln memorial as well, again at night if you can; take the time to read the speeches written on the inside walls, and try to place yourself in those times and places: the Gettysburg Address on the North wall, and Lincoln's second Inaugural Address on the South, delivered just days before the end of the Civil War & Lincoln's assassination.
If you can find a way out of town, it's worth trying to get to Great Falls; Maryland side & Virginia side are very different from one another, but both fascinating. Early in the morning, you might see kayakers running the falls (the Park Service frowns on falls runs when there are lots of spectators) but I'd bet the river will be too high for that for at least a few weeks.
For local food, I miss hardshell crabs (try the Quarterdeck in Arlington, VA http://www.qdrest.com/ (http://www.qdrest.com/) if blue crabs are in season by the time you're there) and half-smokes (which are ubiquitous at the downtown hotdog carts, but try Ben's Chili Bowl up in Shaw for the full experience).
the new H st Corridor of places is developing quite nicely. No metro train stop there, but if you walk direct from Union Station...you get to start hitting the good stuff in 9 blocks. Between 10th and 14th there are like a dozen or so good night spots. The H Street Country Club through to the Argonaut with many cool places in between depending on your thirst and flavor.
The Big Hunt is off Dupont Circle (pretty sure as I was pretty toasted at that point of the night). Nothing to write home about, I just like the name of the bar.
+1 on Pizza Paradiso- great bear selection.
Ben's Chili Bowl (bring your own napkins cause I sure couldnt find any)
Hit the SW Waterfront if your hungry for seafood and wish to dine alfresco. I know the place is a dive, but man I cant resist it when bidness sees me down to that part of town.
Quote from: rgramjet on March 20, 2010, 01:42:14 AM
Duck tour out on the Potomac of course! Drive down GW Parkway in what feels like an open top school bus. Next thing you know, yer on a boat ramp driving into the water and taking a tour.
Its different.
Rog, he's here for 5 days and you send him on the duck boat? how 'bout you take him out in your boat [evil]
I grew up in DC and the Museums are cool, the Memorials are cool and the Sculpture Gardens are nice this time of year along with the tidal basin. BUT! If you want to have truly awesome time, the Spy Museum is the way to go!
As far as food, Adams Morgan (18th st, about 4/5 blocks off the metro Adam's morgan/woodlypark/zoo stop) has a great selection, a few cool bars and clubs, and a nice lounge spot called Tryst.
Ben's Chili Bowl is a must. It's off the Ust/Cardoza exit at Ust/14th I believe. It's a staple of DC.
Georgetown is a cool area at night/weekends, but it's a bit of a walk from the metro.
Depending on how far away you want to travel, the metro can take you almost anywhere
If you want good beer, take the metro out to one of the Dogfishead Alehouses (probably East Falls Church Metro - jump on a bus or cab to the brewery, or if your not lazy you can walk)
Good luck and let me know if you have any questions!
Aarash
Countdown, just a few more days and the forecast is high 70's. It'll be nice to escape the rain in N. California. I've got my rez for the Library of Congress and the Capitol, but sadly could not get into the White House tour. So many have told me about the Spy Museum, so that is defintely on the list. Looking forward to pizza and beer. [drink] I already get nice meals during my business travels but since I'm traveling on my own dime, saving some coin is good. But...
Any recommendations for a fine steak house? I love a good steak and will treat myself accordingly. [wine]
Quote from: r_ciao on April 02, 2010, 01:08:16 AM
Any recommendations for a fine steak house? I love a good steak and will treat myself accordingly. [wine]
take the Metro out to Bethesda and go to Mortons then!
If you're downtown, no need to travel to Bethesda. There's a Ruth Chris on the corner of Penn Ave and 9th street, NW. (724 9th Street Northwest, Washington - (202) 393-4488)
A better alternative is an easy Metro Rail ride (Orange Line) away to Arlington (Courthouse). You can have the best steak for the best price in the area (not just my opinion) at Ray's the Steaks. http://www.washingtonpost.com/gog/restaurants/rays-the-steaks,1071592.html (http://www.washingtonpost.com/gog/restaurants/rays-the-steaks,1071592.html)
Cheers.
//tb
Quote from: r_ciao on April 02, 2010, 01:08:16 AM
Any recommendations for a fine steak house? I love a good steak and will treat myself accordingly. [wine]
Capital Grille.