Must-sees in DC?
I am traveling to Washington D.C. (for the first time!) soon for a work trip. I will be there a whole week, but will only have evenings free, and the Friday afternoon until Saturday afternoon that I am there.
Does anyone have any recommendations for “must-sees”* during my very short and limited trip? I have already contacted my senator to ask for tickets to visit the Capitol, and would like to go to the top of the Washington Monument, and perhaps visit the Holocaust Memorial Museum… but that’s it. Okay, that’s a lot.
But, Steven will be there too, and he doesn’t have to be in training all day, so you can give some recommendations for him (his brother is adamant that he visit the Air and Space Museum)!
Thanks!
*Or “must-dos,” but please keep in mind that I am not the partying type.
Themocracy
Yes, the Air & Space Museum is a must! National Gallery of Art, also very cool. Hirshorn art museum. Vietnam war memorial aka the Wall. Lincoln Memorial. All great.
The American history museum- not sure if that’s its proper name, also on the mall, is cool. Has Julia Child’s kitchen, Dorothy’s red slippers, etc.
YAY DC!!!!!! Definitely hit up Georgetown for the people watching and the shopping, PLUS Georgetown Cupcake is AMAZING. A lot of the places I love are in old town Alexandria…but DC is so fabulous. If you have time, head up to Cleveland Park/Woodley Park (by the zoo). Great neighborhoods and restaurants. Plus, if you have time, the National Cathedral is absolutely breathtaking.
Okay, ALSO Yamazato sushi and spice is the most amazing sushi place on earth. Or at least, that I’ve ever had. Plus it’s where Matt and I had our first date, and where we got engaged. It’s a little off the beaten path in Alexandria, but if you have a rental car…TOTALLY GO THERE.
Hm…something in Georgetown?
The Holocaust Museum is not a “perhaps,” it’s a “must.” Most awe-inspiring and heartbreaking museum I’ve ever visited.
I’ve never been to DC either (yes! it’s the truth!) but if I got a chance to go, the Smithsonian would be highest on my list. (yes, I’d rather see that than the White House–don’t tell!)
I have never been other than to go to the Smithsonian, so no advice– I would probably try to walk/run down Pennsylvania—
I went to D.C. for an 8th grade trip and the thing I remember the most about it was the Holocaust Memorial Museum, which is already on your list. It was a sad but very enlightening experience.
I can’t remember much else about the trip, except that reading someone else’s comment reminded me of seeing Dorothy’s slippers which was fun.
It’s hard there is so much to do there! I hope you have an awesome trip!
Walk the monuments at night!! So fun, especially when they’re all lit up. The National Zoo is cool if you like animals, and the American History Smithsonian is always worth checking out. Georgetown has all the shopping! I looooved the Holocaust Museum (as in…it was really interesting, not that I loved the Holocaust…just to clarify), so I would definitely recommend checking it out.
I’m sure I’ll think of more, so I”ll let you know!
Ack, okay, me again, leaving my THIRD comment on this post. This has gotta be some sort of record.
Definitely take a day to walk the National Mall. It is so much bigger than you think, but so worth it. Start at the Capitol and walk down towards the Lincoln Memorial. The WWII Memorial is in the middle, and it is one of the most breathtaking memorials I have ever seen – I love it. Then walk down to the Lincoln. And maybe swing around to the Vietnam War Memorial wall…if you have any relatives who were killed in Vietnam, you can look them up in a book and then find them on the wall. I have a cousin on the wall and it’s really neat to see.
Definitely see the monuments at night. The Lincoln was one of the most moving for me at night. Then walk along the Vietnam wall memorial. Changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery is very moving too. The Smithsonian museums have something for just about everyone, and you could spend days and still not see them all (and I believe they’re free).
Hmmm being a local, it’s hard to say where you MUST go, since I’ve actually never done some of the “touristy” things. Seriously, when you live here, your field trips EVERY YEAR are to the air & space museum (it’s awesome, but 15 times isnt fun). But some of my favorites are Old Town Alexandria (that’s where I grew up actually) to hit up a restaurant down by the water front and a walk through the Torpedo Factory (lots of awesome local artist do work here and display their finished products.) If you are staying in DC with no rental car, you can take the Metro to the King Street Step, head south (away from the Mosanic Temple) and you’ll walk by tons of restaurants and go down to the water front. You wont even need to leave King Street. Its’ a bit of a walk, but I know youre up for it 😀
The Capitol Building is a much more impressive tour than the white house. Unless you feel a need to actually go into the white house (hey I did it, just to say I was there!) skip it. Walk around the Ellipse, walk up to the gates and take some pictures. The tour of the white house is very much a cattle call and you are incredibly limited in what you can see.
In DC, absolutely check out the American history museum. It was closed for a few years for renovations, and is easily my favorite Smithsonian Museum. If you have a free night, go to IMAX at the Natural History Museum or Air & Space (http://www.si.edu/imax/) it’s pretty cool to see some of the movies on such an amazingly huge screen.
TONS of restaurants. A good place to get reviews or ides is Yelp.com. Depending on where you’ll be staying down town, I can probably give you some ideas! Lots of ethnic restaurants, lots of them. Here’s a list of vegetarian restaurants http://www.vegdc.com/restaurants.php
The Washington Nationals are home several days next week. They might be awful, but the new stadium is gorgeous and its a great time at the park 🙂 http://www.mlb.com/schedule/index.jsp?c_id=was
Hopefully the weather is still awesome next week. Take a walk around the tidal basin.
Hope these help! (Sorry, this was an essay lol)
I love the American history museum and the Air and Space Museume. Go see the Lincoln and Jefferson memorial at night. It has beena ges since I’ve been to DC, I hope tha tyou and Steven have a great time.
I LOVED the National Archives. I didn’t bother to wait in line to see the Declaration of Independence or the Constitution, but I looked at everything else. My favorite part was the exhibit they had of letters to the Presidents. One kid wrote President Reagan asking to have his bedroom declared a federal disaster area since his mom was always saying it was and this way he could get funds to help clean it up 🙂
The Vietnam Memorial is moving even if you don’t know any names on the wall. Just watching other people is a sight to behold. I also think the Korean War memorial is breathtaking.
The first time I was there we went to Arlington National Cemetery, walked around, and stayed for the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. It’s very beautiful and interesting, but it’s quite a ride on the Metro. So, it might not be in the cards this trip.
Wish I could make recommendations, but the last time I was in DC I was 9 years old.
Although, when I was there, the Washington Monument was closed for cleaning the week I was there, so I never got to go up inside of it. Not sure if post-9/11still allows that. Guess that counts as a recommend to you.
Love the included photo from the movie “Mars Attacks”
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