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Must do stuff in Washington DC.

Posted on 7/21/24 at 12:49 pm
Posted by Napoleon
Kenna
Member since Dec 2007
70272 posts
Posted on 7/21/24 at 12:49 pm
I had just booked a trip to England in September but that's a ways away so I wanted a short weekend trip before then.
I looked for the cheapest flights for the weekend after next. Dallas, Atlanta and DC were each around $100 round trip. I haven't been to DC in 12 years so decided to go there. Added bonus no one with me to rush me through museums.
Hotel wise is expensive in DC I got a place for 4 nights in Dupont Circle to be near places to eat and a metro. Last time I stayed in Lefant Plaza and it was dead after 5pm there.

Anyway. Other than the Smithsonian what are some must see things? I plan a half day at Air and Space, natural history and American history. Any of the others worth seeing? Not going to make Udvar Hazy center again this trip.
What are some good places to eat? I normally did at least one Jose Andres place each trip but it's been a while. Not sure what's good now.
I plan to use metro and rental bikes to get around. .
Posted by LemmyLives
Texas
Member since Mar 2019
7531 posts
Posted on 7/21/24 at 3:45 pm to
International spy museum. It’s not huge, but quite interesting. If you are a geek, there’s also the national Cryptologic museum, but you really need to be into it, lol.
Posted by PenguinPubes
Frozen Tundra
Member since Jan 2018
11155 posts
Posted on 7/21/24 at 4:10 pm to
Just went there last year. Could spend an entire day at the holocaust museum, definitely go walk through it even if you go quickly.

Obviously walk the Capitol to Washington monument to Lincoln. And hit up the monuments in between (FDR, Jefferson, MLK). Korea, ww2 and Vietnam memorials are in that area if I remember correctly. That entire walk if you visit all of the memorials in between took me about 4 hours. (I was alone and walked relatively quickly)

Arlington cemetery with the guards is a must do I believe

9/11 memorial at the pentagon at night is kinda cool (not a must do, but if you’re in the area swing by and walk it)

We toured the capitol, never realized how much detail and massive that place was, if you haven’t been inside definitely do that.

We took a day trip to Gettysburg, was really cool but took an entire day, don’t know if that’s a must do, but it was a cool experience

That’s just a few off of the top of my head that I remembered doing that was really cool for me. I’m sure others will have different opinions as well, hope you have fun!
This post was edited on 7/21/24 at 4:16 pm
Posted by dirtsandwich
AL
Member since May 2016
5543 posts
Posted on 7/21/24 at 4:31 pm to
I recently did a largely self-guided walking tour of the monuments at night. I really enjoyed it. Had a friend with me who lives In DC and had been several times. But nothing you couldn’t do yourself.
Posted by texas tortilla
houston
Member since Dec 2015
2437 posts
Posted on 7/21/24 at 4:58 pm to
Might want to visit Ford theater. Tour of capitol.
Posted by Shaun176
Baton Rouge
Member since Aug 2008
2555 posts
Posted on 7/21/24 at 6:33 pm to
Call Kennedy and Scalise's DC office and see what they can get you. If you like Italian, check out Tortino. If Air and Space is still being renovated, you don't need all day. The Muesem of the American Indian is good.
This post was edited on 7/21/24 at 6:37 pm
Posted by Napoleon
Kenna
Member since Dec 2007
70272 posts
Posted on 7/21/24 at 6:58 pm to
I did both of those last trip. The spy museum was great we also did the game where you walk around and look for clues and try and solve a mystery with this device looking for qr codes on buildings in the area.
Posted by Napoleon
Kenna
Member since Dec 2007
70272 posts
Posted on 7/21/24 at 7:00 pm to
Ford theater sounds interesting. I did the captiol last time and the White house years ago. (Bush2 was president)
Posted by LemmyLives
Texas
Member since Mar 2019
7531 posts
Posted on 7/21/24 at 8:20 pm to
You're the only other person besides one that I know that is the proper fit for the Crypto museum. What about using the opp to hit civil war stuff in the area? I know you're not planning on renting a car, but you could train from your hotel to IAD and head to Manassas, etc. You also have at least the Delta shuttle for some NE routes.
Posted by GOP_Tiger
Baton Rouge
Member since Jan 2005
19104 posts
Posted on 7/21/24 at 8:37 pm to
If you're at Dupont Circle, then you should check out the Phillips Collection right there. It's not a huge art museum, but it contains some elite pieces.

I'm a big fan, for example, of Renoir's greatest masterpiece.

LINK
Posted by BobABooey
Parts Unknown
Member since Oct 2004
14857 posts
Posted on 7/21/24 at 9:27 pm to
quote:

Ford theater sounds interesting.

Grab breakfast at Lincoln’s Waffle Shop (I kid you not) across the street before Ford’s. Fun and unique atmosphere.
Posted by LSU
Houston
Member since Oct 2003
8919 posts
Posted on 7/22/24 at 7:31 am to
quote:

Grab breakfast at Lincoln’s Waffle Shop (I kid you not) across the street before Ford’s. Fun and unique atmosphere.


I agree with this. We ate there in June before our Ford's Theater tour. Good food.
Posted by CONNECTICUTTIGER
RHODE ISLAND
Member since Apr 2006
1042 posts
Posted on 7/22/24 at 8:32 am to
quote:


Arlington cemetery with the guards is a must do I believe


This. 100% this.
Posted by wesfau
Member since Mar 2023
716 posts
Posted on 7/22/24 at 8:48 am to
Great suggestions so far.

I'll add one that's a little overlooked: The National Archives

See the Dec of Ind and the Constitution.

Don't miss the fact that you walk right by the Magna Freakin Carta on the way in.
Posted by LSU
Houston
Member since Oct 2003
8919 posts
Posted on 7/22/24 at 9:21 am to
Several good options in this thread. We were there in June for 5 days.

One day we took the ferry cruise down to Mount Vernon, which was an enjoyable trip.

Definitely take one of the night monument tours.

We also thoroughly enjoyed the private guided tour of the Capitol arranged through our senator's office, but we had to apply for it well in advance. Our guide took us in many areas that aren't available on the regular tour. Got to hang out on Speaker Johnson's private balcony overlooking the mall too.
Posted by PCRammer
1725 Slough Avenue in Scranton, PA
Member since Jan 2014
1532 posts
Posted on 7/22/24 at 12:34 pm to
Some street DC trivia. Stroll by the site where they filmed the Exorcist and those steps with the famous scenes. Its in Georgetown.


Posted by Napoleon
Kenna
Member since Dec 2007
70272 posts
Posted on 7/22/24 at 1:28 pm to
I'm booking a night monument tour. Also the Washington monument was never open when I went so I'm going to try to get tickets to that too.

Mostly interested in the Smithsonian stuff.
Posted by Hewonbyalot
Member since Aug 2021
290 posts
Posted on 7/22/24 at 1:32 pm to
You have alot of good advice in here. Half day for A&S, American HIstory and Natural history is way short. You could easily spend an entire day in American History. IIRC, most of the museums have cafes and there are food carts on the mall.
Posted by Herecomethehawks
The Hawkeye State
Member since Oct 2014
92 posts
Posted on 7/22/24 at 1:33 pm to
Udvar-Hazy Air and Space out at Dulles is awesome. They have the Discovery space shuttle, a Concorde, SR-71, and a ton of other awesome stuff
Posted by LSU
Houston
Member since Oct 2003
8919 posts
Posted on 7/22/24 at 1:42 pm to
quote:

Also the Washington monument was never open when I went so I'm going to try to get tickets to that too.



Great views up there! Be prepared ahead of time at your 30 day mark & logged into the recreation.gov site, as advanced tickets sell out within seconds.

We also went to the top of the Old Post Office Pavilion, which is probably the second highest panoramic viewpoint of the city. It's free, no tickets are required, & there was almost no line at all.
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