Planning 1st trip to DC area any tips etc

Corvettj · 04-21-2009, 07:27 PM

Hello,
Planning first trip to the DC area for sight seeing etc, going to be there first week of June, going to see the normal sites, but looking to see if there is areas I need to stay away from or need to see? any helpful hints tips etc would be great

thanks
JC form the West Coast
corvettj@comcast.net

vette99coupe · 04-21-2009, 09:09 PM

we stay at the crystal gateway marriott in arlington va (right across the river). they have an underground access to the metro (subway system) that will take you all over dc to the major sight-seeing areas. very convenient and less stressful than trying to stay in the city and/or find parking, etc.

hope that helps

MARKRUBYRED · 04-22-2009, 09:25 AM

Stay away from NE Washington

Check out The Spy Museum Really

but you may need reservations. China Town has some great restaurants.

kev1n · 04-22-2009, 10:04 AM

all the museums close around 5:30pm so if you are planning to do a lot of sightseeing, keep that in mind. also we stayed around dupont circle, very nice area close to all the restaurants etc. enjoy! its a nice city.

OLD-GUY · 04-22-2009, 11:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kev1n

all the museums close around 5:30pm so if you are planning to do a lot of sightseeing, keep that in mind. also we stayed around dupont circle, very nice area close to all the restaurants etc. enjoy! its a nice city.

Just DON"T go outside the capital district .

Humanoid 2.0 · 04-22-2009, 11:31 AM

The national zoo is nice.

mustjo · 04-22-2009, 02:11 PM

Stay at the Marriot Key Bridge, very convienent. You can walk across the bridge into Georgetown, good College type restaurants, shopping.
The Union Station within walking distance of the Capital is also worth a stop, if your looking for food, the food court on the basement floor has something for everyone. Would heed the advice about staying out of the NE.

It's safe to walk the Mall at night, some of the monuments illuminated at night are spectacular.

JM

Corvettj · 04-22-2009, 02:18 PM

OK NO NE, how about Ben's Chili bowl? worth the stop? have hotel next to Arlington Cemetary, close to Metro line, it is ok to walk the mall area in the evening after the museums? Capitol district? is that on a map?
thanks,
keep the ideas coming I am taking good notes

JC

cyoul8rnj · 04-22-2009, 03:56 PM

You don't want to miss this one!!! www.Udvar-HazyCenter.com another good web www.visitingdc.com.

msp1055 · 04-22-2009, 08:43 PM

Bens Chilli Bowl is awesome. Bars and restaurants in Georgetown are cool places to eat and hangout. Most of the museums are cool. The holocaust survivors museum is very moving. Please keep in mind that the traffic on capitol beltway is a nightmare with daily collisions if you plan on traveling outside of the city. Some of the worst driving I've ever seen.

valdeztke · 05-17-2009, 12:32 AM

Get up early and take the metro into the city (Smithsonian stop).

Things to see:

Air and Space, American Indian and Natural History museums - All great places to see (and FREE TOO!).

Look into a DC Duck tour. Very neat way to see quite a bit of DC without burning through shoe rubber.

Get a tour of the capitol through your representative's office (I work in a Congressional office so shoot me a PM about the specifics).

National Monument (don't waste your time trying to go inside) - just snap a photo at the base area.

Food - Ben's chili bowl and Five Guys Burger - classic DC.

Any other info you need, feel free to shoot me a PM. If I'm not swamped and its a weekend I might even be interested in showing you around.

ED77KATR · 05-17-2009, 10:29 AM

My favorite stops are Air&Space Museum.....American History Museum[has some famous cars there]....and believe it or not my favorite spot especially on a nice day Arlington National Cemetery. Stop at the main building as you go in for a map. My hero and a fanatical Corvette owner,and the 3rd man to walk on the moon is buired there..RIP Pete Conrad

9secondflat · 05-17-2009, 11:19 AM

a must hit place is one called "The Brickskeller" located in dc.. they have one of the largest beer selections of any bar/pub in the world....

92PGC · 05-17-2009, 09:03 PM

make sure you go to Arlington National Cemetery. Very moving experience. also as somebody else mentioned, take one of those tours. its been 5 years since I visted with my family. the tour that I took allowed you a free ride after like 3PM if you signed up for the next day. this was a good way to get an overview, then select where you want to go the next day. the tour that I took had many stops so you could get on and off, all day. have fun.