Any tips, hotels, must see sights? My first time there. Gonna check out the obvious White House, Congress, National Mall, Lincoln memorial, but what else? Unfortunately I won't be in town the 10th, I really wanted to stay back and watch the Wizards v. Rockets but it won't work out sadly. Thanks in advance for suggestions!
Kramerbooks & Afterwords Cafe - http://www.kramers.com/ Great bookstore and restaurant/bar for people watching On Connecticut Ave We always stay at the River Inn in Georgetown - http://www.theriverinn.com/?src=ppc_yahoobing_brand_seasonal_fall. Very nice and reasonable prices.
The old Ebiit Grill If you like cold boiled seafood, get an orca platter during happy hour (normally a hundred bucks, but half off during happy hour) at The old Ebiit Grill near the white house.
i believe it's 9th street .... LOL if you would like some entertainment for the night... On a serious note, try a crab cake they are huge!
When I went I really enjoyed the Smithsonian museum that had all the inventions. I'd recommend some of those museums if you enjoy history.
Check out the exorcist stairs along with Georgetown strip (shops etc..). Crystal City has some good restaurants(Kabob Palace) Seafood on Maine Avenue. Smithsonian Museums.
If you have to choose between Smithsonian Museums, the American History museum is miles ahead of any of the others in my mind. I went before the renovation and loved it then and would only imagine its even better now. Air and Space is ok but I've seen it too many times. There are some underrated smaller Smithsonian museums too but if you had to pick one I'd go American History.
Ben's Chili Bowl is a D.C. institution. Its patrons include heads of state, both foreign and domestic. And Bill Cosby. Order the half-smoked.
Last time I went, I got a great deal through Priceline at Hotel Palomar in Arlington - 4*, <$90/night. I always buy a 2-day pass on The Tourmobile, which drives a continuous loop between all of the monuments and museums, and you can board and depart whenever you want. You can buy a ticket at Arlington Cemetary and do the tour there as well. Also, this hotel is very close to the Iwo Jima Memorial, which is one of the few attractions not on the Mall.
Great timing on this thread. I will be there from the 12-16 and was going to start a thread similar to this. Might I ask what your going for?
Thanks everyone for the replies so far. All have been noted, still anxious for more hidden gems. I'm lookin at an itinerary of first day being mostly National Mall, monuments, Congress, White House. Day 2 will start off at Smithsonian, and head to International Spy Museum perhaps....still taking suggestions. And Rox_fan_here I'm headin there for 2 reasons; 1) checking out law schools in the area and 2) just for the vacation/sights (not to mention free ride due to a relative going there for a meeting).
Just moved here a couple of months ago. Feel free to msg me through the board. Might do a CF gathering here? haha
enjoy your trip guys. DC's on my list in the next few years. Haven't been there in ages. I think I could spend a month at the Smithsonian.
Did you already request a tour for the White House, I think they have to be booked in advance. Everything else you can just wander around. FYI the spy museum is private so theres admission fee.
I would split your itinerary. Spend 1/2 day each day in the museums and a 1/2 day doing monuments, etc. The best Smithsonian IMO is the Museum of American History which is on the mall, so you could do whatever of the Lincoln/Washington/WWII/Korean/Vietnam all in the same day. National Gallery is fine if you like art, National Archives if you like looking at historical documents, International Spy is great (could spend 2 days there alone), and Newseum is great too (Pulitzer photographs are outstanding). Botanical gardens are also cool if you are into plants. You can only scratch the surface in two days, so don't try to do it all.
White House tours have to be booked 4-6 months in advance. Depending on when you're going, you can arrange a Capitol tour through your local senator, but it sounds like you're going in the next week or two, so it's probably too late for that. However, the Capitol Visitor Center recently opened, and you can get walk-up tickets for a Capitol tour there as well - the Senator's Office version is better and longer, but for a short visit, the general tour is great. You can purchase tickets online to go up into the Washington Monument - they're only $1.50 and you can pick them up at will call just outside the Monument. If you get shut out there, another great spot is the Old Post Office Tower, which has the second-highest observation deck in the city after the WaMo.
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