Washington D.C. ?

[The emperor has no clothes]

I got some great advice last year about visiting NYC. So, I'm going to ask for some on DC. I want to include a couple days there with Inzane. Besides the Whitehouse, Lincoln Memorial, Capital Building what are some other must sees ? And any other advice would be appreciated. I know many don't like it and wouldn't go but we will. I didn't think I'd like NYC, but had a great time. Thanks

[cookiedough]

US Botanical garden (if into variety of plants), Washington monument,  Aviation museum if into history of airplanes-flying, etc.,  Holocaust Museum (pretty dark and sad inside), and the several Monuments/Memorials all within 1-2 miles of walking distance is all centrally located very close together.  I did not have time to walk all the way over to see Arlington but wish I had as well as the changing of the guards.

If into history,  the history museum is worthwhile but did not trip my trigger much.  I do remember though seeing the original Archie Bunker chair he sat on...

Those were my highlights and all of the above will take 4-5 days or more to do so make sure you spend at least 5 days to see most of what should be seen while there.  We walked it all from place to place from our hotel a good 1+ mile or more up the road so be prepared to walk, but they do have a subway train or something like that heard of but never did that either but wanted to do it to just say I did it once since never been in a subway or train in my life. 

Personally, I would skip the White House and I did but walked by the heavily secured gates good enough for me and also skipped the Capital building. 

[scooperhsd]

You can spend several days just at all the Smithsonian Museums. If you dig airplanes, be sure to go out to Dulles where they have an SR71 and I think a space shuttle on display. US MInt, Several Memorials to different wars, The Navy Yard if you want to tramp about the Navy Museam / USS Barry (Korea era destroyer).  Best advice for going to town / National Mall - METRO !!  Holocaust Museam (may still require signups). If you can get it - White House tour / US Capital. National Zoo .  Unless you dig LARGE crowds (500,000 + )- I'd avoid the Mall on July 4th (but they do have SPECTACULAR fireworks and lots of entertainment).

[Willow]

Washington Monument.  Arlington Cemetery.  Mount Vernon.

[Jess from VA]

Go on weekends, not workdays, esp if you intend to ride down there. Finding parking can be a challenge, as are the million speed and light cameras, traffic, cabs.  If you ride in be sure it's the weekend, if not, arrive after 10 AM and leave before 3PM (or just go get drunk somewhere, and leave after quitting time, say about 11PM).  A nice ride in is up Geo Wash parkway (NoVA), past Mt Vernon (that's another nice destination), and over the 15th Street bridge.

The whole city is built more on circles than a grid (really both).  Except to and from work, every single time I drove or rode downtown I got lost (often several times).  

I'd park and take a metro train in, get off look around, get back on the train, get off look somewhere else, and so on.  Still plenty of walking, but depending on what you want to see, you can cut off a few long walks by using the trains, or pay more and hop in a cab or three.  Parking bikes at metro stations can be a bit iffy.  Some have outdoor parking where they are in plain view of everyone (and pretty safe), others you may have to park in a garage where they could be tampered with (no cameras in the parking garages, unless added since I left).

I think I did some long post(s) for Cookidough a while back with a bunch of links to metro, maps, yada.  

[old2soon]

Arlington Cemetery-found out others were right-I heard the ghosts talking. For me-FINALLY-The Wall was finally visited and respects paid and more ghosts. Changing of the Guard at The Tomb of The Unknown. Most of the War Memorials like others have said are fairly close to each other. I KNOW also D C has lots of other things to see but in my case I had one day. I remember standing above the Reflecting Pool-aptly named-my Baby Sister Karen looks at me and sez-remember Forrest Gump? Almost blew out my ear drums suppressing my laugh. One other thing if I have the wrong location-well apologies. Philadelphia I believe has the Liberty Bell in a museum we saw that and I was amazed at how Small a bell it actually is. Good luck there Rob. RIDE SAFE.

[Serk]

Steven F. Udvar-Hazy center of the Smithsonian museum at Dulles Airport.

https://airandspace.si.edu/udvar-hazy-center

National Firearms Museum inside the NRA headquarters:

http://www.nramuseum.com/museums/national-firearms-museum.aspx

The Smithsonian museums on the mall.

...and be WELL outside the D.C. area before night!

[The emperor has no clothes]

Thanks guys, good info 

[scooperhsd]

The ONE Plus about riding a MC into DC is that you CAN take the HOV lanes (for all the good it will do you). DC metro area drivers are CRAZY, though - hyper aggressive (almost as bad as Boston). And I share Jess's advice - be on your way out before 3 PM when rush hour starts - and it lasts until at least 7PM.

[cookiedough]

Go on weekends, not workdays, esp if you intend to ride down there. Finding parking can be a challenge, as are the million speed and light cameras, traffic, cabs.  If you ride in be sure it's the weekend, if not, arrive after 10 AM and leave before 3PM (or just go get drunk somewhere, and leave after quitting time, say about 11PM).  A nice ride in is up Geo Wash parkway (NoVA), past Mt Vernon (that's another nice destination), and over the 15th Street bridge.

The whole city is built more on circles than a grid (really both).  Except to and from work, every single time I drove or rode downtown I got lost (often several times).  

I'd park and take a metro train in, get off look around, get back on the train, get off look somewhere else, and so on.  Still plenty of walking, but depending on what you want to see, you can cut off a few long walks by using the trains, or pay more and hop in a cab or three.  Parking bikes at metro stations can be a bit iffy.  Some have outdoor parking where they are in plain view of everyone (and pretty safe), others you may have to park in a garage where they could be tampered with (no cameras in the parking garages, unless added since I left).

I think I did some long post(s) for Cookidough a while back with a bunch of links to metro, maps, yada.  

yes you did,  search for that link, good stuff - thanks!

[Rams]

 

[DK]

The Air and Space Museum @ Dulles. You catch shuttle in front of the Smithsonian.

The Vietnam Memorial will touch your soul.

[Hook#3287]

Arlington, absolutely!

The war memorials, especially WW2.

My family did a extended weekend there once, we rented a house and used the mass transit and cabs.

Very cool, and had a great time, can't wait to go back.

[hubcapsc]

Fly into Reagan, walk  into the subway and pop out on the Mall.

It probably costs $600 a night to stay in the Willard now, but surely
there's some more reasonable motel you can stay in within the
umbrella of public transportation.

-Mike

[The emperor has no clothes]

Thanks guys  It looks like there is more to see than I thought. We will make this part of our Inzane trip, either a couple days before or a couple after. From the sounds of it, it's not a friendly driving experience . We will look into staying somewhere on the outskirts and shuttle in.

[Rams]

The Air and Space Museum @ Dulles. You catch shuttle in front of the Smithsonian.

The Vietnam Memorial will touch your soul.

I've been to the Wall three times, still can't walk the length of it and definitely can't touch it.
It's a very personal thing to me.   

[solo1]

I was on the Honor Flight two years ago.  No one has mentioned the Korean War memorial. It's within walking distance of the Vietnam Wall, Lincoln Memorial, and WWII memorial.  All of the War memorials are  inspiring and reminders.  The Korean War Memorial is different from the others. A Move is on to erect a Wall for those lost, similar to the Vietnam Wall.

I also saw the Changing of the Guard at Arlington. A solemn ceremony.   The Air Force memorial  is some distance away from the rest and again, different.

I have lots of pics but won't post them here. They are not on Imgur yet .

[old2soon]

I was on the Honor Flight two years ago.  No one has mentioned the Korean War memorial. It's within walking distance of the Vietnam Wall, Lincoln Memorial, and WWII memorial.  All of the War memorials are  inspiring and reminders.  The Korean War Memorial is different from the others. A Move is on to erect a Wall for those lost, similar to the Vietnam Wall.

I also saw the Changing of the Guard at Arlington. A solemn ceremony.   The Air Force memorial  is some distance away from the rest and again, different.

I have lots of pics but won't post them here. They are not on Imgur yet .

           When I was in D C it was August but when I got to The Korean War Memorial I swear it dropped to 30 below zero. And Sad to say I missed The Air Force Memorial. RIDE SAFE.

[3fan4life]

Thanks guys  It looks like there is more to see than I thought. We will make this part of our Inzane trip, either a couple days before or a couple after. From the sounds of it, it's not a friendly driving experience . We will look into staying somewhere on the outskirts and shuttle in.

Lots of good advice.

I always stay outside of DC and ride the subway back and forth.

The last time that we were up there we stayed at a really nice suites place (usually cheap on weekends).

If I can remember where it was I'll let you know.

[The emperor has no clothes]

Thanks guys  It looks like there is more to see than I thought. We will make this part of our Inzane trip, either a couple days before or a couple after. From the sounds of it, it's not a friendly driving experience . We will look into staying somewhere on the outskirts and shuttle in.

Lots of good advice.

I always stay outside of DC and ride the subway back and forth.

The last time that we were up there we stayed at a really nice suites place (usually cheap on weekends).

If I can remember where it was I'll let you know.

Thanks, that would be appreciated 

[LandElephant]

As a former tour guide for this great city of Washington DC I would suggest the following:

Pick the places you think you want to see and cut it in half.

Ride the Metro train or subway or what ever it's called into the city. It's cheaper and easier to get around the city than driving. Safer also.

Walk, walk, walk, and have I mentioned walk.

If you have to divide the days I would suggest walking the mall on day. Off the mall you can see many of the monuments. Arlington is across the river and to truely take in the somber mood it is an all day event.  But I would start it around noon and catch the sunset over the Marine Memorial.  You will never forget it.

Plenty of resteraunts for after hours.  Seafood is king after 4 pm and you will be tired so people watching becomes the hobby at the little sidewalk cafes.

If you noticed I didn't specify any exact locations.  Do your reseach on exactly what you want to see.  There is incedible amount of culture (museums), history (monuments), and public works. I personally have always thoughtthe Jefferson Monument as the highlight of any tour.  At the time it was off the beaten and very peaceful.  Referent toone of our founding fathers.  You have to pass many of the other monuments such as the Washington, Lincoln, WWII, and Korean to get to it.

As alway just my humble worthless $0.02.

Charlie Morse
Land Elephant

[Jess from VA]

If you WILL stay out of town and metro in, use a metro map to choose your hotel, and generally speaking, the farther out the lines (each has its own color) you go, the better hotel price you will get, but the longer metro ride you will have (no big deal).  You want a short walk to the metro from the hotel.  Make sure they don't stick you for personal parking $ (they do that closer in).  Stay in VA, not MD.

IE google:   motels close to X metro station.  Blue or Yellow will be the closest.

https://www.wmata.com/schedules/maps/index.cfm

Staying out in Springfield on the blue line is a good bet (Franconia-Springfield or Van Dorn stations). (on the official metro map, click on RAIL)

[The emperor has no clothes]

As a former tour guide for this great city of Washington DC I would suggest the following:

Pick the places you think you want to see and cut it in half.

Ride the Metro train or subway or what ever it's called into the city. It's cheaper and easier to get around the city than driving. Safer also.

Walk, walk, walk, and have I mentioned walk.

If you have to divide the days I would suggest walking the mall on day. Off the mall you can see many of the monuments. Arlington is across the river and to truely take in the somber mood it is an all day event.  But I would start it around noon and catch the sunset over the Marine Memorial.  You will never forget it.

Plenty of resteraunts for after hours.  Seafood is king after 4 pm and you will be tired so people watching becomes the hobby at the little sidewalk cafes.

If you noticed I didn't specify any exact locations.  Do your reseach on exactly what you want to see.  There is incedible amount of culture (museums), history (monuments), and public works. I personally have always thoughtthe Jefferson Monument as the highlight of any tour.  At the time it was off the beaten and very peaceful.  Referent toone of our founding fathers.  You have to pass many of the other monuments such as the Washington, Lincoln, WWII, and Korean to get to it.

As alway just my humble worthless $0.02.

Charlie Morse
Land Elephant

Excellent   the combined wisdom here never ceases to amaze me  

If you WILL stay out of town and metro in, use a metro map to choose your hotel, and generally speaking, the farther out the lines (each has its own color) you go, the better hotel price you will get, but the longer metro ride you will have (no big deal).  You want a short walk to the metro from the hotel.  Make sure they don't stick you for personal parking $ (they do that closer in).  Stay in VA, not MD.

IE google:   motels close to X metro station.  Blue or Yellow will be the closest.

https://www.wmata.com/schedules/maps/index.cfm

Thanks, Jess. You guys are the bomb ! (That's how the young kids talk)

[Jess from VA]

I added one more sentence to my post after your reply.

[The emperor has no clothes]

I added one more sentence to my post after your reply.

Thanks Jess. I'm going to bookmark this. 

[scooperhsd]

Thanks guys  It looks like there is more to see than I thought. We will make this part of our Inzane trip, either a couple days before or a couple after. From the sounds of it, it's not a friendly driving experience . We will look into staying somewhere on the outskirts and shuttle in.

You can EASILY spend a month playing tourist in DC and still not see it all. Pick what you want to do on each day and don't try to schedule too much and be sure to budget rest time (riding Metro can count for rest  ).  You don't have to stay at the fanciest hotel or eat at the finest restaurants to have an enjoyable visit.

(Yes , I lived there from '88 - '95 when I left the Navy, and I contracted for 3 more years after that).