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12/14/2006 10:41:50 AM · #1 |
Planning a trip to DC in April. Can anyone tell me what I shouldn't miss seeing while I am there? Any really good restaurants or exhibits I shouldn't leave without seeing?
Thanks,
Kel |
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12/14/2006 11:06:01 AM · #2 |
| Any of the Smithsonian museums are certainly worth the visit (and free!). |
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12/14/2006 11:09:35 AM · #3 |
the national zoo is free, too
panda bears!
btw, how long will you be staying? are you looking for things to photograph or just enjoy? coming alone or with family? do you know where you're staying yet? ...just some ideas to help the suggestions along. DC is a big and varied city....you could spend a year there and barely see everything.
Message edited by author 2006-12-14 11:33:34. |
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12/14/2006 11:44:43 AM · #4 |
Hi KaDi-
Staying at the Rouge Hotel March 31st - April 6. Traveling with hubby and my 2 daughters. First family vacation in years, probably the last one with the 13 year old. Hoping for many great photo ops, as well as memories for the kids. No tight scheduling, just taking in all the historic value.
Hoping to see a play at the Fords Theatre. Smithsonian is def. on the list (particulary interested in the holocaust exibit), as well as Arlington Natl. Cemetary.
Message edited by author 2006-12-14 11:47:40. |
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12/14/2006 11:52:07 AM · #5 |
The Old Post Office is a neat place to walk around and has an observation deck up on top.
Oops...meeting time...back with more later!
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12/14/2006 11:55:29 AM · #6 |
Take one of the 'duck' tours. It's a land/watercraft tour of some areas in DC. I didn't get to take this last time I was up there, but it looked like a lot of fun. I believe you can get this tour from Union Station.
HERE is a link to more info...
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12/14/2006 11:57:56 AM · #7 |
Wow! Sounds like a trip to look forward to... enjoy the family time! (Hope things are going well for you!!!)
Billy |
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12/14/2006 12:00:02 PM · #8 |
Kelly I was in Washington for a few days in November. Not nearly long enough to see all we wanted to see. I recommend Union Station, you can get some fabulous architecture shots there. The Old Post Office is great for getting a view of the city but you won't get any good pics from there, they have wires covering the window openings that are spaced really close together, too close to get your lens between them. Signs everywhere saying don't touch the wires and a park ranger on site so you can't even pull them apart and stick your camera through. I assume you'll be seeing the usual, the Washington Monument, the Capitol Building, the Lincoln Memorial and all in between. The statues of the Korean War memorial are haunting. A walk around the Tidal Basin is nice, the Jefferson Memorial looks lovely reflected in the water. I only got night shots of the Capitol Building (our hotel was near it) but would have loved to get night shots of the other memorials/monuments. Just too much walking after walking 11-15 kms each day.
Here are some of the pics I took (on my website):
//www.bitstop.ca/pictures/washington/default.htm
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12/14/2006 12:00:56 PM · #9 |
Originally posted by jmsetzler:
Take one of the 'duck' tours. It's a land/watercraft tour of some areas in DC. I didn't get to take this last time I was up there, but it looked like a lot of fun. I believe you can get this tour from Union Station.
HERE is a link to more info... |
After the accidents with those types of vehicles I'd never go on one. Several people drowned in Ottawa a few years ago on a silimar water/land bus.
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12/14/2006 12:16:26 PM · #10 |
Well, with a week you can do a lot!
Arlington is a good choice. There's parking there if you'll have a car but the metro is fairly convenient, too. Be sure to wear good walking shoes all the time...you'll be walking a lot in DC! At Arlington, I suggest you buy the trolley ticket and take the trolley up...you'll get some commentary on the way. Be sure to see the changing of the guard. Then walk down past Lee's home. If you're lucky the house will be open. There's also a not much visited memorial to women in the services near the entrance, if you have time go there and be sure to go to the outdoor, upper level for nice views of the city. Also take the time on the way up to see Kennedy's eternal flame and views of the city. Estimate 1/4 to 1/2 day for Arlington.
The Mall can easily take 2 days of your time. That's where the Smithsonian museums are and all of the famous outdoor monuments. One way to acclimate yourselves to the Mall is buy a day pass on one of the tour busses. You will get commentary as you ride around and you get get off and on as much as you like.
At one end of the Mall you have the Washington Monument and the WWII Memorial. If you want to go up in the Washington Monument, you'll need to get a ticket (free) from a machine outside it. You'll be assigned an admittance time so you don't have to wait in a long line. You can then visit the WWII memorial and return to the Washington at your appointed time.
At the other end of the Mall is the Lincoln Memorial (an absolute must-see!), the Vietnam Memorial, the Korean Memorial and the FDR Memorial. None of these have "times" you can see them early or late (up to about 9 or 10 pm. The lights at night are really nice and an interesting time to see them.
In between the ends on both sides are the Smithsonians, pick a few and plan to see them. I like the Air and Space museum, the Smithsonian Mansion and the National Gallery of Art.
At the Capitol building there's a nice pool of water. On a sunny weekend day people sail miniature boats in it. Nearby is the Botanic Garden, worth a visit. From there you can visit the American Indian museum...lots of hands-on displays and relaxing videos to rest your feet by. I think kids would like that museum a lot.
Other favorites of mine:
The National Cathedral with its rose window, Moon-rock window and gargoyles on the outside.
Georgetown for shopping and dining and atmosphere.
Dupont circle for dining. There's a little Greek restaurant there that serves inexpensive and good food cafeteria style with restaurant style dining tables...nice atmosphere and you can dine on the upper floor with views.
The National Portrait Gallery, newly renovated and displaying everything from early Daguerreotypes to Andy Warhol's portrait of Marilyn Monroe.
The National Archives with very well-done displays and there you can see original pages of the Constitution.
The mint....I love watching money being made. :)
If you do have a car, don't count on driving it around much. Parking is impractical in DC. Instead buy week-long Metro passes and never think twice about getting off and on. The Metro is clean, safe and convenient. No need to worry much about schedules. But if you do have a car, you might think about driving down to Washington's home at Mount Vernon. I love that place! Views of the Potomac. The mansion as he lived in it. Good tour guides. A great restaurant outside the gates serving (among normal stuff) the style of food that would have been eaten in Washington's time. (Medium priced.)
If you need a day of shopping, visit the Shopping Mall in Crystal City...it's awesomely big and the metro runs right to it.
I'll add more if I realize I've forgotten something.... |
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12/14/2006 12:28:53 PM · #11 |
3 things I forgot:
Walk by the White House...you can see it best from the South (Mall side) with a view through the iron fence of the Rose Garden.
National Geographic has a nice museum with lots of pretty pictures. :)
If you carry a camera bag or large purse, be prepared to check it at a coat check when you enter buildings. You can often keep your camera with you, but the bag must stay behind due to security. Some places you can carry the bag around but it will go through an inspection much like at airports. Just plan on it and you won't be terribly inconvenienced. |
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12/15/2006 09:45:28 AM · #12 |
| Wow, thanks (everyone) for all the good tips, I am printing this page to take with me to DC. Sure helps to have tips from someone who has been there, done that! |
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12/15/2006 11:59:45 AM · #13 |
| I recommend the Holocaust Museum. They even have a short kids tour that explains it in terms they can understand without talking down to them. I found it to be really well done. |
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