Arlington National cemetery: you can spend hours there especially if you’d like to find graves from certain historical figures: Joe Louis, Robert McNamara, Challenger Crew, Columbia Crew, etc
Travel - Washington DC
- Thread starter 52342cyclone
- Start date
The Korean War monument at night is a bit chilling. The statues with the lights at their feet give you an eerie feeling of them patrolling in the jungle.
Tomb of the unknown was great. Changing of the guard I was able to see and record as well. It really hits you hard seeing this.
National Harbor is a cool place to hangout. There's an overpriced ferris wheel that kids will love. I think there is also the circus going on right now too.
Then there is a MGM casino and TopGolf right by it for the adults.
And Audi field is a really cool place if you're into soccer.
Then there is a MGM casino and TopGolf right by it for the adults.
And Audi field is a really cool place if you're into soccer.
If you want to get out of the city then visit Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park & The Luray Caverns
Been to DC three times with the wife and kids and once chaperoning a group of 8th graders.
All the museums are free but they open late and close early. A couple stay open to 7:00. You can really only see a couple of museums in a day and do it right. Choose the ones you want to see. We loved American History and Air and Space. Be sure to go to the castle that started it all.
Try to see the monuments both at day and then take a night tour. DC is very walk friendly on the Mall, but its a long way from the Lincoln memorial to the capital.
Use the metro is cheap and easy. Get tickets to the Holocaust museum and see the national archives. The bureau of printing and engraving was really neat, that is where they print the money, one of three in the US.
Day trips Mt. Vernon, or Gettysburg are well worth the time. Both are close to DC, and easy drive. Mt. Vernon takes a morning, Gettysburg is an all day deal to do it right. If you do it, do the museum first, and the hire one of the rangers to drive you around the battle field. Be sure to walk through the town and hit the shops and stores.
Basically use the metro to get around, decide before you go what you want to see, you can never see everything, so you have to pick what best interests you. DC is also one of those cities its not very safe after dark, unless you are on the mall. The first time we were there we stayed two blocks north of the White House, there were 5 murders that night.
All the museums are free but they open late and close early. A couple stay open to 7:00. You can really only see a couple of museums in a day and do it right. Choose the ones you want to see. We loved American History and Air and Space. Be sure to go to the castle that started it all.
Try to see the monuments both at day and then take a night tour. DC is very walk friendly on the Mall, but its a long way from the Lincoln memorial to the capital.
Use the metro is cheap and easy. Get tickets to the Holocaust museum and see the national archives. The bureau of printing and engraving was really neat, that is where they print the money, one of three in the US.
Day trips Mt. Vernon, or Gettysburg are well worth the time. Both are close to DC, and easy drive. Mt. Vernon takes a morning, Gettysburg is an all day deal to do it right. If you do it, do the museum first, and the hire one of the rangers to drive you around the battle field. Be sure to walk through the town and hit the shops and stores.
Basically use the metro to get around, decide before you go what you want to see, you can never see everything, so you have to pick what best interests you. DC is also one of those cities its not very safe after dark, unless you are on the mall. The first time we were there we stayed two blocks north of the White House, there were 5 murders that night.
Last edited:
I don't think I saw it in this thread yet but the National Cathedral is really cool.
I've lived in DC for the last 12 years. There are a ton of good ideas on this thread, and I think cover most of what you might want to see. My advice: bring comfortable walking shoes - the city is very walkable. If you are visiting in summer, bring water bottles too - the heat and humidity can be brutal if you are outside all day. Metro is great (when it's working properly) and there are tons of Ubers here too if you need one.
Some of my favorites places I take friends and family that visit are:
1) National Mall - walk the monuments (Washington, Lincoln, FDR, Jefferson, WWII, WWI, Vietnam, Korea, MLK, Reflecting Pool (lots of walking, but it's great)
2) Arlington National Cemetery - IMO the most sacred place in DC. So humbling.
3) Smithsonian Museums (American History, Air and Space are my favorites) - do the Air and Space at Dulles too, that's where they keep the big planes and a shuttle
4) Tour of Capitol building - get in touch with your congressman or senator for that
5) Ford's Theater - where Lincoln was assassinated. They do plays and performances still there - look into tickets. They also do tours and you can see the box where Lincoln was shot.
6) Mount Vernon - George Washington's home. On the potomac - absolutely beautiful. Has a distillery there as well.
7) Gettysburg - about a 90 minute drive, but worth every minute. So much history there. Plan a full day for this.
8) Trump Hotel (Formerly the Old Post Office) - Like Trump or not, it is a beautiful building. You can get a drink in the lobby bar and just look at the architecture. If you do like Trump, it's a must.
9) Library of Congress - probably the most beautiful building in DC and very underrated. Take a tour.
10) Kennedy Center - they do ticketed shows and also have free performances every day. Check out the schedule. Also, go up to the rooftop for a GREAT view of the city and Potomac.
11) Georgetown waterfront - great restaurants right on the river, can sit outside and have a drink.
12) Nationals game - if you're into baseball, it's fun. The Nats suck this year, so tickets should be cheap.
I'd also recommend going to eat at Old Ebbitt Grill. It's been around DC since the 1880's and is a staple. Get a reservation in advance. Walking in will likely result in an hour wait during lunch and dinner times.
Other good places to eat that are pretty reasonable are: The Hamilton, Ollies Trolley, District Taco, Off The Record (Bar at The Hay Adams Hotel), Hill Country BBQ.
If you want any other ideas of good restaurants, or hidden gems, let me know! Happy to help out fellow Clones coming to visit DC.
Some of my favorites places I take friends and family that visit are:
1) National Mall - walk the monuments (Washington, Lincoln, FDR, Jefferson, WWII, WWI, Vietnam, Korea, MLK, Reflecting Pool (lots of walking, but it's great)
2) Arlington National Cemetery - IMO the most sacred place in DC. So humbling.
3) Smithsonian Museums (American History, Air and Space are my favorites) - do the Air and Space at Dulles too, that's where they keep the big planes and a shuttle
4) Tour of Capitol building - get in touch with your congressman or senator for that
5) Ford's Theater - where Lincoln was assassinated. They do plays and performances still there - look into tickets. They also do tours and you can see the box where Lincoln was shot.
6) Mount Vernon - George Washington's home. On the potomac - absolutely beautiful. Has a distillery there as well.
7) Gettysburg - about a 90 minute drive, but worth every minute. So much history there. Plan a full day for this.
8) Trump Hotel (Formerly the Old Post Office) - Like Trump or not, it is a beautiful building. You can get a drink in the lobby bar and just look at the architecture. If you do like Trump, it's a must.
9) Library of Congress - probably the most beautiful building in DC and very underrated. Take a tour.
10) Kennedy Center - they do ticketed shows and also have free performances every day. Check out the schedule. Also, go up to the rooftop for a GREAT view of the city and Potomac.
11) Georgetown waterfront - great restaurants right on the river, can sit outside and have a drink.
12) Nationals game - if you're into baseball, it's fun. The Nats suck this year, so tickets should be cheap.
I'd also recommend going to eat at Old Ebbitt Grill. It's been around DC since the 1880's and is a staple. Get a reservation in advance. Walking in will likely result in an hour wait during lunch and dinner times.
Other good places to eat that are pretty reasonable are: The Hamilton, Ollies Trolley, District Taco, Off The Record (Bar at The Hay Adams Hotel), Hill Country BBQ.
If you want any other ideas of good restaurants, or hidden gems, let me know! Happy to help out fellow Clones coming to visit DC.
Looks like you have all of the info you need from others. Just go and have a GREAT time! I love Washington, D.C. ALL of the Museums and Monuments are powerful. Great restaurants too + a game @ the Nationals Ball Park would be awesome (something I have not done yet). Get on the Metro and Ride AND Walk wherever you can (I have walked from the Train Station to Arlington myself). Rode the Metro back from Arlington at the end of the day though!
And if you use the Metro, make sure you stand on the right side in the escalators at Metro station. I witnessed a woman yelling at a tourist standing in the left side at escalator.
Lots of good advice on here. I went in high school and probably didn't appreciate it as much as I should have.
But I do remember the Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown being very sobering. And that was as a 14-year old kid.
I also really enjoyed Mt Vernon. We went to Monticello also, but I remember Mt. Vernon being really cool.
Have fun, I'm looking forward to when my kids are old enough to go.
But I do remember the Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown being very sobering. And that was as a 14-year old kid.
I also really enjoyed Mt Vernon. We went to Monticello also, but I remember Mt. Vernon being really cool.
Have fun, I'm looking forward to when my kids are old enough to go.
Those people (the tourists on the left) are the worst.
The Lincoln’s summer White House at the Soldiers Home. Not many people visit it
The outdoor seating at restaurants is great for people watching
Take the boat trip to Mount Vernon. Relaxing and interesting views of the district. Washington’s distillery and mill are not on the grounds but a short trip away.
As previously mentioned, stay on the right side of escalators. You’ll get run down if you don’t.
At the conclusion of the Ford Theatre tour everyone goes downstairs to the museum. Instead go across the street and visit the Petersen House then go to the museum. The Petersen House is small and gets crowded
If you have an ancestor that fought in the Civil War, do some research at the Archives and read his pension file. Interesting information in the file
The outdoor seating at restaurants is great for people watching
Take the boat trip to Mount Vernon. Relaxing and interesting views of the district. Washington’s distillery and mill are not on the grounds but a short trip away.
As previously mentioned, stay on the right side of escalators. You’ll get run down if you don’t.
At the conclusion of the Ford Theatre tour everyone goes downstairs to the museum. Instead go across the street and visit the Petersen House then go to the museum. The Petersen House is small and gets crowded
If you have an ancestor that fought in the Civil War, do some research at the Archives and read his pension file. Interesting information in the file
Last edited:
Fort Meyer - Twilight Tattoo.
Alexandria
Newseum
National Portrait Gallery
African History Museum
Alexandria
Newseum
National Portrait Gallery
African History Museum