Posted on 03/19/2017 9:36:37 AM PDT by TermLimitsforAll
If planning on having a firearm with you, DO NOT GO INTO THE DISTRICT OR MARYLAND. Especially if driving and you have an NRA sticker on your car.
There are some no go areas but it does not sound like you intend to hit any of them. Just be out of the district NLT dark.
Prior to your arrival, go to the Metro website and check for advisories on SafeTrak. It is an overhaul program currently in progress leading to some service limitations.
Mount Vernon and Arlington National Cemetery are a must. Take the time at Arlington to tour the Lee Mansion.
A short drive from Tyson's Corner is Great Falls National Park on the Potomac River. You'll also be a short drive from Fort Marcy Park where Vince Foster's body was found.
You will also be able to drive to the NRA museum in Fairfax.
There are also the Marine Corps Memorial (Iwo Jima) and Air Force Memorials adjacent to Arlington.
In D.C., Chinatown/ Gallery Place is targeted by groups of Black teen criminals so be careful there. Nice area otherwise with a museums (National Portrait Gallery, Spy Museum) and plenty of restaurants.
Ford's Theater and the Peterson House on 10th St, NW between E and F Streets.
Being that you have the time and the weather will be nicer I suggest touring the Mall twice--once during the day and the other at twilight/night.
On or near the Mall is the Botanic Garden, the D.C. WWI Memorial and the FDR Memorial.
You might be able to catch a Supreme Court hearing or at least take the tour.
Something a little different is the park just north of Reagan Airport of the GW Parkway where you can park and watch the planes flying quite low overhead.
Parking in DC can be in parking garages in downtown or at Union Station, or metered tourist street parking along the Mall.
The Georgetown Waterfront has seen a lot of development.
There are also the Newseum, Navy Memorial and Trump Hotel along Pennsylvania Avenue.
Your kids are the same ages as mine so being inside the district will be a huge benefit. I would look at the Hilton Garden Inn on 14th St. NW. It is located perfectly for walking to the monuments, but it has reasonably priced suites with a sleeper sofa that also easily accommodates a roll away. That way, each kid has their own bed and you have your own room. It's tight but will deliver a good nights sleep for all in an unbeatable location. Plus, the restaurant in the hotel is first rate and reasonable.
There are some must sees and do's:
1. Ford Theater
2. Lincoln Memorial at night
3. Reserve your ride (now) to top of Washington Monument if open.
4. Bureau of Printing and Engraving (kids will love seeing all the money)
5. Smithsonian, of course.
6. Senate and House tour. Hopefully they are in session. We were able to watch from the gallery as Charlie Rangel voted, by mistake, with republicans on a bill. Other dems came rushing to his seat just before vote closed to have him change it. Pretty funny.
7. Duck Tour - This is still our favorite. You ride around town in a World War II DUKW amphibious boat/truck hybrid seeing the sites, and then it plunges into the Potomac river and you get to see DC by water. They'll even let the kids drive the boat. Best $40 you'll spend in DC.
Hope that helps. Good luck!
Also, as someone else mentioned, the Air and Space Museum at Dulles would be good as you’ll be starting out from Tyson’s Corner.
no matter how many times you go, you will not see everything. It may not be too late to contact your senator for a wh tour or go to the web site and see the current rules. IO liked ford’s theatre. Don’t try all of the smithsonian that’s a month. Space and Aeromautcs and History should do it two different buildings. I don’t know acting about the Slave museum or is it History of Negores in America, something like hat.
The memorials are open air, FDR, lincoln, Jefferson. Viet nam, Korea. you can walk and hang out and meet people form everywhere. up in the washington monument, but buy a ticket at the base and maybe come back.
Taxis used to charge by zone. Stay in 1 zone and get a low price. Metro runs near the mall and many attractions. Can get their from VA. Archives interesting.
Too much too few days, but my original recommendations are near the top of most people’s ;ints androids seem interested in them/ At arlington make sure you watch the changing of the guard a the tomb of the unknowns.
excuse auto text. I’m a lazy writer.
Using the metro is a great way to get around D.C. Driving through the city is often a nightmare. The metro is fast, relatively cheap, fairly nice, and a lot of government workers use it (although you should still watch out for any suspicious behavior of course). I’ve always come into D.C. from VA (and occasionally from MD). There’s no need to stay in the city itself unless you’re trying to save time, provided you can get a room near a public transportation stop. So this is just a saving time vs. saving money issue.
This may not be of interest to you, but when I’m in D.C. I often try to take in an opera, play, or concert at the Kennedy Center. There’s a shuttle bus that picks people up from the nearest metro stop and takes them back again after their performance is over. Of the Smithsonian Museums, I liked the Air & Space one the best, followed by the National Art Gallery and the History Museum. There are a lot of Smithsonian Museums so you should probably decide which ones you most want to see beforehand.
If you do want to do a day-trip outside of D.C., I agree with the other posters that a trip to Mt. Vernon is a good idea (you can drink a mint julep at the tavern there and feel like you’re properly in the South). If you go to Arlington Nat. Cemetery, make sure to visit Robert E. Lee’s House on the hilltop for the history and the view. Everyone goes to see the changing of the guard and the Kennedy’s eternal flame, but it can be worthwhile to ask at the info desk where some less famous graves are and go a little off the beaten path. I did that before for Gen. Omar Bradley, President Taft, and some others.
Don’t forget the National Archives to see the Declaration and Constitution up close ... really breathtaking.
The nicest and safest area of Alexandria is near to the King Street exit on the Metro. Crystal City is good but closer to the airport and less pleasant, IMHO. The rest of the stops are fine in the day but sketchy after sundown. Lot's of hotels, restaurants and shops off King St.
In DC I like the L'Enfant hotel at the L'Enfant metro stop for it's closeness to the sights. http://www.lenfantplazahotel.com/
been 7 times.
At Ford’s Theatre visit the house across the street where Lincoln died.
The Metro is generally safe, but lately it can be a mess during the rush hours. If possible, try to avoid those periods - I don’t ride routinely anymore, but whenever they have real problems, it seems to happen then.
The Natural History Museum is great fun for kids of all ages.
First, the Smithsonian (always free entry)...the highlight of any tour...it's mind boggling! Pick your areas of interest and go there rather than walking aimlessly around. I headed directly for the WWI aviation displays as this is of interest to me. My son peeled off in another direction to see a special Star Wars exhibit.
Then we went to see the displays of original colonial relics and documents such as the Declaration....plus other historic documents and photographs throughout our country's history. Most educational, uplifting and inspiring!
I read somewhere it would take 7 whole days and evenings to take in the entire Smithsonian.
The next day was the National Gallery of Art (it's really an emotional experience to see originals by the world's greatest masters of art)....then to lunch at a great restaurant (can't remember the name) where senators and such eat....then to brief stops at the modern art museum, Arlington Cemetery (where we caught the changing of the guard), thence to The Wall, the WWII memorial (unique), then back to the hotel. Next morning we were on the way home, I to Florida, my son to Illinois.
Everyone should visit our nation's capitol at least once in a lifetime. It's an awesome experience. I can't recommend it enough!
Leni
The National Archives is at the top of the list for this summer’s trip in July. Tried to see it last year but the crowds were overwhelming. Wish we could go in winter.
If you only have a week, plan a 'day trip' for each of the following: Smithsonian Air and Science and whatever else Smithsonian you can squeeze in, The Capitol and it's environs, especially the Library of Congress. Library of Congress very impressive and worth an afternoon there. It was the surprise of the D.C. visit.
Ford's Theatre worth a stop. Take the tour boat up to Mt. Vernon, really worth it - an all day deal with nice gift shop. Arlington of course, and the changing of the guard. Take one of the Day Trip Bus trips - a guided tour and general survey of the town, you'll see all the basics.
One of my favorites was the National Archives Museum, actually saw the Constitution and Declaration of Independence under glass. Lots of stuff there and a great gift shop.
The Wall, Korean War and WWII Memorials.
Holocaust Museum - interesting but a downer, depends on the ages of your kids.
Felt very safe on the Metro, didn't have any hassles.
Get tickets ahead as much as possible, mainly Ford's Theatre - there was a big line and we walked right in. Also, the Mt. Vernon and the boat, forget the name. Most of the stuff doesn't need tickets, but check. Can order tickets online.
In general, once we figured the Metro out, you can go almost anywhere. Also, go to each areas visitors center or information center to narrow down what you want to see.
Glad you can see the White House. We couldn't go when we went in 2014.
The food was great and hospitality good. We didn't have any hassles and never felt threatened in any way.
Hello Lenni,
My family and I visited Washington D.C. about six years ago.
We also visited the National Archives building. As one who worked on merchant ships and who is interested in naval history, I found the radar plots of the Japanese planes coming to Pearl Harbor most interesting. The plot showed where the planes were coming from and going. But radar was so new and nobody was really trained in its use and the officer in charge simply thought it was the squadron of bombers coming in from California.
......with a full moon.
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