Washington DC trip Site seeing hints n/c

Help Support Steer Planet:

LT

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 15, 2008
Messages
328
Location
Central Ohio
We are planning a trip later in July to Washington DC.  Any helpful hints of what to do and not to do?  (Of course the usual, hold on to your walllet and be careful of the Metro LOL) 
 

FutureBreeder2013

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 14, 2009
Messages
1,149
Location
New Hampton, Iowa
if your mis your exit or turn theres almost no going back in some places. for the momuments early in the morning is your best bet for photo ops and just have fun with it.
 

LN

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 15, 2008
Messages
767
Location
South Texas
I lived in DC for a few months so here are a few of my suggestions. How long will you be there?

Night tour of the monuments

The Smithsonians, they were all great, my favorites were natural history, american history, and the holocaust museum

WWII, Vietnam, and Korean memorial

Library of Congress

If you like art do the national gallery

Mt Vernon

Schedule a capital tour with your congressman's office

That's all I have for now.



 

oakbar

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 20, 2008
Messages
1,458
Location
North Central Iowa
Make sure you go to Arlington National Cemetery and to see JFK's grave and the eternal flame.    While you're there, look east towards the National Mall--the Lincoln Memorial, the Washington Monument, and the Capitol all line up in the distance across the Potomac River.  Its a very moving experience.  There's also a great story about how one of the caretakers remembered JFK saying that that particular spot would be a great place to spend eternity so when JFK was assassinated the caretakere came forward and that's how Kennedy's burial site was selected.  Also Bobby Kennedy's wooden cross is not far away.  he specifically asked for a simple wooden cross on his grave--he didn't want anything too fancy.  Another interesting fact is that all of these graves sit on what was formerly Robert E. Lee's farm and was once a part of the Confederacy!! 


 

The Driver

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 10, 2008
Messages
277
Location
Mt. Airy Maryland
we live in MD about 50 min outside DC noy sure what your interests are or travel availability but the zoo is good the aquarium in Baltimores inner harbor is awsome and the Battlegrounds in Gettysburg is about an hour away and worth the trip
 

PaPigMan

Active member
Joined
Sep 18, 2008
Messages
36
Location
Pennsylvania
If you plan to visit Gettysburg, arrive at the welcome center early and hire a private tour guide.  I would call ahead and find out the specifics.  If I remember correctly, the cost was about the same as touring on the air-conditioned buses.  They ride with you in your vehicle and the experience and insight is second to none.

If going to D.C., I would drive to Shady Grove and ride the Metro in.  The traffic is terrible downtown.  As mentioned earlier, the Smithsonian museums are great.  If you plan to go up inside the Washington monument, go early.  We waited until after touring the museums and they were filled to capacity for the day.  Good luck and enjoy.
 

LN

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 15, 2008
Messages
767
Location
South Texas
I forgot about Arlington Cemetery, definitely a must do. If you can go to other cities in the area, the Baltimore aquarium was awesome. Also, I visited Monticello, Jefferson's home.
 

chambero

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 12, 2007
Messages
3,207
Location
Texas
The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier was an almost overwhelming experience for me.  Something kids really need to see and understand.  We do some things very right in this county.

I agree that the Metro is the way to go.  Way to big of a hassle to drive.

I'm not a big "culture" guy, but go to something at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts.  We went on 4-H Trip back when I was a high school and I thought it was great.
 

debtramm

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 17, 2008
Messages
47
Location
central florida
I've been to DC on several occasions strictly as a tourist w/ school groups, etc.  Here are some of what I think are the best: 
Arlington
The monuments - go during the day but don't miss an opportunity to see them all at night.  The lighting at night is phenomenal.  The War Memorials all leave lasting impressions.
The US Mint (if you can get a tour) .  This was one of the most interesting sites of all to me.  Try to get a tour as much info is gleaned from the tour guides.
The White House - if you can get a tour it will be a limited tour of the House but well worth the time.
U.S. Supreme Court - exceptional -  the location and size will not be what you expect but will give you tremendous perspective when you hear it talked about in the news.
Visit your legislators - make an appointment.  While your in the legislative area -  go into the House of Representatives meeting room - again it will surprise you.  Also, if they are in session, sit
and watch for a little while.
Mt. Vernon - get a tour.  The views are spectacular.

Wear comfortable shoes and have a good time.

Gator Mom

 

yousesteers

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 25, 2008
Messages
192
Location
Emden, MO
If it was me I would get in one of the motels close to the national mall we stayed in the holiday inn capital last time it was nice and we could walk to all the smithsonians, capital, and monuments, personally I liked the american history museum best a few thing s in the natural history museum are very neat just dont eat in the HSUS sponsored restuarant. ARLINGTON IS A MUST SEE  just have a good time and they have cleaned DC up a lot around the Museums and the monuments
 

LT

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 15, 2008
Messages
328
Location
Central Ohio
Thank you to all for your help.  Zach, Dan isn't going !  We can't trust him off the farm in the big city.  LOL.  We are going 7/17 thru 7/22.  We are staying at the Carlye Suites at Dupont Circle and think we will ride the Metro everywhere we can.  Thanks especially for the advice on times to see things and where to look.  If any of you have additional thoughts or information, we still have some time before we go.

Thanks all, please keep thinking@
 

yousesteers

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 25, 2008
Messages
192
Location
Emden, MO
If you want to go through the national archives and see declaration of independence I suggest getting there first thing in the morning we went by abotu 5 at night and the line was 2 blocks long around the building the next morning we went about 1/2 hour before it opened and where the first ones in line they started unloading buses about 15 minutes before they opened the doors and by the time they opened up it went down the block and around the corner
 
Top