OT - Washington, DC - please share your travel tips!

[disneydreamgirl]

I'm hoping some of you will be able to help with suggestions for a trip we're planning to DC in May. We'd like to stay reasonably but be able to access the transit system as I understand parking can be an issue. We'll be driving there, so will need to park our car but will only be staying three days - planning will be tight in order to jam as much in as possible! Our plans will be kid-friendly with our 11-year old totally excited to see the U.S. capital.

Thanks in advance for any tips you can pass along!

[AnneR]

While I live close to DC I would not say that I am an expert but I do think that you will get better pricing by staying a little further out. I would look at the METRO system and select an area that is accessible to METRO. You can ride the train into downtown DC and avoid the traffic and parking headaches plus prices are cheaper.

[jcb]

I've been enjoying http://www.dclikealocal.com/

You might also check out a similar thread, http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2088962

Have fun. I love to visit. Be prepared to walk a lot.

[OKW Lover]

If you are flying to DC (into DCA), then try some of the hotels in Crystal City. They are convenient to the Metro subway and most have free shuttle to/from the airport.

If you are driving to DC, then take a look at the Metro map and pick a place where one of the lines crosses the beltway near your intended route there. Then look for a hotel nearby the beltway that has a shuttle service to the metro station.

You really don't want to drive in DC; not because the traffic is bad (its no worse than any city) but because parking is difficult/expensive.

[jcb]

One of the best moves I made (DC wise) was to buy a Metro SmarTrip® Card. http://www.wmata.com/fares/purchase/store/

It is $30 but comes with $25 on it. Metro did away with paper transfer slips (http://www.wmata.com/bus/transfers.cfm) so if you plan to go from a metro exit and get on a bus, for example, having the card saves you money. It is also much more convenient in going through the gates. I don't have to take mine out of my wallet. And best of all, you look like you know what you are doing.

[jillyb]

We went in August last year. Click on the link in my signature to read about my pre-planning and the trip.

[FireDancer]

I now have friends who live in DC so I stay with them but before that I used to stay in the Tyson's Corners area. The orange line of the METRO goes through that area. I think their METRO is a great system and recommend, like others, staying somewhere outside of DC proper that is close to a metro station. A map is available here (http://www.wmata.com/rail/maps/map.cfm).

Other then the obvious suggestions like the Smithsonian and the monuments I have to recommend the Gordon Biersch (http://www.gordonbiersch.com/) brewery/restaurant.

I'll be back there for the weekend of March 19th-21st for the National Half Marathon. I love DC but I don't think I could live that close to that many politicians, I enjoy having a soul.

[uncleleo]

In addition to Crystal City, other hotel enclaves on top of Metro stops are Pentagon City, Rosslyn, and Ballston (search for hotels in Arlington, Va. and look for those words in the names). I'm familiar with all these neighborhoods, so after you choose a hotel let me know if you want recommendations for restaurants or sights within walking distance.

Other tips from a local:


ASAP, call your congressman’s or Senator’s office to get passes to tour the White House and the U.S. Capitol.
If your family are hardy souls who want to combine touring the monuments with one or more Smithsonian museums in a single day, do the museums first because the monuments are lovely at night.
If you want to go to the Spy Museum (highly recommended), buy your tickets ahead of time at their web site.
If your family usually tours with a large backpack, don’t expect to get it past security at many public buildings and museums.
There’s no Metro stop in Georgetown, which surprises many people.

Have a great time,
Lee

[disneydreamgirl]

Wow! Thanks for all of these tips and the offers for more assistance...I knew I would glean some awesome info here!

ASAP, call your congressman’s or Senator’s office to get passes to tour the White House and the U.S. Capitol.


What are the odds of Canadians getting in? ;) Is there anyone you could suggest I contact?

[rtobe]

My "neighbor" (that I don't know) uncleleo has great ideas. I also live in Arlington. Ballston area has some good options for hotels although pricing may not necessarily be "reasonable".

As far as seeing the Capitol and the White House. You might try your embassy for something special. There are general public tours of both.

The zoo is off the Metro as well, Woodley Park is the stop. If possible I would avoid the U.S. Memorial Day holiday weekend as a travel time as DC gets really crowded.

One option that is good for the initial visit to Washington DC is the Tourmobile. http://www.tourmobile.com/

While a little more expensive than Metro you can get on and off and you get the tour guide to narrate. The Tourmobile gets closer to the sites than you can via metro or parking.

Send me a PM

[bcvdreamer]

We have family in DC that we visit every year.

I recommend (& it's almost free, just whatever you tip) DC by Foot - walking tour. http://www.dcbyfoot.com/
We had two adults and kids ages, 9,12, 15 and they loved it. The tour guide was awesome and really engaged the kids.

Someone already suggested the Spy Museum, which was a lot of fun too. - the line was really long, so I agree with the suggestion to buy tickets online. They are for specific times.

We do drive into to DC and just park & walk the whole day, the Metro is a great.

Bring water, if you're going in the summer!

Plan ahead, which shouldn't be problem since you a Disney fan!:)

Get there early if you want to go to the top of the Washington Monument, it's worth it. You have to have tickets, but they're free...at least they were.

Have fun.

[disneym2m]

There is a Holiday Inn in Alexandria that is with in walking distance of a metro. Along the blue line. The metro stops on King Street which is really cool to visit with all the shops and restaurants.

Like others have said, staying outside of D.C. area will be cheaper. May is a nice time to go. The heat hasn't quite hit yet. I will suggest you buying bottle water. There aren't many places to buy drinks while touring D.C. unless you want to purchase from the street vendors. Also, if you find a bathroom, use it when you can. There are some at certain monuments but you never know if they are closed when you visit.

When you are looking for a hotel. You can google D.C. metro and look at the map, so you know how the metro lines run. And how close the hotel is to a metro line.

Have fun and enjoy your trip.

[jcb]

I'm going to buck the trend and suggest that you don't give up on staying "in D.C."

I always stay "in D.C." and have usually been able to find a hotel "in D.C." for the same or not much more than what a hotel costs outside of D.C. I make good use of priceline and check hotel discounts on their websites.

There are several very nice hotels "in D.C." around DuPont Circle and south of there, toward the White House, that offer very competitive deals.

I'm not saying it always works just that you should compare rates. A lot depends on when Congress is in session or something else big is happening, but I've stayed at some great hotels in D.C. for less than I would have paid to stay at a Courtyard or Hampton in the burbs.

Also, many "in D.C." hotels that are geared toward business travelers will run specials for weekend stays.

[elemusing]

OH MY GOODNESS! This could be my thread! I too am going in May, have an 11 year old and need tips! WOW! Subbing!

[Gigi22]

To the OP, a three day tour of Washington is going to be really, really busy. My DH and I have visited there on a regular basis during annual conferences. We used to stay near the Library of Congress, in a small converted apartment complex called Capitol Hill Suites. If you want to stay downtown, it might be an option for you to look at.
Admission to the Smithsonian is free, the Museums are located close to each other, but the scale of everything is huge. Walking distances are significant. As adult visitors we found it challenging to visit more than 2 museums a day, so if you want to visit the Smithsonian, research it well before you go and select the museums you want to see the most.
You will likely wind up using the Metro. The subway is very good.
Washington in May can be hot and humid.
FYI, even although we visited several times, we were never able to tour the White House (even although we did contact someone at DFAIT), we did manage to tour the Capitol.

[jcb]

If you are going to use the Metro in DC (or anyone going to DC), I suggest you sign up for free text alerts at https://textalert.ema.dc.gov/index.php?CCheck=1

I find the alerts very helpful in explaining why (as is the case right now) the metro is a mess along the red line at one of the downtown stations.

This alert comes from DC (not just metro) so you get some advance warning of major events. For example, this alert system is used to let folks know that there will be low flying military aircraft for some training exercise, when the Nationals will be testing their fireworks and when and where Metrorail will be performing maintenance on the tracks (usually done on weekends). I was there last year when the blue line was undergoing significant weekend maintenance around Arlington National Cemetary. Knowing this, let me make sure to take a yellow line train to National Airport for my flight out, saving me a lot of time.

[Sarabi's Cubs]

We went last year with our kids who were 10, 8 and 3. We stayed at the Embassey Suites in Alexandria. The Metro is right across the street from the hotel and there's a shuttle to take you into downtown Alexandria for dinner or shopping. It was convenient and much cheaper than being in DC. A couple of tips -

Our kids really enjoyed the Bureau of Printing and Engraving. We got tickets through our Senator.

The Capitol was disappointing. Very nice movie and you see Statuary Hall but you do not get to see the actual chambers.

There is a very nice cafeteria in the National Gallery of Art. It's right across from the much more crowded one in the Air and Space Museum and next to Natural History (both of which the kids loved). We ended up spending a rainy day in the Gallery of Art and the kids enjoyed it much more than I would have expected.

Sarabi's Cubs

[DSNY4ever]

Oh you will have so much fun! I went a few years back for work and stayed a couple days to sight see. We stayed in technically in Virginia right along the metro line and had just a very short ride to the main mall area from there, I can't remember the hotel's name.

Try to visit the outdoor monuments early in the morning if possible. My friend and I did this and it was so quiet and peaceful and we got gorgeous pictures without all the crowds standing in the way, and then we were the first people in the museums when they opened up :)

We also loved Arlington cemetery, very beautiful and peaceful- but a kid would probably like the main museums more. The Holocaust museum is a very good museum- but VERY upsetting (obviously because of the topic), could be educational for older kids, but make sure they can handle it.

[HillPete]

The Marriott Key Bridge in Rosslyn is super close to the metro and has great views of Georgetown and the Washington Monument. It also has an indoor-outdoor pool that my kids loved. We were walking distance to M street in Georgetown and the hotel has a shuttle that takes you there for free if you aren't interested or able to walk that far. We took the shuttle to the far end of M street and walked back.

If you go to the zoo, get off the metro at the stop AFTER the zoo on the map. From there it's a downhill walk to the entrance. When you're done, walk downhill to the other metro station to go home. Say hi to the pandas for me!

Have a great trip!
--H

[ms*mountaineer]

We have stayed "in DC" - usually near Dupont Circle (At the hotel where Reagan was shot - is that a Hilton??). There are lots of restaurants (Greek, Italian, Thai, etc...) in that area. And a Metro station - the Metro is very nice and easy to use - you can get just about anywhere you need. So if you stay on the outskirts of town, that's just fine - get yourself to a Metro station to get downtown.

The monuments are wonderful - and you can go visit them at night too! We've been to the Lincoln Memorial and Vietnam memorial after midnight - very cool. The Vietnam memorial is a must-see - there is almost always a veteran there (as a volunteer) to answer questions and give some history.

As PP said - contact your congressman/senator's office NOW and see if there is any way possible to get on a tour.

[BWVNUT]

Great tips everyone! I've already written our congresswoman for tour tickets and can't wait to hear what we will end up getting.

There are four of us me, DH, DS17, DD10 and we are planning to be there June 30 - July 5.

I'm thinking of staying at the Wyndham Old Town Alexandria because we can trade DVC points thru RCI (I hope...have to call tomorrow to check).

Anyway, if we get to stay there I understand it's a close walk to a metro station. If we do stay there is it worth it for us to buy a weekly metro card for each person or should we just pay as we go as we'll only be there for 6 days? Also, if we do stay out there, can we get away with buying the 7 day rail short trip pass or is the trip from Alexandria into the city considered a longer fare ride?

:goodvibes

[tiggerlover]

In addition to Crystal City, other hotel enclaves on top of Metro stops are Pentagon City, Rosslyn, and Ballston (search for hotels in Arlington, Va. and look for those words in the names). I'm familiar with all these neighborhoods, so after you choose a hotel let me know if you want recommendations for restaurants or sights within walking distance.

Other tips from a local:


ASAP, call your congressman’s or Senator’s office to get passes to tour the White House and the U.S. Capitol.
If your family are hardy souls who want to combine touring the monuments with one or more Smithsonian museums in a single day, do the museums first because the monuments are lovely at night.
If you want to go to the Spy Museum (highly recommended), buy your tickets ahead of time at their web site.
If your family usually tours with a large backpack, don’t expect to get it past security at many public buildings and museums.
There’s no Metro stop in Georgetown, which surprises many people.

Have a great time,
Lee

We are staying at The Virginian Suites near the Roslyn Metro stop, any recommendations on restuarants in that area would be greatly appreciated.

TIA

[thatslygirl]

We are staying at The Virginian Suites near the Roslyn Metro stop, any recommendations on restuarants in that area would be greatly appreciated.

TIA
Re: Rosslyn
Not many choices for Rosslyn, as it is kind of a business-focused area, and it tends to close once everyone has left the office. However, you can get breakfast at Cosi, tasty salads at Chop't, fill up on burritos at Chipotle for lunch. If I recall there is also a Tivoli bakery that sells tasty treats, and there is a Safeway nearby. Also, if you like Vietnamese pho, there is Pho 75, which is a short walk away. Though in the summer, it may be too hot for pho. However, Foggy Bottom is one metro stop away and from there you can walk or bus to Georgetown, where there are a variety of food options available.

I live in Arlington (Pentagon City) now and I work for a hotel that is walking distance to the museums, so I know the area very well. I also don't own a car and use the Metro rail and metro bus extensively, and I Yelp (http://www.yelp.com/user_details?userid=LQ2ScOFYw4-9ssIeedVQdQ) a lot, so I would be happy to share my experiences and be of any assistance :)

Asides from working in a hotel, I also love to stay in hotels (not just at work, LOL), and do a lot of "stay-cations" in the area. I always use Priceline and have always been able to get a very good rate for 4* and above. I have paid anywhere from $65-110/night but as we are going into Cherry Blossom season, hotel occupancy will be up, and so will the average daily rate for rooms. Don't be quick to disregard staying in a DC hotel. Who wants to spend up to 45 minutes commuting to and from your hotel outside of the city?

DC has recently raised the pricing for their off-street parking. It used to be $1/hour but now is $2/hour. The hours are now extended to 10pm and includes Saturdays, so please be aware of that. As others have pointed out, parking in Metro's lot will be the least expensive option... I believe it is $4.95/day for 24 hours and it is free on weekends. Depending on the station, parking may be hard to come by because of the commuters. Also, you will need a credit card or SmarTrip card in order to pay for the parking.

Metro has also raised their fares to cover a budget shortfall, so now everything is increased by $0.10.

The rule of thumb for Metro is the further away from the heart of the city you are, the more you will pay. However, be sure to travel during "off peak" times, aka non-rush hour fares, which is 9:30am - 3:30pm, as that will save you money.

All DC establishments that sells food and alcohol are now charge a 5-cent tax per bag, so if you are planning on buying food, bring your own bag (this tax applies to carry out places as well). The tax is supposed to be used to clean up the Anacostia River.

[CastawayJP]

First things first... The traffic here in the DC area is awful! But if you drive into the city and park it is not a problem! Just avoid coming into town and leaving during rush hours...

I feel that the Capitol Hill Holiday Inn is a great Central location. You are just blocks from The Mall (where the Smithsonian museums are) and close to a metro stop. You can also get a cab here easily if you want to do that.There is also a Starbucks at the hotel, a couple of decent hotel restaurants, and some fast food places on the same block. There is also a CVS drugstore. The hotel was just recently refurbished, and the rooms are really nice.

Hope that helps!

[HillPete]

We are staying at The Virginian Suites near the Roslyn Metro stop, any recommendations on restuarants in that area would be greatly appreciated.

TIA

I'm not sure where this is within Rosslyn, but check and see if this hotel has a shuttle into Georgetown. Rosslyn has a two-story McDonald's and not much else! M Street is right across the Key Bridge and has a million restaurants. Go there!

[OKW Lover]

Don't know when the OP plans on going to DC, but wanted to mention that if its the first weekend in April it will be smack in the middle of Cherry Blossom season. An absolutely spectacular sight which this picture comes nowhere near doing justice.
http://gallery.me.com/jeffval/100187/P4041631/web.jpg?ver=12075153420001

[FireDancer]

I will be in DC from the evening of the 18th until the evening of the 21st (this month). I'll be staying for the first time in DC proper at a friend's in DuPont Circle. If the president's schedule had worked out I would have been able to meet him but unfortunately it didn't. Oh well.

[thatslygirl]

Hi Frank, Dupont Circle is a great neighborhood for restaurants! I love going there to eat. My personal faves:

Breakfast
- Teaism on R Street (next to Starbucks). Try the chai!
- Le Pain Quotidien

Brunch
- Tabard Inn: Very popular place for brunch. Doughnuts are supposed to be good. Reservations are a must.

Lunch
- BGR Joint: They are expensive. Think $8.99 for veggie burger. Milkshakes made with Gifford's ice cream, with really high butterfat. Delish!
- Five Guys: Cheap burgers. Five Guys started in the DC area.
- Sakana: Small mom 'n pop type of Japanese restaurant

Happy Hour/Dinner
- Urbana at Hotel Palomar. Very chill and casual place, meet all sorts of interesting people there.
- Firefly at Hotel Madera. Also has a good 3-course dinner from 5-7pm for $30.
- Hank's Oyster Bar
- Pizza Paradiso. Love their Bottarga pizza! (Tomato, Egg, Garlic, Parsley, Parmesan, Bottarga)

Late Night
- Kramers Books & Afterwords: Combo bookstore, bar, and restaurant. Good for late night munchies, desserts, and brunch.

For the Serious Foodies
- Komi: Reservations hard to come by, very popular chef's tasting menu

[uncleleo]

We are staying at The Virginian Suites near the Roslyn Metro stop, any recommendations on restuarants in that area would be greatly appreciated.

TIA

Most of the hotels in Rosslyn are only steps from multiple culinary choices, but Virginia Suites is actually on the remote side of the neighborhood, separated from the action by a 10-minute walk and U.S. Route 50. Don't worry, this isn't suburban sprawl, there are sidewalks everywhere. But be prepared from a hardy stroll if you don't want to deal with parking at mealtimes.

thatslygirl mentioned many of the restaurants I know in Rosslyn. Chop't is always a good bet, and the Tivoli bakery/deli is great quality, though overpriced. Try the mango mousse cake! A few other places of note:

The original Red Hot & Blue is nearby. This is a regional barbecue chain and everything there is outstanding. Ribs and pulled pork are the obvious choices, but I also enjoy their chicken and burgers. Appetizers are all worth trying.

Ray's Hell Burger is where Arlington hamburger snobs go now that the rest of the world has Five Guys (it started here!).

Asia Cafe is a trendy pan-Asian place. The Thai selections are very good, the sushi is OK, the noodle soup is not worth trying with Pho 75 just up the street.

China Garden in the Twin Towers has very good dim sum on the weekends. I haven't tried their regular menu.

There used to be a good Italian restaurant in the Hyatt. It has since been replaced by a place that I haven't been to but have heard mixed reviews about.

As you can see, while Georgetown is probably a better bet for gourmands, there's definitely much more to Rosslyn than the McDonalds next to the Metro! Actually, for families, a better choice than Georgetown is Clarendon, two metro stops west of Rosslyn. Clarendon has Arlington's thickest concentration of restaurants, ranging from chains like Cheesecake Factory and Bertucci's to locals' favorites like Hard Times Cafe (chili), Mexicali Blues (Mexican), and Faccia Luna (pizza & pasta). Also in Clarendon are very good Vietnamese, Indian, tapas, gelato, etc.

Enjoy!
Lee

[FireDancer]

Hi Frank, Dupont Circle is a great neighborhood for restaurants! I love going there to eat. My personal faves:

Breakfast
- Teaism on R Street (next to Starbucks). Try the chai!
- Le Pain Quotidien

Brunch
- Tabard Inn: Very popular place for brunch. Doughnuts are supposed to be good. Reservations are a must.

Lunch
- BGR Joint: They are expensive. Think $8.99 for veggie burger. Milkshakes made with Gifford's ice cream, with really high butterfat. Delish!
- Five Guys: Cheap burgers. Five Guys started in the DC area.
- Sakana: Small mom 'n pop type of Japanese restaurant

Happy Hour/Dinner
- Urbana at Hotel Palomar. Very chill and casual place, meet all sorts of interesting people there.
- Firefly at Hotel Madera. Also has a good 3-course dinner from 5-7pm for $30.
- Hank's Oyster Bar
- Pizza Paradiso. Love their Bottarga pizza! (Tomato, Egg, Garlic, Parsley, Parmesan, Bottarga)

Late Night
- Kramers Books & Afterwords: Combo bookstore, bar, and restaurant. Good for late night munchies, desserts, and brunch.

For the Serious Foodies
- Komi: Reservations hard to come by, very popular chef's tasting menu

Thanks for the info, I"ll be taking a copy of this to have it. Any good Italian restaurants you would recommend? Not just DuPont by anywhere in the ward? We are there for a half marathon and we always do Italian the night before. Looking for something nice but not bank breaker and the more authentic the better.

[thatslygirl]

My current favorite Italian restaurant is Siroc (http://www.sirocrestaurant.com/). I have eaten there twice, once for New Year's Eve and for lunch. I have a skewed perception of "cheap" for lunch, since DC is all about the power lunch. $6-8 for me is on the cheap side, with $15-20 on the more expensive side. Siroc is a little more on the expensive side but it's not exorbitant. They are located within walking distance of McPherson Square Metro. I've had the Squid Ink Capellini with Baby Clams, White Wine, Garlic and Oven-dried Tomatoes, which was outstanding. People wax ecstatic about the House-made Black Pepper Tagliatelle with Sweet Garlic, Olive Oil, Red Pepper Flakes and Seared Scallops. (Hmm, maybe I should dine there this week!)

Another favorite is Dino (http://www.dino-dc.com/) in Cleveland Park. I haven't been to them in a couple of years, but they have a very good wine list and are not too expensive.

In Dupont Circle, people seem to like Otello (http://www.yelp.com/biz/otello-washington) and Obelisk.

[elemusing]

Someone recommended a restaurant called Ebbits or Ebitts or something. Can anyone verify and explain the food/location?

[schoen]

Great tips everyone! I've already written our congresswoman for tour tickets and can't wait to hear what we will end up getting.

There are four of us me, DH, DS17, DD10 and we are planning to be there June 30 - July 5.

I'm thinking of staying at the Wyndham Old Town Alexandria because we can trade DVC points thru RCI (I hope...have to call tomorrow to check).

Anyway, if we get to stay there I understand it's a close walk to a metro station. If we do stay there is it worth it for us to buy a weekly metro card for each person or should we just pay as we go as we'll only be there for 6 days? Also, if we do stay out there, can we get away with buying the 7 day rail short trip pass or is the trip from Alexandria into the city considered a longer fare ride?

:goodvibes

I LOVE Old Town Alexandria! It is such a charming area! My family and I always walk down to the port in the evenings and get ice cream and just people watch. There are usually entertainers strolling around too. There is a great guy that plays water glasses (like on Miss Congeniality) So much fun!

My family also really enjoys a restaurant called The Gatsby Tavern in Old Town. It period themed and there is no electricity. Really cool atmosphere. My family always calls though, if we are interested in dining there. We like to see if the "Town Crier" is in for the evening. He is this guy that just walks from table to table and chats with you, but he is very entertaining. He isn't always there though, so we like to make sure he is around.

If you have a car, I really enjoyed Washington's residence.... I can never remember the name... It was great though. My family has also visited Monticello, which is where Thomas Jefferson lived. It is pretty far out, but interesting.

Gettysburg is also within driving distance. BUT if you are not interested in civil war stuff, I would not recommend this day trip, because it is almost a two hour drive, and for me, it was BORING! My uncle, who likes war stuff, loved it though...

Also, you will be there for the 4th. My family always goes for the 4th too. it is CROWDED! just be prepared for that, also... if you are used to Disney fireworks you may be disappointed with the national fireworks display. I know I was... It is still really cool. I would suggest for great viewing, situate yourself somewhere between the Washington Monument and the US Capitol.

Have a great time!

[dpuck1998]

I didn't read the entire thread, but I'm sure recommendations can be repeated :)

The Spy Museum is great, buy early and go early, it was packed in the afternoon.

The big monuments are better at night. The Natural History Museum is great and of course the Air/Space. The second Air/Space museum that isn't on the mall, Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, near Dulles is amazing. If you can get out there, its worth the trip.

The Metro is a must, lots of walking, the Mall is huge. These aren't as close as they appear!

Old Town is great, loved staying there. My favorite of locations to stay.

Arlington is a MUST DO! Watching the changing of the guards should not be missed.

[jcb]

Someone recommended a restaurant called Ebbits or Ebitts or something. Can anyone verify and explain the food/location?

I expect the reference is to the Old Ebbitt Grill (http://www.ebbitt.com/main/home.cfm?Section=Main&Category=About_the_Ebbitt) near the White House. The menu has considerable variation but the place prides itself on its oyster bar. Everyone should try it once. It can be as busy as the MK at Christmas.

[Kellygurlz74]

Sorry, I'm going to be the sourpuss......

But why oh why do you want to come to DC of all places? The entire time that I have lived in this area the only cool things to see are the Smithsonian, the Air & Space Museum, and of course the steps at the IRS building so us tax payers can shake our fists at them.

Vietnam Memorial is sad. I cried leaving it. and the Lincoln Memorial is just a gigantic statue of president lincoln. the washington monument is a giant tower in the middle of a park.

Ok, maybe the white house & the capital. Jefferson Memorial especially when the cherry blossoms are in bloom.

If you really must come then.....
Agree don't drive at all. Metro metro metro. And even then that's scary, but a lot safer then driving in DC.

If you can get outside of the city, see the area- Arlington, Alexandria, the eastern shore is beautiful.

[OKW Lover]

Sorry, I'm going to be the sourpuss......

But why oh why do you want to come to DC of all places? The entire time that I have lived in this area the only cool things to see are the Smithsonian, the Air & Space Museum, and of course the steps at the IRS building so us tax payers can shake our fists at them.

Vietnam Memorial is sad. I cried leaving it. and the Lincoln Memorial is just a gigantic statue of president lincoln. the washington monument is a giant tower in the middle of a park.

Ok, maybe the white house & the capital. Jefferson Memorial especially when the cherry blossoms are in bloom.

If you really must come then.....
Agree don't drive at all. Metro metro metro. And even then that's scary, but a lot safer then driving in DC.

If you can get outside of the city, see the area- Arlington, Alexandria, the eastern shore is beautiful.

Interesting perspective. I have a similar one of Plymouth MA (my home town) and all the Pilgrim stuff. :rolleyes1

But to be fair, the Smithsonian stuff in DC is really a must see. Absolutely fascinating displays that you could spend days doing if you just had the time.

Yes, the Vietnam memorial is sad. Especially for those of us who lost buddys there. I can't visit there without tearing up, yet I still go every time I'm in the city. I just have to visit panel 63W - can't stay away.

The monuments are spectacular and really get you thinking about the heritage of the country.

On the real downside is the realization that just about all those buildings off the Mall are occupied by people spending our tax dollars.

[thatslygirl]

Someone recommended a restaurant called Ebbits or Ebitts or something. Can anyone verify and explain the food/location?
Old Ebbitt Grill is an institution. It does indeed get very crowded, for which Opentable.com (http://www.opentable.com) comes in handy.

The National Geographic Museum (http://events.nationalgeographic.com/events/locations/center/museum/) is fun to go to. While not on the Mall, they do have a Terra Cotta Warriors exhibit until the end of March.

There is nothing scary about riding the Metro, but be sure to do the following:
1. Stand on the right side of the escalators, going up or down
2. Please don't bring the gigantic baby strollers (I call 'em Stroll-vees, they are ridiculously large) onto the Metro... I think if it's bigger than a wheelchair, it shouldn't be allowed.
3. Don't walk down a crowded platform and then just suddenly stop. There are people all around you. Be courteous.
4. If you don't know where to go, just ask very nicely. People will help you out, we're used to it. If you get a grumpypants, ask another person.

[thatslygirl]

Great tips everyone! I've already written our congresswoman for tour tickets and can't wait to hear what we will end up getting.

There are four of us me, DH, DS17, DD10 and we are planning to be there June 30 - July 5.

I'm thinking of staying at the Wyndham Old Town Alexandria because we can trade DVC points thru RCI (I hope...have to call tomorrow to check).

Anyway, if we get to stay there I understand it's a close walk to a metro station. If we do stay there is it worth it for us to buy a weekly metro card for each person or should we just pay as we go as we'll only be there for 6 days? Also, if we do stay out there, can we get away with buying the 7 day rail short trip pass or is the trip from Alexandria into the city considered a longer fare ride?

:goodvibes

Old Town has a free trolley that runs the length of King Street and all the way to the King Street Metro Station, so you may not even have to walk (useful in humid July weather).

Metro charges its fares based on distance and the time of day you're traveling. Expect to pay higher fares irregardless of distance from 5am - 9:30am and 3-7pm on the weekdays, and 2am - closing on the weekends. You will pay a reduced fare during off-peak hours. The WMATA Trip Planner (http://wmata.com/rider_tools/tripplanner/tripplanner.cfm) will tell you how to get from Point A to Point B and tell you how much it's going to cost.

Some sample itineraries:
Leaving King Street Metro heading to Smithsonian Metro, to arrive by 10am: $2.80, if you enter the King Street Metro station before 9:30am.

If you enter the station after 9:30am, it will cost you $1.95 one-way

So let's say you are only going from the hotel to the museums and back. If you are okay with arriving at the museums at 10:30am, you can pay $1.95 reduced fare. The museums close at 5pm, so if you go back to the hotel around that time, it will be $2.80, for a total of $4.75 for the day. That's $28.50. It would be cheaper to get the 7-day pass, however, note this:

Pass is valid for seven consecutive days for Metrorail trips costing up to $2.65 from 5-9:30 a.m. and 3-7 p.m. on weekdays. If the trip costs more than $2.65, you must use the Exitfare machine to pay the additional fare. The pass is valid for any rail trip at other times. The pass will be returned for continued use during the valid period.

As it gets crazy crowded during Fourth of July weekend from tourists and locals, I recommend buying the fare cards online.

I hope that helps you out!

[BWVNUT]

Thanks a bunch schoen and thatslygirl! Appreciate it very much!

:goodvibes

[elemusing]

Yes thank you all! And thanks to the OP for letting me tag along on this thread. :)

[disneydreamgirl]

Ask and ye shall receive!!! Thanks so much for all of this great advice (for me and my fellow traveller). You guys are awesome!!

[thatslygirl]

I wanted to give a couple links to some websites if you're feeling adventurous! I've used them to try new restaurants and spas in the DC area for a steep discount.

These are social media sites that work on "collective buying power", or group coupon. In short, it works like this:

1. A business is interested in promoting their food, services, etc. They approach the site and they work out a deal offer to customers.
2. The site launches the offer for 24 hours.
3. If people are interested in the offer, they purchase it. The business has set a minimum and maximum limit of how many coupons they will give out. Once the minimum number of people interested in the deal is met, then you get get the deal.

The first Groupon (http://www.groupon.com/washington-dc/) and the other one is Living Social (http://livingsocial.com/)

I've seen some deals for the following:
- $7 for admission to the Spy Museum
- Half off to Madame Tussand's
- $7 for admission to the Phillips (half off) plus 20% off in the gift shop

So if you are on a budget, then this would be great for restaurants.

[BWVNUT]

I wanted to give a couple links to some websites if you're feeling adventurous! I've used them to try new restaurants and spas in the DC area for a steep discount.

Awesome; thanks!!

I've sent you a PM with my email since I noticed if you ask a friend to sign up you get some further discounts for yourself. So, if you'd like to 'friend' me I would be happy to help you out!

:goodvibes

[FireDancer]

One more question for you locals in the know. What would you recommend for the cheapest parking in DC? We will be staying at a friend's in Dupont circle and all the garages in the area look like they are about $15/day. We are willing to drop our stuff and dive a bit further away since we will be using the Metro the whole weekend.

Where would you suggest we look for less expensive parking, if there even is any? We would be willing to drive the car a ways and just take the Metro back to Dupont.

Thanks again.

[lauren_elizabeth]

One more question for you locals in the know. What would you recommend for the cheapest parking in DC? We will be staying at a friend's in Dupont circle and all the garages in the area look like they are about $15/day. We are willing to drop our stuff and dive a bit further away since we will be using the Metro the whole weekend.

Where would you suggest we look for less expensive parking, if there even is any? We would be willing to drive the car a ways and just take the Metro back to Dupont.

Thanks again.


$10-15 is about as cheap you're going to find it. Unless you can find somewhere along the street for the day. Whenever we drive in to DC, that's what we do. Granted, we never stay overnight or anything.

Good luck!

[thatslygirl]

Usually cheap parking will be because it's after 5pm or you came early (early bird special). If a metro station has its own lot, it would be $5, but it's only for 24 hours. Since you won't be staying in a hotel, $15-25/day isn't too bad..

Today's Living Social deal (http://livingsocial.com/) is $25 toward $50 of food at Dino, an Italian restaurant I mentioned a few posts back :)

Since one of you will be staying in Rosslyn, here is a food review of one of the food places there:

I was craving a salad today and wanted to go to Chop't (http://www.choptsalad.com/indexflash.htm). As I walked by their location in Metro Center, there was a line going out the door, so I took the metro to their Rosslyn location (it's "on the way" home). I used to go to school in Rosslyn but it has been about 4 years and lots of things have changed; Chop't being one of the newer additions to International Plaza.

The thing in DC that's hot now asides from cupcakeries and $10 gourmet burgers is salad joints. Chop't is set up similar to Chipotle and designed to move the line along when it get slammed at noon. They offer chopped salads and chopped salad sandwiches. You can pick from the 13 salads they have to offer, or you can make your own. They also have about 28 different dressings. Their Chop't Spa dressings I believe are only made only with agave nectar or honey. If you like your dressing, you can even buy one to take home; they are made fresh daily. You can also get your dressing on the side.

You place your order and they toss all the ingredients in a bowl. They move it to the chopper person and he/she asks you want dressing you want. They then dump the bowl on a chopping board and mince it up, then put it in a metal bowl with the dressing, tosses it nicely, then puts it in the plastic bowl. Then you go and pay.

They have Boylan's sodas here, which are only made with cane sugar and no high fructose corn syrup. There is also Diet Coke and Boylan's has diet versions of some of their sodas as well. They also have kettle chips, brownies, blondies, cookies, and fleur de sel caramels.

I usually get the Veggie Powerhouse but today I got Steakhouse (grilled flank steak, tomato, fried onions and romaine) with blue cheese dressing. They give you a huge portion so I think for kids, one salad is enough for 2-3 servings depending on your appetite. It ended up being $10.56 for my salad and soda with tax--this is a typical price for lunch in the DC area, especially if there are a lot of office workers. I would recommend frequenting Chop't before 12 noon or after 1:30pm when crowds have died down. There is also outdoor seating available.

I love to go out and eat so if there is a place that you are curious about and isn't prohibitively expensive, post here and I will investigate!

[woodleygrrl]

Good time to be coming to my home town! On the way to work I saw a cherry tree in full blossom! it is about 70 here today and promises to be nice all weekend. Looks like we are going to have some beautiful trees this year, notwithstanding the terrible snow storms we had this year that damaged many trees this winter.

I would also like to recommend some of my favorite restaurants here. All of these require advanced reservations which you can get on www.opentable.com.


Michael Richards Central: http://www.centralmichelrichard.com/
This is my absolute favorite restaurant in town. Please make sure to try the steak tartare and the mushroom sandwich. Michel Richard also owns Cintronelle, a grand-dame of Georgetown and one of the best restaurants in the country. Try Central (pronounced Sen-TRAL), the less expensive version of Richard's cooking.


Bourbon: http://www.bourbondc.com/ adams morgan location
This is our regular hangout. Along with one of the largest bourbon collections in the country, they have a master mixoligist and some great comfort food. You will come for the drinks and stay for the food.

Marvin: http://www.marvindc.com/

Located in the hippest part of town (the U street area), this place has great drinks, and some of the best chicken and waffles and pomme frites in the land. After you are done here, go explore the blues and jazz clubs in the area and the other great bars and lounges.


If there is one thing I know, it is food in DC. let me know if you would like any other recs!

Jennifer

[disney4dan]

One of the best moves I made (DC wise) was to buy a Metro SmarTrip® Card. http://www.wmata.com/fares/purchase/store/

It is $30 but comes with $25 on it. Metro did away with paper transfer slips (http://www.wmata.com/bus/transfers.cfm) so if you plan to go from a metro exit and get on a bus, for example, having the card saves you money. It is also much more convenient in going through the gates. I don't have to take mine out of my wallet. And best of all, you look like you know what you are doing.

I am wondering why I would pay $30 for $25 worth of value? Is it a $5 fee for the plastic card?

[jcb]

I am wondering why I would pay $30 for $25 worth of value? Is it a $5 fee for the plastic card?

Essentially, yes. The card lets you do transfers at less cost so if you go from metrorail to bus, you make up the $5 eventually. Metro did away with paper transfer slips a few years ago so the card is the only way to get a reduced transfer fare. Some fares are slightly cheaper using the card over paying cash.

It is worth $5 for the convenience, especially if you use the buses. Of course, when you reload the card, you don't pay the $5 again.

[disney4dan]

Thanks for the reply, looks like we may still be heading down at the end of next week, but our daughter is going in for an MRI on Sunday because of possible damage done to her heels by doing a front handspring in the school gym on the hardwood floor:confused3. We are up in the air on whether to take this trip now or wait a year, but I wanted to know how accessible the metro would be to a person in a wheelchair?

From what I've read, it is supposed to be very modern and the Frommer's guide says that all the Smithsonian buildings are accessible. I think we could just roll with the punches and still do this trip if I can locate a wheelchair and push her around all these places. She is probably just going to have to stay off her feet for a while (hoping).

[jcb]

I have used Metro extensively but have never had to navigate the metro with a person in a wheelchair. All the stops have elevators. Sometimes the elevators do not work at a particular stop. When that happens they make sure to tell you (on overhead signs at other stations) so you can make other arrangements for transport.

Metro has an accessibility page http://www.wmata.com/accessibility/ and (for metrorail) http://www.wmata.com/accessibility/metrorail.cfm. You can even sign up for alerts for elevator outages. https://www.smartrip.com/mst/portal.login

[dpic]

I haven't read the whole thread, but we love D.C. Here's the best place to stay downtown D.C.

http://www.hotel-harrington.com/

It's older, creaky floors, tiny bathrooms, but it's two blocks from the Mall, four blocks from the White House--one day we saw the President two blocks from the hotel. It's a 3-4 block walk to the Natural History, American History Museums, and the National Archives. We walked to Lincoln Memorial and the Capital. We parked our car and didn't need it for the next four days. We love D.C.!
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4069/4505237745_e1f7ed3f58_o.jpg

The Hope Diamond at the Natural History Museum.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2734/4505237867_7f05ffd543_o.jpg

The President waved at us, but I didn't catch that.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2692/4505872928_f089ef8302_o.jpg

National Archives is a MUST see. Go late, and you'll have time to be able to read the original Constitution.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2748/4505237923_9c30442fe3_o.jpg
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4059/4505248973_f91aed3e67_o.jpg

Tour the WWII Monument at night. It's incredible at night. Downtown D.C. is the safest place on earth. There are armed guards in every government building doorway. Take time to walk around at night. From our hotel, we visited the White House at night--really cool and not many people. It's just like Disney, tour early, crash, tour late. The buildings close fairly early, but all the monuments are open.

[Alztybrn]

WOW....my timing is impeccable! I just found this thread as I returned from DC 2 hours ago...Perfect :)

We did a real quick trip at the end of spring break. Went up Thursday night and returned this afternoon.

We stayed outside of DC in Centreville and took the Metro in. Metro was the way to go!

Did some of the museums/monument during the day, and then did go back at night to see more of the monuments. I definitely recommend this. They were beautiful at night and I also love some night photography!

[thatslygirl]

Just a head's up: there is talk of WMATA raising Metro rail and bus fares again (they just did it in March!) to cover a $145 million budget shortfall.

It's so confusing, you might as well buy a one-day pass and save yourself the math! WaPo link (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/05/12/AR2010051203402.html?sid=ST2010051305533). Basically the further out you are, the more you have to pay.

So let's say you decide to stay in VA and the closest metro station is Vienna, which is the end of the orange line. You drive and park the car on a weekday. $5. You and your family travel into DC before 9am. $5 per person one-way. Then if you travel back during peak times, that is an additional $5 per person. For a family of 5 that would be $55 with parking!

Last year, I paid $1.25 to ride the bus. In March of this year, it increased to $1.35. Now they're planning on increasing it to $1.50. This is if you use a SmarTrip card--you pay $0.10 more if you pay cash. Also, the Express buses that took you to Dulles or BWI airports used to cost $3. Now it is going to be $6.

I think they need to find a way to stop paying so much overtime (http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=5764) for Metro employees.

[disneydreamgirl]

Hey all, I'm the OP...we didn't make it in May...too much going on at work which made it impossible. We're now looking at going August 5-8, possibly ending at Brickfair (DS loves LEGO) on the Sunday in Chantilly, Virginia prior to a long drive home.

I have questions about parking in DC. We're looking at staying close to the museums for at least Thursday and Friday nights...it's so unclear whether hotels have parking and no indication of cost. I like the suggestion of parking in the public lots for $10-15, however are you allowed to leave your car for 2 or more days? If we were to arrive Thursday at 5 p.m., what is the likelihood of finding a parking spot? (I'm thinking/hoping good.) There are some great deals on hotels for the weekend we're looking into and I'd love to be right where we want to be.

Is there anything closed on Sunday? Most of our trip will be jammed into Friday and Saturday, but if we can stretch it one more day we'd sure love to except if there will be nothing to see on Sunday!

Thanks all for the great suggestions and for the advice you will no doubt keep sharing...you guys are awesome!!!

[uncleleo]

Hey all, I'm the OP...we didn't make it in May...too much going on at work which made it impossible. We're now looking at going August 5-8, possibly ending at Brickfair (DS loves LEGO) on the Sunday in Chantilly, Virginia prior to a long drive home.

I have questions about parking in DC. We're looking at staying close to the museums for at least Thursday and Friday nights...it's so unclear whether hotels have parking and no indication of cost. I like the suggestion of parking in the public lots for $10-15, however are you allowed to leave your car for 2 or more days? If we were to arrive Thursday at 5 p.m., what is the likelihood of finding a parking spot? (I'm thinking/hoping good.) There are some great deals on hotels for the weekend we're looking into and I'd love to be right where we want to be.

Is there anything closed on Sunday? Most of our trip will be jammed into Friday and Saturday, but if we can stretch it one more day we'd sure love to except if there will be nothing to see on Sunday!

Thanks all for the great suggestions and for the advice you will no doubt keep sharing...you guys are awesome!!!

Hey, I work in Chantilly! In case you don't know, the Air and Space Museum's annex is out there and definitely worth a visit. It has a space shuttle, a Concorde, the record-setting Blackbird, and planes from all the wars, including the Enola Gay.

Most commercial lots won't care if you're leaving the car in place multiple days. Just be sure to ask. Yes, arriving after 5pm means that all parking lots should many spaces available.

Most attractions are open on Sunday. If you elect to remain in DC on Sunday, depending on where your hotel is located, it may be hard to find open restaurants within walking distance. If the street address of your hotel contains "SW," you're in the area that shuts down to a great extent when the nearby office buildings are empty. If the hotel is in NW or NE, there will be plenty of restaurants nearby that are open on Sunday, late at night, etc.

Have a great time,
Lee

[Gigi22]

See Arlington. It is out of Washinton D.C., very easy to get to using public transportation, very moving to see. Be sure you visit Lee's house, which is just charming.
You might want to work on improving your walking endurance before you go. DH and I walked from the Library of Congress to the Vietnam Memorial and back--and it was one long walk! But well worth it.

[jcb]

August in DC can be brutally hot. DW almost got sick from the heat and she wasn't walking a long way. Either take a water bottle and keep it filled or take plenty of cash to buy bottled ice water from the street vendors.

have fun.

[disneydreamgirl]

Hey all! We have settled on August 4-8 and here is the tentative itinerary:

August 4 - leave at 8 a.m. and arrive in Mount Vernon around 5:30-ish, shop a little at Potomac Mills mall, pick up some food for dinner and then check into Best Western Mount Vernon (breakfast, wifi and MV tics included in rate)

August 5 - tour Mount Vernon arriving as early as possible and likely stay until 12- 1 pm; drive through Alexandria and see Arlington or drive to see the Naval Yard/Museum; check in late afternoon at L'Enfant Plaza to the south of the Mall (package includes valet parking with in/out privileges), drop by a visitor's centre and see the monuments by night and/or tour a bit of the Air & Space Museum; Need to find a good restaurant nearby, preferably reasonably priced.

August 6 - tour White House (registered with Canadian Embassy but won't know until one week prior if we are allowed entry) followed by Washington Monument or vice versa (I read that getting tickets ahead of time is wise); head to Smithsonian - likely American History/Natural History and possibly one or two Art museums or the Postal Museum; Head back to hotel, pick up car and drive through the Embassy area followed by dinner and chill time in Georgetown; Need a good Georgetown restaurant, preferably reasonably priced however want to have one really nice meal and realize may need to up the ante a bit.

August 7 - go to the Spy Museum, check out the Capitol building and the Library of Congress, pick up car and head to Chantilly to check in at Staybridge Suites ( inc.breakfast, wifi) , possibly do a little bit of shopping, will likely pick up dinner to eat in;

August 8 - Either sleep in and check out by 10:30 or check out real early and head to the Air & Space annex; Head to Brickfair (LEGO "convention") for several hours before getting on the road home by 3 pm, rolling into our driveway ideally before midnight.

I know this may seem ambitious and I welcome any suggestions! Our son loves museums and we are all high energy. We had also wondered about the Ford Theatre, the National Archives, the National Cathedral and Lee's house however I know we cannot do it all! I'm open to hearing opinions about what we should consider skipping as clearly we want to optimize our time!

[Danibelle]

I never miss the archives and the National Cathedral. The archives don't take too long to visit. You can combine them with a Smithsonian museum (on the mall). You can take a guided tour of the National Cathedral or attend a service if that works. I have done both. I have also visited Ford's Theater and attended a play there. That was a great experience also! I also found the Phillips Collection to be a must see (and the National Gallery). Have fun and do ride the metro.

Since the summer heat is brutal, you will want to drink lots of water! Have fun!

:yay:

[OKW Lover]

Keep in mind that the "Smithsonian" is a bunch of really big museums. You can easily spend a day in just one of them. We like Air & Space; American History and Natural History especially. The National Gallery of Art (which is not part of the Smithsonian, but is right next to it) is an equally large venue.

[disneydreamgirl]

We're going to visit the websites and make some decisions on the musts and play our days by ear a bit...we"ve always found before we get somewhere for the first time that a map can be very misleading. I know we will not see everything! Any other suggestions are welcomed...thanks!