Any tips for visiting Washington D.C.?

[imsayin]

To get into either (or most any other public place in D.C.) you will have to pass a metal detector and bag search.

This is not a big deal. I loved the guy that made me open up the zipped up makeup bag in my purse to reveal my tampons.

 

[FunFamily]

For an enjoyable family dinner go to Old Ebbitt Grill. It is a DC classic and about 3 blocks from where you are staying -- you will be on 12th street, Old Ebbitt is on 15th Street -- just walk down G street and you will be there.

Also, cabs are cheap and fares are based on what is known as a zone system (no meters) -- most rides that you want to do will be one zone (maybe two) and are less than $10 with gratuity. To see the monuments and sites, do take a trolley or tour bus that gives unlimited on and off.

Also, walk down 12th to E street and turn right on E Street, when you hit 13th cross Pennsylvania Avenue to the Reagan Building and you will see the 75 Mickey's on display. After that, have a quiet lunch at John Harvard's in the Warner Theater building (13th and E) or a loud lunch at the ESPN Zone (11th and E).

Dress for the heat and humidity...

Have fun!

 

[bdcp]

I'm with everyone else on the Metro. Do not bring a car into DC unless you have no choice, you'll waste half your day trying to find parking, and still have to walk forever to where you really want to be.

On Smithsonian, with the ages of your children hit the air and space museum, and natural history, they're the most kid friendly. Do not miss the bug room at natural history - big hit with kids, especially the giant hissing cockroaches.

Walk the mall and see the monuments. As beautiful as they are at night, I don't recommend walking around then. DC is not the safest city sometimes.

You might try to old post office pavilion for lunch. It's loaded with shopping and food court options, not too expensive and lots of variety.

Actually the mall and monument areas at night are very safe. Just stay in areas where there are buildings still open and/or well lit. I walked around near MCI (couple of blocks from mall), past the FBR building which has it's own security and to a restaurant last spring with 3 others and had no problems at all. One night it was just 3 women and we had a great time walking from our hotel to Ruth's Chris steak house. The monuments at night are great and you should have no problems. DC is not one big crime problem. Just certain areas and if you stay in the tourist areas, museums, etc, you'll be fine. There are a ton of cops downtown and the majority of crime is in the residential neighborhoods anyway. I have been all over the monuments at night and drove through DC just last weekend coming back from Union Station out Constitution to I-66 at 11:30 pm and we saw several cop cars sitting and watching. DC at night is gorgeous. I have a family member (from TX) who got 20 tickets to the White House for the end of July just in the last month or so, so you don't necessarily need 6 months, they just request that. Having lived here most of my life, DC is a great city and dont' let crime statistics sway you, because it's like anywhere else, don't do anything stupid. It literally takes weeks to see everything there is to see. Pick a few things and go for it. My boys are 19 and 21 and we have been to Air and Space museum multiple times including the new site at Dulles. Parking at the Dulles site is $12/car and they offer shuttles from the Main Air and Space. I love the zoo and all the other free museums which make for a great vacation.

 

[swilshire]

You might try to old post office pavilion for lunch. It's loaded with shopping and food court options, not too expensive and lots of variety.

Also, be sure to go up in the tower. There is no charge and the views are fantastic.

Try not to go for lunch at peak time, though. We were there during Spring break and the lines were awful and you had to fight for chairs and a table.

Sheila

Oops. I see I repeated another post. Sorry.

 

[maggiew]

What area should I choose on Hotwire if I want to stay downtown close to the attractions?? I would like to see the Washington Monument, Jefferson, Lincoln, Smithsonian and the Constitution.

I will be by myself so I don't really care where it is. I am up for using the metro too.

Maggie

 

[quiltymom]

I live in the DC area, and agree with what has been posted. Here are a few more things I'd like to add.

The basement of the Ronald Reagan building has a huge food court, and it is just up the block from the American History museum on the Mall.

If you want to see the museums, monuments, Capitol Hill, and other places and don't want to take Metro, a cab, walk, or drive, do the Tourmobile. http://www.tourmobile.com/ It goes everywhere, including through National Cemetery. I don't know what the prices are for the different services, but it is worth the $$ not to have to figure out how to get anywhere!

The new Udvar-Hazy Air and Space Museum Annex http://www.nasm.si.edu/museum/udvarhazy/ is a good day trip if you're really into airplanes, etc. You can take a shuttle from the Air & Space Museum on the mall for a fee. My only warning is that if you have a fear of heights, beware. The only way to see many of the planes "up close and personal" is via floating walkways. Buy it is amazing to be in a building that dwarfs the size of the Space Shuttle!

During the summer, usually between Memorial Day & Labor Day, the various military branches will host free outdoor performances, scattered throughout the downtown/mall area. My favorite is the Marine Corp. Drum & Bugle / silent drill team at the Iwo Jima memorial. You can find out what's going on once you arrive in the area by either checking the newspaper (Friday's Post includes the Weekend section that tells what's going on for the next week) or just asking around.

And don't forget the Washington Nationals baseball! Go Nats!

 

[becky7953]

Thanks for this great post!!!! We are thinking of a DC vacation next year. This is an acceptable driving distance for us!