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| *Travel Tips>>>Washington, D.C. Travel Tips |
Any suggestions from anyone that has visited Washington, DC as to what is the TO DO thing while there? |
Travel Info My husband, two kids & I are planning a trip possibly in May. Looking for any suggestions on must see sights, places to stay, etc. Thanks. Travel Tips The TO DO List would be: Ford's Theatre (and the house across the street where Lincoln died) Lincoln Memorial (and it's tour underneath to see the staglitites that have formed and the musuem) National Zoo Washington's National Cathedral (northeast) The White House tour (must have tickets from your congressman and receive them in advance) Any museum on The Mall (Air and Space for the children) Lunch at Union Station (Chinese especially) US Postal Museum, next to Union Station The Vietnam Memorial (Mall) Arlington National Cemetary (the Marine Iwo Jima Memorial, the NEW Air Force Memorial, the Women in the Military Service Memorial, just inside the Arlington National Cemetary gates) Lee's Mansion at the top the hill in Arlington. The changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier The elevator ride to the top of the Washington Monument (walk down the steps to see all the inscriptions and plaques placed in the stairwells) The Nations Capitol tour (espically the "Echo Chamber") Tour of the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Ride around on the Metro Washington DC Nightlight Tours (A must to see the area at night. WOW!) Take an Old Town Trolley Tour Mount Vernon (Washington's home just south of the city) Historic Tour of old downtown Alexandria National Archives Building (A MUST SEE TO VIEW ONE OF THE ORIGINAL CONSITUTION DOCUMENTS!!!) Old Post Office Pavilion (Great place for lunch) Too bad the American History Museum is closed until next year. Their are no personal tours of the Pentagon but it is always nice to drive by it. Walking is much for all of you so make sure you have plenty of time between areas you wish to go to relax. Having your own waterbottles is best since the costs of water/drinks is outrageous. Bring snacks for the kiddies, of course. DC is a vast area, almost two miles just between the Lincoln Memorial and the Capitol. If you can, I would make sure you have at least four days to plan and see. I full week would be better to see everything. I list all the sights above as TO DO for if you are an outsider and have never been, these historical areas and monuments are a must for you may never get the chance to do it again. There are numerous hotels and such around the area but the closer you get into the district, the more you pay, especially in DC. You have four different taxes just staying in a DC hotel. Your best bet is to search online for your favorites chain motels and go with them. If you are wanting to stay close, I would recommend either Rosslyn or down near Springfield. Both areas have ample hotels with quick access to the Metro system. Hope you go and remember, keep you money in your front pockets, not in your purse or even carry one. One sure bet is that if your kids are young and have a stoller, have an inconspicuous place there to hide your camera, extra money and such. The downtown area is usually crime free but always be safe. Source(s): LIved in the DC area three times in my life as well as a youngster two times. My spouse is an officer in the USAF! Other Travel Tips I suggest you stay in the fringe area of DC and take the train in to the Mall area. Parking in the Mall is almost non existent and if you do luck out and find one, they are mostly metered. As for sights, the Air & Space Museum is a must however it is very crowded and you will stand in line to see most exhibits. I would take a few moments and stop at the Vietnam Memorial. It will overwhelm you. I always tell DC visitors, "you can't possibly see it all in a day." Have a good time and stay safe. The obvious answer is to go to the National Mall. That is pretty much where all the "must sees" are located - The Capitol Building, the Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial and all the museums offered by the Smithsonian. Also check out the National Zoo (Woodley Park/National Zoo Metro station). The White House is not actually on the National Mall, but you can get to it very easily - it's only a 2 block walk really from the edge of the Mall. As for hotels - try and stay in one of the suburbs because hotels downtown will be more expensive. Try any area where there is a nearby Metro station or the hotel has a shuttle to and from the Metro. Go to http://wmata.com and you will find the Metro map. Other things to see in the DC area are Mount Vernon in Virginia (it's about 10 miles south of the city - it's where George Washington lived. Also, I highly highly HIGHLY recommend that you take a boat tour on the Potomac River because you can see the city and the monuments from a whole different perspective. I always take my family and friends on one of the boats when they visit. Everyone loves it. Lived in the DC area for 20 years. The National Zoo is great, you should go see the pandas! Your kids might like the International Spy museum, the Natural History Smithsonian, and the Air and Space. If you're into walking you can see a lot of the sights at once: the Capitol, White House, National Monument, Lincoln Memorial, etc. The mall is a great place to hang out on a nice day. Myself - DC area native |
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