DC area vacation

ISUFan22 · 05-23-2007, 10:09 AM

We're off to the DC area tomorrow morning through Tuesday. Staying in Arlington, VA - in the Crystal City area.

Anything we should/shouldn't see? Plan on spending a day at the Smithsonian. Also going to try to get out to Virginia Beach - I gather it's about a 2 hour drive from where we're at.

I'm sure there will be some neat happenings out there for Memorial Day - would be fun to see them.

I've been there twice yet both times were in HS, will appreciate this trip much more!

Any pointers would be appreciated.

kindrgtncp · 05-23-2007, 10:13 AM

Just got back from Baltmore /DC this weekend. A couple things to keep in mind:

Try to take the Metro as much as possible. ($6.50 for an all day pass).
A day for the smithsonian might be much. The air and Space museum and natural history musuems are good but the American History museum is closed til 2008 (some of the stuff is in the A&S museum temporarily). If you want art, hirshhorn and museum of art are good)

There is a big memorial day parade that goes around the Mall downtown DC on Monday. Be sure to check out the WWII memorial. Pretty cool.

Also, don't miss the Spy Museum.

FYI, Va Beach is about 4 hours from DC. If you're looking for a great beach, Ocean City is a better drive but depends on when you're traveling. Traffic is a b%&&*.

PM me with any questions as I lived out there for years.

benjay · 05-23-2007, 10:14 AM

I'm guessing you've already seen the Lincoln, Viet Nam, WWII memorials, and the Washington Monument and reflection pool? If so, I've got nothing. :)

Arlington Cemetery was neat too, but I would not call it a "must see".

ISUFan22 · 05-23-2007, 10:17 AM

We plan to see those again, benjay. The Mrs. has never been to the area and I want to see them again to boot.

Thanks for the info kindrgtncp! We did rent a car as we plan to hit a beach and would like to get up to Baltimore too, if we have time. While in the DC area, we'll avoid driving as much as possible. Nice to see an all-day metro pass isn't expensive.

kindrgtncp · 05-23-2007, 10:19 AM

NM. I just read your profile and saw you were a Cowgirls fan!!!

Ignore all recommednations.

Sincerely,
Diehard Redskins fan...

EggMcClone · 05-23-2007, 10:20 AM

I would have loved to have spent more time at the Smithsonian but I'm also a museum nerd. It's too bad the American History museum is closed as there's some really great stuff in there.

kindrgtncp · 05-23-2007, 10:25 AM

Originally Posted by EggMcClone

I would have loved to have spent more time at the Smithsonian but I'm also a museum nerd. It's too bad the American History museum is closed as there's some really great stuff in there.

Yeah they have a few things in the East end of the 2nd floor of the A&S museum like R2-D2 and C-3PO and Dorothy's ruby slippers, etc.

If it's a long line, there's not much to wait for in my opinion.

cycloneworld · 05-23-2007, 10:25 AM

I'm a history nerd...so I love the National Archives Museum (US Constitution, Cancelled check from the purchase of Alaska, etc, etc.).

Also, I'd recommend Ford Threatre if you haven't been there. They have an awesome museum in the basement which has the gun that shot Lincoln, the coat he died in, pillows and blankets from the bed he died in, etc, etc.

Maybe take in a Nationals game or make short drive to Baltimore to see Camden Yard?

I love DC...so much to do. I haven't been since high school and I'd like to get back there again soon. Have fun on your trip!

ISUFan22 · 05-23-2007, 10:27 AM

Silly Redskins, winning is for Cowboys. :)

We're not huge museum people, we prefer to be actively doing things or outdoors. However, I've heard so much about the Smithsonian and both times I was there before I didn't get to see it - so it's high on the list this time.

kindrgtncp · 05-23-2007, 10:28 AM

Originally Posted by ISUFan22

We plan to see those again, benjay. The Mrs. has never been to the area and I want to see them again to boot.

Thanks for the info kindrgtncp! We did rent a car as we plan to hit a beach and would like to get up to Baltimore too, if we have time. While in the DC area, we'll avoid driving as much as possible. Nice to see an all-day metro pass isn't expensive.

We hit inner Harbor for a day and did the Aquarium (It's been changed a lot in the past few years) and wandered the shops. It's worth the trip especally if you can time it with a gme at Camden Yards

ISUFan22 · 05-23-2007, 10:28 AM

Not a baseball fan, so we won't be going to any games - unless someone gives us tickets.

Ford's Theatre is very cool. I don't recall going into the museum in the basement though.

ISUFan22 · 05-23-2007, 10:29 AM

Aquariums...we DO like those. What's the one in Baltimore called?

Do they have frickin sharks with frickin laser beams attached to their frickin heads? Ill-tempered sea bass?

zumbro clones · 05-23-2007, 10:33 AM

The Metro takes you all over and is clean and relatively safe. Schedule a lot of time to walk around the Mall and take in all the sights. Most museums and touristy items are close by (Washington monument, Lincoln monument, etc.). I loved the museums but they were not a lot better than what you would see at the Field Museum in Chicago, for example. It's just that there are a lot more things to see if you are a nut for that kind of thing.

The Mint and Pentagon were fun to see too.

I enjoyed having dinner at Georgetown. Funky shops and great restaurants.

Touring the Capital building was a lot of fun. If you don't mind lines, you can try to tour the White House. Not sure what the schedule is now, but you can check.

We took a tour down to Yorktown and Williamsburg. That was a lot of fun if you like history. They have original buildings in Williamsburg along with "living history" shops and events. Kind of like a Revolutionary War era Renaissance Festival. Yorktown is a historical area for the Revolutionary War and Civil War -- if you are interested in that. Jamestown is just a short drive away too...not a lot to see but fun if you like history (excavations, monunents, etc.).

ISUFan22 · 05-23-2007, 10:39 AM

I vaguely recall seeing the some or all of Yorktown/Williamsburg/Jamestown. I believe we were on George Washington's plantation if I recall correctly.

White House - reviews on that? Most of what I've heard is it wasn't worth it - you don't get to see much.

zumbro clones · 05-23-2007, 10:57 AM

We didn't take the White House tour so I can't say if it is worth it.

We did take the Ford Theatre tour and that was interesting. Across the street is the hotel (Petersen House) in which Lincoln died. We stopped by there too. Schedule a couple of hours for that. If I remember right, the FBI building was close by and we toured that. It was a lot of fun. They had machine gun demos in the basement. Wow.