truckin Posted January 12, 2011 Report Share Posted January 12, 2011 So my wife and I are planning to go to DC this summer for our 10yr anniversary, we've both been wanting to do this for over 5yrs now and things have always come up. But now were doing it. The last time I've been to DC was when i was around 10 or 11 so 20+ yrs ago. Were planning on spending 3 days however were not sure what to hit forsure (must see and what we could skip). I know i want to see the Smithsonian, WWII Memorial, Arlington, Veitnam Memorial, Lincoln Memorial etc. So those who've been there recently what do you recommend seeing or doing and can you recommend a nicer than average Hotel? Not looking for a $1K a night just not the Holiday Inn express if you know what i mean. Any Help would be great! Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GRN96WS6 Posted January 12, 2011 Report Share Posted January 12, 2011 The monuments are a no brainer, if you're into planes and such there is a shuttle from the Smithsonian to the air and space museum out near Dulles as well. I live in the area and have basically my entire life. There is lots to do and all depends what you consider a fun time and time constraints. Staying in DC is murder on price but staying in Arlington or Alexandria would be cheaper and metro stops are close so transportation isn't a huge deal, and honestly that is better than driving in the city. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJ Posted January 12, 2011 Report Share Posted January 12, 2011 there is also a famous hotel named the water gate that forest gump stayed in lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rotarded1647545491 Posted January 13, 2011 Report Share Posted January 13, 2011 International Spy Museum Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mmZ06 Posted January 13, 2011 Report Share Posted January 13, 2011 Depending on the dates the hotels are not that bad in DC. I was there a few months back and we stayed at one of the Hyatt hotels. Pretty sure it was less than $100/night. Here are a couple things I would recommend. Washington Monument White House tour Crime and Punishment Museum Holocaust Museum Senate/House session & Cap. Building tour Bureau printing and engraving was pretty neat Fords Theater Archives Museum We were there 5-6 days and visited 2-4 things a day. Metro will make life a lot easier as well. If you’re interested in doing a tour of the White House make sure you submit your info a couple months ahead. I think you can do it up to 6 months in advance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mmZ06 Posted January 13, 2011 Report Share Posted January 13, 2011 Pretty sure Costco has a deal on Hyatt certificates as well. Think you get $100 worth for $80. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dover Posted January 13, 2011 Report Share Posted January 13, 2011 Arlington Cemetery and seeing the Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave1647545494 Posted January 13, 2011 Report Share Posted January 13, 2011 you could spend your entire trip in the smithsonian and not see everything..... get a metro pass and a subway map its the fastest way around town Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
truckin Posted January 13, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 13, 2011 Any recommended restaurants? Thanks for the info Z06 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GRN96WS6 Posted January 14, 2011 Report Share Posted January 14, 2011 What restaurants do you like? Are you opposed to any type of food? There are lots of great places in DC. Look DC up on yelp.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
girlygirl18t Posted January 18, 2011 Report Share Posted January 18, 2011 (edited) http://www.athenapallas.com/ This is an awesome Greek restaurant! The prices are very affordable considering the area ($9-$15). They have table clothes, cloth napkins, and a nice beer/wine selection. This is just a few blocks from the Crystal City metro stop. I'm not a huge fan of Kebabs and Middle Eastern food. It is everywhere in D.C. I used to stay in D.C. a few times a month. The way to go for transportation is the Metro. A day pass is $9 for an adult. The cost is well worth it. I took my older son Carter to D.C. before preschool started this year. We only went for the day and spent maybe $75 total. We mostly bought gift shop stuff at the Smithsonian. He had a blast at the Smithsonian museum of Natural History (dinosaurs), Smithsonian museum of American History (worth checking out, lots of cool Americana, Car and motorcycle stuff), Smithsonian Air and Space Museum very, very cool. It was my third time checking out the Air and Space museum. I still saw new stuff in each one. I have yet to go to the International Spy Museum. I have heard that it is very cool. Dave and I did go to the Holocaust museum; it was much more than just WWII. Very sad, bring tissues. The Smithsonian Native American museum and Asian art museum are very cool Dave and I went a few years prior to that for a weekend trip. We stayed at the Hilton near the Capital building. It was ok; I think it was $150 a night. Honestly, a hotel is a hotel to me. Different areas of D.C. are very sketchy. The Hilton that we stayed in was no different. There were a lot of homeless people that lived in the park across the street. Just try and watch the general area where you stay. No metro after dark. (It doesn't run very late any way) Get a Metro map; they are easy to figure out. Edited January 18, 2011 by girlygirl18t adding info Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GRN96WS6 Posted January 18, 2011 Report Share Posted January 18, 2011 http://www.athenapallas.com/ This is an awesome Greek restaurant! The prices are very affordable considering the area ($9-$15). They have table clothes, cloth napkins, and a nice beer/wine selection. This is just a few blocks from the Crystal City metro stop. I'm not a huge fan of Kebabs and Middle Eastern food. It is everywhere in D.C. I used to stay in D.C. a few times a month. The way to go for transportation is the Metro. A day pass is $9 for an adult. The cost is well worth it. I took my older son Carter to D.C. before preschool started this year. We only went for the day and spent maybe $75 total. We mostly bought gift shop stuff at the Smithsonian. He had a blast at the Smithsonian museum of Natural History (dinosaurs), Smithsonian museum of American History (worth checking out, lots of cool Americana, Car and motorcycle stuff), Smithsonian Air and Space Museum very, very cool. It was my third time checking out the Air and Space museum. I still saw new stuff in each one. I have yet to go to the International Spy Museum. I have heard that it is very cool. Dave and I did go to the Holocaust museum; it was much more than just WWII. Very sad, bring tissues. The Smithsonian Native American museum and Asian art museum are very cool Dave and I went a few years prior to that for a weekend trip. We stayed at the Hilton near the Capital building. It was ok; I think it was $150 a night. Honestly, a hotel is a hotel to me. Different areas of D.C. are very sketchy. The Hilton that we stayed in was no different. There were a lot of homeless people that lived in the park across the street. Just try and watch the general area where you stay. No metro after dark. (It doesn't run very late any way) Get a Metro map; they are easy to figure out. Curious why you say no metro after dark....it isn't bad and on weekdays runs until 11PM - Midnight which is ok for most people. On weekends it is a lot later, like 3AM or so. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
99BlownYellowGT Posted January 18, 2011 Report Share Posted January 18, 2011 http://www.gaylordhotels.com/national-home.html?intcmp=gn-pl=topnav-cid=genl-home This is where i stayed last time i was there. It is an amazing place. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
girlygirl18t Posted January 18, 2011 Report Share Posted January 18, 2011 Curious why you say no metro after dark....it isn't bad and on weekdays runs until 11PM - Midnight which is ok for most people. On weekends it is a lot later, like 3AM or so. Lots of interesting people like to ride the metro after dark. I never rode it after dark. I was normally alone when I did take the metro. Alone, 20ish, white woman in a sketchy area is a bad combo. I do my best to avoid a potentially bad situation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mensan Posted January 18, 2011 Report Share Posted January 18, 2011 If you are driving, I recommend the Bavarian Inn. It's in WV, but it was one of the most amazing dinner experiences I have ever had. It honestly feels like you have driven into a German forest. Chef Wolfgang Vomend Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RC K9 Posted January 18, 2011 Report Share Posted January 18, 2011 Stayed at the Hilton in Silver Springs, MD when I went to visit my bro at Walter Reed. It was nice and silver springs was a cool spot. Pretty close to DC and not far from alexadria, va. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El Karacho1647545492 Posted January 18, 2011 Report Share Posted January 18, 2011 make sure you take your favorite firearm to the front gate of the White House and wave it around while shouting your favorite patriotic slogans in Arabic. I believe "Allahu akbar" means "long live America!", so make sure to shout that loud and proud. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Jones Posted January 18, 2011 Report Share Posted January 18, 2011 Bulletproof Vest AR15 RPG Armored Vehicle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
truckin Posted January 18, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 18, 2011 Thanks everyone....As far as food were pretty casual when it comes to dining, good ol American or Italian is cool w us. We would like a nice higher class dining one night. As for Hotels we'd like to avoid the typical Holiday Inn Express atmosphere. We were thinking a nice Historic Hotel or something with some charm, and the wife would like a pool...haha. I asked the wife if she wanted to tour the White House.....she said she may not be able to keep her comments to her self or her political views in check.....Haha. Good info though thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El Karacho1647545492 Posted January 18, 2011 Report Share Posted January 18, 2011 I asked the wife if she wanted to tour the White House.....she said she may not be able to keep her comments to her self or her political views in check.....Haha. I hope she's not seriously considering skipping a White House visit because of partisanship. That might be the single least American thing I've ever heard. That'd be like skipping the Vietnam Memorial because you don't believe it was a justified conflict. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RC K9 Posted January 18, 2011 Report Share Posted January 18, 2011 Well I will tell you this, Alexandria was pretty sweet. Very neat. Brick buildings and white fences, brick streets, etc. Had some amazing sushi at this little hole in the wall place too. Silver Springs has a LOT of dining options as well. Bring yo gat too. It's like going from Bexley to Columbus. You go from million dollar homes to looking like a bomb exploded once you get on the other side of the bridge. MD and DC is the same. You come to the divid that says welcome to Washington DC and it's another world. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
truckin Posted January 18, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 18, 2011 I hope she's not seriously considering skipping a White House visit because of partisanship. That might be the single least American thing I've ever heard. That'd be like skipping the Vietnam Memorial because you don't believe it was a justified conflict. No not at all, she's just sarcastic when it comes to politics. It's one of those things you must do atleast once in your life. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
truckin Posted January 18, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 18, 2011 Well I will tell you this, Alexandria was pretty sweet. Very neat. Brick buildings and white fences, brick streets, etc. Had some amazing sushi at this little hole in the wall place too. Silver Springs has a LOT of dining options as well. Bring yo gat too. It's like going from Bexley to Columbus. You go from million dollar homes to looking like a bomb exploded once you get on the other side of the bridge. MD and DC is the same. You come to the divid that says welcome to Washington DC and it's another world. Good info..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diamonds Posted January 18, 2011 Report Share Posted January 18, 2011 Stay in Alexandria on the main strip (King street I believe). There is a hotel allegro there as well as a SUPEr nice Holiday inn Select (dont let the name fool you. Also, there is a hotel indigo there. cobblestone streets ,market square, all the little shops, the yacht club. That place is my favorite place in the US. Expedia that shit!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GRN96WS6 Posted January 19, 2011 Report Share Posted January 19, 2011 Lots of interesting people like to ride the metro after dark. I never rode it after dark. I was normally alone when I did take the metro. Alone, 20ish, white woman in a sketchy area is a bad combo. I do my best to avoid a potentially bad situation. Smart on your part but it really isn't that bad and I've ridden in the bad areas late at night and I'm just a skinny white boy...lol But with him and his wife and if he knows the bad areas he should be fine after dark....especially considering dark is 5PM or a little after during winter! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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