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OT- Washington D.C. Vacation - Ideas?

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Happy D
Admiral

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921 Posts

Initially Posted - 05/13/2010 : 18:37:48

This is off topic, but we will be doing Washington D.C. this year for vacation. We are looking at two weeks in June. I have tons of Priority Club points so we will be staying at Holiday Inn hotels. Anybody have good ideas about how to get around the city the best/easiest way? Any suggestions?
I should point out that we will be driving there and was planning on staying out of the city and taking a bus to the city each day.

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Edited by - Happy D on 05/13/2010 18:42:59

mhartong
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Response Posted - 05/13/2010 : 19:27:06

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Happy D
 This is off topic, but we will be doing Washington D.C. this year for vacation. We are looking at two weeks in June. I have tons of Priority Club points so we will be staying at Holiday Inn hotels. Anybody have good ideas about how to get around the city the best/easiest way? Any suggestions?
I should point out that we will be driving there and was planning on staying out of the city and taking a bus to the city each day.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

I would suggest that the best way is to take the METRO into the city. You can get to virtually all of the usual tourist spots via the METRO. Much quicker than bus, very easy to use, and relatively cheap.

All of the suburban stations have parking ($4.50 / day ). You can get a day pass for the METRO One Day Pass for $8.30 (Pass is valid for one day of unlimited Metrorail travel on weekdays after 9:30 a.m. or all day on Saturdays, Sundays, and some federal holidays (unlimited Metrorail travel begins after 9:30 a.m. on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents Day, Columbus Day, and Veterans Day). Pass expires at the end of the operating day: 3 a.m. on weekends, midnight on weeknights) or a 7-Day Fast Pass for $40.50 (Pass is valid for seven consecutive days of unlimited Metrorail travel) Check http://www.wmata.com for schedule and trip planner.

Once in the city, most places not on METRO can be reached via the Circulator Bus Service, which consists of fixed routes througout the Metropolitan Area.

Mark

Edited by - mhartong on 05/13/2010 19:38:51

OLarryR
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Response Posted - 05/13/2010 : 21:08:09

There are many things to see and do in DC. Just depends on what you all want to do. The Smithsonian museums, almost all are free. Everyone usually sees the Washington monument, Vietnam memorial, Jefferson Memorial, Air & Space Museum, Art and the American History Museum.

But there are other places to also consider. One is the American Indian Museum which is also located on the Mall. Smaller but interesting museums are the US Postal Museum which is located adjacent to Union Station and the Arts & Industries Museum on the south side of the Mall. Then there is the Holocaust Museum, Spy Museum (but costs a bunch) and etc, etc. One that is oftentimes overlooked is the Library Of Congress - The history of how this was built and then beautifully decorated on the interior by about 50 american artists and then exactly what they keep there is an interesting story.

DC Zoo is free but they charge for parking. They have Duck Tours on the Potomac, Segway tours on the DC Streets and you could take in a baseball game at the new Nationals Stadium.

you can find parking in DC if you get in there early on the weekends. Park a few streets south of the Mall. Otherwise, on the weekdays, all the workers will already be in those parking spots. Then metro is the easiest way to get around.

Edited by - OLarryR on 05/13/2010 21:11:56

OJ
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Response Posted - 05/14/2010 : 02:58:48

Use the Metro

Take a side trip east to Annapolis

Take a day trip further east to St. Michaels

Be sure to have dinner here (reservations required) it's an experience in itself:

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Edited by - OJ on 05/16/2010 08:35:14

limey156
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Response Posted - 05/14/2010 : 08:20:01

depending how far out of the city you stay you could also take the MARC train in to union station, and get the metro from there. Metro is the best way to roam the city, for sure, as the others mentioned. there are a lot of nice concert venues around DC you could check into the shows going on when you are here, bet you would find something nice.

Edited by - on

Tom Gauntt
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Response Posted - 05/14/2010 : 19:11:42

Happy,

First of all, what do you want to do? Do those things. I've been very lucky to live in DC (Capitol Hill and Georgetown) and nearby (Annapolis) for many years. My lovely bride is a DC girl. There are many things you do NOT want to miss and many others that you'd love to see. It's impossible to do it all, so decide what you really want to do. One of the things I really get a kick from is giving tours of DC. My personal favroties? (In no particular order):

1. Double Decker bus tour - I really shy away from touristy things, but the double decker tour buses are a GREAT way to see the city, and you can get off/on all day at various stops. If you want to see the Jefferson Memorial, this is perhaps the best way. A truly fabulous way to see DC. http://www.dctours.us/?event=offer.detail&offerId=11681&startDate=05/01/2010&endDate=05/31/2010

2. The Old Post Office Pavilion - North of the Mall at Federal Triangle on Pennsylvania and 12th NW. The old post office has been turned into a food court and office buildings. Take the family there around lunch or dinner for and inexpensive food court surprise then take them to the top of the old post office bell tower! Best view of DC save the Washington Monutment, but alas no lines! http://www.nps.gov/opot/index.htm

3. Union Station - great place to catch the Metro or a train or a movie or a meal or go shopping! A magnificent edifice!http://www.unionstationdc.com/default.aspx Close to the Capitol and a great Irish Pub http://www.dublinerdc.com/

4. Night tour of the monuments - The monuments are PACKED during the day... go at night. I think it's more spectacular after sunset.

5. USMC Silent Drill Team Sunset Parade - at the Iwo Jima Memorial. Park at Arlington Cemetery and catch the free shuttle bus to Iwo Jima (or take the Metro BLUE Line to Arlington).

6. The National Cathederal - Breathtaking. http://www.nationalcathedral.org/visit/

7. The Mall - What to say?

8. Boat ride to Mt. Vernon - I still get a kick out of seeing Mt. Vernon!http://www.potomacriverboatco.com/sightseeing-tours.php

9. Shopping and dining in Georgetown.

Shoot me a note if you have any particular questions. I'd love to help.

Edited by - on

jerlim
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Response Posted - 05/14/2010 : 19:32:44

2 weeks is a great amount of time to spend...the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is not be missed (Arlington Cemetery), of course the WWII Memorial (particularly at night, it's on the Mall, can't miss it at the foot of the reflecting pool), my favorite is the Air and Space (naturally), but w/ that much time, it's worth a trip to the new wing at Dulles Airport - The Udvar Hassey pavilion has larger equipment including the Enola Gay, a shuttle and a Concord...the afternoons can get pretty oppressive in terms of lines and humidity

Edited by - on

Leon Sisson
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Response Posted - 05/16/2010 : 21:35:14

Also authentic international cuisine -- a very multicultural city. As others said, way more than 2 weeks of things to experience.

An interesting hiking opportunity is the C&O Canal tow path. Up towards Seven Locks in Maryland, I think there's a C&O barge canal museum, and a foot path to a scenic overlook of Great Falls. My memory of all that is vague and out of date, so if it sounds interesting, get current details.

A little farther up the Potomac River, there's a historic village sort of clinging to the rocky point where two rivers meet. Harper's Ferry maybe? Historically significant to the start of the Civil War, site of a federal armory temporarily seized by a slave revolt? Very beautiful natural scenery, quite a change from the marble monuments downtown.

I also second the suggestion of a detour to Annapolis and the Bay. Along the old waterfront in Annapolis there are some stunning sailboats to drool over.

Edited by - on

aeckhart
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Response Posted - 05/17/2010 : 09:51:26

Been there, done that....lots.

Don't drive whatever you do. It's a mad house with lots of one way streets and nutty drivers.

You can see all the good stuff in a week or less. Although a truly interested person could spend weeks in the Museum of Natural History. There's a huge amount outside DC. Baltimore is only a hop and skip away....Baltimore harbor is supposed to great to see - USS Constitution.

There are Civil War, and Revolutionary War, memorials all over the place, especially on the Virginia side of the Potomac - Gettysburg, Antietem are an hour north. Bull Run is just across the river.

Hve a great vacation, however it pans out. I am spending mine with my grandchildren at Disney World.

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jerlim
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Response Posted - 05/17/2010 : 20:26:17

The USS Constitution (Old Ironsides) is in Boston Harbor...

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Happy D
Admiral

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Response Posted - 05/19/2010 : 16:38:46

thanks to everyone for the information. Very much appreciated.
We ended up getting reservations down town on C street. We have reservations for 9 nights, for free I might add. I used my Holiday Inn Priority Club points. I stack up a lot of points traveling for a living so the room is free. Pretty good deal.

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