DC: Short Trip! Help me plan (1 Viewer)

[Chadstroma]

Hey everyone,

I am heading to DC. The trip is short just from the 6th to the 9th. It is an award trip with work so some of the time is filled with functions. So, I need help to fill in the holes of the best things to do for the little time I have. I have never been to DC (on of the few significant US cities I have not).

I fly in Monday morning. The day is fairly open. Then at night there is a "Monument by Moonlight Tour"

Tuesday is our activity day and I will be doing the "Library of Congress and US Capital Tour"

Wed day seems pretty open with a "National Mall Shuttle" (I assume this is just easy transportation for us to the center of 'stuff'). Wed night is full of award ceremonies etc.

Thursday I fly out in the evening and the whole day is pretty much open.

I will be staying at the Renaissance Washington, DC Downtown Hotel if that helps. I am a history nerd so I am a little excited about this trip in ways I have not with others. So, give me what you got to make the most of my trip! Thanks for the help!

 

[TobiasFunke]

You already nailed my first recommendation to visitors with the Monuments by Moonlight tour. The monuments are cool during the day but they're 10x better at night with the lights on and the junior high tours gone. Library of Congress/Capitol is always worthwhile- let me know if you want to do a docent-guided tour or something (I work right there and a family friend works as a docent on the LOC tour), or if you just want some restaurant recommendations in or near the Hill complex.

One thing I don't see mentioned is getting away from the Mall/downtown tourist area and checking out some DC neighborhoods for more of a local feel. If that's the kind of thing that interests you, maybe hop on the Metro green line (your hotel is two blocks from a stop) and go a couple stops north to the U street exit, then head west along U for some food and shopping. Ben's Chili Bowl is there, a famous spot that all the tourists hit up, but there's also some local favorites in that area like Oohs and Aahs soul food and some Ethiopian joints. DC has a huge Ethiopian immigrant community so their food has become sort of like DC's "local" cuisine. I can make some recommendations if you like. There's also some bars and shopping in that area if you want to spend some time doing that kind of stuff.

If you're a baseball fan, or even if you're not, you might want to think about a Nats-Mets game. You arrive on Opening Day, which you should skip, it'll be an expensive cluster####. There is a night game on Wednesday, which is an option. But on your last day here there's a day game starting at 1 PM. Crowd should be smaller, but more importantly the tentative pitching matchup that day is Stephen Strasburg vs Matt Harvey, pretty much as good as it gets. Also the stadium is on the green line, which as I said passes right near your hotel.

 

[nittanylion]

Hi Chad. Big fan. Flying solo or family with you? Kids? What kind of dining experiences are you looking for?

 

[Don Quixote]

A fellow history nerd, I see... lots of that in DC. You can check out the Museum of American History -- lots of good stuff there, such as Star-Spangled Banner, the Presidents' exhibit, and the carriage that Lincoln rode to Ford's Theatre is currently on display.

You are staying right by Ford's Theatre, which has a pretty cool exhibit going on for the 150th of Lincoln's assassination, with a collection of items that was in his box that night.

National Portrait Gallery is also not far from you. That might be my favorite museum in DC. They have an exhibit with all of the Presidential portraits.

I could add some more stuff, but probably not enough time for you to get to on your trip (such as Mount Vernon, Woodrow Wilson's house, and Lincoln's summer cottage).

 

[Mr. Ected]

We just did a thread about this. Since search function doesn't work, here you go!

 

[nittanylion]

Your hotel is a short walk from one of the best and most under the radar chef - driven restaurants 8 the entire DC metro area, Corduroy, and it's more casual sibling Baby Wale. The Chef, Tom Power is one of the most gifted culinary minds I know:

http://www.corduroydc.com/index.html

I'll have more later. Hate posting from phone. Acadiana and Brasserie Beck are very worth your time and money as well, if you want to stay close to the Renaissance.

 

[Apple Jack]

Air & Space. Accept no substitutes.

 

[Chadstroma]

Hi Chad. Big fan. Flying solo or family with you? Kids? What kind of dining experiences are you looking for?

This is a solo trip. Basically burning the free ride my wife would have had. Sadly the logistics of taking the munchkins did not work out being that there are large chunks of the day/night that are job related functions and do not allow children. We did not want to have our kids in childcare for that time. Then the logistics of leaving the kids behind here did not work out either.

On the plus side that allows me the freedom to move around quickly and spend time on what I want to see and not have any other considerations.

Food wise- I am looking for good food! Not a fan of fish or offal. If I had the choice between a world famous dive vs a 3 star Michelin, the dive would prob win out most times though I would do the Michelin place too.

 

[Jack White]

Make sure to sit in Lincoln's lap. Legend has it he was sculptured with a massive boner.

 

[Chadstroma]

A fellow history nerd, I see... lots of that in DC. You can check out the Museum of American History -- lots of good stuff there, such as Star-Spangled Banner, the Presidents' exhibit, and the carriage that Lincoln rode to Ford's Theatre is currently on display.

You are staying right by Ford's Theatre, which has a pretty cool exhibit going on for the 150th of Lincoln's assassination, with a collection of items that was in his box that night.

National Portrait Gallery is also not far from you. That might be my favorite museum in DC. They have an exhibit with all of the Presidential portraits.

I could add some more stuff, but probably not enough time for you to get to on your trip (such as Mount Vernon, Woodrow Wilson's house, and Lincoln's summer cottage).

Nice!

I will definetly hit that up. "right by" meaning walking walking distance?

 

[Chadstroma]

Your hotel is a short walk from one of the best and most under the radar chef - driven restaurants 8 the entire DC metro area, Corduroy, and it's more casual sibling Baby Wale. The Chef, Tom Power is one of the most gifted culinary minds I know:

http://www.corduroydc.com/index.html

I'll have more later. Hate posting from phone. Acadiana and Brasserie Beck are very worth your time and money as well, if you want to stay close to the Renaissance.

Acadiana and Brasserie Beck other restaurants?

 

[Chadstroma]

Air & Space. Accept no substitutes.

Yea, that is a must for me. Always been an air nerd. I did not realize the Smithsonian is a bunch of different musuems scattered all over DC. Trying to figure out if I should hit up others as well.

 

[Don Quixote]

A fellow history nerd, I see... lots of that in DC. You can check out the Museum of American History -- lots of good stuff there, such as Star-Spangled Banner, the Presidents' exhibit, and the carriage that Lincoln rode to Ford's Theatre is currently on display.

You are staying right by Ford's Theatre, which has a pretty cool exhibit going on for the 150th of Lincoln's assassination, with a collection of items that was in his box that night.

National Portrait Gallery is also not far from you. That might be my favorite museum in DC. They have an exhibit with all of the Presidential portraits.

I could add some more stuff, but probably not enough time for you to get to on your trip (such as Mount Vernon, Woodrow Wilson's house, and Lincoln's summer cottage).

Nice!I will definetly hit that up. "right by" meaning walking walking distance?

Yep. That is walking distance. Portrait Gallery is too.

 

[Apple Jack]

Air & Space. Accept no substitutes.

Yea, that is a must for me. Always been an air nerd. I did not realize the Smithsonian is a bunch of different musuems scattered all over DC. Trying to figure out if I should hit up others as well.

Most of it is right there on the Mall, although as you've probably seen there is a second Air & Space installation a half hour outside the city where Discovery and an SR-71 are. But there is more than enough to keep you entertained without leaving the Mall. I would prioritize A&S>American History>Art>Archives>Natural History. If you want to see the Charters at Archives (DOI, Constitution, Bill of Rights) get a reservation or don't even bother. The line is always ridiculous and a huge waste of valuable time.

There are a couple sculpture gardens that are cool to cruise through en route from one place to the next. One is the Hirshhorn next to A&S and the other is part of Art, between Art and Natural History. Same goes for the Botanical Garden off the southwest corner of the Capitol. Cool, quick, convenient walkthroughs.

 

[njherdfan]

Yep. I'll add another vote for Acadiana; it's Cajun food, and it's amazing.

 

[Chadstroma]

Air & Space. Accept no substitutes.

Yea, that is a must for me. Always been an air nerd. I did not realize the Smithsonian is a bunch of different musuems scattered all over DC. Trying to figure out if I should hit up others as well.

Most of it is right there on the Mall, although as you've probably seen there is a second Air & Space installation a half hour outside the city where Discovery and an SR-71 are. But there is more than enough to keep you entertained without leaving the Mall. I would prioritize A&S>American History>Art>Archives>Natural History. If you want to see the Charters at Archives (DOI, Constitution, Bill of Rights) get a reservation or don't even bother. The line is always ridiculous and a huge waste of valuable time.

There are a couple sculpture gardens that are cool to cruise through en route from one place to the next. One is the Hirshhorn next to A&S and the other is part of Art, between Art and Natural History. Same goes for the Botanical Garden off the southwest corner of the Capitol. Cool, quick, convenient walkthroughs.

I am guessing since I am going this week it would be too late to put in a reservation for the archives?

 

[Chadstroma]

Yep. I'll add another vote for Acadiana; it's Cajun food, and it's amazing.

I am not that familar with cajun but I like spicy so I am game. Just as long as it is not fish.

 

[Apple Jack]

I am guessing since I am going this week it would be too late to put in a reservation for the archives?

Not sure. Check the website. Now that I think aobut it there are probably spring break groups still to contend with so it might be tough.

ETA: Looks like sold out all week, with a few available for Saturday.

http://www.recreation.gov/tourDetails.do?contractCode=NRSO&tourId=292085&tourDate=Sat%20Apr%2011%202015&cat=0&numberOfTicketsSearched=1&nextAvail=P

 

[Mr. Ected]

Have a cab drop you at Wisconsin and M in Georgetown. Lots of places to eat around there. You could also take the Metro to Foggy Bottom/GWU and walk west up M Street into Georgetown.