McGarnicle
Footballguy
My favorites were the White House tour, Lincoln Memorial, WWII Memorial, and the Smithsonian.
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Visiting Washington DC - Thoughts and tips (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter TheIronSheik
- Start date
McGarnicle
Footballguy
Also I did the US Mint tour a long time ago. That was awesome, and kids would especially like it. And it's free of charge.
MattFancy
Footballguy
Weekday will have a ton of work traffic, but probably less tourits. Weekend will have less traffic, but more tourists.
I've done plenty of day trips to DC on the weekend and it hasn't been too terrible.
Ramsay Hunt Experience
Footballguy
It's summer. The city will be lousy with tourists no matter what.
Apple Jack
Footballguy
There is often free parking to be had on the street just northwest of the lincoln memorial. Whatever that road is between 23rd and mem bridge. I almost always am able to park there and it's just a few hundred yards from one of your must-sees.
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dgreen
Footballguy
Usually the Air and Space and Natural History Museums will be really crowded. A couple other museums might be, too. Inside the Lincoln Memorial is also likely to have big crowds. However, the nice thing about The Mall is that it is such a large, open area that you can have tons of people there without it feeling too crowded. There's plenty of space to spread out and not have to be shoulder to shoulder with some random school group all wearing the same neon color t-shirts.
fatguyinalittlecoat
Footballguy
Bureau of Engraving is OK and is only a few blocks from the mall, but he would need to get there at like 8:00 in the morning to pick up the free tickets for later in the day. Unless he could get a magnanimous FBG to go do that for him.I've never been to Ford's Theater even though I work right next to it, but it is relatively close to the mall and I believe that it is also free. Just an idea if IronShiek is interested.McGarnicle said:
Apple Jack
Footballguy
And the Lincoln is the best sight to see in DC, IMO. The goosebumps are mighty standing in there reading the Gettysburg address.
And if you're up for it, Arlington Cemetery will blow you away.
And if you're up for it, Arlington Cemetery will blow you away.
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dgreen
Footballguy
Several spots, including the Bureau of Engraving and Ford's Theater, offer $1.50 tickets you can buy online to avoid waiting in line (and likely missing out) for free tickets. I know the Archives and Washington Monument also do this. Holocaust might because I know they require you to have a timed ticket (free at the door) in the Summer since they get big crowds.Bureau of Engraving is OK and is only a few blocks from the mall, but he would need to get there at like 8:00 in the morning to pick up the free tickets for later in the day. Unless he could get a magnanimous FBG to go do that for him.I've never been to Ford's Theater even though I work right next to it, but it is relatively close to the mall and I believe that it is also free. Just an idea if IronShiek is interested.McGarnicle said:
fatguyinalittlecoat
Footballguy
I don't think that option is available for Bureau of Engraving, or at least I don't think it was when I took my kids a few months ago. Honestly I don't think that tour is really worth it anyway.
dgreen
Footballguy
Hmm, I just knew I had seen it before, but maybe not. Don't see anything online about it. Agree that it may not be worth it, especially for someone who is just here for a day and hasn't seen any of the main sites. I think I've only been once, on a school field trip.
dgreen
Footballguy
Yeah, that connection between the Lincoln and Rock Creek Parkway is another spot. And, now that I think about it, isn't all street parking (even meters) free on Sundays? I think they now charge on Saturdays, but Sundays and holidays are free?
TheIronSheik
SUPER ELITE UPPER TIER
Appreciate all of the advice, guys! As usual, you guys don't disappoint! 
Mr. Ected
Footballguy
Got an email today from a place like Groupon (CertifiKid) that had a deal for $21.95 for an adult and a kid (Reg. $36.90 - 41% off) for the Spy Museum.Appreciate all of the advice, guys! As usual, you guys don't disappoint!
Apple Jack
Footballguy
The Spy Museum was surprisingly cool. The first five minutes or so had me worried that it was primarily kid-oriented. Not the case at all.
TheIronSheik
SUPER ELITE UPPER TIER
So all the museums are free except all the ones people here have suggested? Thanks a lot, Obama. 
McGarnicle
Footballguy
The Smithsonian is the best of the bunch and it's free.So all the museums are free except all the ones people here have suggested? Thanks a lot, Obama.
Sheik -
We just got back from DC for the 4th of July. I would say the week days are less crowded and week ends are more crowded. We stayed in Arlington(Rosslyn) and then took the Metro to where we wanted to go.
Day 1 we did National Zoo and Air and Space Musuem.
Day 2 - we did a Capital Tour, Washington Monument(get a ticket for a time reservation) and then took a Private Tour of the monuments with a tour guide. He was awesome. They picked us up at our hotel and then drove us everywhere. Very good experience. I can get you the number of the company we went through if you are interested. We did a night tour of the monuments -- it was my wife and my 9 and 7 year old. They really liked it.
Day 3 - We Arlington Cemetary - a few metro stops for us. Then we did the fireworks from Iwo Jima. As a side note - if you are there on a Tuesday the USMC does a parade and the silent drill team puts on a performance at the Iwo Jima Memorial. Pretty bad ### stuff.
Not sure where or if you are planning on staying overnight. I really like Arlington as an area. The Rosslyn Metro was convenient for us to get to from our hotel. Let me know if you want more details.
We just got back from DC for the 4th of July. I would say the week days are less crowded and week ends are more crowded. We stayed in Arlington(Rosslyn) and then took the Metro to where we wanted to go.
Day 1 we did National Zoo and Air and Space Musuem.
Day 2 - we did a Capital Tour, Washington Monument(get a ticket for a time reservation) and then took a Private Tour of the monuments with a tour guide. He was awesome. They picked us up at our hotel and then drove us everywhere. Very good experience. I can get you the number of the company we went through if you are interested. We did a night tour of the monuments -- it was my wife and my 9 and 7 year old. They really liked it.
Day 3 - We Arlington Cemetary - a few metro stops for us. Then we did the fireworks from Iwo Jima. As a side note - if you are there on a Tuesday the USMC does a parade and the silent drill team puts on a performance at the Iwo Jima Memorial. Pretty bad ### stuff.
Not sure where or if you are planning on staying overnight. I really like Arlington as an area. The Rosslyn Metro was convenient for us to get to from our hotel. Let me know if you want more details.
Apple Jack
Footballguy
The Smithsonian goes without saying. If you only have one day, I'd do Air and Space and then whichever sounds more appealing to you among Art, Natural History, and American History. Those three are all in the row on the north side of the Mall. But walking the length of the Mall in both directions and stopping and seeing Vietnam, WWII, FDR, Jefferson, MLK, and Lincoln is going to take some time, so I'd cap it at two.
TheIronSheik
SUPER ELITE UPPER TIER
Thanks. The plan is pretty much to drive down in the morning, get there around 9. And then probably take off around 5. This is one of the reasons I'm thinking the weekend would be best. It's just going to be a day trip, and even then, it's not going to be a FULL day trip.
TheIronSheik
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matttyl
Footballguy
Agreed, and will be doing at least two of them this weekend with first timers to DC. Fully agree on Metro and just simply walking the Mall. In the time you'd spend in line for something, you can easily see 2-3 monuments.The Smithsonian is the best of the bunch and it's free.So all the museums are free except all the ones people here have suggested? Thanks a lot, Obama.
9 to 5 -- that is a jammed up day. I might suggest the private tour. It was about 250.00 for the 4 of us to go on. They can do half day tours which will get you around to all the sites you want to see. Will keep the kids happy because it can minimize the walking part a little bit. Then you can take the rest of the day and go back to do the things that you really want to see in depth.
Apple Jack
Footballguy
A long Fourth of July weekend is always packed downtown, so that's not really a good weekend or even week to measure. Additionally, a lot of tour groups, which usually flood the place on weekdays, don't come that week due to the increased cost of the holiday weekend, increased traffic to and from, and the crowds.
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Apple Jack
Footballguy
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dgreen
Footballguy
About 2 miles from the Lincoln to the Capitol. The White House is a bit of a detour that would add anywhere from 1/2 a mile to a mile of walking depending on whether you want to see it from the North side or just from the South side. The Jefferson Memorial is also a detour from the straight line walk of the Lincoln to the Capitol.
matttyl
Footballguy
fatguyinalittlecoat
Footballguy
He doesn't have to see everything. He lives in Philly. He can come back next month if he wants.
TheIronSheik
SUPER ELITE UPPER TIER
Cool. That's what I figured. We walk in Valley Forge and the loop we walk is 5 miles, so 2 miles up and back (plus being side tracked) should be fine for us.
TheIronSheik
SUPER ELITE UPPER TIER
TheIronSheik
SUPER ELITE UPPER TIER
I wasn't trying to suggest that he had to. Just offering an alternative way to see DC as you can customize your own tour. No big deal.Exactly. BTW, thanks for sticking up for me in this thread.
QuizGuy66
Footballguy
I'll second that with the Rosslyn Metro area. I seem to recall that in the neighborhood of that metro are pieces of the Berlin Wall.
-QG
TheIronSheik
SUPER ELITE UPPER TIER
No offense intended. I appreciate your response. I just said that because fatguy had fended a few questions that were coming my way on how I should visit.I wasn't trying to suggest that he had to. Just offering an alternative way to see DC as you can customize your own tour. No big deal.Exactly. BTW, thanks for sticking up for me in this thread.
QuizGuy66
Footballguy
fatguyinalittlecoat
Footballguy
Mr. Ected
Footballguy
Given one day, I might look into one of the trolley tours to see if they fit into the budget. Hit the highlights and then specifics next trip.
Spanky267
Footballguy
I just got back from a week up there. Sunday the 29th to Saturday the 5th. If you only have a day I would recommend one of the big bus or trolley tours. Will save you a tone of time walking and they go to all the big momuments and attractions. We logged 7 to 10 miles on foot per day. If you plan to visit the Capitol it will take you a good portion of the day. You have to book ahead to tour the White House through your congressman or senator, typically you have to put your request in a month or more ahead of time. We put our request in in March and didnt get our tour day and time until the week before we arrived.
I'd hit the momuments on the National Mall, do a drive by and quick stop at the capitol and WH and maybe sneak in a museum if time permits.
I'd hit the momuments on the National Mall, do a drive by and quick stop at the capitol and WH and maybe sneak in a museum if time permits.
Spanky267
Footballguy
We were at Iwo Jima for the fireworks also. Pretty awesome place and a great vantage point for such an event.
