- My Forums
- Tiger Rant
- LSU Recruiting
- SEC Rant
- Saints Talk
- Pelicans Talk
- More Sports Board
- Fantasy Sports
- Golf Board
- Soccer Board
- O-T Lounge
- Tech Board
- Home/Garden Board
- Outdoor Board
- Health/Fitness Board
- Movie/TV Board
- Book Board
- Music Board
- Political Talk
- Money Talk
- Fark Board
- Gaming Board
- Travel Board
- Food/Drink Board
- Ticket Exchange
- TD Help Board
Customize My Forums- View All Forums
- Show Left Links
- Topic Sort Options
- Trending Topics
- Recent Topics
- Active Topics
Started By
Message
Washington DC in April 2020
Posted on 9/22/19 at 1:05 am
Posted on 9/22/19 at 1:05 am
My wife and I are starting to plan a trip, but I had to come get the experts advice here before do anything concrete. I’m a huge history buff, and LOVE my country and have never been.
Where to stay?
What to eat?
What to do?
Thanks in advance gents!
Where to stay?
What to eat?
What to do?
Thanks in advance gents!
11
Posted on 9/22/19 at 6:25 am to bayoumuscle21
To do:
- White House (guided or just look from the fence)
- Capitol building (guided or just walk up the steps and check it out)
- Smithsonian (probably need a whole day here... maybe 2.)
- Lincoln Memorial / Korean War Memorial / Washington Monument
- Vietnam Memorial
- Arlington National Cemetery (try to make the changing of the guard)
- Boat cruise down the Patomac
- Jefferson Memorial (maybe)
- Spy Museum (very cool for kids, but adults like it too).
- Supreme Court (maybe)
Where to stay:
- Really anywhere around the smithsonian or the white noise/ capitol will be fine.
Where to eat:
- 14th street has become the restaurant/entertainment Mecca of DC. But you find plenty of places to just walk in and eat during the day
- White House (guided or just look from the fence)
- Capitol building (guided or just walk up the steps and check it out)
- Smithsonian (probably need a whole day here... maybe 2.)
- Lincoln Memorial / Korean War Memorial / Washington Monument
- Vietnam Memorial
- Arlington National Cemetery (try to make the changing of the guard)
- Boat cruise down the Patomac
- Jefferson Memorial (maybe)
- Spy Museum (very cool for kids, but adults like it too).
- Supreme Court (maybe)
Where to stay:
- Really anywhere around the smithsonian or the white noise/ capitol will be fine.
Where to eat:
- 14th street has become the restaurant/entertainment Mecca of DC. But you find plenty of places to just walk in and eat during the day
Posted on 9/22/19 at 7:52 am to bayoumuscle21
How many nights/days do you plan to be there?
Are you driving or flying?
Are you willing to use the public transportation; light rail primarily?
Are you driving or flying?
Are you willing to use the public transportation; light rail primarily?
Posted on 9/22/19 at 8:36 am to bayoumuscle21
Contact your congressman and get a tour scheduled thru their office.
Posted on 9/22/19 at 10:47 am to bayoumuscle21
I've been to DC several times. Be ready to walk! These are a couple of things that I have really enjoyed.
- Arlington Cemetery- changing of the guard. They also have a get on get off tour that was pretty good.
- Night tour of the monuments. Find a company that does night tours- Chariots for Hire was one I used. I like this more than anything I did in DC. They have a guide and you get to off the bus and see the monuments. Plus if there is one you really like you can go back and see it the next day.
- Mt. Vernon is good too. George Washington is an incredible human being.
- Arlington Cemetery- changing of the guard. They also have a get on get off tour that was pretty good.
- Night tour of the monuments. Find a company that does night tours- Chariots for Hire was one I used. I like this more than anything I did in DC. They have a guide and you get to off the bus and see the monuments. Plus if there is one you really like you can go back and see it the next day.
- Mt. Vernon is good too. George Washington is an incredible human being.
This post was edited on 9/22/19 at 10:48 am
Posted on 9/22/19 at 12:07 pm to bayoumuscle21
Stay in the Penn Quarter area. Easy walk to major sites and lots of restaurants from which to choose.
Eat: depends on your touring/visiting schedule. Figure out where you’ll be during mealtimes and we can make recs based on neighborhood.
Do: all the major things, if you’ve never been before. Definitely tour the Capitol, visit the National Archives to see the Constitution, all of the monuments on the Mall and the museums as well. Anyone who loves history will never run out of things to see/do in DC. Look up the route and timetable of the Circulator bus route; it loops around the Mall and major sites, and it can save you miles of walking.
Agree that Mt Vernon is worth the short side trip.
Eat: depends on your touring/visiting schedule. Figure out where you’ll be during mealtimes and we can make recs based on neighborhood.
Do: all the major things, if you’ve never been before. Definitely tour the Capitol, visit the National Archives to see the Constitution, all of the monuments on the Mall and the museums as well. Anyone who loves history will never run out of things to see/do in DC. Look up the route and timetable of the Circulator bus route; it loops around the Mall and major sites, and it can save you miles of walking.
Agree that Mt Vernon is worth the short side trip.
Posted on 9/22/19 at 12:39 pm to bayoumuscle21
Have a drink at POV in the W Hotel. It’s a rooftop bar with with great views of the Whitehouse which is practically across the street.
Posted on 9/22/19 at 7:59 pm to chuckitdeep
quote:
Mt. Vernon is good too. George Washington is an incredible human being.
He really was. I’ve read a ton of books about the man. Presidents are always egotistical, narcissistic types of individuals. And they kind of have to be to a point. I say that because I honestly believe Washington was the only one who didn’t want it. He did it out of service because he was asked. He even changed his stance on slavery due to the progressive nature of his friend John Adams later in life.
Posted on 9/22/19 at 8:03 pm to hungryone
quote:
Do: all the major things, if you’ve never been before. Definitely tour the Capitol, visit the National Archives to see the Constitution, all of the monuments on the Mall and the museums as well. Anyone who loves history will never run out of things to see/do in DC.
This is kind of my problem. I think we are going for 4 days or so, but I have always been fond of history. I have read a ton of American History and my wife has pretty much made me start planning this trip. She knows my love of country and has been before, hence the pressure (with love). Lol
So I think I will just have to make a plan on what I can see this trip and go back in a few years to see what I haven’t yet.
Posted on 9/22/19 at 10:40 pm to bayoumuscle21
Holocaust Museum. Get tickets online ($1 each) months before you go.
Posted on 9/23/19 at 2:43 am to bayoumuscle21
Just went in July
-Monuments at Night
-Holocaust Museum (helps to get ticket the night before)
-African American History Museum (helps to get ticket night before. Have to set time that you go)
-Air and Space Museum
-Museum of Natural Science
-Spy Museum (very very cool but not free)
-Capitol Building
-Library of Congress
-Walk through Georgetown
-Arlington National Cemetery and the changing of the guard
-Marine Sunset parade at the Lincoln Memorial on Tuesday evenings (Drum and Bugle corps and Silent Drill)
Smithsonians are all awesome and you really dictate how long you want to be at each because you could easily spend a whole day at each if you really wanted.
I stayed at a Hostel since I went by myself so don't recommend that.
-Monuments at Night
-Holocaust Museum (helps to get ticket the night before)
-African American History Museum (helps to get ticket night before. Have to set time that you go)
-Air and Space Museum
-Museum of Natural Science
-Spy Museum (very very cool but not free)
-Capitol Building
-Library of Congress
-Walk through Georgetown
-Arlington National Cemetery and the changing of the guard
-Marine Sunset parade at the Lincoln Memorial on Tuesday evenings (Drum and Bugle corps and Silent Drill)
Smithsonians are all awesome and you really dictate how long you want to be at each because you could easily spend a whole day at each if you really wanted.
I stayed at a Hostel since I went by myself so don't recommend that.
Posted on 9/23/19 at 7:26 am to bayoumuscle21
quote:
I think we are going for 4 days or so
You can see a lot in 4 days. We have been 4 different times, the most recently this past April, and have stayed on the east, west, and south sides of town and taken the Metro into the mall area. Once we stayed near the White House.
Regardless, the Metro rail line is a good way to save you a lot of walking. There are at lest 5 stops in the mall area; Smithsonian, Gallery Place/Chinatown, Metro Center, Archives, and L'Enfant Plaza.
Five Best Metro Stops for Sightseeing in DC
There are also busses and I think there is circulator bus but I have not used those.
If you are going for the Cherry Blossoms next April just be aware that it will be very crowded. You can drive around without too much trouble but parking places are hard to find. We went to see the Cherry trees this April and it was a beautiful spring day when we got there and kina cold and rainy the next day.
Posted on 9/23/19 at 3:37 pm to bayoumuscle21
When in April? If it's the first half of the month, then you'll be here for the Cherry Blossom Festival and you should start booking everything now and be prepared for major crowds everywhere you go.
If you come during the second half of the month, you'll miss the cherry blossoms, but the weather will be perfect and there will be fewer crowds. So if your goal is to see history-related 'things', then I would recommend coming after April 15-ish.
If you come during the second half of the month, you'll miss the cherry blossoms, but the weather will be perfect and there will be fewer crowds. So if your goal is to see history-related 'things', then I would recommend coming after April 15-ish.
Posted on 9/24/19 at 9:31 am to lsu1980
quote:
Holocaust Museum
THIS. I slotted a half day to tour this museum and it simply was not enough time. Especially if you are a WWII enthusiast.
I visited all of the museums and the capital building, even had the opportunity to tour the White House (it is a lot smaller than you'd think) and the Holocaust Museum was the most impactful part of my trip to DC.
Posted on 9/25/19 at 5:01 pm to tigernurse
Totally agree. There was a survivor there giving tours/personal recollections and I listened to him for hours. Couldn't leave.
Posted on 9/25/19 at 5:25 pm to bayoumuscle21
I liked the tips in the Trip Hacks DC videos on YouTube.
One hotel that I saw that stood out to me as a good location was Hotel Harrington but with bike shares and good public transportation, it’s hard to pick a bad spot. Be sure to understand how the Circulator bus works and use it!
Ford’s Theatre was fun and the lady who talks about the assassination appeared to believe that she really was from the 1860’s. The breakfast restaurant across the street, Lincoln’s Waffles, was a fun dive-like cafe that my kids liked. We still talk about how filthy the bathroom was (boys are amused by the strangest things).
Go to the observation deck of the Old Post Office.
Download the Citymapper app.
Buy tickets ahead of time for everything you can.
One hotel that I saw that stood out to me as a good location was Hotel Harrington but with bike shares and good public transportation, it’s hard to pick a bad spot. Be sure to understand how the Circulator bus works and use it!
Ford’s Theatre was fun and the lady who talks about the assassination appeared to believe that she really was from the 1860’s. The breakfast restaurant across the street, Lincoln’s Waffles, was a fun dive-like cafe that my kids liked. We still talk about how filthy the bathroom was (boys are amused by the strangest things).
Go to the observation deck of the Old Post Office.
Download the Citymapper app.
Buy tickets ahead of time for everything you can.
Posted on 9/26/19 at 7:15 pm to bayoumuscle21
We went for a work trip this summer, so didn’t have a ton of free time, but got to hit the high points.
We did a White House tour (you have to apply I think 3 months in advance) and also scheduled a capital tour thru our congressman. Both were great to see, but I’d chose capitol over White House if I could only pick one. The intern who guided us at the capitol was just more in-depth than the self guided White House tour.
We stayed at the Mayflower for our conference. It was average. Small rooms.
The Hay Adams has a cool bar across the street from the White House, as well as the rooftop at the W as mentioned above.
We did a White House tour (you have to apply I think 3 months in advance) and also scheduled a capital tour thru our congressman. Both were great to see, but I’d chose capitol over White House if I could only pick one. The intern who guided us at the capitol was just more in-depth than the self guided White House tour.
We stayed at the Mayflower for our conference. It was average. Small rooms.
The Hay Adams has a cool bar across the street from the White House, as well as the rooftop at the W as mentioned above.
Page 1 of 1
Popular
Back to top
Follow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News