One day in DC
#2
Join Date: Mar 2003
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If you are into brews, try Cap City near Union Station or downtown (near Chinatown). Food is ok, beer is good.
I would just get in and around the mall area and walk in and out of musuems if you only have one day.
I would just get in and around the mall area and walk in and out of musuems if you only have one day.
#3
Join Date: Jul 2003
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Restaurant on 7th, near the Mall is DC Chophouse, also a microbrewery.
With such limited time, you may just want to visit museums on the mall, you have monuments, sculpture gardens... it will take the entire day!
With such limited time, you may just want to visit museums on the mall, you have monuments, sculpture gardens... it will take the entire day!
#5
Join Date: Nov 2006
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Tourmobile and Olde Town Trolley are the major operators of off-on tourbus service, stopping at all of the major sites. Or Grayline and Open Top offer circuit tours.
DC can be a lot of walking, and you don't have a lot of time. You need to narrow down your interests.
One option--Tour the Capitol, then walk to whichever you like of the Botanical Gardens, Museum of the American Indian, Air and Space Museum, or the National Gallery. Then have lunch in one of the National Gallery eateries (including the cafe in the Sculpture Garden), and continue your visit to whichever you like of the National Archives (get a ticket in advance on-line), Museum of Natural History or the Newseum (the only one of the foregoing with an admission charge). Or have lunch in the Penn Quarter north of the National Gallery (plenty of restaurants to chose from) and then take in the National Portrait Gallery/Museum of American Art, or the National Building Museum or the Spy Museum (admission charge).
Then after dinner get tickets for the nighttime Old Town Trolley tour (Monuments by Moonlight) and you'll see the White House, Jefferson Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, etc.
DC can be a lot of walking, and you don't have a lot of time. You need to narrow down your interests.
One option--Tour the Capitol, then walk to whichever you like of the Botanical Gardens, Museum of the American Indian, Air and Space Museum, or the National Gallery. Then have lunch in one of the National Gallery eateries (including the cafe in the Sculpture Garden), and continue your visit to whichever you like of the National Archives (get a ticket in advance on-line), Museum of Natural History or the Newseum (the only one of the foregoing with an admission charge). Or have lunch in the Penn Quarter north of the National Gallery (plenty of restaurants to chose from) and then take in the National Portrait Gallery/Museum of American Art, or the National Building Museum or the Spy Museum (admission charge).
Then after dinner get tickets for the nighttime Old Town Trolley tour (Monuments by Moonlight) and you'll see the White House, Jefferson Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, etc.
#6
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Join Date: Aug 2005
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I appreciate the tips. Good suggestions DancingBear - depending on time perhaps we will save the monument tour for night; I've heard it's awesome.
Also, what about parking? I've heard we could park in Union Station..
Also, what about parking? I've heard we could park in Union Station..
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#8
Join Date: Aug 2004
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Re. parking: if you'll be there on a Sunday, go for parking on the street. It will take some time to find, but meters are off, so it's worth it. You may want to consider metered street parking anyway, or a lot downtown that is closer to the museums on the Mall. I find that Union Station can be a real hike, if you are going anywhere beyond the Capitol.
If you go to the District Chophouse (which I agree is a good rec) or are in the Penn Quarter, be sure to pop into the National Portrait Gallery and American Art Museum (tip: start on the 3rd floor). It's arguably the best museum in a town full of great museums.
Enjoy!
If you go to the District Chophouse (which I agree is a good rec) or are in the Penn Quarter, be sure to pop into the National Portrait Gallery and American Art Museum (tip: start on the 3rd floor). It's arguably the best museum in a town full of great museums.
Enjoy!
#9
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Great tips - I really appreciate it! We will be there this Saturday - with the parking we're just looking for something that's going to be easy (even if it's $25/day) and close to where the tour will pick us up.
In regards to museums - I've heard many museums are free - is this correct? Since we only have one day we're just trying to focus on the the main sites via a tour; do you think we would have time for museums, or would it be too much?
In regards to museums - I've heard many museums are free - is this correct? Since we only have one day we're just trying to focus on the the main sites via a tour; do you think we would have time for museums, or would it be too much?
#11
Join Date: Mar 2003
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Have to disagree with the District Chophouse. I have eatern there twice and the food is not very good, overrated. They do not have a very good Happy Hour if you are into that.
Just parking down near the mall (should be able to find free parking on the street sat.), you should be able to walk to and see plenty in one day.
Links:
http://www.nps.gov/nama/
http://home.nps.gov/applications/par...map_final2.pdf
http://www.washington-landmarks.com/...onal_mall.html
Good beer & Happy Hours
http://www.capcitybrew.com/locations.php
http://olddominionbrewhouse.com/
Just parking down near the mall (should be able to find free parking on the street sat.), you should be able to walk to and see plenty in one day.
Links:
http://www.nps.gov/nama/
http://home.nps.gov/applications/par...map_final2.pdf
http://www.washington-landmarks.com/...onal_mall.html
Good beer & Happy Hours
http://www.capcitybrew.com/locations.php
http://olddominionbrewhouse.com/
#13
Join Date: Nov 2006
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The only museums that I mentioned that charge admissions are the Newseum and the Spy Museum. Most of the attractions around the Mall are free, including all of the Smithsonian Museums.
You'll want to get timed tickets ahead of time (on the web) if you are interested in the National Archives. Holocaust Museum (although I'd save that for another trip), and going up the Washington Monument. But you can easily fill your time without these.
You'll want to get timed tickets ahead of time (on the web) if you are interested in the National Archives. Holocaust Museum (although I'd save that for another trip), and going up the Washington Monument. But you can easily fill your time without these.