Thanks to all of you who sent such interesting and helpful suggestions
about visiting Washington, D.C. Apparently quite a few LM_NETTERS will
be in D.C. this summer for the ALA conference, so I received many
requests for a HIT. Below you will find the responses that I have
received so far, and although the compilation is quite long, I loved
every word.
Thanks again for sharing your incredible knowledge.
Lee Ann Marona
Library Media Specialist
Brentwood Elementary School
4820 N. Palafox Street
Pensacola, FL 32505
lmarona@escambia.k12.fl.us
Of course you want to walk on the Mall, first starting
at the Lincoln Memorial. While in that area you can
easily walk to the Vietnam and Korean war memorials.
Don't forget to cross the street from the Vietnam
Memorial to the National Academy of Science and take a
picture of the kids sitting in Einstein's lap in front
of the building! Oh yes, and you can walk to the WWII
memorial as well.
I really love the Botanic Garden conservatory
http://www.usbg.gov/conservatory/index.cfm and the
Freer Gallery. Your kids may prefer the Natural
History Museum--dinosaurs and the Hope Diamond.
And the zoo--gotta see those pandas. The great thing
is that the zoo, the museums, etc. most everything is
free. (just not the parking)
If you have a car, go out to Great Falls, really very
nearby. Go to the Virginia side of the falls, much
nicer.
I went for the first time recently to the FDR
memorial, very interesting and pretty.
Let's see, places to stay--I'm partial to the Ballston
area in Arlington, probably less pricy than DC, and
safer, and there is a shopping mall and indoor ice
rink. And the Metro is right there...
Our favorite places to eat are Lauriol Plaza (Mexican)
in DC--go there for lunch, at night it becomes a
popular drinking place and is PACKED. We like Thai
food, there seems to be a restaurant on every corner,
don't know if that's true where you are. If you will
have a car with you, one of the best ones is Crystal
Thai, out Route 50 in Arlington. Very easy to get to,
and find,IF you have a car.
As you can see, I have an Arlington bias, having lived
in that area from 1974-1986 and also from 2003-2006...
Hope you enjoy your trip. It can be brutally hot and
humid by June, even by Florida standards, so bring
hats, sunscreen, light colored clothes for everyone,
and plan to locate a cheap supplier of bottled water
on arrival...(I had cousins visit from Georgia in May,
a few years ago, and we had a heat wave then. Pretty
unbearable)
>must sees
>--------------------------------------------------------------------
> >
cambridge , Harvard square
vietnam walll
pandas at the zoo
My daughter just recently went this fall with her university class.
She is a very hip young lady who is very cosmo/modern so it was a
surprise to me that her favorite thing was the symphony. She said it
was the most beautiful music she had ever heard and that the standing
ovation went on forever.
for lodging, find a hotel or motel near a metro stop. That will give
you
access to all of Washington.
I live 1 1/2 hrs. away from DC and have stayed there on occasion. If
you do
not yet have rooms booked, let me suggest the Capitol Suites. It not a
very
fancy place, but rooms come with kitchenettes. WiFi in the lobby for
free
and is located in a great neighborhood 2 blocks from LoC, Folger
Shakespeare
Library, Capitol and within walking/hiking distance of the Smithsonian.
The
neighborhood has several really nice restaurants as well. Along with
the
above mentioned sites, there is the Spy Museum, Kennedy Center and all
the
memorials. Don't expect to do it all. I'd try and find one great
place to
visit for each member of your family.
I have been there twice in the last year. Don't let the road
construction get you down. Just be ready to not be able to follow
direction because someone might give you a way to get somewhere and now
it's blocked off and you have to go a completely different way to get
there...but once you do it's well worth it.
If you like Asian...Big Bowl is the BEST!
Hi! I was just in DC with my kids in September. You can go online and
get a
timed ticket for the Washington Monument and go up in it. It is like
$1.50 per
ticket but worth it otherwise you might not get in. Contact your
congressperson
for a tour of the capital and white house. white house is a tough
ticket to
get. Don't take anything with you to the white house like a back pack
or purse
you won't be allowed in. My kids loved the air and space museum the
are 6,10
and 13. The national archives is neat. we also did a trolly tour I
believe
with old town trolleys, Mr. Map was our guide and was wonderful. this
was a
tour of the city at night. Take the train to Arlington and don't miss
the
changing of the guard, wonderful, touching ceremony. the vietnam,
korean,
lincoln, roosevelt, wwII memorial, iwo jima are all must sees. union
station
where the trains and buses leave from is a neat place. I found the
people to be
very nice when we were trying to figure out the train to arlington,
also take
the tour through arlington on the bus, they give history and highlights
you can
always go back in and walk around on your own.
Hope this helps! Have fun a great city to visit!!!
I was in DC a few years ago, when my kids were just a little younger
than yours. One of the nicest things we did was walk around the
National Mall at 9 or 10 at night. There will still some hardy tourists
like us walking around, but we easily found parking, and didn't have to
jostle through huge crowds to see the Lindoln Memorial or the war
memorials, etc. It's beautiful at night, too, all lit up.
Enjoy your trip!
Smithsonian institutes!
I still remember the trip my family traveled from Alabama to Washington,
D.C. in June of 1977. We expected summer weather. We froze to
death.
Six children shared one small crocheted shawl trying to stay warm. Of
course, you can check the Internet for weather now. My best advice is
to
take a jacket.
We loved visiting the Smithsonian. One can spend days there and find
something of interest for every member of the family.
You must see some of the Smithsonian's many museums. The Museum of
American History, my family's favorite, is, unfortunately, closed until
2008 for renovations. The Museum of Natural History is fabulous,
especially the exhibits on the dinosaurs, mammals, and gems, including
the
Hope Diamond. We love this one, and never tire of it. WE have been
fifteen or twenty times.
A newer museum, the Museum of the American Indian (I am not sure if it
goes by the pc name) is fabulous as well, but not for younger kids. Air
and space is wonderful, but always extremely packed and so it makes it
really hard to enjoy. Only go if you have someone who loves planes and
space, as it takes so long.
The National Gallery is also fabulous, even if you do not love art.
They
have great exhibits, and the temporary installlations are always great.
Plus, they have the best cafeteria/restaurant of all the museums, with a
multicultural offering of Italian, sushi, pizza, etc., plus a gelati
bar.
The Hirschhorn (the round, modern building on the south side of the
mall)
has really interesting modern and post modern art.
The Frier gallery has fabulous displays of Chinese and Japanese arts. I
really enjoy this small museum, and it is architecturally interesting.
Just a start. Make sure to just get out and enjoy the mall, and try to
get to the World War II and the Korean and Vietnam memorials. They are
extremely thought provoking and spiritual.
Make sure to wear comfortable walking shoes.
Don't forget a trip to Georgetown, where the shopping and restaurants
are
great. The National Zoo, where you can visit the giant pandas, is also
just outside Georgetown, and you can get there by Metro.
It is best not to have a car, but to take the Metro everywhere, as it is
really convenient and it goes just about everywhere, sometimes with
just a
small walk. Parking is horrendous and expensive, and usually no where
near where you want to go.
We've been to D.C. twice in the last 4 years for student activities. We
had a great time! (My sons marched in the Cherry Blossom festival
parade.) You should eat at the Sequoia restaurant in Georgetown on the
river. . . best mussels in the world, a great view and lots of fun!
Also, Washington Hotel has a restaurant/bar with a balcony that
overlooks the White House. . . you can see the security people with
their guns on the roof. Very spendy. . . have an appetizer and enjoy
the view (strawberry soup was awesome). Those are places we went both
times because we had such fun there the first time.
There is also a Spanish tapas restaurant. . . can't remember the name,
but it's listed in the DK guide which I would recommend as a must
purchase), which was totally awesome as well. My three boys, aged 17,
14, 11 at the time really enjoyed the spy museum as well.
Blues Alley is an awesome jazz place if you enjoy that kind of
entertainment. A train ride to the Alexandria was worth the time, and
there's a great seafood restaurant right on the point that was awesome,
if a bit spendy. It was a fun place to walk around.
We stayed at One Washington Circle, which had an awesome price for a
mini-suite with a kitchenette which helped with breakfast cost. It is
right on the subway and walking distance to Georgetown and parking was
free at that time.
These are just some ideas outside the normal Smithsonian, monuments,
capitol, Arlington, Holocaust museum, etc. I also would recommend doing
some walking around the monuments after dark. The lighting is really
cool and it is very safe.
Washington is my favorite place to visit. My son, who works for George
Washington University, will send me a list of restaurants and if you
would like, I'll forward them to you.
As to what to see, the monuments are worth visiting ... Try to listen to
a Park Ranger at the Vietnam Memorial. The Korean Memorial is riveting,
WWII, awesome, FDR informative.
The Women's Memorial Museum is great and Arlington is always worth a
visit.
The Holocaust Museum is informative, educational, heavy but certainly
something I would recommend.
Smithsonian -- anything that's open!
National Portrait Gallery ... Make sure to see the exhibit on the
presidents.
Sculpture Garden
That's all I can think of quickly. Let me know if you want me to think
more! Enjoy.
Are you going to the Library convention that will be held June 20-?
Because
they are offering tours, etc.
Definitely need to go to the Smithsonian, Library of Congress there is
so much
to see.
Check out the ala.org site it has tour guide, etc
Are you going to the Library convention that will be held June 20-?
Because
they are offering tours, etc.
Definitely need to go to the Smithsonian, Library of Congress there is
so much
to see.
Check out the ala.org site it has tour guide, etc.
I am so happy that I can help someone out. I live and work in
Arlington County,
Virginia--where the Pentagon, Cemetery, and Reagan Airport are located.
First,
I would suggest staying in Arlington because the hotels are cheaper and
they are
typically closer to the Metro than a lot of DC hotels. My friends and
family
seem to prefer the Crystal City Marriott. It sits on top of the
blue/yellow
Metro line which goes to major stops like: airport, Pentagon City
Mall,
Cemetery, Smithsonian, Metro Center, etc.
Going up in the Washington Monument is nice but the Old Post Office
Pavilion has
a bell tower (almost as high) and it provides the ONLY view that high
up that
includes seeing the Washington Monument. Also, contact your U.S.
Representative
now to get a personal/guided tour of the Capitol building. It's the
same tour
you are able to get free tickets for by standing in line but this way
you know
you have tickets plus you get to hear all the history and see the
building being
toured around by an intern of your Reps office. This way you will not
have to
wait in as long of lines and often times you might actually get to meet
various
Congress members.
Of course the Library of Congress is beautiful but the tour is really
not much.
However, you do get to see one of the only Guttenberg Bibles around.
Depending
on your family's desires, there is a wonderful and less crowded
Smithsonian--Freer Gallery. It's hard to find and looks like a little
dome
kiosk when you do locate it. But it is an underground gallery of art
from
Africa, South America, and typically some science/conservation type
hands on
experiments. These are all free.
Your family will most likely LOVE the International Spy Museum. It's
best to
order tickets in advance online. There is a service charge but you
will know
that you have tickets. Tickets go fast and they only allow a certain
number per
hour. I'm taking my 11 year old nephews and 15 year old niece there
this
weekend.
Anyway, there is SO much to see and a few days--even a week--you will
not be
able to do it all. I've lived in the area now for 5 years and I am
still
discovering exciting places. ANY resturant you choose should be great
but if
you like pizza, then go to either Pizzeria Paridisio (2
locations--Georgetown
and Dupont Circle) or Match Stick (Gallery Place/Chinatown/Verizon
Center).
Good luck in your plans and I hope you have a wonderful time in our
nation's
capital.
If you want to see the White House and the Capitol, make sure you
contact your congressman or representative's office now so that you can
get tickets to see them. You will need to provide the name of the
people in your party, their birthdates, and their social security
numbers. I don't remember the phone number, but you can get that from
the white house website.
I'm a DC native--let me know if you have specific questions, but I
wanted to let you know Metro (the best way to get around) has recently
changed the way it issues farecards.
You can still buy the old paper farecards, but using a SmarTrip card is
now strongly encouraged--in fact, you HAVE to have one to get out if
you park in a Metro-owned garage. Each card costs an initial $5 fee to
purchase, but that $5 is then available to spend on the card. They
look like a credit card and can be reloaded/reused throughout the trip
using cash, debit card or credit card. Here is Metro's how-to page on
SmarTrip: http://www.wmata.com/riding/smartrip.cfm
Also, the unwritten rule on Metro escalators is to walk if you're on
the left side, stand if you're on the right.
My favorite museum to take people to: National Building Museum
(http://www.nbm.org/). Lots of people miss it since it's not with the
others on the Mall.
Don't miss the Tomb of the Unknown at Arlington. I it very impressive
to see the "changing of the guard". Also the Vietnam Memorial and the
important document like the bill of rights etc. at the National
Archives. I wish I had gone to the Holocaust Museum as well but we
missed that. Your kids are old enough for that. We stayed at a Comfort
Inn in Anapolis and drove in each day and that worked fine.
Three places I love to take people that are not on the usual top five:
1) The Library of Congress -- it's a truly fabulous building with
interesting displays, and you can view the Reading Room from the top
floor -- that's a must-see if you go to the library.
2) Ford's Theater -- I went to D.C. many times because of relatives
there but only recently went to Ford's Theater. They do a wonderful
tour that is geared to young people as well as adults and the displays
in the basement are memorable.
3) The Holocaust Museum -- not for everyone, but if your family is
interested in WWII, it gives you chills. You follow a time line of
events leading though the Holocaust and it really put things into a
stronger perspective for me. There's a children's section (but I
thought that was more emotional in some ways than the main museum).
When I was there a couple of years ago, you had to reserve tickets
ahead of time, and the museum takes a min. of 2 1/2 hours or so.
As to hotels, etc., sorry -- I have relatives there, so I don't know
much about them or restaurants in the main part of the city.
Enjoy -- Washington is a beautiful city!
I would recommend staying at Jurys Washington Hotel in the Dupont
Circle area.
It is small hotel in a safe neighborhood ,nice and convenient to the
Metro Train
line which is the best way to get around in the traffic of DC. Buy a
multi day
pass and you get unlimited access to ride to all the monuments and
attractions
that you should see. You should also ride the Tourmobile, open air
trolleys
which allows you to see the major attractions and get on and off
wherever you
like. The only attraction not near this route that you should not miss
is the
Washington Zoo, especially the adorable pandas! There is a metro stop
quite
near the zoo, so it is easy to get to as well. You can print out a
guide to the
Metro which shows all the must see sites and what train line to take.
Check
out Union station, it is a beautiful building in itself and has places
to eat.
I hope this info has been helpful and you have a great time.
We visited DC briefly a couple years ago and the best tip I got was
skip the Washington monument and go to the Old Post Office instead. It
is far less crowded, it's historical, and you still get a nice view. If
you have time, go to colonial Williamsburg. It's awesome. And I
recommend The Capitol Steps. Check to see if they have any performances
scheduled unless you have young children who may not be able to
appreciate the political satire. The Metro is great. If you get a room
near a Metro stop you can get almost anywhere in DC easily.
Find a hotel that is close to a METRO stop. That is such an easy way
to get
around. We looked at Fodor's, etc. and I believe they will recommend
lodging
and list is as being "1/2 block from the Metro stop"
I grew up in that area and my first suggestion would be to contact your
local congressman’s office and ask what they can do for you. The FBI is
really ‘cool’ and I know you need reservations. I’m pretty sure it’s
your congressman that can get the tickets for you. Your congressman
should also be able to get you in for a special tour of the White
House. Ask for any perks they have. I believe you need 3 months advance
notice for most of these special tours. Have fun!
I have traveled there twice in the last five to six years. Library of
Congress is a must. Nothing makes me feel prouder for being a librarian
than realizing that we give the public free access to information.
Other than that, I would just plan on a long trip while you are there.
Coming from Alaska, the heat always gets to me. I want to do more there
than I can because I get claustiphobic from crowds and heat. I always
have a great reason to go back though.
It is my goal to go once every five years just to walk through LC.
Another tip that would have kept us in DC longer on our first trip
would have been to know that the public buildings are free to go to. If
we had known that we would have budgeted more time because we could
have afforded a couple of more nights in the hotel.
To go to the engraving building you have to get up early to get
tickets. I would also write you congressmen to see what packages they
may have access to.
I was there two summers ago and couldn't believe the problem of finding
a place to park. When I was there over 25 years ago you could park
where you wanted for how ever long you wanted to park, not any more.
The monuments are impressive, but I really liked the Roosevelt Monument
and the Korean War Monument. The Library of Congress is a must see and
every time you go you find something new. I went two summers ago to
take a class at the Library of Congress -- what a great experience.
When I was there over 27 years ago I took the boat to Mt. Vernon.
We stayed at the Hotel Washington, which had a very convenient
location. Call your senator or US representative if you would like to
visit the capital or the While House. Our senator's office arranged a
nice
tour of the Capital and The Library of Congress. It's very difficult to
get into the White House. We didn't get to do that due to scheduling. I
really enjoyed the monuments. They're beautiful. Arlington Cememtary is
a
great experience. We also loved the National Museum of Art. The National
Museum of Modern Art was OK (Andy Warhol's soup can painting is there).
The National Archives is great. There is so much to see and do.
1964, 1990
I went in 64 with my youth group from church. Smithsonian, the Mall,
the
Capitol. The children of a senator or rept. Lived with someone who
went to
our church. He arranged our capitol tour. I remember a train
underground.
1990 it was 7 adults and 1 JH student. We stayed in Maryland and drove
in
every day. Smithsonian, the Mall, the White House. Lincoln Memorial.
Arlington National Cemetery. Drove past the pentagon. We went to the
National Zoo, I was not impressed, but I have seen San Diego 1967,
Dallas
in 70's, Tyler in 70's San Antonio in 50's. Hopefully they have
improved
it.
Things I did not see but would like to Ford's Theater, Library of
Congress,
Supreme court, go up Washington monument (Line is forever it was that
way
both times) I know I would stay in downtown Washington If I could
afford
to. You might also look for hotel or motel near a park and ride the
metro.
I packed a backpack and did not carry anything in my hands. I wore
pants
with picket to keep my money in . Camera was on long strap which I
hooked
through my belt loop and let it bounce against my leg. Take bottled
water
(lots of it). Light weight jacket and hat.
If you want a remarkable experience Holocaust Museum. Prepare the
children for the history.
DC is one of our favorite places to go, and we try to do at least one
new thing each time we go. Fortunately, my family is only 90 minutes
away, so we try to go often when visiting Grandma (I have boys ages 7
and 9 1/2). You MUST go to the National Zoo. Especially right now,
while the "baby" panda is still there. The primates are hilarious to
watch, too. Best of all, it's free and just a short hike from two
different Metro stations.
Of course, there are all of the Smithsonian museums to visit. The Air
and Space and Natural History ones are most popular. The American
History museum is closed right now, but many of its exhibits are on
display in other museums. Somey of the smaller museums are really
interesting, especially the Hirschhorn Modern Art one. You'll want to
try to get to the "memorials" if at all possible. It is quite a hike
down the Mall, but definitely worth it if you have the energy. There
are tourmobiles that you can join to cut down on the walking. If you
like culture, a trip to Chinatown is interesting. The Gallery
Pl/Chinatown metro stop puts you out on the sidewalk at the "entrance"
to Chinatown where there is a large gate that spans the street. There's
a really good Mongolian grill restaurant called Tony Cheng's (a little
expensive but delicious). The Hard Rock Cafe is right down the street
from Ford's Theater where Lincoln was shot. Also close by is the
International Spy Museum which is excellent. It is also a little
expensive (esp. when all those free Smithsonian ones are around), but
it is definitely worth it. You can become a "spy" and try to make your
way through the museum without getting "caught." It's a very
interesting place.
Another favorite place to eat is the America restaurant at Union
Station. The station itself is fun to visit (and the metro stops below
it). It's close to the Capitol. There are other restaurants and stores
there, too, but America features recipes from each state in the US. The
menu is huge--choosing what to eat is difficult!
All of the "government" type places are interesting, but for many you
have to make arrangements to visit before you go. The Bureau of
Engraving and Printing where they make paper money is great if you can
get in (look online for details about visiting those places). Of
course, the National Archives is a must if you like history since you
get to see the important documents of our nation. If you get in touch
with your Congress people, you may be able to arrange special tours of
the Capitol and Library of Congress. Several of the Metro stations out
of the city have shopping and food within walking distance, too. Ones
that I know of in particular are King Street and Eisenhower Ave. in
Alexandria. You can also take the blue line train to the Arlington
National Cemetary and the Pentagon area (not sure about tours/security
at the Pentagon, though).
Unfortunately, there's so much to see and with conference business time
may be limited, but you certainly should be able to satisfy everyone
and keep them from being bored! The Metro is really easy to use, too.
They have special passes available--website is www.wmata.com.
In addition to the Air and Space Museum and the Vietnam Memorial, I
would highly recommend the International Spy Museum. Interesting, fun,
especially for kids. I think you need to reserve tickets in advance.
Here's the link:
http://www.spymuseum.org
My son lives in DC. Our favorite hotel is Jury's on DuPont Circle-
HOWEVER- it's not cheap- it's really a "grown up hotel" (boring). I'd
never have stayed there with three teenagers (too pricey). Yet, I can
highly recommend their restaurant for breakfast (not cheap)- oo la la.
They have the best Irish Oatmeal (it's part of an Irish chain of
hotels). The hotel is within easy walking distance (less than a block)
of the Metro. a Starbucks is across the street. Many rooms face DuPont
Circle. I do like it.....but we consider it a treat hotel.
It will be warm in June. Are you going for ALA? Wear cool clothing
(light colors, bring a hat)
The baby panda will be leaving to go to live in China this summer, but
if he's
still there it would be great to see him. They put in a new exhibit
that is
fabulous. In Georgetown there is an Italian restaurant that is
fabulous, all
homemade pastas and sauces, funky, fun atmosphere and the best
cheesecake
around. The name of it is Philomena's, it is on Wisconsin Ave.
Georgetown is
definitely a place to see, walk around and shop. The Kennedy Center has
the best
Sunday brunch, and a great view to boot. The Adams-Morgan section of
town is
more eclectic and offers many restaurants that are ethnic if that is
your thing.
I've stayed in a number of hotels (my daughter goes to college there)
and they
have all been lovely. I think there are so many hotels that they have
to stay
competitive and up-to-date. My daughter goes to George Washington
University,
and some of the hotels by the campus get noisy due to their hospital
and its
ambulance flow, especially One Washington Circle. I would advise that
you pick a
hotel near a Metro station rather than try to drive everywhere. The
Metro runs
every few minutes, and goes pretty much everywhere. Have a good time.
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