WASHINGTON DC - What not to miss?

[Hulababy]

Thought I'd start three of these for the places we are visiting on holiday this summer. I'm keeping them separate as think it will be easier for me to work through any ideas suggested :)

We are going to Washington on Saturday and will be there til Wednesday - so we will have 3 full days in Washington DC, and one late afternoon/evening.

Going is me, Dh and 11y DD - we all love cities.

So has anyone any ideas, recommendations, suggestions of what we should not miss?

TIA

I loved Washington (went in May last year) I was there 3 days and managed to fill all my time. i loved walking about in the sunshine seeing the city. favourite things were Lincoln statue the large water fountains where they have the state monument loved the your if the capitol turned up early and went straight in. also loved the smithsonian museums seeing the .bi building with fbi written on the side in big letters :-P Fab city.

Just been to Washington DC with my 2 DC (10 and 8) and last year. We hired bikes to do the National Mall. Last year we did Arlington Cemetery, Space Museum, obviously the White House, Capitol Hill, The Monument and Lincoln Memorial. This year The National Holocaust Museum and American Indian Museum. All worth a visit. I would also recommend using the metro just to see how clean it is.

I love DC, it is so clean and well planned - beautiful.

One of the places DD is keen to go to is the Spy Museum - any reviews?

DC Duck Tour is well doing and should be done; lasts about 90 minutes and you get to ride on the Potomac River as well. I would suggest booking this in advance as it is very popular. That departs from the front of Union Station,

Am visiting the Spy Museum later on today.

A further suggestion would be to visit the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. The ticket booth for this is in Raoul Wallenberg place and opens at 8am prompt. Tickets for this go quickly so would suggest you line up early. This is one of two US sites where their currency is printed and is a quite brief but informative tour. BEP only opens Monday to Friday, not on weekends.

Second recommendation to visit Air and Space Museum. Also the US Capitol Building is well worth a visit if you have an interest in how this nation was founded.

Try to visit Georgetown one late afternoon/evening, lovely little shops, bars and restaurants, and nice for wandering round the side streets.

If you want to go up the Washington Momument, you will need to book in advance.

Try the Old Ebbit Grill one lunchtime, good food and great history, near the White House, the manger came out to tell us all about the politicians that frequent the restaurant.

Thanks all; some great ideas. Not long now :D

spy museum is well worth a visit and there is a shake shack restaurant next door.

If possible buy a combo of Operation spy and a general all admission ticket.

Washington Monument is currently closed due to it suffering earthquake damage a couple of years back. it's currently covered in scaffolding.

That's great to know Atilla :) DD will be pleased.

Shame about the monument though.

On our way!

We caught the metro out to the zoo as they have lots of pandas. Easy journey & good zoo. We also went to Georgetown to have a l

Look around. My DCs really enjoyed Washington, it's small & easy to get around. We watched a few films in the air & space museum & also went to the forensics part of the Smithsonian. We ate some delicious crab cakes.

Having a great time so far. Came back to hotel for an early finish today. Dd is in bed reading and DH is sat on the balcony with a beer. I'm sat inside with a glass of fizz :)

So far we have seen the Lincoln and Washington memorials (albeit the latter cases in scaffold), the White House and also from a distance Capitol. We visited the Natural History museum, the American History museum to see Kermit and the Ruby slippers, the International Spy Museum which dd loved, the Air and Space Museum too. Have seen lots more on our walks.

Have a day planned tomorrow - starting with a walk down the National Mall again, a last camera visit outside the White House, visit to the Capitol (reserved tickets now) and then the late afternoon/evening at Georgetown.

Have eaten some great food. Highlights have been lobster at Afterwords Cafe, Oysters at Old Ebbitt Grill and crab cakes at Georgia Brown.

Have walked miles - now sporting 8 rather large and very sore blisters on the soles of my feet! We used the metro a bit today to save my feet from too much more damage.

Love Washington. It's very different to NY especially with no real high rises. Love the area around the National Mall as so open and green.

11y Dd made a good choice - Washington was her choice this holiday.

I know you are there already but the bureau of engraving and printing (just off the national mall) is good fun as you can watch money being made and printed. Free as well.

Loving your live reporting Hulababy - when you get back will you please distil what you found best into a timed two full day itinerary for us for when we go next spring!?! Thanks and enjoy the rest of your trip.
Bear

I'm glad you're enjoying it. I love DC. I get to go a couple of times a year for work and I really enjoy it (although I never get enough time to do all the sightseeing I want). I've met up with an absolutely lovely expat MNer out there too!

Georgetown is OK but rather like visiting some Home Counties town with a dual carriageway running down the Main Street.
Roosevelt memorial is tremendous. Also Korean War memorial.

Currently in Georgetown for dinner at Billy Martin Tavern. Enjoyed the waterfront a lot. Dd enjoyed some shopping as she found Jack Wills as A&F.

Bear - will do :)

It is currently raining, with thunder and lightning. And it really is raining hard - the roads are awash already. Luckily we had decided to grab a cab from Georgetown to save my blister covered feet. Glad we did now! We would be soaked. Instead sat on balcony of our hotel room sipping another glass of fizz watching the rain and flashed is fork lightning instead!

Early start tomorrow as we need to go and collect a car from the station and then head over to NY :)

bear - what kinds of things do you like doing/seeing?

Most of the museums are free, and most are off the National Mall. We really liked it round there - so open and not crowded.

Found some good places to eat - Old Ebbitt Grill and Georgia Browns, and Martin's Tavern in Georgetown.

oops - sorry, been away.

Was thinking of a West Wing pilgrimage (to include the Cathedral), but am concerned the DC will cotton on and demand we stop. And actual tours of the WW haven't happened for a year now.

Erm, seriously, seeing the important momentous stuff, I guess, like the White House/Capitol/memorials and Space Museum etc

Thanks for restaurant recommendations. Only 8 months to go...

We did most of the above and loved it...also had a trip to Georgetown which I loved. We went for the election when Obama won. It was amazing.

Do the memorials at night - the Korean is spectacular