Washington DC ... we've decided at last!

[yikesanotherbooboo]

We ( me, DH and DS16) are going to the US for a fortnight in August.
We will spend a few days inWashington... and then hire a car and make some sort of circuit ;
We want to take in a baseball game... my researches are saying buy tickets close to first base... I don't want to spend a fortune ... will we get a flavour in the 'cheap seats'? Any tips about how to buy , what days might be good etc gratefully received...
Which sites in the city wouldn't you miss. We are flexible at the moment ... would 3 whole days cover it Di you think?
We like scenery, food and history... we wouldn't mind a national park night or two... ideally we won't drive every day i.e. A few days in 2 or three destinations..
Any resources worth looking at? Years ago we travelled through California with young DC staying lately in cheap chain motels... this time we are looking at a mixture of places... not bank breaking
Thank you for your help...

I loved Washington (went 3 years ago). We went for a week and had plenty to do so you may have to pick what you really want to see and do with only 3 days. Entry to all the Smithsonian museums and monuments is free so you don't have to spend ages in each to feel like you're getting your money's worth. I would highly recommend the Holocaust museum which you have to book in advance (there was a small fee) as they only allow a limited number of people in at a time. We booked to go on a tour of the Capitol building which was free but might be booked up so close to your trip. I wouldn't worry too much about where you sit at the baseball you'll get the gist of what's going on and the chances are if someone realises you're not American they'll want to chat to you and explain what's happening! Me and DH follow baseball and support a team so we have been to lots of games in different cities watching them! Feel free to ask any questions - DD is 6 months so we're not going to the USA for a while so I like holidaying vicariously!!

Can recommend the One Washington circle hotel. Check the rooms as lots have kitchens too. This allows you to have cheap breakfasts and there are a couple of supermarkets within 5 mins walk.

DC is built on a swamp so very hot & humid. We have seen games there three times and can conform that of you go to an evening game choose seats to the immediate left of the batting place as these are in the shade!!!!!!

Thank you for that insight...

Three days in DC will cover part of it; I would recommend a visit to the International Spy Museum. This is not part of the Smithsonian so an admission fee is payable.

All museums that are part of the Smithsonian are free to enter but I would get there for opening, they usually open at 10.00am and close at around 5.00-5.30pm.

The hotel mentioned is nice but it does overlook a very busy roundabout and traffic there is a constant presence.

The metro underground service in DC is very good, do not drive in DC itself.

Thank you Attila.
I'll put spy museum on my list...
Any restaurant ideas?

We went 3 year back with 2 x teenagers.

We did:

The Pentagon tour (free, pentagontours.osd.mil/Tours/tour-selection.jsp)

The Capitol Tour (Free www.visitthecapitol.gov/)

Washington Zoo (Free- part of the Smithsonian collection and has giant pandas nationalzoo.si.edu/)

Washington Monument (fab views, free if you queue early for a timed ticket or book online for $1- Sadly the monument is closed til Spring '19)

We did the National Mall and Arlington Cemetery with www.freetoursbyfoot.com/washington-dc-tours/walking-tours/#walking

We went to the National Holocaust Museum (Free), dipped into various Smithsonians and did the BUREAU OF ENGRAVING AND PRINTING to watch money being made (free) www.moneyfactory.gov/washingtondctours.html

We went to a baseball match (Washington Nationals V New York Mets- we paid $10 a ticket). This was a great evening. The Americans loved explaining the game, but we were still clueless!
washington.nationals.mlb.com/ticketing/singlegame.jsp?c_id=was&affiliateId=2017-HotTix-was

We walked to Georgetown as we were staying in Foggy Bottom and we canoed along the Potomac river from Georgetown down to the memorials and back.

We had 7 days in Washington combined with 4 days in NY. There is so much to do in DC and most of it is Free. It is very hot in August but DC is quiet and spaced out and walkable. NY is hot, busy and cramped, but great too!

If it all gets too much I can recommend a great fountain to sit with your feet in it for half an hour! www.tripadvisor.com/LocationPhotoDirectLink-g28970-d4832917-i261841533-National_Gallery_of_Art_Sculpture_Garden-Washington_DC_District_of_Columbia

Enjoy your trip.

Coming to this a bit late, sorry. But suggestions for outside DC as follows -
Annapolis is lovely, sailing boats and old houses, and lots of places to eat. There is a deli on the Main Street that is a perfect example of an OTT American eating experience. I will check the name and get back.
Harpers Ferry is really interesting if you like history, as are the battle sites at Antietam and Gettysburg.
Chesapeake Bay is great, good maritime museum in Easton (I think). Lots of crab shacks, and an amazing bridge in the way out there.
If you have time, the waterfront in Baltimore is really interesting. But there is so much to do in DC! You probably won't have time.
Seconding the posts about the Holocaust Museum, and the air and space museum is a must.

Chick and Ruth's is the deli. Living the dream!

I have attended Nationals game in DC. Seats behind first base are in sun, and people roast there and have to wear sunglasses. Behind third is better.

"Teaism" is a nice local (not chain) place to stop for a tea/food. Hard to describe - you can get a very tasty chicken curry - or a bento box - and bubble tea - other things like that - and they are located near the Archives where you can view the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution if you are into old documents.

If you are around in Dupont Circle, try - La Tomato for nice light Italian - I used to wait tables there in my 20s - so I can vouch for it.

The Childe Harold - also in Dupont Circle - if they still have the Wild Billy Burger on the menu - used to love that - a steak filet on an English muffin with bernaise sauce. Plus, their other burgers are good.

Pizza Paradiso - also near Dupont Circle - locally owned (not chain) wood oven pizza with lovely fresh ingredients.

For the NYC part of the trip - if you are staying in Brooklyn - you can do Coney Island and the beach in one ... because CI is on the beach. There, I recommend Fulton street for shopping for sneakers and Juniors for authentic Brooklynese food. www.juniorscheesecake.com/

Manhattan, I like the Cast Iron district. Pretty and quiet. The tenement museum is nearby, and I definitely recommend that. It is in a 6 storey building that, believe it or not was shuttered up since the 1940s - it was a tenement for immigrants - and when they investigated it - they found layers after layers of stories of immigrants that lived there. You get to feel how difficult their lives were - no elevators, no indoor plumbing, no AC, coal stoves to cook and heat. OK for those on the first or second floor maybe - but the 6th!? www.tenement.org/

However, if you like the show Cake Boss - you can take a ferry over to Hoboken, NJ, and see NYC from a whole new perspective, and pick up some "lobster tails" which are actually a pastry.

Have fun!

Thank you all for your help with ideas and advice.
We had a fantastic holiday and for those who come across this thread I can heartily recommend visiting this region.
Washington DC of course has lots to see and do ... wear comfortable footwear as you will walk miles. We then drove via Arlington , down the Skyline Drive to Charlottesville, Roanoke, The Outer Banks, Williamsburg and finally up the Chesapeake Bay to St Michaels. We were four days in Washington and Two in most of the others. We had booked most of them in advance which reduced stress. The places we stayed in were really varied and allowed us to partake in all sorts of different activities. We had lovely food and met so many generous and welcoming people which really made our holiday.
There is little we would have done differently.
Thank you all and those that haven't visited the mid Atlantic region of US and are thinking of going over there I would say go for it.

Glad you had a great time Yikes!

yikes - what was the temperature/humidity like. Got folks that live there but never been in summer. Thinking of it for next year.

It was quite variable... before we got there it had. been wet but for the first 5 days( Washington it was hot but not particularly humid... t shirts and shorts but comfortable enough to walk a long way with minimal shade ... late 70s early 80s ... we then had thunder and lightening and needed jumpers for a day in Skyline drive... most of the rest was hot i.e. Mid 80s with night time storms a few times... think hats and sunglasses essential and pleased to dodge inside to air con from time to time... but we were v active so weather not uncomfortable... we did have two unpleasantly hot and humid days in Williamsburg which we had to mitigate by going outlet shopping and lounging by the swimming pool rather than nonstop sightseeing but that was no bad thing!!
Obviously there is air con in every building so there is always a chance to cool down .
The coast was hot but not really humid.
I've been hotter in the south of France, Spain or Italy without the benefit of airconditioning every where

great - thanks. good to know.