Going to DC, best places to see?

DSM Turbos said:
Which Smithsonian? It is actually a collection of Zoo's and Museums.
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Went to the National Air and Space Museum and the National Museum of Natural History. We will be going back because there was a boat load we did not get to see due to time.
 
Bushwhacker said:
We will be going back because there was a boat load we did not get to see due to time.
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This x infinity. It doesn't matter what you see or do, with only 2.5 days there will be something you want to do and can't. Hell I could spend a week+ there and I'm sure there would still be something I didn't get to do because of time. We did do a trolley tour while we were there. We did one night tour which was very cool, it made stops at a lot of monuments and the tour guide was a trip. The day tours have various stops where you can get on and off so we basically used it as a bus: Get on at stop A and ride to whatever we wanted to really see and get off, then get back on and ride some more.

Duane
 
CLRracer said:
This x infinity. It doesn't matter what you see or do, with only 2.5 days there will be something you want to do and can't. Hell I could spend a week+ there and I'm sure there would still be something I didn't get to do because of time.
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Truth. We lived there for a year and have been to visit several times, since, and I'm certain I didn't see everything worth seeing.
 
Smithsonian museums: American history, air and space, and museum of natural history all were good! The Holocaust museum was one of the highlights for us. (okay, that doesn't sound right at all but, in all seriousness, it is a very well done museum, I initially wasn't 100% on going (obviously it's not a fun thing) but it ended up being one of the best (if not the best) museum I've gone to, very moving exhibits) There is one place I wanted to go but I missed the last tour when we got there- the international spy museum, it looked probably pretty hokey but a good time, I hate I missed it. We stayed in the Hay Adams hotel which is right across the street from the white house, if you feel like a stop at a bar, check out the bar in the basement of the Hay Adams, it's called "off the record" it's a pretty cool little bar that seems to be authentic DC rather than silly touristy. We saved a bunch of coasters from there, they have these great satirical political cartoon coasters. Also, they have what I honestly believe to be the best olives I have ever eaten in my life as one of their bar snacks, LOL!
 
YotaOnRocks said:
Biggest thing holding me back is I can't take my Austrian uncle G with me.
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I haven't been in the last 3 years, but prior to that I was up there no less than twice a year with work. That never stopped me. Better to be judged by 12 than carried by 6......oh and Jason, DO NOT park on the street in front of the museum of natural history on a weekday and leave your car there after 4pm. And.....they WILL come after yo ass for the parking ticket (Shoulda listend to the wife). I'll explain how I know this at potts :D:rolleyes:
 
Been a long time since I been there but the tour bus was awesome. You can just jump on and off anytime where ever you want. You may want to do some research. Some things require tickets to get into now that you used to not. As I said it's been a long time since I been there but was there quite a bit when I was younger. If they still allow tours of the mint do it. Dot think you can tour the white house anymore. Haven't been there since the earthquake a few years ago but the last time I was there you had to have a ticket to get in the monument but it's worth it too. Take your museum pick based on your interest. I always liked the American history and the air and space museum. Arlington and the grave of the unknown soldier is a very humbling experience.
If you go and have the chance please give dumbass a one finger salute for me please.
 
CasterTroy said:
I haven't been in the last 3 years, but prior to that I was up there no less than twice a year with work. That never stopped me. Better to be judged by 12 than carried by 6......oh and Jason, DO NOT park on the street in front of the museum of natural history on a weekday and leave your car there after 4pm. And.....they WILL come after yo ass for the parking ticket (Shoulda listend to the wife). I'll explain how I know this at potts :D:rolleyes:
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If I'm not mistaken they have metal detectors at the holocaust museum. Not sure if anywhere else does. Just a heads up for anyone thinking of going and exercising the 2nd
 
YotaOnRocks said:
If I'm not mistaken they have metal detectors at the holocaust museum. Not sure if anywhere else does. Just a heads up for anyone thinking of going and exercising the 2nd
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The air and space museum and the National Archives had them as well when we went.

Duane
 
I was there many yeas ago. (80's) The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall was new then. (Went to the 'Wall to 'pencil trace' my wife's brother's name.)

So much to see. Def all the memorials, and all of the Smithsonian stuff. I'm most interested in the aircraft and tech stuff, but all the different museums were worth seeing.
Go see the Declaration of independence and our Constitution. (Everyone should lay eyes on these documents, at least once!)

The Holocaust Museum wasn't there, yet. But I have seen so much on PBS, and AHC programs, from there, I'm sure its an awesome visit.
 
Jason W. said:
Do these buses just drive around the area non stop and you just get on and off as you please. Like a localized public transport.
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Yep. There is a bus by every few minutes or just stop one. You can map out where you want to go exactly and just get off there. Best if you can figure the route and and get off so you don't have to back track. Not really back track you just have to complete the circle tour to get back to where you need to be if you pass up a stop. It may be easier sometimes to just walk across the mall and grab another bus to skip some things if needed. The bus drivers are like DC historians. They tell stories and give you all kinds of facts as they are driving. They will also answer about any question you ask.
Riding the metro is an adventure in itself. Lol if you decide to not ride the metro atleast visit Grand Central Station.
 
Debra said:
So are you saying avoid the metro?
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Who knows. When we lived up there, I rode it at least once a day. But here lately, they're catching on fire all the time. It's still probably the easiest/best way to get around, especially coming in from Roslyn. You can ride right to the Smithsonian stop, then the Air & Space is right down the street. Lincoln/Vietnam is harder to get to. There isn't really a stop close by there.
 
Jason W. said:
Are the taxis there a good option from Rosslyn to the national mall area.
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I'd say as long as you can handle the price...a taxi is always a great option. Zero worries about parking and having to figure out driving in a hostile environment.

Looks like that ~4.1 mile trip would be about $12 assuming zero wait time in traffic. I'm sure there is almost never any traffic..... o_O

From the world wide web...

District of Columbia taxi rates effective June 1, 2013

Fares:
  • First 1/8 mile: $3.25
  • Each additional 1/8 mile: $0.27
  • Wait rate per hour: $25.00
  • Wait time begins five (5) minutes after time of arrival at dispatch location.
  • No wait time charged for premature response to a dispatch.
  • Wait time charged while taxicab is stopped or slowed to less than ten (10) miles per hour for longer than sixty (60) seconds.
  • Wait time charged for delays or stopovers at the direction of the passenger.
Hourly Contract Rate:
  • $35.00 for the first one (1) hour or fraction thereof.
  • $8.75 for each additional fifteen (15) minutes or fraction thereof.
Extras:
  • Taxicab passenger surcharge, twenty-five cents per trip $0.25
  • Telephone Dispatch, two dollars $2.00
  • Additional passenger, one dollar $1.00
    (regardless of the number of additional passengers)
  • Declared Snow Emergency Fee, fifteen dollars $15.00
  • Group or Shared Riding: as each passenger arrives at his or her destination fare due shall be paid by passenger(s) leaving the cab.
  • Shared Riding Venues: Union Station, Verizon Center or Nationals Park or other locations designated by an administrative order of the Office of Taxicabs
  • Airport Surcharge or toll paid: if any, amount charged shall be the same amount that was paid.
  • Delivery Service (messenger service and parcel pick-up and delivery): same rate as single passenger unless vehicle hired by the hour
 
kaiser715 said:
Army Ordnance Museum at Aberdeen

X2 on amtrak

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk
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Ordnance museum is GONE!
No longer at Aberdeen Proving Ground. :(

Which is too bad, was a very cool HUGE selection of tanks dating back to WWI. I used to drive past it every day.
 
Oh don't bother w/ Taxis - Uber is the way to go around DC.
 
YotaOnRocks said:
If I'm not mistaken they have metal detectors at the holocaust museum. Not sure if anywhere else does. Just a heads up for anyone thinking of going and exercising the 2nd
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All the national museums have detectors.
 
JGattonII said:
+1
Actually got to lay a wreath on the tomb of the unknown soldier. Will be one of those "forever" memories...
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We unexpectedly got to watch a wreath laying ceremony when we were there, very humbling and awesome experience. At the very least if you visit Arlington you must see the changing of the guard.

Duane
 
kaiser715 said:
Damn.


Gone gone, or just gone?
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My understanding is that most of it went to Ft Lee, where the Ordnance school is now (they moved that out of here too, all part of BRAC).
I don't know how much of the tanks and heavy artillery were preserved.
It had like 60 or 70 vehicles all parked out in a giant field. Was one of the things I went to se when I came here for my first job interview.
Moving all that shit was a major operation, it took a year or more. Tax money hard at work...
 
RatLabGuy said:
Oh don't bother w/ Taxis - Uber is the way to go around DC.
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Hold on there city slicker.....the country mouse that's asking is nervous enough about public transportation and cabs...you throw and daggone phone app into the mix and you've just popped his gord all over the street. :lol:

These damn kids and their electronics :shaking::D
 
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