As part of my 12 for 12, I’m toying (as in who knows if it’ll really happen) with the idea of visiting Washington DC this year. The only time I’ve ever visited our nation’s capitol was a rushed few days way back in 1990. I had just spent 5 months in Europe and I stopped to visit my cousin on the way home. My mom and aunt flew out from California and we spent a week in New York, which included a few days in Washington. Unfortunately, at that point I was tired of living out of a backpack and was ready to be home, so my memories are vague. I know I visited the Smithsonian, and the Vietnam Memorial, and I remember looking up at the Washington Monument, but that’s it.
So. For those of you who have either lived in the area, or spent time there, what should I see? Not so much in DC itself (unless it’s some hidden treasure that isn’t so obvious), since I can figure that out, but what else is in the neighborhood that shouldn’t be missed (like Mt. Vernon)?
Shout out your ideas!
I have never been away to D.C., so I can’t be of much help, but I would love to someday. I hope that you find bookstores and tea shops galore, in addition to other great points of interest!
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If you go just south of DC into Virginia, you can get a FISH PEDICURE!!!!!
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I live nearby, but sadly don’t go into the city often enough. It’s just kind of a hassle with two little kids. I do love visiting the zoo and the museums (all free!) the aquarium is fantastic too but a bit pricely. My absolute favorite place is the natural history museum on the mall, but I’m just kinda nuts about animals and science.
Definitely see Mount Vernon!!
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Go! Go! and then tell me about it.
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The Holocaust Museum was one of the most memorable places I’ve ever been. I saw it years ago, but I still remember most of what I saw and how I felt.
I’ve never been so I can’t offer advice, but I’m definitely jealous.
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Just went there twice over the last two years with my kids. The monuments are great, and a quick activity. As far as the museums though, I would HIGHLY recommend the “Newseum”. It is right there near everything else and is fabulous, and it is fairly new. It was all of our favorite over all the Smithsonians. We also loved Mt. Vernon and Williamsburg, which aren’t too far away.
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In middle school, I did a tour of the DC-Virginia area. Outside of DC things we did was Mount Vernon (Highly recommend it), Arlington National Cemetery, Navy museum, Jamestown, Colonial Williamsburg, Theodore Roosevelt Island, Chancellorville…We went to a civil war or revolutionary war battlefield too. I don’t think Richmond- perhaps Yorktown or Fredericksberg?
If you rent a car, or get good info on the public transportation into Virginia, you will be tripping over various national battlefields and historical sites. You can look at nps.gov to get a list. but just looking at the map, Manassas is close to DC, and if you do get a car and go south, Monticello. And that’s just National Parks. Try googling Virginia State Parks as well, and you’ll probably get more. And with the 150 year anniversary of the Civil War going on, those sites will have more events going on, most likely.
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Hope you get some great suggestions because I would LOVE to go to DC soonish. Never been the area but it does seem like there are a lot of book bloggers out thataway.
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My favorite art museum in the whole world is The Corcoran – likely because I got to spend a lot of wonderful alone moments sitting and writing. (http://www.corcoran.org/) and I have a great pic somewhere of me kissing Alfred Einstein on the cheek (his statue near the Lincoln Memorial). It was a lovely place to spend a summer…
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Oooh…have fun! We went to DC about four years ago and it was great. I don’t have any hidden insights since we just hit up the typical places.
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Wait, wait… I want to go tooooooooo! We talked about going to the National Book Festival this year in the fall. I’m game if you are (and game for making it a site seeing trip as well)!!
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I really want to go to the GINORMOUS book festival held in DC at the end of August/September. *le sigh*
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I almost got a job in DC after college. I loved it there. I actually got lost walking around and ended up at this random textile museum. They were nice enough to call a cab for me.
My own dream trip for 2012 is a biking tour of coastal Massachusetts, a.k.a LOVECRAFT COUNTRY.
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Last time I was in DC, I went on a day trip to Annapolis, and it was really beautiful! So picturesque. Also, yummy seafood.
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I love the Corcoran, too! But that’s in DC. One of my favorite things to do outside of DC is visit Alexandria–really really charming town full of history and great little shops.
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You’ve gotten lots of good suggestions already. Really, the museums all around the mall are great and most are free (and the Newseum is worth the cost). And I’m biased (because I live there), but I second the Alexandria suggestion. The pretty part is right on the way to Mount Vernon.
A couple of ideas not mentioned that might count as hidden treasures: The National Cathedral, which does require a bus ride if you’re using public transit, but is really amazing, especially if you haven’t gotten to go to Europe to see the cathedrals there; and the Old Post Office building, which has a food court suitable for quick lunches but is really worth a visit for the view from the tower. For the evenings, DC has a really amazing theatre scene. Check Goldstar.com for discounts.
Outside DC, if you’re into planes, the Air and Space Museum has a second location out near Dulles airport with huge planes and a space shuttle on display. Harper’s Ferry is in easy reach, too, and is pretty neat if you’re interested in Civil War history. If you’re REALLY into Civil War history, Manassas battlefield is a little over an hour away. Monticello is a little over two hours, so I’d opt for Mount Vernon instead.
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Whyyyyyy don’t I live in NoVa anymore?? Then I could meet you (IRL)! You could travel to Fredericksburg! My beautiful college town! Ha. Not really, it is kind of boring. Nice if you like antiques and Civil War battles, but not much else. It was a nice place for college, but I don’t know that I would go there to visit.
I love the National Zoo, which is free, but it’s not all that much fun in the winter. The National Gallery is a must, as I’m sure someone has mentioned. Someone also mentioned the National Book Festival, which is really a lot of fun, but it is super crowded and the lines to meet your favorite authors are very long. I waited in line for almost 2 hours to meet Tim O’Brien. It was fun, I was awkward, but everyone in line with me were just as hardcore.
If you go that far south, Williamsburg is a lot of fun, and Busch Gardens is there. It is just an amusement park, but it is a relatively amusing one. Then there is my lovely hometown of Virginia Beach, where there is a beach. And not much else.
Some of the museums in DC can be outrageously expensive, but some of them are a lot of fun. I’ve been to the National Geographic Museum to see the Terracotta Warriors and the Crime and Punishment Museum, which was a lot of fun.
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Lived in the area for 3 years and loved it. I’d still be there if Jason hadn’t need to move for school. We came very close to moving back when he was done and sometimes I’m sad that we didn’t. You must visit Arlington Cemetery and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. They trade guards every 30 or 60 minutes (can’t remember right now) and it is a very powerful ceremony that doesn’t last long. Plus while you’re there you can visit Robert E Lee’s house which has a spectacular view of DC. It’s a stop on the metro so it’s easy to access.
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I have lived in the D.C. metropolitan area for a number of years, but from living in the suburbs and not the city itself, I feel like I’m lacking in my knowledge of cool hidden treasures. I love all the free museums, especially the National Gallery of Art. I think that the food court at the National Museum of the American Indian is awesome, especially as far as Mall museum cafes go. As far as memorials, the World War II memorial and the new Martin Luther King Jr. memorial are impressive.
One thing to warn you about downtown D.C. is to be prepared for security checks at every museum on the Mall. My parents live in Maine and weren’t used to all the security and it tired them out (we visited Assateague the next day which they enjoyed more). My dad was especially thrown off by an incident where he went to take a picture of a pretty flowering tree somewhere not far from the National Mall and a security guard came running out of the building next to the tree and chastised him, telling him he couldn’t take the picture because it was a government building behind. (I think it was the Agriculture building, but am not sure.) So just be aware.
Depending on the time of year you go, I remember enjoying a bike ride on the Mount Vernon Trail. I went from Alexandria to just about Mount Vernon.
Someone mentioned Annapolis above, and it is pretty right there on the Chesapeake and kind of unique what with being the state capital and the location of the Naval Academy. One of my fondest memories was getting the opportunity to sail in Annapolis Harbor. If you go to Annapolis, Chick and Ruth’s Delly is a must-stop place to eat, and they name their sandwiches after politicians.
You might want to check out to see what festivals and events are going on in D.C. and see if you can coincide your visit with one of interest, because it’s exciting to be in D.C. during events, as long as you can tolerate crowds. D.C. is absolutely gorgeous during cherry blossom time. And it’s exhilarating to be in the nation’s capital on the 4th of July. (Although security becomes even higher on that day.)
I go to the National Book Festival which is usually at the end of September and have a lot of fun. I don’t try to meet with specific authors, so I don’t spend much time in lines while there, and I can put up with the crowds as long as it isn’t raining or extremely hot.
Sorry for the long comment. I hope some of this is helpful. Enjoy planning your trip!
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This sounds great, I have Washington, DC on my list as well. Other dreams too of course – so many places I want to go! I just recently booked my ticket to Cairo
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