I'm going to Washington D.C. *Squee!* Help?

In My Humble Opinion
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I should begin by saying this wont be my first trip to Washington, I went when I was 16 (I’m now 20). The difference is that this time I am paying my way and I get to make all the plans!

A few days ago, a friend in FL gave me a call and began lamenting about how badly she wanted to go to D.C. I sighed and said I really want to go. Within a few minutes, we realized a long weekend trip in the middle of September (14th-17th) is totally doable. Cut to this morning- tickets are purchased and now I’m trying to work out the kinks.

We’re both flying in to Baltimore bright and early Thursday morning and we’re thinking that we’ll take the metro to Arlington for the day. In fact, we were thinking of staying in a hotel in Arlington Thursday night, because the hotels around the capitol are really costly on weekdays. Any suggestions for places to stay? Food? Besides the cemetery, is there anything else we should check out?

Friday morning we were planning on hopping back on the metro and heading into the Hill. We aren’t sure where we are going to stay yet, but even the nice hotels are pretty cheap on the weekends. Any and all suggestions regarding hotels and restaurants in this area would be great.

We plan on doing the typical- the Mall, the Smithsonian, The Capitol Building. And one day we’d like to pop over to Georgetown (I’m thinking of going there for grad school). Other than that, is there anything particularly neat we should see? My friend is just sort of there for fun, but I’m a HUGE history dork (especially American Military History). In fact, my excuse for missing a day of school for this trip is that I’m just bolstering my Poli Sci and History majors :p.

Oh! How could I forget? We’d also like to pop over to Ford’s Theater, if it isn’t out of the way. How far from everything is it?

Anyway, as you can see, this is pretty open ended. I’m just looking for any particularly exciting exhibits, restaurants, hotels, etc. that I might not normally think of. The only thing that I really want to do, but can’t is the White House. Apparently, you have to arrange a party of 10 or more. Lame.

And it ought to be noted that she and I are two lowly college students. We can spend some moderate cash, but nothing too high end. Obviously, the cheaper the better.

Thanks!

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One more thing I forgot: I really like taking pictures. I was planning on heading over to the Mall at night to take some neat photos, but any other photo ops you can think of will be appreciated.

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How could I forget? We’d also like to pop over to Ford’s Theater, if it isn’t out of the way. How far from everything is it?

If you mean* is there anything cool really close by * (besides the Petersen House across the street that you won’t want to miss) the answer is no – you pretty much have to want to go and commit to it, just to see Fords*. If you mean will it eat up hours & hours of my 3 days in D.C. the answer again is no… I would say it is a less than 15ish minute walk from the Metro Station in a non-scary daylight neighborhood (unless all City neighborhoods freak you out). If do decide you go, make sure you can get to Ford’s basement museum [stocked with Assassination and Civil War artifacts] that is open to the public for self-guided tours daily. IMO that is worth more than the peek at the box. 202-426-6924 is the Public Phone number for info

*Having said that the FBI Building is really close by (you can gawk but the really, really cool tour is no more) as is the International Spy Museum (which costs money - $14 for adults- unlike most DC attractions). 3 days? College kids? Unless you are tired of all the free museum stuff, or are a spy junkie of some kind, I’d probably skip it – it is not “lame” as you kids say though

Here is Fords link including closest Metro and Bus stations

As another idea You sound like someone who would enjoy the Capitol Hill Tour .
We’re both flying in to Baltimore bright and early Thursday morning and we’re thinking that we’ll take the metro to Arlington for the day.

You have a way to get from Baltimore (I presume BWI) to the Metro System and that is just a step you left out – correct? (“Yes Jimmmy we left out stopping for Bathroom breaks and getting coffee too” – dumb Q I know, but I wanted to check/make sure you know that)

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Hubby and I went a few years back. My favorite stop was the National Cathedral. I have no idea how you get there with public transportation - we were staying with his relatives and they drove.

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Cathedral is cool (because Darth Vader is there). There’s more to it than just the stained glass at the ground floor. Make sure you go up to the observation level and down into the catacombs. Outside is the charming & peaceful Bishop’s Garden. The nearest metro stop is not very near - about a 30 minute walk at least.

Ford’s is downtown near the corner of 10th and E. But I’m not sure that you can just waltz in and visit the infamous balcony.

For Hotels check out this thread from June. And this two page thread from February has lots of suggestions.

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jimmmy, we still aren’t entirely sure where we’re staying, but I’ve pulled two itineraries from the Metro-place’s website (forgive me, I am from the land of no public transportation-- this whole thing is foreign to me). Both from BWI to Arlington and/or the Capitol area.

For Arlington (just to the cemetery, since I have no idea where we’re staying yet) it gives me:

At the airport, take bus B30 towards GreenBelt station (takes from 10:20 AM to 10:49 to get there). Get on the Green Line train towards Branch Ave- get off at L’ENFANT PLAZA METRO STATION (about 25 min). Then take the Blue Line towards FRANCONIA METRO, getting off at Arlington (about another 20 minutes). Total cost: $5.25.

For Capitol Hill, I just used directions from the Airport to the Hyatt:
At the airport, take bus B30 GreenBelt station (takes from 10:20 AM to 10:49 to get there). Get on the Green Line train towards Branch Ave- get off at FORT TOTTEN METRO STATION (10 minutes). Take the redline train to Union Station (7 minutes). Total cost: $5.35.

Apparently, I just have to take the bus for a bit from the Airport to the Metro.
Yay? Nay?

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Patty O’Furniture, like I said, I’ve been before- so I’ve also been to Ford’s before. I know that you can go to the museum in the basement and, theater permitting, can look up at the famous balcony. And of course, the everything else across the street. :slight_smile: I just can’t remember how my dad and I got there.

By all means, Amanda and I have no problem shelling out for a cap so long as the prices are reasonable. So, if you think it would best for us to hop on a cab, rather than a train or bus, that’s fine.

We would rent a car and such, but we’re too young (20).

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If you like military history, you’ll probably enjoy a quick jaunt around the Smithsonian’s Air & Space Museum. You’ll be three weeks too late to see the Marine Corps Sunset Parade at the Barracks at 8th & I (every Friday, May-Aug, 8:45pm). The Pentagon gives free tours Mon-Fri, hosted by smartly-dressed soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines. Arlington National Cemetery is home to the Women in Service Memorial.

The College Park Aviation Museum is a neat stop for aviation buffs if the Air and Space Museum isn’t enough for you. College Park Airfield was where the Wright Brothers and the Army flew the first heavier-than-air military aircraft. Admission is $4, but I haven’t been, so I don’t know if it’s worthwhile.

The Espionage Museum was pricey but interesting. If you’ve read more than four or five books on the history of espionage, you may not see much you didn’t already know, though.

IIRC, the Mall has some bronze dinosaurs; on weekends you can usually find kids climbing all over them. Also, there’s a carousel and the sculpture gardens – all of these will be great photo ops. The architecture on your walk from the Mall to Union Station is neat to photograph, and Union Station is a great place to grab lunch or an early dinner.

Try the East Street Cafe, on the top floor of Union Station, for some delicious southeast Asian cuisine. I like their curry! If your partner in crime doesn’t dig on curry, there’s also a huge food court in the basement. Get a balcony seat at East Street Cafe and you can spend your meal people-watching. Expect to spend about $20/person but leave well-filled. The Thai Iced Coffee and Tea are both delicious, too.

Regarding jimmmy’s worry about transit: you can catch a Metro Bus from BWI, or you can take the MARC train to Union Station, or you can have a SuperShuttle take you down to BWI… but it’s important to figure out now how you’re going to get back.

If budget is a limiting factor, plan to eat before you visit Georgetown. Pretty much every restaurant I’ve been to in that area had inflated prices.

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Good hats are a worthy investment, indeed. Yet, I also have no problem shelling out for a cab either. :slight_smile:

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Yeah, pretty much the only inexpensive place was the three-story Burger King but I don’t think that’s there anymore.

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The Holocaust museum is an incredible experience, but if you go, be prepared to be a little shaken up for the rest of the day.

The first time I went, I was unprepared for what I would see, what it would be like. The second time I went, I spent an equal amount of time watching the crowd’s reation as I did looking at the exhibits.

You should get your tickets in the morning-- you can’t just walk on in. Go at about nine AM and get a ticket for a later tour time. If you wait until past noon, the tickets might all be gone.

After you hand over your ticket, you’re given the passport of a Holocaust victim with the story of what happened to them inside. You climb onto an elevator for the ride up to the first exhibit floor. (The museum is designed like a chimney and its confusing, winding layout is intentional.)

As I rode up in the elevator both times, the folks inside were chatting quietly, laughing softly. After the doors opened, that noise was cut off as if by an axe. They were stunned. The first thing you see is a giant, horrible mural of a ditch full of rotting bodies. It’s meant to represent the American soldiers who found the camps and the shock they felt at the first sight of hell on earth.

As you go through, you will see thousands and thousands of artifacts beginning from the time before the Holocaust when there was a systematic effort to dehumanize and degrade Jews through books, film and even childrens’ texts. You see the slow, horrifying build up and then the life in the camps. (Including a cannister of Zyklon B tablets.) You see a pile of shoes that were seized from the people before they went into the gas chambers and stockpiled for re-use. (Seeing those shoes is hideously personalizing. Individual taste in styles, stains inside where a foot sweated against the leather . . .) You walk through a glass tunnel carved with hundreds of names-- each is a town of village completly wiped from the map by the Nazi campaign. You will see, and be able to enter, a boxcar which transported those poor people to their doom.

Both times I’ve gone, I’ve wept. Both times I went, I spent the rest of the day thinking about man’s inhumanity toward man. I’m glad I went but it’s incredibly emotional.

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Please be prepared that “The Smithsonian” includes something like 13 museums and the Zoo. I can spend two or three days and not get through Natural History (my favourite).

I will second the Holocaust Museum, but it’s not for you if you want to have fun! fun! fun! in the capital.

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Well, like I said, I’m a total history nerd and not looking to go to wild clubs or anything. Fun! Fun! Fun! to me is going to cool museums and historical sights.

I also know what’s included in the Smithsonian, like I’ve said, I’ve been there before. I figure we’ll pick one or two we particularly want to see and spend an afternoon looking around.

And, Lissa- I wasn’t really looking to go to the Holocaust Museum, but you make it sound interesting. You don’t happen to know if it is much different (better/ worse) than the one in Los Angeles? I know the one down there is supposed to be one of the best and I’ve been there several times throughout my life.

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Don’t know if you can afford it, but we loved www.washingphotosafari.com.

The photographer/instructor was fantastic.

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Ok, try this: washingtonphotosafari.com

Sorry.

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Yay DiosaBellissima. I was just making sure you knew that they didn’t connect but I had no idea that Metro has a dedicated Express Bus between Greenbelt and BWI running every 40 minutes.

So by “know-it-all-in” it a bit, I learned something myself.

Also, the World War II Memorial is fairly new and fairly powerful.

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I’d suggest you take the MARC train

here

from the BWI rail station into Union Station. Have something to eat or drink there (the food court from hell), and catch the Metro easily over to Arlington.

I did that for almost a year, a nice easy trip if you have the time.

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Oh. From BWI you can catch a shuttle bus over to the BWI Rail Station, to be complete.

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I’m sorry, I haven’t been to the one in LA.

I’ll give you my judgement on it both from a person who has been to hundreds of museums and as a person who works in one:

It’s a very well-designed museum. The exhibits are visually stimulating and well laid-out. (The floorplan spirals you upwards like a puff of smoke.) The interpretive information is clear, concise and detailed. In other words, they know when just a word or two conveys the enormity of the horror more than a paragraph would. The interractive exhibits can be unsettling in their ability to bring you into the experience. The flow is never interrupted, but the way the exhibits are presented constantly changes. (You don’t just see an endless bank of cases, in other words.)

Just as a museum itself, I would give it a solid 10 rating. In some ways, I like it better than the Smithsonian.

From the visitor perspective, I say that it’s one of my favorites. I know it’s odd to say that, considering the subject matter, but no museum has ever moved me the way that this one did.

The difference lies a lot in the design of the whole structure. Many museums are crammed into buildings designed for another purpose. This one was designed to be an experience.

The facade of the building is looming and oppressive with a vague industrial feel. Inside, the walls are smooth white marble, cold and hard-looking. Nothing relieves the starkness. Once you take the elevator to the first exhibit floor, you’re instantly slammed with the sight of what all this really boils down to-- death and horror. Sometimes, it’s easy to distance yourself from events which happened in the past, but this museum doesn’t allow that.

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I’m going for the first time myself, I’m 45, leaving the day you get there.

I’m staying at Kalorama hotel on 2700 Cathedral St, next to the zoo. I think it’s $80/night solo person–free brekkie. For a double it’s even more reasonable. They have a website, check it out. Or it’s in all the guide books, they do have two locations too. The webpage has a $20 coupon also!

Pick up a good guide book, there is so much to do you’ll need it to let you know what’s available and where it is. Or go to the library and xerox the pages you want.

I hear one of the Smithsonian museums is closing around Sept5, we’ll both miss it. It’s the one with Dorothy’s ruby red slippers, Archies Chair…American History museum?? that one.

I want to check out the zoo, soley for the Pandas. I believe I read that they’re only out 11-1pm, fyi. I’m also hoping to see…: Library of Congress, Kennedy’s grave, National Archives, Air & Space museum, holocaust museum, …maybe Hirston Gallery but my friend says it isn’t that good, Portrait Gallery, and she mentioned…Wegman center(?). I planned in advance so I get a tour of the Capitol & Bureau of Engraving & Whatever–it’s probably too late, but call your congresspersons office in DC and see if you can get in for anything. they have a WEALTH of info, they sent me all kinds of stuff.
I will probably come back another time to see more, I never knew there was so much to see and do there.