What/where in Washington DC
What/where in Washington DC
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Discussion

AdeTuono

Original Poster:

7,626 posts

258 months

Saturday 11th August 2012
quotequote all
Just about to book flights to US in December. Will stay in Manhattan for a couple of nights before driving down to Washington DC for 3-4 nights.

Anyone got any recommendations on where to stay/what to do? Any good bars (not poncy stuff; I like dive bars...)?

davepoth

29,395 posts

230 months

Saturday 11th August 2012
quotequote all
http://www.washingtonpost.com/gog/

Plenty of places to eat and drink, lots of reviews there.

So far as stuff to do goes, you can spend two days looking at all of the memorials alone, even before you think about the Smithsonian.

Robatr0n

12,362 posts

247 months

Sunday 12th August 2012
quotequote all
If you get the chance, take a Segway tour of DC. We were pushed for time but wanted to see all the sites/touristy things so my brother took us on the Segway tour and it was awesome.

We saw everything we wanted to with very informative guides in a fraction of the time it'd normally take. You will also have a blast whilst doing it. smile

Stephanie Plum

2,797 posts

242 months

Sunday 12th August 2012
quotequote all
Take a drive around the main memorials at night. Incredibly atmospheric. Most hotels can organises a car for you to this that will drop you off and wait while you stroll around.

Mr E

23,089 posts

290 months

Sunday 12th August 2012
quotequote all
Smithsonian on the mall and the flight extension were pretty special.

Bradgate

3,226 posts

178 months

Sunday 12th August 2012
quotequote all
DC is a fantastic place to visit.

For me the highlight is the Smithsonian Air & Space museum. It has 2 sites, 1 on the Mall close to the Capitol and another larger site (the Steven F Udvar-Hazy Center) near Dulles airport. They have everything from the original Wright Flyer to the Space Shuttle and Concorde.

It is unmissable for anyone who has any interest in aviation.

LooneyTunes

9,490 posts

189 months

Sunday 12th August 2012
quotequote all
AdeTuono said:
Just about to book flights to US in December. Will stay in Manhattan for a couple of nights before driving down to Washington DC for 3-4 nights.

Anyone got any recommendations on where to stay/what to do? Any good bars (not poncy stuff; I like dive bars...)?
Check the weather forecast before you go (ideally see if you can find somewhere online that will factor in wind chill effect as it can be "bracing" to say the least). Personally I rather like it round Georgetown.

JDiz

1,074 posts

275 months

Sunday 12th August 2012
quotequote all
Robatr0n said:
If you get the chance, take a Segway tour of DC. We were pushed for time but wanted to see all the sites/touristy things so my brother took us on the Segway tour and it was awesome.

We saw everything we wanted to with very informative guides in a fraction of the time it'd normally take. You will also have a blast whilst doing it. smile
agreed

sooperscoop

408 posts

194 months

Monday 13th August 2012
quotequote all
Bradgate said:
DC is a fantastic place to visit.

For me the highlight is the Smithsonian Air & Space museum. It has 2 sites, 1 on the Mall close to the Capitol and another larger site (the Steven F Udvar-Hazy Center) near Dulles airport. They have everything from the original Wright Flyer to the Space Shuttle and Concorde.

It is unmissable for anyone who has any interest in aviation.
^^^^^
This

No man should miss these. The Udvar-Hazy was almost empty when I was there, awesome experience.

I like to walk from the Capitol to the Lincoln Memorial, it's a straight line taking in all the museums, Whitehouse, Monument, Korean and Vietnam Memorials (quite moving) plus loads of other things. You can smell the power.

sooperscoop

408 posts

194 months

Monday 13th August 2012
quotequote all
Double Post

JimboM3

294 posts

241 months

Monday 13th August 2012
quotequote all
I am off to NY/Washington in Sep. For food I am planning on using the Man Vs Food map. Aim to hit a few if these.

http://www.tvfoodmaps.com/show/Man-v-Food

Not classy but why not!

Jim

Dan_1981

18,123 posts

230 months

Monday 13th August 2012
quotequote all
Washington is a brilliant city.

The museums are superb - Smithsonian, Air & Space etc etc - Check otu the scale model of the solar system on the Mall.

Go to the senate, the white house, all the war memorials, Arlington.

Amazing city.

matt3001

1,999 posts

228 months

Monday 13th August 2012
quotequote all
Put a request in to tour the Pentagon, thats what I did when I was there last year. Fantastic couple of hours been shown around by one of the marines.

You have to provide lots of details in advance (obviously) but a quick google should point you in the right direction.

timmybob

486 posts

303 months

Monday 13th August 2012
quotequote all
Lived in the DC commuter belt for almost the last 3 years and haven’t seen all DC has to offer.
In terms of where to stay, it depends what you’re looking for and how much you want to spend. It’s a popular tourist destination so there are plenty of hotels downtown, but equally you may want to stay out of town (as it’ll be cheaper) but near a Metro stop to make travel in to town easy. Personally I'd stay downtown...
In terms of bars, Georgetown has already been mentioned as an area to look at, but I’d also consider around Dupont Circle as well. Compared to other US cities, DC is pretty compact so you’re never that far from anywhere.