Washington D.C. - things to visit
 

At the end of the month I'm going on a family trip to D.C. Obviously we're already seeing the monuments, Arlington, Supreme Court, Smithsonian, and we have private tours to the White House, Capitol, and PENTAGON (having a family member high-up in the military is pretty awesome)!

Anyway are there any other things that we should check out... maybe places that aren't very well known? Restaurant recommendations? Things NOT to see?

We need stuff to do at night, mostly.

U Street, NW between 10th and 18th or so
Georgetown (Wisconsin Avenue and M Streets, NW)
Adams Morgan (18th Street and Columbia Road)

All great neighborhoods where you can dine at night.

I don't know how long you'll be there, but the Kennedy Center is pretty cool to visit. They have a show called Shear Madness that's really funny...it's sort of like a murder mystery with audience involvement. I thought it was really fun. I think it's still running right now but I'm not sure. I'm sure they have a website on it.

The International Spy museum and the Holocaust museum are both amusing. I could easily spend a whole day shopping in Georgetown. Eastern Market is entertaining on the weekends, but there was a fire there recently so I'm not sure what kind of shape it's in. I actually prefer the monuments at night - the crowds aren't as bad and it's pretty.

Good places to eat:
Matchbox - in Chinatown (pizza and the best mini-burgers you'll ever eat)
Georgia Brown - Farragut North (southern food)
Ceiba - Farragut North (Latin American - on the more expensive end)
Cakelove - U Street (delicious cupcakes)
Nooshi - Dupont Circle (cheap Thai food)

Fun bars (I know you'll be with family, but they all serve food):
Local 16 - U Street (lounge with a huge rooftop deck)
Reef - Adams Morgan (3-story lounge with a rooftop deck)
Buffalo Billiards - Dupont Circle (big sports bar)
Smith Point - Georgetown (I think you can usually get in even if you're not on the list, you just may have to pay...it's been a while)
Old Ebbitt Grill - Downtown (get oysters and sit at the bar)

Uhh...I'm sure I'm leaving off a million things. More later, maybe.

The Spy Museum is AWESOME but allow yourself a few hours - when we were there we didn't allow ourselves anywhere near enough time!

If your family drinks/enjoys good beer, definitely check out the Brickskeller. Its in NW, and has something like 900 different beers. Its a comfortable bar, good to go if you want to get a table, and food and whatnot, but our servers are always great at recommending new ones to try - its one of my favorite places to go drink/get dinner.

I like it, but it's been so crowded every time I've gone - what time do you usually go?

We always use it as a starting point, so around dinner time...6 or 7pm on a Saturday. The last two times we had a group of 6, and they let us make reservations...not sure if they do for smaller groups too, I didn't make them, our friends made them. Worth looking into though, they have some delicious brews ;)

The Improv is pretty cool.

The monuments are awesome after dark, especially the Vietnam (?) Memorial. Or whichever one has all the statues of soldiers standing in the park.

I think you're thinking of the Korean War Memorial...one of my favorites too. :)

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b1...armemorial.jpg

You MUST do the zoo. Absolutely must. It's such a great attraction to visit. My brother is graduating from American this weekend and my brother and my sister in law are taking my nephew to the zoo while they're there.

LOL that sounded so bad, even though I know you didn't mean it that way. We're visiting the Holocaust museum for sure. :)

As for the zoo... we didn't plan on visiting it because we're kind of zoo snobs, since the San Diego zoo is supposed to be the best.

I also cosign on Spy Museum, but you do have to allocate time if you want to do it right.

I would spend a day/evening in "old town" Alexandria. Great walk down towards the river, cool shops and great restaurants. I don't know what the night life (if any) is like there, I haven't been past about 11.

Bars I like (but I haven't spent serious time in DC in a year):
Cap Hill-
Capitol Lounge (lots of staffers)
Hawk and Dove- Famous, again, lots of staffers
Lounge 201- I went to a couple of lobbyist-sponsored things there, and it was a good time.

I like Old Ebbitt as well

Gtown
Garrett's- laid back, but multi-level so it can get annoying to move around. I always liked it though, mostly because it was like 200 yards from my apt. Used to be a great place to get Foggy Bottom Ale, but they don't make it anymore.
Rhino is good for sports
-Also, McFadden's is good for sports, its in Foggy Bottom on Pennsylvania, couple blocks from M.
Mr. Smiths- girls love the piano
Sequoia- hit or miss, i like it but some don't. Its right on the river.
The Tombs- I liked it, but it can be unbearably crowded. Its a classic place though, very popular w/ students.
The Guards- I don't think I've been (probably have, but don't recall) but its pretty popular, maybe someone else can help
Daily Grille- This is a chain and could go under restaurants, but we used to drink here early before going other places. Its a pretty classy but young crowd, a lot of LA's and such.

Restaurants (not necc the best places to eat, just places i liked)
-Tortilla Coast (Cap Hill)- Pretty good mexican and good margaritas
-10 cent wings at Capitol Lounge (cap hill)
-1789 very well known, somewhat expensive. I know some people who think its overhyped, but I liked it (I liked all the Clyde's places I went to)
-The Occidental- also fairly expensive, but great pictures on the wall and great food
-Five Guys- If you've never eaten there, you need to. Burgers and fries, great stuff
-For delivery pizza, Pizza Movers is pretty good and cheap, I lived off it.
-Steak, the only true beef place I've eaten at in DC is Capital Grille, which was excellent. Expensive and a chain, and although not prime beef the dry-aging is worth it.
-Bullfeathers on the Hill, we ate there for lunch a lot, might be another consideration after your Capitol tour (right beside the office buildings). However, I think the food court below Cannon office building is good, and many visitors like eating down there.
In Alexandria, I got good italian at Il Porto
I'm not big on greek, but my sister and mom like Athena Pallas which I think is in Arlington near Cheesecake Factory, if I recall correctly.

When I went to DC, I enjoyed the following the most: the monuments at night, the National Gallery of Art, the Pentagon tour, the FBI tour, and the special congressional tour you could go on if you got a ticket from one of your state's U.S. senators. Not sure if you can still do the latter three (especially the pentagon tour, but it sounds like you've got a VIP), but I'd try if you can. It was pretty cool to go onto the floor of the senate and house chambers and sit in the chairs.

I didn't make it to the Library of Congress, but I hear it's not to be missed.

I've taken my kids a couple times in the past few years, but when I was 17 on my first big trip to DC, my favorites were the National Cathedral, Arlington Cemetary and Mt. Vernon. I also liked the Folger Shakespeare Library.

Our favorites on our recent trips were the Moonlight and Monuments tour out of Union Station, the Spy Museum and visits to the White House, Senate and House chambers (we had great tours because one of our Senator's chief of staff teaches my daughter's Sunday School class and our US Rep lives down the street).

Of course, with teenagers, shopping in Georgetown was probably the top attraction, even though we have every one of those stores here. We rode the metro to GWU and walked.

No help w/restaurants, I never remember the names of anything.

I love DC. If I hadn't gotten married right out of college and my husband already lived here, it would've been my first choice.

My next trip, I'm leaving the kids at home and I'm going to spend as much time in every art museum as I wish and never eat anything off of a tray...it's white tablecloths all the way! :D

Anyone can do the Pentagon, White House, and Capital Tour. ;)
I would recommend the National Catherdal, my aunt's funeral was held there last year and it's absolutely beautiful! You may als be interested in the :

• Fredrick Douglas Museum
• I agree with Adam's Morgan
• The Waterfront
• Arena Stage seating is great for all shows.
• S.E. DC the architeture of some of the oldest and biggest homes in DC are beautiful
• If you like living on the edge Barry Farms ;)
• Ben's Chili Bowl near Howard
• Underground Railroad Tour
• Mt Vernon

Isn't the FBI the only one you can't do anymore? But my foggy memory has me thinking that's because they are renovating the HQ.

They are stingy with White House tickets because they only let in so many per day, and once they're gone, they're gone. They (Senator's office staffers) said bus and tour groups make it more difficult for individual families trying to get tickets. I remember walking through the WH when I was a teenager--it was like Versailles in the middle of the summer. Basically it was a long line and you shuffled through, look left, look right, follow the line out the door. Our tour a couple of years ago was pretty good and we spent a lot of time in each room. The WH visitors center across the street is interesting, too. I thought so anyway, but I like museums.

If you are willing to cross the Potomac:
Mount Vernon, Arlington National Cemetary, Old Town Alexandria (there are historic house tours).

Back to the District:
What's nice about all the Smithsonians is that there is no admissions charge. So if you only want to see one particular exhibit at a museum, you don't feel as if you are wasting money by skipping the rest.

I love the Botanical Gardens near the US Capitol and the Indian Museum (only a couple of years old). There is an Arboretum somewhere in Eastern DC that is quite nice as well.

Catch a Nationals game if you can.

I would also take a tour of Georgetown University. It's a beautiful campus.

When I was working in DC and the last time I visited, the FBI live fire exhibit was closed. Not sure if its reopened or not.

You have all mentioned most of the places I'd suggest - good call on Bullfeathers, shinerbock! If you're going to Old Town Alexandria, Gadsbys Tavern is great place to have lunch. It's good for dinner, too, but it's the exact same food at double the prices. There's a small museum there, and needless to say, George Washington hung out there.

Since you're taking the kids, they would enjoy The Silver Diner.. I'm only familiar with the one at Tyson's Corners, but it's fun for the kids.

One of my favorites is The HillwoodMuseum. It was the home of Majorie Merriweather Post (heir of the Post Cereal fortune), and she designed it to be used as a museum after her death. There's lots of Faberge, incredible artwork, the Hapsburg Wedding Veil - lots of things like that. You can have High Tea on the premises. One restriction is that all children must be over six.

If you're into Lincolnalia, PM or email me - there's SO much to see on that angle, and I don't want to bore anyone. I wouldn't even bother with the White House unless you have the personal tour - you'll feel like the Griswolds in European Vacation.

And by all means, let me know how it goes - I'm in charge of a convention there next summer for a lot of people who have never been to DC, and I'd love to hear that perspective!

ROTFL @ Berry Farms... they aint ready for soufeast Reds

but mos def go to the Waterfront and the Wharf, eat at Phillips AND Ben's Chili Bowl is a mos def as well...

So overrated. :)

We thank you.

Go to the FDR Memorial. I didn't even know it existed and we happened upon it in January. It was beautiful.

I think the American History Smithsonian is closed for renovations. Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought it was going to be closed for most of 2007.

Get reservations for the Holocaust Museum so you can do the good tour. It's very somber but an incredible experience.

F the FBI! They are parasties!:mad:

OOPs I am on their radar now!:eek:

The District, The Smithsonian as there are a lot.
Walk the Mall, Start with Lincolns, and walk towards trhe Wahsingtom Monument! It leads to everywhere!:D

There is so much to see, spend time, it is worth it!:)

Enjoy it is worth it!

I hate it when people say that! Ben's is NOT overrated!:mad::D

Ok, so maybe I'm a little too attached, but those chili half-smokes, man...

Check out Thaiphoon, a great Thai place in Dupont.

Oh, do not forget THE Cemetary !!!

It is one of the most sacred places on earth!

So many things to see there! Sad but is what Our Country is about!

Just see everything you can!:)

You will always rember it!:)

FDR memorial is awesome. I have done the Monuments by Moonlight tour twice, I think it's really a great way to take in all the major ones in one night.

When I was there in February it was closed but I'm not sure when it's reopening - I think most of the highlights are temporarily in Air & Space.

Oops. That will teach me to think before I type.

I love our little zoo, but it doesn't hold a candle to San Diego's...probably not the best use of your time.

When I was there with my boyfriend last summer we both really enjoyed the Marine Corps Parade (http://www.mbw.usmc.mil/parade_eveningdefault.asp)

Its at 8:45 every Friday night in the summer. The band is really really good, and not too bad to look at either!

I will agree with the others in saying you should consider crossing the river one night and checking out Old Town Alexandria. On Fri and Sat nights they close down two blocks of King St and have live music and people dressed in colonial garb. As for Adams Morgan, I'm not the biggest fan. It's always congested and parking is a good 20 bucks ( the closet metro is the zoo) if you can't find a spot on the street. Brickskellers is good but if you go to dupont Circle watch where you go because the gay bars and the regular ones are like side by side. There is this Bar west of Capital Hill in a kinda shady part of DC called Palace of Wonders- If you only go to one bar in DC this has to be it. seriously, check it out!

From what I heard it is going to reopen late summer /early fall.

I am a Washingtonian and I have never heard of this before. Thank you for sharing something new with me!

Citronelle for dinner will blow your mind. But get reservations now if you are interested.

And prepare to pay like $500 for a dinner for your whole family. If you want a mind-blowing Michel Richard dinner, make reservations at Central - much more affordable, and from what I hear, every bit as good.

Next time in DC I want to stop by there. The rector of my old church is the current Dean of the Cathedral, and he always does a great service.

Does anyone have recommendations for good, moderately-priced restaurants within walking distance of the Capitol area? No Mexican food though, because my stepdad refuses to eat East-Coast Mexican. He's a zoo AND a Mexican food snob.

Lastly, are there any fun things for my 17-year-old brother and I to do at night?

Bullfeathers is close to the Capitol, and is reasonable. Every other place I (personally) know of is either Mexican or a bar.

Whoever suggested the night tour of the monuments was spot on - they look so different, almost majestic, at night. There are a lot of ghost tours, too, in both DC & Old Town Alexandria.

I thought the ghost tours are only in the fall?

There are probably more ghost tours than there are ghosts, and NOT just in the autumn!

If you have a car and chance to travel outside DC, consider Annapolis, Maryland, if you've never been. The City Dock water front and cobblestone streets are beautiful, and you can take a guided tour of the U.S. Naval Academy most days. You can get crabs (Maryland blue crabs) at Cantler's or Buddy's, and there are several pub style restaurants downtown.