In March, on a Sunday, Shirl and I will be driving back from her brother's wedding in Maryland. Neither of us have been to D.C. and we figured we'd like to see Don's house and maybe the Smithsonian. We may stay overnight.

Any advice on getting around? What to avoid? What's open on Sunday? Things to see?

Thanks.

Do it.

If you’ll only be there one day, pick a single museum or get a map and pick a few sights close to each other. You could spend a month on museums alone. And distances are deceiving there. Something looks like it’s a few blocks away, 20 minutes later you’re still walking and it doesn’t look any closer. Get a hotel in National Harbor, MD or in Alexandria and shuttle/Uber into DC. Wear comfortable shoes.

Also beware the squirrels in the parks. They’re huge and will stand on a chair or table right beside you waiting for food.

Avoid driving. Stow your car and use the Metro, when possible.

If you go they have some hop on hop off bus tours. They will take you around to all the historical places and monuments.

It will give you a reference point on how all the places you see in movies and Tv fit together.

At the very least start at the Lincoln Memorial and walk the mall.

Everybody should go to DC if they get the chance...

When I first went to DC in the 90s I was shocked to learn that the Smithsonian is 20+ different museums. Air & Space and Natural History are both good and being located on the National Mall ties in with my next recommendation.

IMO, in the daylight you need to see Washington monument, WWII memorial, Reflecting Pool, Lincoln Memorial, Vietnam Wall, Korean Memorial, and Jefferson Memorial. At night, you need to go back and see the Korean Memorial (you'll thank me later).

If it were me, my order would be:

Jefferson Memorial (not on National Mall)

Uber/Lyft to National Mall

Korean (day)

Lincoln

Vietnam

reflecting pool

WWII

Washington

Air & Space OR Natural History (I can do both but my museum viewing walking speed is not everyone's cup of tea)

Dinner

Korean (night)

Better have a good pair of walking shoes because my itinerary is a lot of walking.

As for things to avoid:

driving (i.e. take the metro rail and Uber/Lyft). My coworker lived there for years and described the road design as started off as a deer trail, upgraded to a horse trail, upgraded to wagon trail, upgraded to a single lane road, upgraded to multi-lane road, and now a complete maze that makes no sense. The traffic is brutal too.

Smithsonian Museum of Modern Art - Just checked the Smithsonian website and it looks like they had to good sense to rebrand to American Art so this rant is a moot point. I have negligible artistic ability, but I could do better than half of the crap in here. I don't think I've ever said WTF so many times in an hour.

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Ego is the anesthesia that deadens the pain of stupidity

DISCLAIMER: These are the author's own personal views and do not represent the views of the author's employer.

Personally, Arlington National Cemetery has always been my favorite place to visit in DC. There's just something about it that you have to experience to understand.

Second would be any of the museums around the Mall - Natural History, Air & Space, Holocaust Museum are definite must visits. You should have time to do these in a day but you'll have to plan it well and it will be a lot of walking.

As for things to avoid - I went to the National Museum of the American Indian when it first opened many years ago and thought it was terrible. Lots of art and I am not into art. Not sure if it has changed much since then but I wouldn't go out of my way to find out.

And as others have stated - don't even think about driving. Uber/metro/shuttle everywhere.

Sorry you only have a day. I guess I would see the National Museum of American History, on the Mall. I can’t describe the feeling of standing in front of a uniform worn by George Washington. Probably then go to the National Air and Space Museum, almost directly across the Mall.

Then given your limited time, I would recommend seeing the Marine Corps Memorial, and from there you’re very close to Arlington. See the changing of the guard ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and walk among the heroes.

Have a great trip

For one day, I'd pick one museum of the Smithsonian, and spend my time there. For me, it would be Air and Space, but they are all worthy.

My 1st choices would be the Vietnam Memorial Wall and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. so may points of interest in the area ... enjoy the trip ....................... drill sgt.

Air&Space, Natural History, and monument. That's a full day.


If you get to monument super early you may be able to get a ticket to go up, but they are extremely limited and first come, first serve.

quote:

Originally posted by flesheatingvirus:
Avoid driving. Stow your car and use the Metro, when possible.

Yup

Holy moly! You guys are awesome! Thanks so much. We technically can stay until Monday if we need more time to see stuff.

I would like to see the Air and Space Museum. I'd love to see the National Archives is they let you view the Declaration and/or Constitution.

Last year I was a chaperone for my daughter's 8th grade class trip to DC. So I had to herd five 8th grade girls around DC on a hot day in May.

We were off the buses by about 10am. The girls wanted to go to the International Spy Museum, it's not .gov run but it was rather neat. I would like to go back when I don't have to divide my attention six ways. For the kids it was $25 each, I had my college ID so I was the only one to get the $5 discount. LOL

After that we went to the Holocaust Museum but we didn't do the permanent exhibition because the tickets are time slotted and our time would've been a few hours from when we were there.

From there we walked to the Washington Monument, down to the WWII memorial and then to the White House to get some pictures. Then the girls wanted Starbucks (meh) and the closest one was in the Trump Hotel. From there we went to the Museum of American History, walked around for about half an hour and then headed out to the bus.

My advice to people seeing DC for the first time with limited time here is as follows.

Put on a good pair of walking shoes and spend time walking the Mall area and see all the monuments, Capitol and White House.

The museums are great, heck they are world-class but you need to see the monuments in and around the Mall if you only do one thing to do this. Plan on spending a good half day doing that. Then pop into a museum that interests you.

If you have more then one day I would hit the museum you want to see early. Like when they open especially if it's on a weekend and/or one of the more popular ones(Air and Space, American History).

If your not to tired and have time go out after dark and see the Korean and Lincon at night.

One of my best trips downtown started at midnight. No crowds and you can see everything lite up.

Really though unless it's pouring down rain walk the Mall and see all the history.

Arlinton National Cemetery is something everyone should see but it will eat up at least half a day if not more and you will be tired when you leave. Lots of walking and hills. So unless you have at least 3 days here I would forgo it and stay around the Mall area.

quote:

Originally posted by drill sgt:
My 1st choices would be the Vietnam Memorial Wall and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. so may points of interest in the area ... enjoy the trip ....................... drill sgt.

Absolutely! Very emotional locations, both. Every American needs to visit Arlington Cemetery at least once, and watch the changing of the guard at the Tomb.

flashguy

There's a lot of things to see there.

Just don't forget where you are. Before I travel to areas like D.C., NY, CA I have to sterilize my backpack/bags.
As I understand it, even an innocent expended brass cartridge case is against the law in DC.
(*Expended center-fire casings capable of being reloaded are "ammunition" under current DC police interpretation).

quote:

Originally posted by Rinehart:
There's a lot of things to see there.

Just don't forget where you are. Before I travel to areas like D.C., NY, CA I have to sterilize my backpack/bags.
As I understand it, even an innocent expended brass cartridge case is against the law in DC.
(*Expended center-fire casings capable of being reloaded are "ammunition" under current DC police interpretation).

I wouldn't worry too much. Don't bring a gun into the city or have a 30 round AR mag laying on your car seat. Some of the museums including the Air and Space use magnetometers so leave any knives in your car when visiting them.

quote:

Originally posted by flesheatingvirus:
Avoid driving. Stow your car and use the Metro, when possible.

Agreed, traffic and parking is a PITA.

quote:

Originally posted by comet24:
I wouldn't worry too much. Don't bring a gun into the city or have a 30 round AR mag laying on your car seat. Some of the museums including the Air and Space use magnetometers so leave any knives in your car when visiting them.

My wife and I visited a few weeks after 9-11 when security was heavy... I was stopped going into the Air and Space Museum after my Swiss Army knife triggered a search...I politely asked if I could leave it with him while we went in...he said no but told me where to leave it hidden outside and even how to camouflage it till we exited the museum to pick it up...I was somewhat surprised to find it where I left it...overall a wonderful experience ...enjoy!