Me, Mrs. Mike, & the Tomminator are going to visit DC in a week. Any cool out of the way places we should look into?

Of course we’re going to the Smithsonian and the memorials near the Mall. Anything else?

Head across the river to see the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery, and visit the Marine Corps War Memorial.

The International Spy Museum is just a few blocks from The Mall.

The Smithsonian is actually 19 museums. I didn't know that prior to my first visit to DC. I liked Air & Space as well as Natural History, but made the mistake of going to the Hirshorn (cool architecture but inside wasn't my cup of tea). I have zero artistic ability and as I wandered through the modern and contemporary art found my self saying, "I could make that crap."

On the Mall, you need to see the Korean War Memorial both in daylight and at night. It was OK during the day, and not as impressive as its neighbors the Lincoln Memorial and the Vietnahm wall. However, the artists absolutely nailed the lighting and seeing the soldiers in rice paddies at night made an impression on me that's lasted decades.

I really enjoyed the architecture of the National Cathedral. It has so much detail that it took 80 years to build and best of all zero public money to build it.

I love watching baseball in person and when I travel enjoy taking in a major league or minor league game. Of course they have the major league team, The Nationals (on a West Coast road trip), but the local area also has 3 minor league teams - AA Bowie Baysox (nearest and in town next week), A Aberdeen IronBirds, and A Fredericksburg Nationals.

If you're a Civil War buff, they have 6 Civil War battlefields nearby. Manassas isn't far from the NRA Museum in Fairfax. The two most famous are Antietam at 70 miles and Gettysburg at 80 miles.

Udvar Hazy Center would be near the top of my list.

^^^Go There! The Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center is the Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum located at Dulles.

quote:

Originally posted by P250UA5:
Udvar Hazy Center would be near the top of my list.

Yes! This is a must see, even if you have little interest in aviation. The Enola Gay herself is enough reason to make this your top item on your list, not to menti9on dozens of other notable aircraft.

The Air & Space museum on the mall is another rewarding stop with the Wright Flyer and Spirit of St. Louis among many other noteworthy craft. But, if you have to pick one, Udvar-Hazy should be it.

Don't forget the art museums, in addition to the National art museums, several Universities and private ones have outstanding collections.

But, your trip, and your interests, there is a collection dedicated to almost every subject. Do your research, and keep in mind transportation challenges, DC isn't exactly easy to get around in, and not everything is clustered around the Mall, not to mention that a short walk from the Mall in certain directions can lead you into some pretty sketchy territory.

If you find Masonic stuff interesting the Temple in Alexandria is impressive

Excellent German food at a place called Old Europe. You can find it by googling it.

If you have access to a car, the Naval Academy is about an hour's drive from DC. They offer tours.

As others said air&spaces, natural history, and American history.

Here's an awesome place for lunch, reasonable price, fresh, and tasty.

https://www.chopsmith.com/

My two favorites sites were the Library of Congress and Arlington National Cemetery.

quote:

Any cool out of the way places

Go find Einstein and sit in his lap!



Don't forget the National Archives!

Udvar-Hazy and Arlington are the first places that occurred to me, but you’ve seen those posted a few times already. I would therefore add: The American History Museum on the Mall, and ascending the Washington Monument (great views of the capital city and places like the Pentagon). I thought the American History Museum was incredible and I’ll never forget standing a foot away from one of George Washington’s military uniforms. For a nice break from the city, go hike Theodore Roosevelt Island, an NPS run site situated in the Potomac River; it’s pretty cool.

TR Island is accessed by a footbridge from Arlington, VA

Check to see if the USMC Silent Drill team has a sunset performance/ pass and review while you are there

National LE Museum is worth seeing:

https://nleomf.org/museum/

It's mostly below ground next to the above ground LE Memorial. There's a Metro stop real close.

You didn't ask, but in most (all?) DC buildings CCW is a no-go, even with LEOSA.

Has no one mentioned the Nat. Firearms Museum at the NRA HQ in Fairfax yet? Oh, it's heavenly.

As others have said the Udvar-Hazy which is part of the Air and Space but a second facility out by Dulles Airport.

Changing of the guard if you have never seen it.

Then take an evening after it gets dark and walk around the monuments on the mall. The Korean and others are something special at night.

The 911 memorial at the Pentagon. This one also is special at night.

contact the office of your US representative in congress.

We got several perks by doing so

I always visit the air and space and the monuments. But a fun new one, is the Museum of the Bible. I found it surprisingly interesting.

The Holocaust Museum. Not at all fun, but very well done.

Go to Ford's Theater, but then go across the street to Petersen house, where Lincoln died.

Several history sources state that two actors rented one of the rooms when they were playing at Ford's Theater. A friend of theirs---another actor---stopped by a few days before the assassination.

That was John Wilkes Booth.