lifeisanadventure

U will be in dc Thursday and Friday for a meeting Thursday morning I then have until Friday at 730 to do whatever. What can I see I'd like to see the monuments and am not sure what else to do

tenthumbs

Which monuments do you want to see? DC has many of them. What are your interests? History? Art? Science? News? Do you plan on walking everywhere or taking public transportation? Where are you staying?

More information is needed before recommendations can be given..........

harleybabe2015

If you want to see an overview of the Mall use the Old Post Office tower instead of the Washington Monument. Much less crowds. The WWII, Vietnam and Korean War Memorials are very moving, Jefferson Memorial is beautiful. Holocost Museum is amazing.

NewbE

The Washington Monument has been closed since the earthquake a couple of years ago and will remain closed indefinitely. All you can do is walk by it.

The monuments make for a long but very pleasant walk, or you can always hire a taxi to take you for a spin. You could also visit the Library of Congress, the Bureau of Printing and Engraving, the Capitol, the National Archives, the Newseum, the Holocaust Museum, or any of the Smithsonian Institution museums, which range from art to science to history. All of these, including most the most popular Smithsonian buildings are near the National Mall. You can walk by the White House. You can go up and see the National Cathedral. Really, there's a mess of things to see and do. These are the ones a first-time visitor would most likely put on their list.

lifeisanadventure

I want to see the Mall and the Jefferson and the Capitol and probably the White House and the war memorials. I like history. I was thinking of doing maybe one museum what do you recommend? I will be using the metro and haven't found a hotel yet any recommendations? I prefer under $100 a night central or close to the metro

vjpblovesitaly

Do you mean this week?

Here is a map I like

http://www.nps.gov/nama/planyourvisi...d/NACCmap1.pdf

Ignore the part about teh Museum of American Art and Portrait Museum being closed-they no longer are

lifeisanadventure

Yes for this week! And thanks for the map!

vjpblovesitaly

So you were all worried about getting from BWI over the weekend and did not even have a hotel reserved yet? On that thread you say "we" and on this one "I" (and U which I assume is a typo).

Is it two people?

lifeisanadventure

I was not all worried it was a question. No I do not have a hotel reserved, never do always wait until the last minute so I get the best price. Yes it is 2

vjpblovesitaly

It doesn't always work that way in cities. Maybe in small towns it does.

Washington Plaza Hotel has a room for $109.00 before tax (BAR -Best Available Rate)

Days Inn Connecticut Ave will probably be within your budget. I stayed there recently when the water was turned off in my apt. It is a budget hotel for sure, but it was clean, etc.

Where is your meeting located? When will you actually be here. Arriving Thursday leaving Friday is what I am gathering from above.

lifeisanadventure

My flight lands at 9 am on thursday morning and I fly out at 745 pm Friday evening. I have a meeting at Catholic University of America Thursday morning until about 2. I'd rather stay near the attractions then the college.

obxgirl

vjpblovesitaly has given you a good recommendation for your budget. That Days Inn on Conn Ave is in a pleasant though uninteresting for the tourist neighborhood less than 5 min from a metro station that will get you to the National Mall and the things you've listed. You'll have to change from red to blue lines.

vjpblovesitaly

If you don't mind paying in advance, not knowing for certain what hotel you will get, and MAYBE not having an option to cancel (because you are within the cancellation time period), LastMinuteTravel (hereafter referred to LMT) has

4.5-star hotel in Dupont Circle/Kalorama/Washingto
for $115 before tax ($133 after)
That hotel is probably The Dupont Circle Hotel

On LMT, you can often determine the hotel by using the photos they give and the description (number of rooms, etc.)

The above mentioned Days Inn Connecticut Ave is listed on LMT as
2.5-star hotel in Dupont Circle/Kalorama/Washingto
$71 before tax

Also on that website
3.5-star hotel in Downtown Area/Washington
$105 before tax.
I think this is Four Points by Sheraton Washington DC Downtown but I am least sure about this one.

tenthumbs

Use the map vjplovesitaly provided to plan your route on the Mall. If you start at one end~say, the Lincoln Memorial~you can walk on one side down the almost 2 miles to the Capitol building, then back to the Lincoln Memorial on the other side and see most of the monuments. The Jefferson and FDR memorials are on the other side of the Tidal Basin compared to the Mall but worth the detour. Keep in mind you will be able to walk by the White House and view it from a distance, but pre-arranged tickets are required to enter the White House. If you're interested in the history of the White House, the White House Visitors' Center on Pennsylvania Ave South (between 14th and 15th Streets)has some excellent exhibits.

5alive

Catholic University is next to the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. We went to Mass there. We had a rental car and drove. It is really "out there" compared to most of the bustle of DC. I don't think it would be fun to have a hotel near there so I agree with your choice.

Still you have some thinking to do. Many hotels in DC charge for parking so renting a car could be spendy. Are you planning to take the Metro/Bus?

If so, I would spend some time with Google Maps. There is a feature where you can click the bus and it will route you from your Point A Hotel to your Point B conference and how long it will take. Be sure it set it to the time of day you will be traveling.

lifeisanadventure

Thanks for all the great replies! I decided on the Days inn and it's fine! Thanks again!

tchoiniere

That Days Inn is fine. I have stayed there (about 4 years ago). Only issue I had was the maids knocking on our doors at 7:30 to see if we were out of the room yet even with the Do not Disturb sign on the door. Hotel was clean and in a decent area. Walk to the Metro was quick. Ride into DC wasn't too bad (Even while considering it was the time the Metro had crashed in 2009). Would stay there again.