memermouse

My family is going on our third trip to D.C. in that many years. We are going the last week in April, from either Wed. night or Thurs. morning to Sunday afternoon. As my mom is going there for a business trip for Thurs. and Fri., my dad, sister(age 11) and I (14) are going to tour D.C. without her for those two days.

We have been to all the major Smithsonians, the Zoo, and numerous memorials. We plan to revisit the Air and Space Museum and the Natural History Museum, as well as go to the Spy Museum and Postal Museum. We go to Arlington Cemetary every trip as well. Other sites we have seen and want to go back to are:

US Botanical Garden
the Zoo
Union Station
Museum of American Indian
The Castle

My family is a group of very early risers, and by 6:30 we are ready to go. As of now, I am unsure of our hotel, but I believe it is the Jurys Washington on Dupont Circle, which is where we stayed last year. We have used the Metro plenty of times before.

Other than Arlington Cemetary, we are unsure if we are leaving the city except for a visit to Hospital Point in Annapolis. We are thinking of going to Mount Veron on Saturday, but that depends on what we still want to see and how much time we have.

I am looking for suggestions for attractions we may have not seen, as well as places to eat, especially around Dupont Circle.

Thank you!

Anonymous

The Building Museum! A wonder in itself, and usually has great special exhibits. Sign up for a guided tour. And while you're in that area, consider visiting the Postal Museum, too.

pollyvw

The National Cathedral.

Barblab

Mount Vernon for sure. Also if you haven't been, Ford's Theator and the home accross the street where is died are interesting.

Clousie

Memermouse

First, thank you for a well written post. You included a lot of info we need to best respond to your inquiry. We should put this up as a way to write a post.

My suggestions are National Geographic and also the National Cathedral. If interested in the performing arts, a tour of Kennedy Center could be interesting.

For some reason, I think the end of April is when some of the embasseys are open....can someone confirm or not?

beentheretwice

I also suggest Mt. Vernon and Ford's Theater. We spent 6 hours at Mt. Vernon. It's a beautiful property and the adjoining museum is new and well done.

Christina

That's an awful lot to do in only a couple days, I don't think you can do it all. However, I also think the Building Museum is great, and definitely visit Mt Vernon if you haven't been there. The weather should be good then (until it's raining). I presonally would put that visit ahead of re-visiting places you've already been to, especially ones that are not unique (like a zoo). I think National Geographic could be a fun visit, also. I wouldn't spend any time touring the Kennedy Center myself, none. It's just a concert and performing arts hall, and not even a very attractive one. The architecture isn't interesting either, nor particularly historic in any way, as it wasn't even built until the 60s (a particularly bad period in Am. architecture). And I am very fond of the performing arts, more than most people, I just don't understand why people tour the Kennedy Center as a tourist. I think there are a million better uses of your time. I'm not sure what Clousie is referring to as when the embassies are open, they are open all year. I go to events at embassies all the time, all year long.

I do think the Library of Congress is worth seeing, and I don't believe that's on your list. I would add that or some other art museum if I wanted new things, but it would depend on what kind of art you liked. There are some great Asian art museums, and the Portrait Gallery/Am. Art museum is very nicely redone and beautiful.

Barblab

White house, Congress, Supreme Court...

MikeT

But you can't generally just pop into an embassy and expect a tour, Christina. There are a few times a year when there are organized embassy tours when 10-15 embassies open their doors and grounds to the public. Other times, you can only get into an embassy if you have business there or if you are there for an event.

McAllister

Memermouse,

Since you have seen the larger museums, I would like to suggest The Phillips Collection(http://www.phillipscollection.org/).

Although it is not in Dupont, I think your family would have fun at Oyamel (www.oyamel.com). It has moved to a new location since the last time I dined there, but I have heard good things about the new space as well.

You mentioned that y'all like to get up early and that you would like to make another trip to the zoo - early morning is a great time for this! The grounds open at 6 AM (buildings open at 10).

I hope y'all have a fantastic trip!!

memermouse

Thank you for all of your suggestions.
I was wondering if anyone had ever been to eithe the National Capital Trolley Museusm or the International Spy Museum, and if they would suggest going there. Thanks!

roothy123

I live not that far from the Trolley Museum. It's not a big museum, but you do get to take a short ride on a trolley when it's open (weekends only, I think), so it's kind of fun - especially for younger kids. It doesn't cost much (maybe 3-4 bucks to ride, free to go to the "museum"). If you want to go to the Trolley Museum, be aware that it's out in the suburbs of MD - not close to downtown, so it may be a little more of a drive than you're up to. You can't get there by subway and bus would take too long, I would think. Bottom line, I guess, is that it's kind of a minor attraction but certainly fun and cheap. I haven't been to the Spy Museum, but hear it's pretty good. I just can't quite stomach the cost - not cheap, in this city where so many things are cheap or free. Driving around the tidal basin to see the monuments at night is great; I like seeing Iwo Jima (I'm ashamed I may have misspelled that)from Arlington, although some people might be afraid to do that. The Portrait Museum just reopened - might be good, but I don't think it opens until 11, so keep that in mind. It's near Spy Museum. By Spy Museum and FBI is a lunch place called Soho that's great - stack your plate in back of restaurant has all kinds of food and all is good. Typical sandwiches up front. I used to go to Dupont Circle when I was younger, but don't go often enough now to recommend any place. The Torpedo Factory in Alexandria is fun if you're any little bit interested in arts and crafts. Alexandria in general is fun, especially Old Town.

There's the Cryptology Museum out in the suburbs of MD as well - haven't been, but might be interesting. You could take the MARC train to Baltimore (either Camden Yards or Penn Station) and go to the Inner Harbor or something like that. It only runs during rush hour, though. I think the Newseum is open now - have heard it's good. If you have a car, you could go to Roosevelt Island or go to Gravelly Point and watch planes fly overhead (it's in VA near Reagan National Airport). If you have a car, you could drive around the Beltway past the Morman Temple (guess we aren't in Kansas anymore!) ENJOY!!

Barblab

The spy museum is good, go.

DoctorCarrie

If you'll be here at the end of April, you might want to add the azalea collection at the National Arboretum to your list - absolutely spectacular, and that's there peak bloom time!

Spy Museum is fun - but there's tons of information so I find it is both overwhelming and that you can spend a fair amount of time there, so plan accordingly!

Lots of great food in that area, though: Zola (above Spy Museum); Zaytinia (mediterranean tapas); Cafe Atlantico; and Zengo are all fun places I would recommend. If they're too exotic, you could try Ella's Woodfired Pizza or Matchbox, also right in that area. If you're there on Sunday, you'll be right next to Chinatown, and can hit a place there for dim sum.

Around Dupont, I would recommend Firefly, Pesce, Blue Duck Tavern, Malaysia Kopitiam, Bistrot du Coin, and Vidalia. If you're looking for more casual lunch, particularly on weekdays, try C.F. Folks or Teaism.

As for things to do, I second the Building Museum (near the Spy Museum) and also in that neighborhood, the newly reopened National Portrait Gallery is worth a look. Across the street from the Building Museum and off the beaten path is the Koshland Science Museum at the National Academies, very short and easy to tour.

I also like the Phillips' and on Sundays at 4 PM they have free concerts.

I love Mount Vernon, especially this time of year and you can combine it with brunch at Gadsby's Tavern for the complete colonial experience! http://www.gadsbystavernrestaurant.com/

Sorry, I know that's more to do than you possibly have time to do it, but I love being a tourist in my own town. Enjoy your trip! Cheers, Carrie

JJ5

I just went. Ford's Theatre has a place next door that has an interesting exhibit of Lincoln's personal items and much else. That's well worth going and is a short walk from the Spy Museum. The Spy has a $16 entry fee. We are near-codgers and found it had information and lots of electronic examples of things we had lived through, so it was not all that fun for us, but would probably be fun if you don't know much about codes used in wars, spy history, or things like the codes and "lose lips sink ships" kinds of philosophy from WWII etc. Some biographs there were good.

We found a terrific and YOUNG place near the Verizon Center called the Chop House and Brewery. We loved the food and the surroundings.

On 19th St. a short (1 stop I think) ride on the Metra- there are numerous young folk pan-Asian and fusion places and we loved Singapore. Their Balinese Shrimp was one of the best dishes I've had.

Getting up and out that early you better look at the various passes to the Metra closely. You may have to take the $32 one to get out into the system that early in the day. We never left earlier than 9:30am so we just needed a $22 pass each to get everywhere for an entire week. We would only have had to pay a few cents more per ride for leaving earlier on their exit swipe system, NOT the $10 difference, so it might be better to get the $22 one anyway.

Christina

it's the "metro", not "metra" It's short for metropolitan (as in metropolitan are transit authority, etc.). It's called that in other cities and is also short for metropolitan (or that in another language) in those cities, such as Paris.

JJ5

Yes, you are right. That was not a typo, just a Metra/Metro blink, as it is Metra here in Chicago. I think they do understand.

McAllister

JJ5, no worries. I grew up in the "metro" area and I for one certainly wasn't offended nor thought it was a big deal...

Your advice on the cost of the metro is good...many people may not realize there is a price difference during rush hour.

JayZee

bookmark......

asdaven

The postal museum I thought was pretty neat. All the things you got listed in the first post are really cool. Except I have not been to the spy museum. Check out the old post office tower, it is a real neat building, and you can go up in the tower with no tickets or wait. The view is almost better IMO than the Washington monument, even though it is not as tall. Check it out and it won't take a lot of time. If you check out the postal musuem, check out union station next door. Not much to do, just a bunch of shops and a train station, but just walk around a little and observe the architecture. There a couple good restaurants in there also.