tdmort

I'm so excited...our DC trip beings in just two weeks. I think I have a plan too...

Friday 8/31 - we arrive at 1:30 PM
Check into Hotel (Residence Inn- Pentagon City)
Ford's Theater/Petersen House
Dinner (Suggestions? Maybe Old Ebbit's Grill?)
Monuments by Moonlight tour

Saturday (we will have a pass for Old Town Trolly Tours that we purchased with the Moonlight tour)
Arlington Cemetary
Iwo Jima Memorial
Lunch???
Washington Monument (will get tickets online)
Lincoln Memorial
Vietnam Memorial
Natural History Museum (open until 7:30 tonight)
Dinner - any suggestions?

Sunday
Church
Mt. Vernon
Dinner? Maybe visit Old Town and go to Gatsby Tavern? Is this a good place?

Monday
White House Gift Shop
African American Civil War Monument (DH is a huge civil war buff)
Lunch @ Ben's Chili Bowl
Holocaust museum
Dinner?? (Not sure how we will feel after the museum. Probably don't want a loud, fun place for dinner. Maybe just go back to hotel and have dinner there.)

Tuesday
Supreme Ct.
Arranged Capitol Tour @ 10:00
Lunch
Arranged Archives Tour @ 1:00
Museum - Air & Space
IMAX???
Dinner - Suggestions welcome!

Wednesday
Visit National Cathedral
Lunch in Georgetown (Maybe 5 Guys Hamburgers?)
Airport to go home

We will be traveling with my mother who suggested that we not plan for every minute of the day so I've tried not to but I'm so excited and there's sooo much to do in DC. How does this look? Too much? Too little? Any glaring errors like you will be close to this, or do this then. Please give any lunch/dinner suggestions. Thanks guys!

MikeT

Is this all adults, or are there also kids?

Seems like a nice trip. I like that you are going to U Street, which is not a place enough tourists go. You aren't hitting DuPont Circle--which is a really nice evening neighborhood--so you might consider that one night. Although the 'hood near your neighborhood isn't interesting, there are some good places to eat there. You might consider Jaleo in Crystal City (maybe after the Holocaust Museum).

What kind of church are you hoping to go to? I live near your hotel and could give you some ideas.

Dukey

As to the Old Ebbit (no "s" on the end) on a Friday evening I would strongly suggest you make an advance reservation as it will be busy...it always is.

You can easily do it by using the web-based www.opentable.com

tdmort

Sorry, should have mentioned that there will be 3 of us, myself, my husband and my mother. MikeT - as far as churches go...maybe a Methodist or something similar. We won't have a car so if it's near a Metro that's good or within 1 mile of the hotel we can use their shuttle. Thanks! Also, do you have any dinner suggestions for the DuPont Circle area? Again, near the metro stop would be good as by the end of the day mom will probably not want to walk too far.

Dukey....thanks for the suggestion. I'll do that right now!!!

Ruff

Near Dupont Circle and close the Metro, I recommend Raku or Kramerbooks. If the weather is nice you can sit outside. Food is good. Atmosphere is casual.

emd

For your dinner close to the hotel on MOnday night, you have lots of choices in the Pentagon City area. At Pentagon Row about a block from your hotel (on other side of the mall) there are several restaurants and that's a nice strolling area. And a very short cab ride away (equivalent of about 5 blocks, but you have to cross a hwy. so take a cab) in Crystal City there are some great restaurants (Morton's, Jaleo, Oyamel, Charley Changs, Legal Seafoods, Cafe Italia on 23rd St., etc.)

http://crystalcity.com/Dine_Shop_Sta...staurant_Guide

http://www.pentagonrow.com/dining/

bardo1

Your sightseeing schedule looks fine. I'll just comment on eating...

On Friday, take a quick look at Bisto D'oc (right across 10th St. from Ford's Theater). If you like what you see, then consider making a reservation for later that evening. I LOVE it! http://www.bistrodoc.com/home.html

Saturday - Old Ebbitt Grille is closer to the Natural History Museum. A reservation there Sat. might make good sense. It's also right next to Layfayette Sq. and the White House if you want to take a quick look/picture from 1600 Penn. Ave. http://www.ebbitt.com

A block from the Archives is Jaleo, which I heartily suggest for lunch on Tuesday. Don't even think about a dinner there Saturday night - they don't take reservations and waits on weekend nights are usually an hour or so. Tuesday lunch will be a breeze getting seated. http://www.jaleo.com/

There are lots of good restaurants in Old Town Alexandria. Here are some better options - Google to find their websites/menus:

A La Lucia
315 Madison St., Alexandria, VA 703-836-5123

Bistrot Lafayette 1118 King St., Alexandria, VA 703-548-2525

Farrah Olivia
600 Franklin St., Alexandria, VA 703-778-2233

Hard Times Cafe
1404 King St., Alexandria, VA 703-837-0050

La Bergerie
218 N. Lee St., Alexandria, VA 703-683-1007

Le Gaulois
1106 King St., Alexandria, VA 703-739-9494

Restaurant Eve - Tasting Room or Bistro (the more formal Tasting Room is one of the top 5 restaurants in the greater metro area)
110 S. Pitt St., Alexandria, VA 703-706-0450

The Grille at Morrison House
116 S. Alfred St., Alexandria, VA 703-838-8000

The Majestic My choice for Old Town perfection.
911 King St., Alexandria, VA 703-837-9117

Vermilion
1120 King St., Alexandria, VA 703-684-9669

Wednesday: 2 Amys right next to the Cathedral is much better than Five Guys and most other Georgetown spots. It will also give you more time at the Cathedral. http://www.2amyspizza.com/

bardo1

Dupont area recs (the first are all on the same block of P St.)

http://www.altiramisu.com/

http://www.pescebistro.com/

Montsouris (no website - but here's an idea) http://www.tylercowensethnicdininggu...montsouris.php

http://www.eatyourpizza.com/

http://www.tabardinn.com/rest.htm

http://www.bistrotducoin.com/

http://www.komirestaurant.com/ (another of the top area restaurants and priced accordingly)

bardo1

the first FOURare all on the same block of P St...

tdmort

Bardo....thanks for the tip about Old Ebbit...maybe we will do that on Saturday. The Majestic looks like an excellent choice...thanks for the suggestion. We're not big Bistro (French dining)fans...any other suggestions close to Ford Theater?

bardo1

Three great restaurants close Ford's Theater:

Fogo de Chão
This Brazilian steakhouse is hot, hot, hot (popular, not spicy) and my wifes current favorite spot. I like it OK, but it is best for those with large appetites (I'm a light eater). The meal includes unlimited meats, salads and sides but unlike other "all you can eat" places, the quality of everything they do is absolutely top notch. It is a meat lovers paradise and a wonderful spot.
http://www.fogodechao.com/

Also very close to Ford's is Oceanaire (seafood)
Oceanaire
http://69.54.43.161/

And next to that is Tosca (Italian)
http://www.toscadc.com/

tdmort

Yum...I love Italian - I'll check that one out.

dmlove

We loved Busboys & Poets for lunch. It's in the U Street Corridor.

tdmort

Busboys & poets? Sounds interesting...I'll check it out online now. Thanks

basingstoke2

On Tuesday a good place for a quick lunch is the cafeteria in the American Indian Museum. It is divided into sections representing different American Indian geographic areas and serving food typical of each. It is quite good.

nicegirl512

If you love Italian, I cannot recommend Finemondo enough. It's on F St around 13th, just up from the Mall (an easy walk from Natural History). I love this place! The staff is friendly and the food is delicious. It's a little more moderately priced than Tosca (also excellent) and I have never had to wait for a table. It would be good for dinner on Saturday night. You can make reservations at Finemondo but they're usually not needed. http://www.finemondo.com/view_menu.asp

I'm glad to see Ben's Chili Bowl on your list! Great chili and a very significant business in the history of the area.

Another dinner option near Crystal City is Bebo Trattoria (Oyamel has moved into DC and Bebo is in Oyamel's old location). This is owned by Roberto Donna who owns Galileo, one of the fancier Italian places in town. It is moderate to expensive. I ate at the bar one night and the food we had was delicious, as was the wine. The service is notoriously bad, and my experience was no exception so if that will bother you give it a pass. http://www.bebotrattoria.com/

In DuPont Circle, a wonderful and affordable Italian place is Sette Osteria. It's designed as an affordable sister trattoria to the more upscale Sette Bello in Virginia. http://www.setteosteria.com/

Going to Jaleo for lunch one day is a great idea. The food is unbelievably good.

I don't know what your food budget is and whether/how much you drink. The above recommendations will run about $20-30/person without beverages (except Ben's of course).

After Air & Space I'd encourage you to stop into the Botanic Garden. It's a really lovely spot, and a nice way to refresh yourself after visiting a museum. I blogged about it at http://travelathomeandabroad.blogspo...ic-garden.html.

basingstoke2

Nicegirl is right on about the Botanical Garden. It is one of the nicest and most interesting places in downtown DC on the Mall and is overlooked by tourists. It is all indoors. Look for the giant hothouse.

tdmort

Basingstoke and Nicegirl - thanks so much for the reply. I had been away on a business trip and wasn't able to check the post for a few days. Looks like there are plenty of Italian places to choose from - thanks for the ideas. I'm going to check the menus out. Also thanks for the suggestion on the Botanical Garden. I know my mom will love it!!

cerise

You have a nice trip planned! For restaurants you may find the following web sites helpful:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/cityguide/
http://www.washingtonian.com/ (includes cheap eats)

Just FYI the Residence Inn does not have a restaurant where you order food, but serves some entree-type food at the evening social hours Monday-Thursday. The breakfast is good, there is a large selection from the buffet.

There is a Methodist church at 2315 S. Grant St. It sounds like you will want to take the shuttle as the blocks are long in that area.

coug_gal

I may have missed it, but I don't see the Museum of American History on your list. If DH is a civil war buff, you don't want to miss it. Warning: you may not be able to get him to leave! Allow plenty of time. (Half a day minimum, more would be better). We loved it and have sworn to go back just to see the rest of this museum. If others haven't already warned you, bring at least 2 pairs of good walking shoes. It rained (heavy!) when we were there in July and our only pair of good walking shoes were soaked and in the humidity,didn't dry out the rest of the trip. We spent half a day looking for shoes for our group of five.