coug gal, I'm pretty sure the Museum of American History is still closed for renovations. They've moved some of the exhibits elsewhere, but the museum itself is not open.

The American History Museum is not due to re-open until next summer.

While American History is closed a few items have been moved to Air & Space, but I haven't checked out what all is there.

Some great suggestions above. A few thoughts:

Ford's can develop long lines; not sure what they will be like that Friday afternoon. If it looks too long, go around the corner to the National Portrait Gallery/Museum of American Art.

Also near Ford's is the Gallery Place/Chinatown area, with lots of restaurants including the aforementioned Jaleo, Zola (attached to the International Spy Museum) and Rosa Mexicano. This area is also a reasonable walk from the Natural History Museum for your Saturday dinner--walk through the Navy Memorial across from the Archives and keep going up the steps and north.

How are you getting from Arlington Cemetery to Iwo Jima? It ain't all that easy.

If you do go to Iwo Jima, perhaps you can eat Sat. lunch in Rosslyn--maybe someone hear can suggest a place. Otherwise you might try a couple of places convenient to the Farragut West Metro Station--Wasabi (conveyor-belt sushi on 17th Street, the West side of Farrugut Square), or the Bread Line (soup/salad/sandwich on Pennsylvania between 17th and 18th).

There are probably lots of restaurant choices better than Gatsby Tavern in Old Town. It's been a while, but we used to like the Fish Market.

Make sure you get your Holocaust and Imax tickets in advance on-line.

Have you figured out how to get to the Cathedral on public transport? This might be helpful:

http://www.cathedral.org/cathedral/visit/metro.shtml

Don't miss the gardens at the Cathedral.

I second the recommendation for Two Amys Pizza over Five Guys (although I had a Five Guys burger just last night).

Have you heard about the Shrine of Immaculate Conception? It's a HUGE church (largest in the Western hemisphere and 7th largest religious structure in the world) and is incredible. Mosaics, glass-stained windows, a peaceful garden, and amazing architecture (the dome is only 7 ft shorter than the Capitol)- this was my favorite place in DC. It's in the NE quadrant, off the Brookland-Catholic University stop on the Red Line. Highly recommended.

As for the temporary exhibit at the Air & Space, it has stuff like Kermit the frog and American icons. Kinda interesting, but not worth more than a stopover at the Air & Space if you're already there.

Good luck!

Saturday, after lunch, in order:
Washington Monument
WW II Memorial
Vietnam Veterans Memorial
Lincoln Memorial

and for mothers of certain ages:
Korean War Veterans Memorial
Franklin Delano Roosevelt memorial.

Of course, your Civil War buff husband must be aware that Manassas Battlefield is nearby and Antietam is not very far.

Wow....so many more good suggestions!! Thank so much. If it wasn't for all of the DC posts I wouldn't have been able to plan for the trip the way I have. You guys are the best!!

Cerise - thanks for the suggestion on the church!! That's just what I needed.

DancingBearMD - why wouldn't you go to Gatsby Tavern in Old Town? Just curious...have you had a bad experience there?

My experience with Gadsby's (correct spelling I believe) is dated; it just wasn't memorable for the food at least. And there's so much going on in Old Town that it seems like there might be something else out there--maybe someone else has more recent comparative experiences.

BTW, I don't think we are "of a certain age" yet, but I think the Korean War memorial is absolutely haunting at night, and the FDR is one of our regular stops with out-of-towners, as it is a different type of memorial (a succession of open-air rooms with a variety of statuary and water effects), and the stroll back along the Tidal Basin is lovely--also they have bathrooms there! (Bathrooms also at the Lincoln Memorial which are open at night)

Thanks Dancingbear! We plan on doing the Monuments by Moonlight Tour the first night to get an overview of everything and to know which ones we want to go back and visit more in depth. One week from now we will be in DC - I cannot wait!!!

Just a few thoughts:

For your last day, I see you want to go to 5 Guys for lunch. Being in Georgetown, I would suggest anywhere else but 5 Guys. Especially since you can get a 5 Guys burger at the airport (I fly into National on US Air, where I get one in the terminal as I leave the plane, and then as I get on the plane on my way back). Mmm, buurrgers.

As for getting to the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, take the red line towards Glenmont and get off at the Brookland-CUA stop. Walk 3 blocks east, along Catholic University.

If it's the National Cathedral you're interested in, it's a bit more involved. Here are the instructions
http://www.cathedral.org/cathedral/visit/metro.shtml

Enjoy. I leave town just as you arrive.

mcnyc - thanks for the tip on the burgers. We are flying into National on US Air as well. And we come in at lunch time - perfect time for a burger!

I agree with DancingBearMD. I would hate for you to get so close to the FDR Memorial and not see it. It is one of my favorites and the place that I take out-of-town guests, also. It is beautiful in any season. I have enjoyed it in the Spring when the Azaleas are blooming as well as in the dead of winter when there is ice in the waterfalls.

If you choose to go, look it up on the internet and do some reading about it. It is much more powerful when you know the architect's vision especially the symbolism of the waterfalls.

http://preview.tinyurl.com/567n3

http://preview.tinyurl.com/36vnj4

http://preview.tinyurl.com/35h9tn

Your itinerary looks great. Glad someone mentioned the FDR and World War II memorials and the Botanical gardens. These really are beautiful and worth a stop and can easily be fit into your itinerary--you'll be very close to all. I don't think anyone has mentioned the Georgetown waterfront, which is one of my favorite places in DC. Although the food is good but not exceptional, my favorite restaurant is the Sequoia for the ambiance and views. The large windows overlook the river, Rosslyn and the Kennedy Center. During the day it is fun to see all of the boats tied up; at night when the lights go on it is magic. It made the news most recently when David Beckham ate there while in town. As for the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, it is a huge church but quite out of the way and my least favorite of all the large churches I've ever been in. It's very modern and I found it to be unappealing and cold. The National Cathedral, on the other hand, is well worth the time. It is very interesting from the outside, and a walk around the outside of the structure will allow you to view the beautiful architecture and visit the gardens and quiet places mentioned by another poster.

"As for the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, it is a huge church but quite out of the way."

Not really. it's a very quick -- 5-minute -- Metro ride from Union Station or less than 10 from Metro Center.

Thanks again for the suggestion. My mom had 2 'must do's' on her list, one was the Holocaust Museum and the other was the National Cathedral so even if I didn't want to go, which I do, I wouldn't be able to get out of it!

Ok, so I am going to take the suggestions given and go to 2 Amy's after the Cathedral because they are so close. But I do want to go to Georgetown so I thought maybe dinner there on Tuesday night. How about Filomena Ristorante? Or J Pauls? Yes, no? Need reservations on a Tuesday?

Filomenia has good food..J Paul not so great. If you're in the mood for more pizza or good panni's try Pizza Paradiso in Georgetown. Cafe Milano is a nice spot with good Italian food
http://www.cafemilanodc.com/
Mendocino Grill gets good reviews, but I've never been there
http://www.mendocinodc.com/
1789 lost its chef some time back, and I havent heard anything about the food of late, but it used to be a nice place in Georgetown.
http://tinyurl.com/fsj56
U shouldn't need reservations on a Tuesday night, but if you want to be certain to get in, it never hurts to make them. You've gotten some great recommendations and great sites to check out other restaurants.
Enjoy DC!

We really do like Filomena! Tends to be crowded, but for good reason. great ambiance and food. Be sure you have a reservation otherwise wait time for a table can be quite long.

Basingstoke - Would you make a reservation even for a Tuesday night?

I would. The restaurant is very popular. I was there one weekday night last spring during a frog drowning rainstorm, with a reservation. I still had to wait about 15 minutes for my table - that might be because people with tables were reluctant to leave. People without a reservation were waiting well over half an hour. You can try it without a reservation and you may luck out. Also, check out the menu on their website.