My friend of 40+ years and I are taking a well overdue trip together to DC in November. I've been twice- 2003 and 2013. She has never been . Looking for comments and suggestions on itinerary thus far. Dinner suggestions near our hotel would be appreciated too. Anything but seafood....

I am stressing myself out trying to plan this trip for some reason and appreciate any helpful comments. I think I'm just used to DH going along with whatever I set up and haven't ever planned a trip that includes anyone but us two .

Friend is not a huge history buff or art lover (but enjoys nice meals and the theater). She mostly wants to see all the monuments .

Day 1: Arrive at Baltimore Airport. Need to decide if we will use commuter train or Amtrak to get from Baltimore to DC. Accommodations- Fairfax Embassy Row.

Brunch, than spend the majority of the day walking around Mall and visiting monuments .

Dinner location?

Day 2: Start the day at Eastern Market, breakfast or brunch and walk around.

Spend the afternoon at the Smithsonian Museum of America History .

Dinner location?

Day 3: Arlington National Cemetery and 9/11 memorial at Pentagon.

Afternoon open. Museum? Ford's Theater? Could maybe walk around Georgetown do some window-shopping and then catch some dinner.

Possible Dinner location - Clyde's

Dessert! Georgetown Cupcake

Day 4: hopefully get a White House Tour in the morning. We won't find this out until sometime in late October. Check out of hotel

Rest of day?

Flight from Reagan National departs at 6 p.m.

It's up to you, but when I travel, I like having dinner near my hotel as I don't want to travel around a lot late at night to get back to it. There are plenty of decent restaurants you can go to around Dupont Circle so that you could do that at least a couple days.

I have zero interest in shopping in general, so window shopping is even worse to me, but even if you like that, DC isn't NYC or any place that window shopping is an activity I would think of as interesting. Georgetown is full of the same chain stores you'll find in many cities (like Apple, Abercrombit & Fitch, Ralph Lauren, Tory Burch, etc etc) and there aren't any big dept store windows displays of interest. If you want to see something in Georgetown for some reason, I would think it is due to history, and there are some walking tours that can point out some historic buildings or interesting sites, that's what I'd do. If you want to spend money, I'd go shopping at City Center instead which is a mall with high-end shops. City Center is near the Am Art Museum and Portrait Gallery, which are free (Smithsonian museums), so you could pop into the Portrait Gallery for a bit. You don't go there for fine art exactly, and it's not intensive history so maybe your friend could tolerate that or even enjoy it.

Or, you could go to the Newseum. That is a very interesting place with lots of different exhibits, audio/visual material, etc so might be interesting to someone who doesn't care about history anyway. IOt is a little expensive, but you can get discounts for having AAA at the desk.

DC has quite a few small theaters, if your friend likes that, maybe you could find a show to go to one of those evenings (or afternoon matinee if a Sat/Sunday). Of course that depends on your dates and what's around. Check out Sidney Harman Hall. Or maybe Anything Goes at Arena Stage.

One restaurant I really like near your hotel is La Tomate. But you are right by the red line, so you have a LOT of options if you are willing to take even a short ride.

Sightseeing options for those not interested in histroy or art include the National Museum of the American Indian (its café, Mitsitam, is well worth considering for lunch); the U.S. Botanic Garden; the National Zoo, and various estates known for gardens, in addition to small collections of whatever (Dunbarton Oaks, Hillwood Estate, etc.). And if she can tolerate a short visit to an art musuem, the Phillips Collection is just steps from your hotel – maybe you could go during one of its concerts? And I agree that even those not interested in history can spend some very enjoyable time at the Newseum.

Hope that helps!

I’m sorry to immediately respond negatively, but I thought La Tomate was downright awful. (I do think everything else kja suggested is a good idea, although it’s not the itinerary I would choose for myself - I’d visit the National Archives, the Holocaust Museum, Newseum, National Portrait Gallery, the monuments. If it’s a nice day, I might head over to Alexandria (King Street). I’d visit Mt. Vernon and bike along the Potomac. Among other things!)

The Holocaust Museum is extraordinary! I didn't mention it because I think of it as "history."

The Vietnam Veteran's Memorial wall is, for me, one of the most moving "monuments" anywhere, a do not miss thing to see.

Old Town Alexandria has a nice street of interesting little shops, plus the wonderful Torpedo Factory. The Torpedo Factory is a huge Artist Co-op of studios and galleries, a great place for some Christmas presents.

Agree about the importance and interest of the Holocaust Museum.

There are several fine theaters in DC. Also, see what events are happening at Kennedy Center.

My all time favorite theater is not in central DC, but it is very, very close and easy to get to and absolutely wonderful! Anything they are doing will be great. It is Signature Theater in Shirlington Village in Arlington. There are nice restaurants and shops right around the theater. It would be lovely to get there a couple of hours before an evening show and have dinner first, or if you can get to a matinee, have dinner after.

kja, that's good to know about La Tomate! We were there a few years ago, and as I said, were less-than-impressed.

If you like Indian food, Rasika West End near your hotel is very good.
You are also near Kramerbooks and Afterwards Cafe

You might consider going to Old Town Alexandria instead of Georgetown after the visit to Arlington since you will already be on the right metro line. IMO it is more interesting than Georgetown.

The Kennedy Center has free Millenium series concerts every day of the year at 6 p.m.
Upcoming Millennium Stage Live Streams

It may be too late but you might consider a tour of the Pentagon. If I remember correctly, they encourage you to apply six month in advance but I got a reply in just a week when I went to DC around the same time of year. I agree with going to Alexandria over Georgetown.

Thanks for the comments everyone. I am definitely going to switch out Georgetown for Alexandria and look through the other comments.

I've been going to La Tomate for years, and have always been treated extremely well there, but I readily admit that it had some less than optimal moments over the last few years. I hope their new chef proves worthy, and I hope that comments based on information that is not current don't doom this otherwise admirable establishment.

Rasika West End is fabulous--if you can get a table.

If you visit the Vietnam Memorial, be sure to see the smaller one nearby dedicated to the nurses who served in Vietnam. Also very moving. The WWII memorial is huge and worth a visit, but for us the FDR memorial "rooms" are the best of the best.

We were in DC in the spring and I give a third vote for Rasika West End if you appreciate Indian food; I was meeting friends for an early weeknight dinner and we scored a table without reservations, but I don't think we would have been successful later. In fact, there were people hovering around us when they sensed our meal was ending, in order to snare our table! I also enjoyed lunch twice at Oyamel, too, which I thought was quite good.

If your visit occurs after 22 November, the US Botanic Garden will have its holiday display open; it was always a favorite when we lived in DC.

Mention of the Roosevelt monument makes me think you might want to look into one of the hop on/off trolley/bus tours that goes out to it and the Jefferson memorial. We have never done this but I think it might make sense. At least some go out to and around ARlington, too, and offer a second day free in November.

Look, too, at the Circulator bus. One route begins at Union station, loops the mall and past many of the monuments. No commentary; fare is $1 ($0.50 for seniors).

https://www.dccirculator.com/explore...national-mall/

If you like French food, the Bistrot du Coin isn't far from Dupont Circle. We had a fine lunch there.

The Bistrot du Coin gets some very positive reviews, but I've never dined there -- I can't even bear to walk by it on most evenings, as I find the noise level painfully loud. I literally cross the street to avoid it.

If you want French food, consider Petits Plats, one stop north on the red line metro (at Woodley Park). Or Bistro Cacao. Or Bistro Bis.

I have just come back from a visit to my son and his family in the DC area.

For the first time I used the circulator bus mentioned in an earlier post. I took the National Mall route from Union Station to get to the Jefferson memorial. I had thought I would continue around the tidal basin to the FDR and MLK memorials on foot but it was late and hot so I just caught a bus back to return to the station. You can transfer to another circulator bus within 2 hours if you pay with your SmarTrip card and there are other discounts if you transfer to the metro trains or buses.

I also went to Eastern Market one day. It was a Friday and very quiet--not sure which day you are intending to go but everyone says there is much more activity on the weekend. If you are still looking for things to do on the morning you visit the market, it is a short walk down Pennsylvania Avenue to the Library of Congress which is a spectacular building and open every day but Sunday. (I spent some time there touring an exhibit on WW I) The Botanic gardens are very close to the Library at the SE corner of the Mall.

Thank you everyone for the comments. We will be going to Eastern Market on a Sunday.