I have friends visiting from Norway in November/December. Where can I take them that's fun in the Washington DC, VIrginia, Maryland area? Besides the Smithsonian!! I need nice restaurants? neat tourist attractions, etc.

I like the Inner Harbor of Baltimore. There is enough there to make a day out of easily. I know a few good restaurants in DC, but none that I would say were fun.

D.C. is only 2 hour drive from Williamsburg if they have any interest in Revolutionary War history. Great place to spend the day. If you get spend 2 days could do Yorktown Victory Center & Jamestown as well (can do those 2 in one day). The Trellis restaurant in Williamsburg is fabulous. It is only 3 hours from Wmsbg to Baltimore, email me if you want scenic drive directions. I love The Brewer's Art restaurant on Charles Street in Baltimore, also lots of great restaurants on Charles Street - Thai, Japanese, Italian.

Try the National Cathedral. Though it may not measure up to the standards of such in their homelands, it's the best Wash has to offer...and a mighty fine offering in my opinion. Take the docent guided tour and then go up the elevator to the top of the towers for a wonderful overlook of the city. And don't forget to drive by the monuments at night...an entirely different prospective!

A second vote for Colonial Williamsburg. Usually the first weekend in December, CW has an event called the Grand Illumination. The main thoroughfare is lighted with torches from twilight until late night. Choirs singing, colonial exhibitions, hot cider and mulled wine everywhere. A great Christmas atmosphere.

Also, for a different dining experience (Joy is absolutely right about the Trellis on Duke of Gloucester Street - or D.O.G. Street) you could also try one of the colonial taverns. Balladeers serenade you, try colonial-era recipes, staff teach you games to play at your table. Everyone's dressed in colonial garb. Two of the best are Shields and Christiana Campbell's.

Outlet shopping is also great in Williamsburg. For a mixed bag of junk and treasures, try the Pottery, a huge complex of everything you could ever want and most things you'd never buy!

Check out www.history.org, the official website of the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation.

Also, www.williamsburg.com, a commercial site with additional good information.

Have fun!

If you don't want to drive as far as Williamsburg, Harper's Ferry is also very nice during the holidays. They decorate the town beautifully and if you contact their visitor's bureau, they will send you event information. As far as restaurants go, a visit to the D.C. sights would not be complete without a stop at the Old Ebbitt Grill, right around the corner from the White House. If your friends like oysters, Old Ebbitt's is the place to go. The drinks aren't bad either! Finally, don't forget our newest place
of local "history" -- Burketsville, home of the "Blair Witch Project." Hope your friends have fun!

I agree with Dawn about making a day in Baltimore. In fact, I live there and I work in DC. If you are interested in Baltimore, I suggest taking your friends to Harborplace. Baltimore's Harborplace is about an hour drive from DC if you just stay in 295. The other option is the Marc Train, it's the commuter train from Baltimore to Washington. You can ride this on weekdays (it does not run on weekends)for $11.50 round trip per person. Get your tickets in advance so you do not have to pay a $3.00 fee on the train. Get the Camden Station train. Not the Penn Station or Perryville Station. With the Camden Station train you are 3-4 blocks away from Harborplace. If you are diving on the weekend to Baltimore check the Ravens football schedule and work around it or choose a weekend they are not playing in Baltimore traffic can be difficult and parking very scarce. At Harborplace, good restaurants and shops to choose from in the area. The ESPN Zone serves good portions of food but it's a little expensive. Or you can try the Hard Rock Cafe next to it. Phillips Seafood Restaurant is inside Harborplace serves good food. At Harborplace You can also catch a water taxi $3-4 dollars round trip a stop off at Fells Point with good Italian food in the Little Italy area. The Science Center, the Aquarium, and the World Trade Center are all in the Harborplace area with less than 10-15 minute walking distance. As for Washington, DC. Several good restaurants at Union Station and the downtown area. Contact your Member of Congress office and try to make arrangements to have one of the staffers take you on a visit of the Capitol and access to the Floor of the House of Representatives. However, if the Congress is still in session (target adjourmnment is late October) your visit is limited only to the gallery of the House floor. Try this also for your Senators office. As for the White House, you need to also make advance appointments to visit. Hope you and your friends have fun in both places.

i would suggest mount vernon for the 200th anniversary of the death of george washington in december. nothing more 'merican than this! also not to be missed are the vietnam "wall", and arlington national cemetary. this is an american history lesson!

another helpful suggestion: become a smithsonian associate member--there are several smithsonian restaurants open only to members--with the best chow, and no lines!!!

We visited Washington D.C. last week.
Ask your friends from Norway
what they want to see.
Washington D.C. is full of foreign
tourists, so I am sure your friends
have discussed the trip with people
in Norway , and have a list of things to see and do.
I bet they would like to see
the old towns of Georgetown
and Alexandria.
We did not see the National Cathedral, but the National Shrine
is up to the standards of anything
in their homeland.
Also, there are shows at the
Kennedy Center, and Ford's Theater.

I just want to correct a piece of information. You don't need to make advance appointments to visit the White House. That implies calling the White House and scheduling a visit. You should contact in advance your congressperson or Senator to see about the availability of White House tickets for the congressional tour (takes place early in the morning, and is guided). You need to contact them at least 3 months in advance, because congressional offices only get a very limited number of WH tickets per week. If you can't get them, then the day you want to visit the WH, go to the WH visitors center and pick up tickets which will specify a time for your public tour, which will be self guided. You can pick them up as early as 7am. If you know any WH passholders, see if they are willing to give a West Wing tour to your visitors.

I vote for the Air and Space Museum in D.C. and the Holocaust Museum (very powerful).

In Maryland, I love the aquarium!

Megan, if your friends are going to be with you on Saturday, December 4, you will want to take them to Old Town Alexandria that morning for the annual Scottish Walk. I will guarantee you they have never seen anything like it. It's a two-hour-long parade, lots of kilts and bgpipes, but also things like Shriners in their little cars. Find a place to stand on South St. Asaph Street, with its beautiful townhouses and mansions.

After the parade is the traditional start of the Christmas shopping season along King Street, and the stores are magnificently decorated.