Hello,

Travelers are myself and my husband only. We haven't been to D.C. since 1985 and 1983, respectively. We are very active, love good food, and sightsee/tour "commando-style." I have researched previous posts, suggestions and comments, however, I am running out of time as our trip is fast approaching.

Please look over our plans and make suggestions, especially time-saving ideas where I could switch places for better proximity, etc.

I deliberately loaded up the first few days so that we can have a few relaxed days toward the end of the trip.

Please feel free to suggest alternative restaurants and also, recommend what to order at the restaurants we selected, i.e., must-have at Old Ebbitt, etc.

Day One: Arrival
Metrobus 5A to Rosslyn metro
Walk to hotel
Walk into Georgetown
Dinner at Hook

Day Two:
Washington monument reserved tour
White House visitors center
White House tour via Congress rep
Lunch at Old Ebbitt
DC by foot
Tidal Basin
Dinner @ Central Michel Richard
Metro to Reagan airport - pick up car rental (1 day free voucher)

Day Three:
Drive to Mt. Vernon
Old Town Alexandria
Lunch at Gadsby Tavern
Arlington Cemetery
Iwo Jima memorial
Shula's Tysons Corner (out of the way but it's our favorite steakhouse)
Return car Reagan airport
Metro to hotel

Day Four:
Sculpture garden Hirshhorn
Air & Space
Lunch at Mitsitam (Am. Indian Museum)
Botanic Gardens
Dinner at Georgia Browns

Day Five:
Library of Congress tour
Supreme Court
Dupont Circle/Embassy Row
Lunch at CF Folks
Kennedy Center tour
Dinner at Circle Bistro

Day Six:
Capitol Tour
Botanic gardens
Lunch at Oceanaire
Natl Building Museum
Dinner at Jaleo

Day Seven:
Bureau of Engraving tour
Holocaust museum
Lunch at DC Coast
Archives
Natl Portrait Gallery
Dinner ???

Day Eight:
Natural History Museum
Lunch ???
Old Post Office Pavilion
Peterson House
Postal Museum
Union Station
Dinner???

Day Nine:
Catch all day -
Lunch ???
National Gallery
Dinner ???

Day Ten:
Zoo - pandas
Lunch at 2 Amys
Natl Cathedral

For the ??? meals, we'd like to fit in these restaurants: Tabard Inn, Five Guys, Teaism, Cashions, Petit Plats but I don't know which ares are near what locations.

Thanks so much in advance for your input.

CA- Did you know "commando-style" means to go without your underwear? You will be very popular in DC where ever you go if you are going "commando"

Have fun and keep your panties on.

MY

I would also consider meals at the downstairs portion at The Source in the Newseum; Brassiere Beck; lunch at Matchbox near the Portrait Gallery and Ben's Chili Bowl (just to allow you to get out of the downtown core); and maybe a dinner at the bar at Citronelle in G'town. I would skip Hook as they've had some turnover of Chefs and things haven't settled yet and I would also reconsider Georgia Browns.

Teasim and 5 Guys would be a good quick lunch. Tabard Inn would be a nice dinner - especially if you can get a seat out in the courtyard.

Most importantly, don't bother going out to Shulas for dinner - Tysons is not the easiest area to reach by car. Reconsider and try either Rays' the Steaks or Rays Hell Burger in Arlington. They are smack in between two metro stops (Rosslyn and Courthouse) and will offer up a much better product at a much better price than Shulas. Both are incredibly popular so be prepared to wait.

Hope this helps...

Probably too late to comment on your itinerary, but just HAD to comment: I'm laughing - I thought I was the only person in the world who plans almost every hour of the day when I travel! Your commando style of playing tourist sure beats mine! Seriously, your itinerary makes a lot of sense, as long as you're up to it, except maybe Georgetown (highly over-rated in my book) and Five Guys (basically just a burger place - there are better ones!) Hope you had a great time!

If it's not too late -- I would skip Hook and Georgia Browns and try Art & Soul on Capitol Hill, Brasserie Beck, Proof, Source at Newseum or Blue Duck Tavern for dinner. Also Zatayina, Oya and Zola are good lunch spots near Matchbox area too.

We will be in Washington April 10-19. Just today I got tickets for the capital and Ford's theater which is reopening in February and the museum opening shortly after that.

Just to give you a heads up. I contacted my Congressman's office today on another matter and thought I'd check on my White House tour which I had scheduled last September. They told me that all tours have been cancelled and that nobody knows anything about when they will restart.

I'm so disappointed because I was also supposed to be going on the John Wilkes Booth escape route tour and I was on the list since last June and apparently they lost my paperwork and I didn't make the cut. Really mad about that one.

But there is so much to see and do. I'm really looking forward to it. I was in Washington once (Carter administration), so I'm looking forward to going as an adult.

CF Folks is overrated. You'll be in the area, so it fits in well, but don't get your hopes up for anything really special.

On Day 6, Oceanaire is out of the way for lunch, but Jaleo would ut you close to the Building Museum (which doesn't have much to see unless there's a special exhibition that interests you).

Day 10 better not be a Monday, because 2 Amy's isn't open for lunch (but check on this). The Zoo is best if you get there as early as possible (this includes winter). If you do so, you might also do the Cathedral before lunch.

Egads, I just saw that this is a revived old post. Why do people do this?

Thanks Eric. I should pay more attention. But just to update my last post, my congressman's office just called me and said White House tours will be beginning again in mid February.

On the day that you planned Mount Vernon, I would not plan anything else. There is enough at Mount Vernon to keep you busy for an entire day.

You need 3 hours for Arlington. I have a tour guide license. Whether you walk it or use the tourmobile, Arlington always takes 3 hours.

You cannot possibly do Mount Vernon and Arlington in the same day. It's one or the other. There is a food court at Mount Vernon where you can have a quick lunch--or you can go to the restaurant there if you want something nicer. Do not miss the new Educational Center. I am constantly finding things in there I haven't seen and I thought I had seen it all. Do not miss the big multimedia show there.

Capitol and Bureau of Engraving tours should be reserved in advance. I would not use my Congressman's office for the Capitol tours now that you can put in for advance reservations through the Capitol Visitor's Center. The guides from Capitol Guide Service actually know their stuff. The "guides" you get from the congressional offices are often interns who invent stuff. Enuff said.

Lauren, the OP's trip was probably last year.

Oh, you're right. The thread just appeared on the first page of my US board posts and that is why I answered it. I assumed, of course, that it was contemporaneous.

Perhaps it will help someone else.

It helped me. We are going to DC the first part of May and have just begun to think of questions to ask.

Thanks Lauren. It helped me too. I was disappointed I hadn't thought to ask my congressman's office for a tour, but now I'm glad I signed up on line.

Also, we are going to Arlington and had no idea how to plan the rest of our day, not knowing how long we might be there. Three hours gives me a good idea of what to expect.

Thanks it helped me as well. I just scheduled a Capitol Hill Tour on line.

I tried to make a reservation for the Washington monument, but they are sold out for April 6-18th--for 6 tickets anyway. Do you have any suggestions for going there without a reservation?

I'm going to Washington DC for the first time on March 20th and I'm starting to panic reading the posts. How many advance reservations would any of you recommend besides the Washington Monument? Do you need them for the Smithsonian too or Library of Congress? Thanks for helping me out! The thought of standing in lines for more than 30 minutes gives this rural girl quite a shock. Too much to see in too little time. Thanks again for any info.

none unless you except some special tour somewhere. YOu don't need advance reservations for most things in DC, and you can't even make them for most things. I live in DC and never make them to go to museums, even when you can theoretically buy them -- like the HOlocaust. I don't think you have any trouble getting right in at this time of year. I think the Newsmuseum has advance ones, but I haven't been there yet so don't know if you really need them or not. Never see lines outside it or anything. YOu don't need them for the LOC and I don't know of any Smithsonian museum that has them, except for very occasional special exhibits. There aren't any right now that I know of, I as such in the National Gallery last weekend and it wasn't particularly crowded as there is no blockbuster right now.

What about the National Archives - advance reservations appropriate?

Thanks Christina...I'll take your word for it that it won't be too crazy. We're leaving right before the Cherry Blossom Festival and I'm assuming that's when it can get fairly crowded down there. Hope I'll see some blossoms though.