My husband has to go to Washington, DC on business next week, Thursday Sept 11th and Friday Sept. 12th and I am going to tag along as our nest is empty at home since our youngest child started college last week. This will be our first visit to D.C. and we are very excited. We are plannig on extending his work visit for the rest of the weekend.




He has a meeting downtown D.C. on Sept. 11th at 7 am one block south south of the Smithsonian Metro stop which we were told is at 14 St. , and Independence St . His meeting will probably last most of the day on the 11th and he will have another meeting on the 12th that will only be in the morning.




We would like a nice hotel in a great location and want to be able to walk around in the evening and eat in good restaurants and people watch, etc. We are celebrating our wedding anniversary that week.




What are some things I can do along during the day that would be safe for a woman alone? I also injured my ankle today and mobility is a concern right now. Hopefully it will be much improved by next week.




Do you recommend the evening tours of the monuments? We want to be able to explore together Friday afternoon and Saturday. We will head home on Sunday.




Thanks for any suggestions to help make this a fun trip for some new empty nesters.

Lucky you - empty nester AND you get to travel with dear hubby while he's on business!

I've also tagged along with my hubby to DC when he's working. We generally stay up by the Capitol because that's where his meetings are, but I would say it's a little out of the way for most dining areas. But cabs are easy and plentiful or if it's a beautiful evening - just walk. We did both.

As for what to do while hubby is working, I found that DC was a great city to solo in. Easy walking to all the musuems and you literally could spend days in them. Just pick the ones you're most interested in.

I also spent a rainy afternoon at Union Station. Lots of people watching, shopping and eating spots there.

We did take the evening monument tour this last time because we had never been on it before. It was nice - I wouldn't say it was a "must do" but if you don't have other plans, go for it.

Whatever you decide to do, enjoy!!
PamT

Any of the museums would be good. You could also take the metro to Old Town Alexandria and explore, lots of cute shops there. The Adams Morgan neighborhood is interesting with some funky shops. You could also do Georgetown for the day. The National Zoo and the National Cathedral are some other options.

The monuments are nice to explore at night. As for hotels, there are tons of choices. I like the Sofitel in Lafayette Square, walking distance to the monuments, close to metro stops, great rooms and service. Otherwise, I'd look into a hotel in Dupont Circle.

Are you into geneology (which I don't know how to spell) at all? I spent a very fun day at the Daughters of the American Revolution building. They have an amazing library with tons of stuff about your ancestors. I found a book with an article about my great, great grandfather. It is also just a gorgeous building and library to just walk into. They are very friendly and helpful.

Unless, of course, you're Marion Anderson.
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As for a place to stay, you're close to the Mandarin. But if that's too pricey for your budget, I'd look across the Mall at the JW Marriott rather than staying on the far side (Independence side)of the Mall from downtown.

If you want to walk around in the evening, you will not want to be near 14th and Independence. Dead at night. All offices.

As for "during the day that would be safe for a woman alone?" -- please, if you really have to ask ... just stay in the hotel and read the fear monger posts on internet boards. don't worry.

Even though you husband's meeting is on the south side of the National Mall, I agree you definately want to STAY on the north side which is much better for walking at night, restaurants, people watching, etc.

Some great possibilites are:

http://www.marriott.com/hotels/trave...ention-center/

http://www.monaco-dc.com/ (top choice, if it's within budget)

Three nice places close to Dupont Metro are:

http://www.hiltonembassyrow.com/

http://www.hotelpalomar-dc.com/

or

http://www.dupontatthecircle.com/ (B&B)

The Sofitel is also very nice:
http://www.sofitel.com/sofitel/fiche...he_hotel.shtml

Here is a helpful website that shows you waht is near various Metro stops - just click on the stop:

http://www.stationmasters.com/System...ystem_map.html

An evening tour of the monuments is a great idea - very popular.

The list of things to do alone during the day is endless. What are your interest?

Library of Congress?
Capitol?
National Botanical Gardens?
Eastern Market?
Folger?
Supreme Court?
Newseum?
National Gallery of Art? (highly recommended - world class)
Hirshorn?
Freer?
Archives?
Air & Space?
National Cathedral?
Phillips Gallery?
Shopping?
American Art Museum?
Portrait Gallery?
Spy Museum?
Portrait Gallery?
National Geographic?
Zoo?

Research and pick a few of the above, tell us how much time alone you have. We can then tell you how much time each requires and help you group them by area.

Thank you for your help. My ankle is a little better today so I am optimistic that it will not be much of an issue next week.

I am still researching hotels. It is a little overwhelming trying to figure out the best area to stay. I am not impressed with Hotel Monaco's ratings on tripadvisor and everyone I have spoken with there has been less than friendly and not at all helpful. I made a reservation there, but really want to cancel it and book elsewhere.

What is the area around the St. Regis like? Is it dead at night?

Thanks again.

St. Regis is decent. Close to some excellent dining. DC Coast is a personal favorite. Easy stroll to White House. There's also the Hay-Adams and the Sofitel close in that area.

Not the busiest at night but a pretty central location. A little bit of a stroll to the Mall, however, if the ankle's bad.

It's also close to two Metro stops with double lines (orange/blue) that go to Smithsonian.

Top of my list would be the Holocaust Museum and you can get tickets ahead of time online. Excellent presentation , difficult certainly and emotional, but something that has stayed with me in a way very different from other similar experiences or presentations.

The Smithsonian: I would suggest spending plenty of time on their site, planning and choosing which exhibits interest you - for several reasons - so you aren't overwhelmed or waste time trying to figure all that out while sitting at one of the museums ! And it can help you plot out your days - even though the best is sometimes the things that happen when we go off our charted course a bit

The National Cathedral - www.cathedral.org
and spend time on their site and see if a tour or service or featured speaker interests you - Garrison Keiller is there in Sept as well as many other choices and if there are any choir services or events.

If you do go to the National Cathedral, stop by Two Amy's for some great pizza for your lunch!!

Thanks everyone. We decided to book the St. Regis. We got a great rate there and wanted this trip to be special to celebrate our anniversary.

I will check out the Dc Coast restaurant. Any other restaurant suggestions?

Thanks again!

There are many excellent restaurants in DC, I am still partial to the old favorite Georgia Browns - I love the fried green tomatoes,deviled eggs and the sugar and spice pork chop - www.gbrowns.com

But I tend to be a "repeat" customer and then reluctant to try something newer b/c I want that amazing dish I had before that no one else could come close to !!

My suggestions may be a little different from others as I lived in Wash Dc for several years as my husband was stationed at the Pentagon.

I would suggest staying at a Hotel in Pentagon City..if the budget can support I would stay at Ritz-Carlton. No view but 4 star service...
The Metro is right at upscale Pentagon City Mall next door to Ritz. Hubby can take the Metro to work. You can browse the MAll and then if you want take the clean & easy to navigate Metro to any number of places.
MAll has a nice Food Court (if you get too tired or you can't go to far.)
Concierge at Ritz can help orchestrate other excurions ..cabs are located right outside.

Visiting Arlinton Cemetary is a moving experience. You may want to tour Fort Meyer just up from Arlington. The Army cares for the horses that carry the casons...you can walk thru the stables...and of course the Pentagon is nearby.

14th and Independence would be Dept of Agriculture.

That is just a block from the Holocaust Museum. You could take a taxi with DH to his location and then walk over to the Museum. Or visit there and then meet him after work.

Jefferson Memorial is also nearby, and then the FDR Memorial and Lincoln Memorial, the veterans memorials, WWII memorial and Washington Memorial make a nice circle back to D of Ag.

In the other direction, the museums on the mall are not very far to walk.

A driving tour at night is very scenic. Starting at the Marine Corp (Iwo Jima) Memorial, across Memorial Bridge past Lincoln Mem, down Constitution along the mall past White House and Washington Mem. Cross the mall in front of the Capitol, then follow signs to I-395 south, cross 14th St bridge and first exit right, then north along GW Parkway with views across the river. Find way to Key Bridge and drive into Georgetown down M St.

or like before, but after crossing the Mall in front of the Capitol, turn left (east) onto Independence and left again to go on the other side of the capitol and past the Natl Archives and Supreme Court, then straight until you see Union Station. Turn left (northwest) onto Mass. Ave and in a couple blocks see the I-395 South signs to 14th St Bridge and continue as above.

Or just hop on a night tour bus!

We could probably rattle off a hundred good restaurants! What kind of food do you like? Check out www.washingtonian.com for reviews and "best" lists.

In the Gallery Place area, Jaleo's is great for tapas, Zaytinya's slants mediterranian, Proof and IndeBlue are modern, Cafe Atlantico is wonderful also. There are tons of restaurants in that area.

Over by Penn Quarter, TenPhen is my favorite, and 701 has a nice bar and a piano player. Brasserie Beck and Oyamel are good over there too.

I also like Ceiba and Chef Geoff's, both not too far from your hotel.

1JAR -

Several of the posters responding to the OP either did live in DC for several years (I just moved away after 12) or currently live in DC now.

Mauitammy -

If you are up for visiting the monuments at night, don't miss FDR Memorial...it is beautiful in the evenings.

For dinners, I will second kaudreys suggestions of Zaytinya and Brasserie Beck. I'm actually eating at Zaytinya this weekend when I'm back in DC for a quick visit...we don't have Mediterranean restaurants where I'm currently living! Brasserie Beck is also fantastic. It's on the newer side (not 2 years yet, I think) but is excellent...French/Belgian cuisine with a killer Belgian beer menu (18 pages or so?) and some really great food. The mussles are fantastic as is the roasted monkfish. When I'm at Beck, I usually split the mussels (really an entree) with several folks as an appetizer then order the monkfish as my main. YUM.

www.beckdc.com
www.zaytinya.com

Zaytinya is also a favorite of mine. I didn't recommend when OP moved to St. Regis but if the ankle holds it's well worth the walk. Same goes for Beck -- great beers too -- and all of kaudrey's recs -- with the possible exception of Chef Geoff's, which is inconsistent in my book.

If you're reading other DC posts, take any bardo recs to the bank.

Thanks to all for the wonderful advice!

It looks like the business meetings my husband is scheduled to attend in DC have been postponed a week to Thursday, September 18, so that is good news in that it will allow for my ankle to heal and make walking easier. It also gives me more time to research and plan.

I have made reservations at both St. Regis and Hotel Monaco. I think it sounds like the Hotel Monaco is a better location, but the reviews on tripadvisor are not great. The St. Regis has just been renovated and sounds wonderfully luxurious. It sounds like a good location for touring, but not eating? The St. Regis actually ended up being less than the Hotel Monaco due to a 50% off certificate we have.


I appreciate the wonderful suggestions. All of the restaurants sound amazing. I think I gained 5 pounds just reading about them.

Thanks again everone!

I would also recommend the holocaust museum - Georgetown is nice to walk around and has a lot of restaurants.