sightseeing in DC
 

We are going to DC in mid April on business with a few free days. We mainly love museums. Usually we start by taking a tourist bus trip that gives us an overview of the city and then go back to what interests us in the remainng 3 days. Any suggestions? We will be at the Marriott in Chantilly VA.

The Tourmobile is probably your best bet for this. It has stops by the major monuments and museums -- you can get off, explore as much as you want, and reboard all day on the same ticket. Or you can just stay on the bus if/when your feet are tired. In April it will probably be open-air, which is pleasant. http://tourmobile.com/ Good luck!

You should visit the Udvar Hazy Center, a branch of the National Air & Space Museum. It is in Chantilly, on route 28 between the NRO and Dulles airport.

I think the Tourmobile is a great idea for getting around to visit the sites, but maybe not for an overview/scouting expedition. But the museums are in a fairly compact area and once you go there you will get the idea, so just get right to it.

I don't understand how an overview tour would help a museum lover ... "On your right is the Natural History Museum ...". It's not going to give you much insight into what is inside the building. And if it is not pointed out to you then you might miss something that really interests you. I recommend getting a tourist map and doing some basic research of what is available.

I believe that there is a bus between the U-H Center and the main Air & Space Museum.

We took the Old town trolley tour in Sept.You can order your tickets on the internet.Paul

I hate the Tourmobile. Take the Old Town Trolley.

my

Bus service between U-H and Air and Space in DC no longer exists.

Here are your public transportation options between U-H and DC.

http://www.nasm.si.edu/visit/transportation/public.cfm

If you are staying in Chantilly, you will have a car, right? To visit DC, you may drive to the Vienna Metro Station to hop on the DC metro. You'll need to get there early (parking is limited) and buy a smart card for the pay parking on weekdays. Weekends you get to sleep in and parking is free. You can also take a bus to the Metro, but then you'd have to know the bus schedules (some only run during the weekday rush).

Other than the Smithsonian Museums (print the map from their website)...love the Air & Space, National Art Gallery...I think the National American History may be closed?

Check out the Spy Museum - pretty cool!

Also, the Holocaust Museum is a must see.

8-)

Suggestion:..If on the metro...go to Union Station...nicely restored old train station.....nice restaurants upstairs....food court downstairs.

The Post Office museum is across the street from UnionStation....interesting museum