Hello:

The hubby and I are going to D.C. for the second time in Oct. for six days. Going to visit an old friend. We've done the whirlwind tour before and pretty much covered the following: art museum, Smithsonian, the Mall, Arlington, Mt. Vernon, and the capital. I have heard the U.S. Mint and FBI are interesting. I have also heard there is a nice zoo in D.C. Does anyone have any suggestions for things that we haven't seen already? We're definitely going back to the Smithsonian and art museums, but are open to other suggestions. Also, any suggestions on places to eat would be wonderful, too. We're actually staying in MD and will probably take the train into D.C. Any help would be greatly appreciated!!

Tia

The FBI is no longer open for public tours. The same also applies to the US Mint for the time being I believe. But you can check out the new International Spy Museum. I would definitely stop by the Zoo. It's a great one and the Pandas are worth the trip. While you're there you might want to also visit the National Cathedral. I would also recommend Arlington National Cemetery which is near the makeshift memorial for Pentagon 9/11 victims.

There's no mint in DC, but there is the US Bureau of Printing and Engraving. Most people think the tour there is boring.

Did you know that "the" Smithsonian includes 19 separate places, including the zoo and a couple of art museums?

Thanks for the info. I heard the mint (B. of printing and engraving) is a must see. I'm disappointed there are no tours. I also had no idea the Smithsonian had so many different museums. I remember going to some sort of a natural history museum (dinosar bones) and to an art museum. It's been several years now. Any other info anyone can give??? Thanks a million.

Tia

Mints make coins. The BPE is not a mint. They do give tours.

Why don't you look up the Smithsonian web site, or read some of the many past posts on this board for suggestions? It really helps to do some basic research and then come back here with more specific questions.

Since you are going to be here awhile, I would suggest getting away from "tourist Washington" and see some of the neighborhoods, etc. Some great smaller museums (non-Smithsonian) include the National Building Museum, the Corchoran, the Phillips Collection. I would spend some time on Capitol Hill (great architecture, Eastern Market) and Dupont Circle/Adams Morgan.

Another interesting place to visit is Ntional Geographic's Explorers Hall. I've also heard good things about the Old Post Office.

Some other out of the way attractions include--

The National Arboretum off of Bladensburg Road. Hundreds of acres of beautiful gardens, a bonzai garden, the old capital columns, many things to see.

The Franciscan Monastery off of 14th Street in Northeast. Built in 1933 by the defenders of the holy lands it contains catacombs, a fabulous chapel and grounds.

You can combine this with a visit to the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, argualbly the largest church in all the Americas.

Walk around embasssy row in northwest, you will see interesting architecture, hear every language in the world, and eat at fabulous restaurants.

Have fun.

I recommend you look into purchasing a 7 day Metro pass. Seems like it was $17 last fall. Purchase it ahead of time at www.wmata.com & have it with you when you arrive at the first stop, rather than chance waiting in line to purchase tickets. There's another tix available too for 5 or 7 days, can't remember all the details, but you'll find it online. If you can't get up the Washington Monument, try the clocktower at the Old Postal Pavilion at the Federal Triangle Metro stop.

Two more ideas:

You could check out the brand new Spy Museum. It just opened a few months ago and there are great gadgets to check out (mostly from the Cold War). Either get your tickets a day in advance or plan to wait in line up to 2 hours.

You could also take the metro to King Street and walk around Old Town Alexandria. It is a nice day trip and there are some antique shops, cafes, restaurants and funky stores. Spend some time in the Torpedo Factory art gallery and studios and sit on the boardwalk with an ice cream cone!

If you want a nice day trip or even an overnighter, try Harpers Ferry, WV. About 2 hour drive from DC; very pretty once you get out of the DC burbs. Great history, shops, beautiful scenery. The Shennandoah and Potomoc meet at Harpers Ferry -- very nice. I believe Amtrak used to go between HF and DC but that was back in the mid -80's.

October is the perfect time for going to the zoo! Summer usually finds all the animals lethargic and hiding in the shade to escape the heat.

If you want to see the animals in the summer, get there early! The grounds of the National Zoo open at 6 AM, though the bulidings don't open til 10. Early in the day, before it gets too hot, the animals are active and interesting. They have more sense than the humans, who march around in the hot midday sun.

Here are my personal picks for what to do in DC:

Library of Congress
Folger Shakespeare Library
National Cathedral
Holocaust Museum
Old Town Alexandria
Phillips Collection
Corcoran Musuem

Showing at the Corcoran during the time of your visit is the Here Is New York exhibition (amateur and professional photos taken after Sept 11th). There is also a call for entries to post photographs for the first anniversary of 9/11.

The zoo is great fun. Go early in the morning. The new pandas are a hoot and much more animated than their predecessors.

The Bureau of Engraving and Printing is open for tours. The tour is fun. I wouldn't call it a must see but it's worth a look.

You don't say where you're coming from but if you can get a hold of a copy of Washingtonian Magazine you'll have a great guide to what's going on in town. Their website is also excellent (washingtonian.com), particularly the museum guide. You'll certainly find something off the beaten tourist track there.

October is a wonderful time to visit DC. Have a great trip.

Thanks to all of you for your helpful info and suggestions for my upcoming D.C. trip. It will give me some things to think about and look into in the next few weeks. I appreciate the help!! Just LOVE this BB as it is so informative. Have done extenstive traveling around the world and have found it useful on many occasions!! Thank you again. I warn you, though...I may have more questions!!!

Tia

Tia-I highly recommend the newly opened International Spy Museum (unlike most of the other museums in DC, this one isn't free), but it's definitely worth both the price of a tkt($11/adults) and the wait in line to get in. Fords Theatre is also worth a visit (it's only about 2 blocks from the Spy Museum). What about a trip to the top of the Washington Monument. The Bureau of Printing and Engraving is interesting-ah, what you could do with all that newly printed money! The Natural History Museum contains a fabulous collections of gems, including the Hope diamond. The American History Museum has a very informative Presidential Artifacts collection. Union Station is beautifully restored and has many shops and wonderful places to eat. The National Archieves is a must if you're into American history. The zoo is a MUST. Don't forget strolling around Georgetown. Alexandria, VA can be more than a day trip. Wonderful shopping, interesting museums (Lee's boyhood home), the Torpedo Factory, Potomac river cruises and great places to eat. The Warehouse Grill and The Fish Market are both fantastic! Alexandria can easily be reached on the Metro, but if you decide to drive in, stop at the Visitors Center where you can obtain a visitors pass for 24-hr free parking (renewable twice). You could always do a day trip to Baltimore and visit the beaufitul Inner Harbor and National Aquarium. IMHO, Washington is one of the most interesting cities in the world to visit. ENJOY!

Debbie:

Thanks for the great info!!!! The Spy Museum it is! I was to the Ford's Theatre on the last visit, so at least I know where it is!!! Can you tour the Bureau of Printng and Engraving? Some seem to say that tours are no longer being given. Can you tell me more about Georgetown? I'm thinking the zoo is a MUST SEE!! Now I'm getting excited!! Thank you again for the info.

Tia

Tia, you need to contact Ford's Theatre and the BEP directly, rather than relying on the conflicting information offered on this board. This is as simple as looking up their web sites. Faster and more accurate than this board, which is good for advice but not for cut-and-dried facts that are better gleaned elsewhere.

The BEP site says that they ARE giving tours, despite asertions on this board to the contrary. And Ford's Theatre closed in June for extensive renovations, so check before you go.

Georgetown is not served by Metro. While one could walk there, one easy way is to take the Georgetown Shuttle from the Rosslyn, dupont Circle, or Foggy Bottom Metro Station. When you get *ON* the Metro, get a transfer pass from the machine at the station you board at. You'll be able to take the shuttle for $0.25 with the pass. (Do the same if you go to King St/ Alexandria).

There's a nice bunch of waterfront shops & eateries in Georgetown, plus the C&O Canal (US Park) is there ... can take a canalboat ride or rent bicycles (& could ride up to Harpers Ferry WV). A lot of stores on M and up Wisconsin. We liked strolling along many of the side streets north of M and west of Wisconsin. G'town seems to enjoy quite a nightlife too. The shuttle back will cost you $0.50. We walked to Dupont Circle.

We also took a short cruise from Alexandria to Georgetown ... seems like it was about $17 r/t, and was docked behind the Torpedo Factory. You can return on a later boat if you like ... After visiting Gtown we decided no just forfeit the return trip, but maybe we could have purchased 1-way tickets .. Don't know. Old Town Alexandria was very nice too.

Most DC buses are only $0.25 when you have a transfer ticket from the station you BOARDED at, so we simply got the tix each time we entered the Metro, "just in case".

We did some walking tours with a company called "Washington Walks" that were pretty good, but $10/person. You can find some suggested walking tours yourself at http://www.dcchamber.org/default.asp

Iwo Jima is a nice place to sit on the hill & have a lunch while viewing DC - there's some nice shops in the Rosslyn Metro Station to purchase a to-go lunch at. We also enjoyed a new museum at Arlington Cemetary dedicated to women in the military ... the name escapes me.

If you wish to go to Harpers Ferry, Amtrak does travel there, but you could take the MARC commuter train (from Union Station) there for much less $.

We walked around the Tidal Basin, visiting Lincoln Memorial, FDR, Jefferson Monument. A nice walk.

I really like Bistro Bis at the Hotel George, Kinkeads in Foggy Bottom and Sea Catch in Georgetown. You should check out Chowhounds Washington DC website. I also liked The National Building Museum(great gift shop) and The Post Office museum. Have a great trip!