Wow, that was so much fun looking at all the Restaurant web sites! I am hungry now.

Thanks everyone for the suggestions, of course if you forgot any don't hesitate to add to the list.

I emailed all the links to my Aunt to see if she would like to pick any of them. This is going to be so much fun.

thereyet

"Women in Military Service to America Memorial"

sarge56, we stayed there for about 3 hours and I and my SO, got into a very nice conversation and they showed us some extra taped footage of his era.

I also bought a very nice carry bag from them. The day was ice sleeting, but even with the shelter we got there, it was one of my SO's and mine too, favorite parts of the Arlington phase of our trip. We also viewed the fallen (Iraq) there-as their pictures were all on display from the beginning of the war to 2005.

I have talked and em'd with all my congress members offices and they are very receptive to my requests.

I can see a lot of time getting booked up already, between special tours, breakfasts and town hall meetings with my Congress members. This is going to be a blast!

thereyet

I think it is in a tie for my favorite city vacation, tied with San Diego for entirely different reasons.

I'm going to do another week again with some of the grandchildren in 2009, I think.

Have a great time. There is way, way more to do than you could fit into such a time span.

Read my long report here, with $22 in the title, if you want some more ideas.

Thanks JJ, as I said, I already feel my time booking up and I have only been planning for two days!

Dang, I am now staring to think of the things I WON'T get to do!

thereyet

Has anyone mentioned that you should NOT MISS the National Archives (I hope I'm not adding to your misery LOL!)? It is just a really incredible thing to see an actual copy of the Declaration of Independence. When we took our kids the first time (probably 15 years ago, it wasn't even in the hermetically sealed, raise it up once an hour contraption that they later put it in for safety (from people and pollution). Regardless, it's a must-see.

dmlove, it is a misery of joy! LOL:)

I seem to be confusing library of congress with national archives. Do the Archives require a ticket? Or do they require reservations? Or both?

You are correct that I would be thrilled to see the Declaration, Constitution and the Bill of Rights.

thereyet

thereyet, the Archives are the biggest absolute bottom line must see, to me. And I think the Jefferson Building, Library of Congress, Reading room is #2. But then I am prejudice.

It isn't just the Dec. of Independence but all those all yellowed papers, and the walls. And the people there were International. We spent a full 2 hours, and I thought it was about a 1 hour draw.

Even in a snowstorm, it was the only place that still had a "proper" amount of customers. No ticket, that I can remember.

Here is some info re visiting the National Archives in DC

http://www.archives.gov/nae/visit/

The website says reservations are recommended.

http://www.archives.gov/nae/visit/reserved-visits.html

I went there twice - once on Memorial Day and once on a October afternoon. There was a wait on MD but not on October. I don't think that reservations are essential. If you make them but don't show up, nothing will happen. There isn't a booking fee like the Holocaust Museum (I think they have one)

<<Women in Military Service to America Memorial"

sarge56, we stayed there for about 3 hours and I and my SO, got into a very nice conversation and they showed us some extra taped footage of his era...it was one of my SO's and mine too, favorite parts of the Arlington phase of our trip>>

JJ5- so glad you enjoyed it! One more reason for thereyet to get there. :) :) :)

Thanks for the link vjp. :)

JJ5, it is with reverence that I will visit the National Archives.

thereyet

Now Paula...how will I know which Paula you are as a charter member? What questions will I ask to see your story?

thereyet

email me: [email protected]
:)

Do you remember the 12th General Order? ;)

I will walk my post from flank to flank, and take no spit from any rank.

Oorah!

You got mail Sarge.

thereyet

Topping

You definitely do NOT want to rent a car with that location. You are within easy walking distance of the red line on the metro at Woodley Park. Especially if your aunt is willing to drive you around I would forget the car. Also, it can be very hot and humid in early June so please do not be surprised if it is! I would recommend avoiding the outdoor monuments until the evening when the temperature cools off (it never cools off in July and August, even at night) and even better, do the monuments at night. Spend the days inside the museums. If you get a nice, not humid day, grab it to do the zoo or some other outdoor activity and do not assume you will get another nice not humid day! :-)

laminmd

I lived in the DC/Baltimore area one summer, and if memory served me correctly, the heat and humidity usually comes end of June/early July. Early June was usually warm and dry and very nice, with temps in the 80s in the day and 60s at night.

I do agree that July/August can be another story, but June was quite pleasant (to me) in DC. Of course, I'm a Southerner, so my heat tolerance may be a bit higher than yours...

Hi bkluvsNola,

I would say that you lucked out the one summer you lived in this area. Based on my 45 years of experience here, I can tell you that it is very normal to have more hot, humid days in June than not. Therefore, to avoid disappointment, visitors should prepare for the worst and be pleasantly surprised when it is not humid. :-)

Definitely will not rent a car.And have my fingers crossed for the less humid "rarity". I grew up in Chicago where humidity was a part of the lexicon. Now live in N.Ca. where we don't know humidity...unless it is raining. :)

On another topic, my aunt has recommended the Spy Museum and now I hear of the opening of the Newseum. Any views on these two museums?

Thanks for all your help.

thereyet

I agree with laminmd on the humidity issue - not uncommon at all for it to get very uncomfortably humid at that time of year. Last year I had a friend visiting the first week of June, and it was very hot and humid during her visit - we did the monuments at night around 9:00 and were still sweating buckets.

I think the Spy Museum is enjoyable - it is not one of the Smithsonian museums, so there is an admission fee. I would suggest getting tickets in advance as they are for timed entrances. If you are in the neighborhood, Zaytinya and Jaleo are great restaurant choices, and Poste and Zola (which is in the same building and associated with the museum) are nice places for a cocktail.

The Newseum (also not part of the Smithsonian) is opening tomorrow! What I've been reading about it sounds fantastic, and I am looking forward to visiting. I would check their website to see if you can secure tickets in advance, since I would guess it will be very popular for the next few months.