We're off to DC for the first time in less than two weeks. I think we have covered all the bases, but we are open to suggestions.

We have reserved through our rep's office a tour of the Capitol and Supreme Court.

We have reservations at Ford's Theatre and Kennedy Center.

We have tickets for DC Ducks reserved.

Visiting Mt. Vernon w/Potomac Spirit.

Plan to do an evening monument tour on Tourmobile. Would also like to get "up close and personal" with several monuments on our own.

We weren't able to get tickets for the WWII Monument Dedication, but may try to go anyway.

We plan to visit the Holocaust Museum, National Gallery, Air & Space Museum (Udvar-Hazy Center too).

We only have a week, so may have overdone it already. But we are open to suggestions.

Well, you've left off most of the Smithsonian museums, including the very popular American History and Natural History.

If you do some memorials on your own, try to see the Vietnam Memorial in daylight.

In general, with all those pre-arranged tickets and reservations, you've set up a very structured week!

I would just add what I always add to DC itineraries: the monuments make for a long day of walking. Very pleasant, and not hilly, but long, so if you really want to see them (and they keep adding new ones...), budget a day for that. The museums along and near the Mall are numerous and large, so budget at least one day for them; luckily, you can come and go through them as you please, but it would be hard to see more than 3 in one day. Lastly, I've not been there, but Udvar-Hazy is out near Dulles Airport, isn't it? If it interests you particularly, of course, you should go, but keep in mind the travel time to and fro (although I don't know where you're staying...). Sounds like you'll have a full wekk, but don't worry, as there's no way to see and do all of DC in just 5 days--I hope you enjoy it, and will plan to return!

There is a shuttle bus available from the DC Air & Space Museum to the Udvar-Hazy Museum near Dulles Airport. Cost is $7.00 per person/roundtrip. Will take about an hour travel time each way if not during rush hours.

Arlington National Cemetery, especially on Memorial Day would certainly be a grand sight.

If you are interested in art, you might consider a brief trip to the Natianal Cathedral where there is the wonderful "Creation" sculpture by noted artist Frederick Hart (mostly known for the free-flowing lucite faces often seen in the windows of mall art galleries - as well as the well-known "3 GI's" Vietnam War sculpture).

Link to some of his stuff:

http://www.lahainagalleries.com/frederick_hart.htm

(Not pushing the gallery, it was just a handy site with some photos).

Ken

Thanks to all of you for your comments and suggestions.

Anon: I don't feel we are really restricted when we travel. Just want to make sure that we are able to go to the theatre or see a particular site and not be disappointed when we arrive to find no seats/times are available. This will be an extremely crowded time in DC because of the WWII Monument dedication. We actually do have two free days with nothing scheduled.

E - Thanks for the heads up on visiting the monuments. These are the kinds of things a new visitor doesn't know.

TF - We knew about the shuttle but thanks for bringing it to our attention in case we didn't know.

CG - We will try to get to Arlington. Would very much like to visit the Kennedy gravesites. I'm sure you're right about it being particularly grand on Memorial Day.

LB - Thank you for the info on the Hart sculpture. I will check out the URL you supplied.

Again thanks to all of you. We are looking forward to our trip.