WASHINGTON DC - short, first trip
 

I am taking my parents (in their 70s, but fit and active) to DC for their first ever trip. Part of the time we will spend visiting my daughter at college, but I need to squeeze in some serious sightseeing for them as well. Trip is in mid-February so of course I'm a bit worried about rain, but am hoping there won't be a lot of crowds even though we'll be there over President's Day weekend.

Here's my plan so far, and please let me know if I'm missing anything...

arrival: Saturday afternoon -- see Georgetown

day 1 (sun)
morning: OPEN
afternoon: OLD POST OFFICE TOWER for view
1:00-4:30 walking tour of monuments


day 2 (mon)
morning: library of congress -- arrive 9:45, reading room opens at 10
Capitol Building 10:30 am tour (arrive 45 min early)
afternoon: AMERICAN HISTORY MUSEUM

day 3 (tues)
morning: OPEN (but have requested white house tour)
afternoon: depart for airport

ideas for OPEN times:
BUREAU OF ENGRAVING AND PRINTING (only open on tuesday morning of our time in DC -- are the lines long there? haven't visited in years)
NATIONAL ARCHIVES (can you get tickets for this? last time I went the lines were REALLY long)
ARLINGTON CEMETERY (bus tours 8:30-4:30)
OLD TOWN ALEXANDRIA

Am I missing something obvious??

Thanks so much!

How about the National Gallery? The Museum of Natural History? The Air and Space Museum?

We didn't find Old Town Alexandria to be among our top sights.

I forgot a hot newer one, the Newseum.

FYI, the White House tour, if it comes through for you, is very short. Even if you dawdle, I don't see how you could spend an hour inside; I'd say an hour total, including the standing in line and waiting to get through security. Since you only have half days or less open, skip Old Town, it will take too long. Arlington Cemetery is a good choice if the weather is good, but if not, I'd suggest another museum. Underhill's ideas are great--I love the Newseum, and the National Gallery of Art may be my single favorite art museum that I've seen. The Phillips Collection is another gem, in Dupont Circle, which gives you a chance to see another nice DC neighborhood.

The Newseum is wonderful! One could spend hours there. The National Potrait Gallery is nice and I like the AMerican Arts Museum. Boating Party is at the Phillips and its a great museum though not free. For Asian Art the Freer is lovely. It really depends upon your interests which museums to choose.

"I'm a bit worried about rain" Hope it doesn't snow. Crowds are certainly lighter in February, but museums still can draw crowds.

I wouldn't take the time to go to Alexandria...just shopping and nothing particularly unique about it.

Have a great trip!

Forgot to mention -- I am always puzzled abut why people go to Georgetown. It's really just a bunch of chain stores with a few independent stores thrown in.

> BUREAU OF ENGRAVING AND PRINTING
> are the lines long there?

The two times I went to visit, the lines were so long that I didn't even bother to try and wait. Unless visiting this is a must-see, I can't imagine using up precious time during a first visit to DC. I skipped it on my EIGHTH visit to DC!

I'm confused by your plan for Monday morning - you seem to be doing two things at the same time.

So yes -- the NEWSEUM is what I forgot. I have been there and love it.

Think we'll skip Alexandria based on advice.

Monday mornng was going to be the White House, and if we don't get in, the Bureau of Engraving and Printing.

Will definitely add another museum or two, especially if weather is bad -- will let my parent pick. Have always wanted to do the Phillips, but not sure that would be best for them if they haven't been to the National Gallery of Art or the Air and Space.

Does any one know anything about the National Arboretum -- I think it's indoors?
Or a nice place to have a cocktail with a view?

Thanks!
dina

I was referring to the library of congress and Capitol bldg!

oh yes, SF. i can see i didn't leave enough time -- maybe i'm overlapping. But if we can't get into the reading room, we can go to the Library of Congress earlier in order to make it to the capitol buiding tour on time! you're right!

More questions:

1. Need a good place to eat after the Capitol Building on Monday. Just a made a 2:15 timed entry resrevation to the Natl Archives.

2. Does any one know anything about the National Arboretum -- I think it's indoors?

3. Or a nice place to have a cocktai in the eveningl with a view?

Thanks!!

The National Arboretum is a big park like area in NE, not right downtown. It is outside. The United States Botantic Gardens is on Maryland Ave SW is inside and has some beautiful displays.

Ok, I was thinking of the place right next to the Capitol Building -- which I guess is the US Botanic Gardens. Thanks for clarifying!!

We've lived in DC for 20 years and have never visited the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. It's only open on Federal workdays, and the lines have always been long. I would tour any of the other museums instead.

I would skip Georgetown, as well. Little charm, lots of chain stores. Old Town has that same feeling to me, just my opinion though.

I would add the American History Museum to Day 1 in the morning if you can. It's close to the Old Post Office Pavilion and would save backtracking.

On Day 2, I might suggest spending time after the Capitol tour at the Library of Congress. There is more to the library than the reading room. Since you'll be in the general area, if you have time after the Botanic Garden you may like the Postal Museum and Union Station. The Postal Museum doesn't take much time and is more interesting than you might think. Union Station is pretty on the inside, and there are several places for a coffee break.

Unfortunately, you can not get advance tickets for Archives. However, if someone in your group is Military, retired or active, you can usually jump to the front of the line by going around to the group entrance and presenting ID.

Guys, read the OP. I assume dina's daughter is a student at Georgetown and will show her parents and grandparents the campus and neighborhood, not the chain stores. Besides, saying that Georgetown is all chain stores is plain wrong. It's a historic neighborhood that is home to a historic university and many historic homes, some of which, like Tudor Place and Dumbarton Oaks, are open to the public. A walking tour of Georgetown would reveal its many charms.

NATIONAL ARCHIVES (can you get tickets for this? last time I went the lines were REALLY long)
http://www.recreation.gov/tourSearch...tractCode=NRSO

I doubt the lines will be long in February anyway. Did you read someplace that Feb is particuarly rainy?

Not to mention, I guess you CAN get an advance timed reservation for the Archives!

For a good (not great, and very pricey) cocktail in a fantastic setting with a great view, you can't beat the roof terrace atop the W next to the Willard. I don't know if it's as good in winter as in summer.

The Phillips Collection is closed Mondays, so plan accordingly. Just about everything else is open every day.