Help me plan a three day trip to Washington DC

[Mad Pino Rage]

I need a break and I always wanted to go since it is so close, so anyone who can please help me plan a trip to Washington DC. I'm less interested in clubs and bars and more interested in monuments and museums. Places to eat, a great place to stay for three nights, modes of travel versus my vehicle, and anything else to do would be some things you could give me suggestions on. This is all spur of the moment, but I'm going to look more into this this weekend.

[sycld]

You can stay in my place if you're willing to turn tricks.

Most of the museums, of course, are on the National Mall. There you've got the Museum of American History, the Natural History Museum, the Air and Space Museum, the National Gallery of Art (which is not a Smithsonian museum, mind you though it is free), the Freer and Sackler galleries of Asian art, the Museum of African Art, the Hirshorn (museum of modern art), the Newseum (also not a Smithsonian museum), and the new but shitty Museum of the American Indian or whatever the hell it's called.

Nearby is the Tidal Basin if you want to take a gander at the cherry blossoms, though they should be far past their peak by now.

The National Portrait Gallery and the Spy Museum are nearby each other to the north of the mall off the Gallery Place-Chinatown metro stop. I am sad to say that I've never been to the American Portrait Gallery. The Spy Museum isn't bad; there are definitely some interesting things there.

The Phillip's Collection is a bit of a walk from Dupont Circle and focuses on early modern (such as the Impressionists) to contemporary art. One of its most prominent pieces is Renoir's "Luncheon of the Boating Party." There are some decent places around Dupont Circle to get a bite to eat, as well as some interesting spots like Kramer's Books and Cafe, a somewhat well known but cramped bookstore attached to a comparatively larger cafe.

Also, the gay bars and clubs are fairly close by Dupont Circle, and I know that you'll be cruising for some ghey sex around there. Unfortunately for you, the gay entertainment district in SE full of sleezy porno theaters and the like was torn down to build the National's stadium. (Even if you aren't into gay secs, it should amuse you at least to think about all those conservative congressmen working so close to hotbed of gay sexual activity.)

Of course, Georgetown is probably the best known location outside of DC for food and shopping. However, in an attempt by the Georgetown residents to keep out the low-class rabble scum that use public transportation, there is no Georgetown metro stop. Depending on where you want to go to in Georgetown, the easiest way to get there is either by the Rosslyn stop or from Foggy Bottom. I know that there is a bus that goes from Foggy Bottom to Georgetown, but I have no idea what its schedule i like.

That's all I can think off of the top of my head. Ask any questions and maybe I wont demand your oral services to answer them.

[Shinysides]

National History Museum, Air and Space Museum are both must see's. I haven't been there in 5 or 6 years, but I'll think about it and figure out some other stuff you should see. I would think Sycld would be able to help too.

Oh wait, he busy was typing several pages for you.

[Mad Pino Rage]

Have no idea what those places are and how to get to them, but I'm certain that I must googlemap National Mall, Dupont Circle, and Tidal Basin. I plan on taking a lot of photos and beiing very curious about all the museum exhibits. I hope military gets in free to all those places. Thanks!

[sycld]

Err, well, the great thing about DC is that most of those museums are free to the public.

And the National Mall is just the long green strip of land that has the Capital Building on one side and the Lincoln Memorial on the opposite, with the Smithsonian museums lining its length and the White House also attached to it. The tidal basin is also nearby the mall.

Another place of interest in DC with plenty of restaurants, eateries, bars, and shops is Adam's Morgan, along 18th street.

There's other things in DC like theaters and places that feature live music, as well as the DC Improv, which features stand-up comedians.

[highvolt4g3]

If you are going to the museums, definitely eat in the Museum of American History, they have the best food.

[lol]

I dont know if anyone mentioned it above, so I apologize in advance.

Go to the Holocaust Museum. I went there just recently and it was a life changing experience. I mean sure it's just a museum but the whole thing had an immense impact on me. I highly recommend it.

[fm2176]

You might be able to see if the Navy Yard has guest lodging. I know Fort McNair has a few rooms as I was stationed there for four-and-a-half years, but you have to call Fort Myer lodging to reserve one. Both McNair and the Navy Yard are only a couple miles from the Capitol and a short walk from the Metro stations. McNair doesn't have much in the way of amenities, but if you can get a room on the Yard there is a pub, numerous eating establishments and other things to do, including the US Navy Museum. Plus, the Marine Barracks at 8th and I are right up the road.

Keep in mind that DC is divided into quarters with the US Capitol building at the center. McNair is in Southwest, the Navy Yard is only a mile down the road but is in Southeast. The Federal District is at the center of the city, and the Mall is in SW. The whole Maine Street corridor is being revamped, Waterfront Mall was torn down a while ago and the new construction should be about completed, Nationals Stadium is within walking distance of both previously mentioned military installations, and the area looks completely different now than it did five years ago.

If you enjoy military history at all, visit the Navy Museum, the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington, the Marine Corps Memorial, and the Marine Museum at Quantico. Even if you don't care much about that, visit Arlington House and some of the memorials and gravesites inside the cemetery, General of the Armies John Pershing is buried there, along with Audie Murphy, some of the Iwo Jima flag raisers, and Pierre L'Enfant, the designed of the Federal City. A short walk across Memorial Bridge will put you at the Lincoln Memorial, while a hop on the Metro will take you from Arlington to the Washington Monument. A majority of the attractions are laid out in a more or less linear fashion, enabling you to go from Arlington to the Marine Memorial to the Mall to some of the surrounding museums without having to go out of your way much. If you intend to see alot you may even want to consider bringing a bike. The Metro is nice but you will still have to walk some, with a bike you can go directly to where you want.



Oh, and if you are there already and this post does no good, keep this stuff in mind for next time you visit.

[thank mr skeltal]

If you're from a state not near D.C. you might find your Congressman's office in the Rayburn building and stop in and say hi. My congressman at the time was when I lived in Tennessee, so he didn't get many visitors, and spent about an hour and a half with me, walking and talking, taking the secret underground subway to Capitol Hill and taking me to lunch in the Congressional dining room. Pretty sweet experience! You might call ahead and see if he has any availability in his schedule for you to stop in (assuming Congress is in session when you're there) and say hi. Also, I'm sure most offices are like the one I went to, where it's standard to get a photo with him in his office, he'll sign it and mail it to you.

Too bad you don't like bars/clubs, as said above Dupont Circle is a pretty happening place, and Nation is one of the top nightclubs on the east coast, it is where Deep Dish got started (big time DJs) and they still play residencies there from time to time, I was lucky enough to get to see them play them play when I was in town. Just be sure to take a friend if you go, it is in a rough part of town! (also the subways will be closed when you leave there, so plan on keeping cab money in your shoe, there will be cabs right outside the club all night)

[Atmosfear]

Yeah if you aren't interested in bars, then I'm not interested in helping.

[MJBU]

Me too I'll be doing the same thing (3 days trip to DC).

I'll be taking notes, I would love to go to the bars in the area, I have to see what other have to say about the bars in the area.

[amac211]

Imagine you are in Fallout 3 while there.

[sycld]

and Nation is one of the top nightclubs on the east coast

Lol?

You mean the club that was shut down in 2006 to make way for the Nationals' stadium?

[Mad Pino Rage]

Me too I'll be doing the same thing (3 days trip to DC).

I'll be taking notes, I would love to go to the bars in the area, I have to see what other have to say about the bars in the area.

I'm probably going to go with some pals and I guess we're going to need word on the clubs.

Imagine you are in Fallout 3 while there.

Yes, I have thought about this immensely.