It's our last day in DC

[cilla4progress]

Metro-ing in from the Maryland burbs. Going to the Smithsonian (fave place in the world!) African American museum. Went to the museum of Native Americans yesterday. Wonderful! Failed to snag a White House tour.

Any hidden gems you can rec?

We've touristed here before so have seen the monuments on the Mall - though they never get old!

Spent a semester here in college, work study sort of thing.

I must say the media image that it's all chaos, hate, disarray, and negativity is FAR from what we are encountering! Everyone along the way (including airline passengers) have been courteous, amiable!!

[DFW]

1. If you haven't seen it

Do NOT miss the Jefferson building of the Library of Congress, across from the Supreme Court. Most miss it—their loss!!!!

Then, out to the corner of M Street and Wisconsin Avenue, and walk slowly up Wisconsin. Bistrots, cafés tiny cool stores.

If there’s time and you haven’t seen it, there’s the Holocaudt Museum.

In that order.

[HAB911]

2. I'm sure, you have already done so,

but I never fail to let my tears flow at the VN memorial

[Stinky The Clown]

22. It was open nearly 8 years before I could bear to visit. Even now, it is tough for me to go there.

[MyMission]

3. I was last there in October 2018

It was for a wedding, but did get in a bit of sight seeing.
I've been there a number of times over many years.

I went into the shop of the spy museum, across from the Smithsonian, and it was fun and interesting. Didn't get to go through the museum.

https://www.spymuseum.org/

I passed by the MLK memorial library, which was being renovated. Would have loved to walk through.
https://www.dclibrary.org/mlk

Enjoy your last day.

[BumRushDaShow]

13. LOL I was a month after you in November 2018!

At the time, I think they were just setting up the big "National Christmas tree" in Lafayette Square.

[MyMission]

50. I was there the day Brett K. joined the court

And got to attend a protest, at least a part of it.

I was there for a wedding, got to see family I like, got to wander around DC sightsee a bit, visit the Smithsonian, and got to stand on the mall with others to express our outrage. Not our rage. But the SC building and others were protected by those metal barriers, to keep anyone from getting too close.

[Lulu KC]

4. Dumbarton Oaks

It's in Georgetown. I haven't spent much time in the museum, but it has a beautiful garden for a little walk, and lots of history happened there. Very quiet. You can just see the tops of a couple buildings on Embassy Row.

If you're not familiar, the Dumbarton Oaks Conversations took place here, and those led to the drafting of the U.N. Charter.

https://www.doaks.org

[honest.abe]

5. I've been here over 30 years.

I think I’ve seen it all maybe multiple times. The museums are great but we also love the outdoors around here like Great Falls, Shenandoah national park, fishing on the Chesapeake, camping at various campgrounds nearby. The new Wharf area is really nice but expensive! Also National Harbor is fun. The zoo of course but I suppose you did that one already. National Cathedral and The Basilica are amazing. Bethesda downtown is fun as is Silver Spring downtown. That’s just the places I can think of at the moment. We are also planning to move next year to Atlanta area.

[Phoenix61]

6. African American Museum is wonderful! nt

[70sEraVet]

7. Arlington Cemetery is holy ground.

Years ago I went through with my oldest daughter, and it happened to be the anniversary of Bobby Kennedy's death. Members of his family were there, paying their respects to a great man whose life was ended, preventing him from setting this country on a truly humanitarian path.
I totally broke down, like I'd lost a family member of my own.

[William Seger]

8. Air and Space Museum

If you like aeronautical and space stuff, the National Air and Space Museum is the most awesome museum in the world.

[brooklynite]

24. Currently closed...but the annex is open

Its out by Dulles Airport, and its where they store the items too BIG for the Museum on the Mall.

[genxlib]

9. I am a big fan of the National Building Museum

Just a couple of blocks NW of the Capitol. The building itself is stunning on the inside. They often have inaugural balls there. I always found the exhibits fascinating. I find that it approaches architecture as a social science in the way it defines and represents our culture.


https://www.nbm.org/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=52&v=pGORi1FEMZQ&feature=emb_logo

[YDogg]

19. I second this recommendation.

The National Building Museum is remarkable.

[erronis]

10. National Zoo. That's where I met my partner of 18 years - volunteering.

Volunteering at the zoo was a real treat. We actually got to clean out the big cat (tiger/lion) grounds a couple of times. Very smelly and weird knowing that in about 15 minutes the steel door letting them out into the yard would be opened.....

The volunteer coordinator saw my partner and me chatting and sharing an apple. He said that he knew we would be together in the future.

[Historic NY]

11. Check out Pershing Square where the new National WWI memorial is in finishing stages

[link:https://www.nps.gov/nama/planyourvisit/national-world-war-i-memorial.htm|]

[link:https://www.nps.gov/places/000/national-world-war-i-memorial-future-site.htm|]

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

28. Wow, I had no idea that museum was happening.

Otherwise, as far as I know the only WWI museum in this country is in Kansas City, and it's remarkable. It's worth going to KC just for that.

[IronLionZion]

12. Media scares away Republican tourists

The Teddy Roosevelt memorial is one of my favorites. You have to get to it from the GW parkway. The Botanical Gardens are a good spot to visit if you like plants. The outside gardens are great if it gets too hot inside. The various art galleries are great if you're into art.

Kids often like the air and space museum, natural history, spy museum, American history, and the national zoo.

Baltimore's aquarium is fun if you want to visit our neighboring city.

[BlackSkimmer]

35. I recently learned there's a Titanic memorial there.

Have you ever seen it?

[IronLionZion]

37. Not yet, here's more info

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Titanic_Memorial_(Washington,_D.C.)

[BlackSkimmer]

40. Thank you!

[mcar]

14. National Archives, National Portrait Gallery are both fab

I've also heard that the DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution) building is amazing!

[Tall Poppy]

15. Eat lunch at one of the Senate office buildings!

You never know who you’ll see!

[BlackSkimmer]

16. Arlington always worth a visit.

I was there right after Justice Ginsberg's death and there was only a tiny marker next to her husband's stone. I think they have a nice stone for them both now.

Somber, yet fascinating place.

[WinstonSmith4740]

18. The Changing of the Guard!

Hope you caught it. Absolutely amazing.

[BlackSkimmer]

34. Actually I was only able to see it from a distance. During Covid, you had to watch from some

way away.

Frigid day, and I ended up only seeing a little of it. Maybe next time!

[barbtries]

27. My sons and I visited Arlington.

I cried at JFK's grave, we watched the changing of the guard. My youngest son wasn't quite getting why I got emotional, but his older brother completely did.

[cilla4progress]

17. Wonderful suggestions!

I make a point of striking up conversations - everyone so friendly and seemingly happy (enough?)!!

We have plans to hit some of these highlights -

Thanks!

[Stinky The Clown]

20. Hidden gem: FDR memorial.

[appalachiablue]

49. ++ Must do & Cedar Hill, Fred. Douglass DC Hs-.Estate - history, charm, great views of capital.

[BumRushDaShow]

21. Here in Philly due to the proxiity, they always had class trips down there

and working for the feds for over 30 years, I was always back and forth on I-95 down there.

And there is so much but if you haven't stopped by there, you could go to the MLK Memorial, which overlooks the Tidal Basin if you haven't been by there (I think it opened in 2011 - unveiling initially delayed due to Hurricane Irene).

When we were there just this past November 2018, we got on one of those double-decker bus tours and one of the stops along the way that people could hop off to go look at, was Ford's Theater (associated with a national historic park at the site and in the immediate area) - and I think history buffs would know the significance of that being where Lincoln was assassinated. Apparently there is a museum in the basement below the actual (operational) theater (we didn't hop off to go but I did see a mention on the bus brochure).

[eppur_se_muova]

23. Natural History Museum is Heaven for nerds. Kids love the dino skeletons and other fossils. nt

[Botany]

25. National Arboretum

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[barbtries]

26. i love DC too.

i took my grandsons several years ago and got every free ticket I could from my local rep. We went to the WH, the Capitol, the SC (where they wouldn't let us in because one of the judges was entertaining visitors inside), Bureau of Engraving, don't recall them all. Plus the monuments, a crime place where you had to try and solve it, can't recall the name of it, did the hop on hop off bus a couple times, just had a blast. Space museum. Holocaust Museum. Modern Art Museum. We met a lifesize talking Smoky the Bear in a tiny off the map place, probably a National Parks Museum about the size of a closet. The zoo.

i think the last time I was there alone and visited the MLK monument. I don't know how many times you could visit DC and still just be scratching the surface.

my 2 grandsons are the most fun people I know. I always have so much fun with those guys.

[Warpy]

29. Smithsonian Institution

If you haven;t been through at least one building, you haven't been to DC. Really.

It doesn't take forever and calling it "America's Attic" isn't far off, it's fascinating.

[riverbendviewgal]

30. National Air and space museum

Part of the Smithsonian. Went twice in different years. Wonderful to explore

[MontanaMama]

31. When I lived in DC

the Museum of Natural History was my favorite….particularly the gemstones. The Hope Diamond is mesmerizing.

[cilla4progress]

47. Love it!

Will try to squeeze it in this trip!

Such a "Dem" feel here!.😁

[MLAA]

32. Library of Congress is really something. Maybe a quick run through Botanical gardens?

There is an IMAX theater in the area, if I recall correctly, that has a cool shortish film.

[Retrograde]

43. Seconding the Library of Congress!

IIRC the Folger Shakespeare Library is nearby, but we spent so much time in the LoC that we never got to it.

[CTyankee]

33. I would be found at the National Gallery of art!

https://artsandculture.google.com/partner/national-gallery-of-art-washington-dc

I've been there several times. I found some American artists I had previously not known.

[Mr.Bill]

36. It's not in DC, but nearby

my favorite place is George Washington's home in Mt. Vernon. I lived in Alexandria when I was a kid in the 50s and went there several times. Most recently I was there in 2002.

[Retrograde]

44. Can you still sit out on the porch

and watch the river go by? Mt. Vernon is almost a day trip in itself, especially if you want to explore the grounds and not just the main house.

[Mr.Bill]

46. We did in '02.

Can't be sure about now.

[kimbutgar]

38. There is a boat you can take down the Potomac and visit Mr Vernon

[mahatmakanejeeves]

39. National Archives. Don't miss

the Constitution, Declaration of Independence, Bill of Rights, and Magna Carta.

Nice weather today for a change.

[cally]

41. I always make a stop in Alexandria

Take the ferry if available or the metro. Lots of history here and very accessible.

[liberalla]

42. Bookmarking for if/when I ever get to DC...

[shanti]

51. IKR?

GD has claimed Paris, but my GSs would love DC, so much to do! It's on my bucket list.

[obamanut2012]

45. Library of Congress

[Initech]

48. I went to the International Spy Museum last time I was there, that was cool.

https://www.spymuseum.org/