Hubby and I are plannin a trip to Washington DC, any ideas on what to do there?

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truefirstedition

For shopping, head to Georgetown (about a 15-minute walk from Foggy Bottom Metro Station). There are all the usual stores - Gap, Banana Republic, etc - as well as several higher-end boutiques, vintage stores, and chain stores that you won't find elsewhere in the city, all right along M Street. The neighborhood is also beautiful just to walk in - Georgetown University is there, along with beautiful historic townhouses, the old canal, and tree-lined streets.

While you're shopping in Georgetown, have brunch or lunch at News Cafe (http://www.newscafedc.com/home/index.cfm), or go to dinner at Agraria (http://www.agrariarestaurant.com/) on the waterfront for a romantic date - they are both fabulous. Pizzeria Paradiso (http://www.eatyourpizza.com/) is the perfect place for a casual meal and great beer and are right in the neighborhood.

If you prefer indoor shopping, take the metro to Pentagon City (NOT Pentagon). The metro lets you out into a shopping mall - no need to go outside. There is plenty of dining in that area as well.

You should definitely check out the monuments - just get off at Smithsonian Metro Station, walk towards the Washington Monument, and then follow the footpaths to the WWII, Jefferson, Lincoln, Korean War, and Vietnam War Memorials. Get some sandwiches and have a picnic!

As far as sightseeing goes, that really depends on what your interests are. My recommendations are as follows, they're all located around the National Mall (Archives Station or Smithsonian Station are closest) and they're all free!

National Gallery (a beautiful collection of art from all periods - my favorites are the Impressionists) plus Jazz in the Sculpture Garden (http://www.nga.gov/programs/jazz/)

National Archives (this is where original documents like the Constitution and Declaration of Independence are displayed)

American History Museum (great collection spanning all eras of American history, plus the original Star Spangled Banner)

Natural History Museum (fossils and gemstones, including the "cursed" Hope Diamond)

If your husband is a sports fan, you should get tickets to a Nationals baseball game - the new stadium is really nice and is right by Navy Yard Metro. You can get bleacher seats for cheap!

If you want to do a tour of the Capitol or the White House, you need to call your Congressperson's office ASAP to get tickets. They're free, but you have to get on the list!

silarem

It all depends in what you like. If you like museums you can spend the whole day in the Smithsonian museums specially the Natural History Museum, the air & Space and the Gallery of art, of course these are so big that you will need more than one day in order to see them.

If you like outdoors then Iâ€™ll choose a walk through the monuments in the Mall, including the Washington Memorial, The Lincoln memorial, Korea Memorial, perhaps visit the White House & Capitol and have a nice view of the city from the top of the Old Post Pavilion then head towards the Arlington Cemetery. Also the Albert Einstein Memorial is interesting. The zoo is nice and you will definitively spend long hours there if you decide to go. A place worth to visit is the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception (Brookland Metro) which is the largest basilica in the Northern Hemisphere. Nice neighborhoods in DC that you can visit and have lunch/dinner are Georgetown & Dupont Circle. If you have extra days you can go to Old Town Alexandria which is a nice historical town in VA with easy access from the DC metro.

I dont have much advice on shopping since (I never go shopping in DC)I,ve seen many shopps & boutiques in Georgetown (this area is a little bit expensive). A mall within the metro is the Pentagon City mall where you will find lots of stores and is next to a metro station.

Lisa

Before you spend money on shopping, make sure you visit all the free sites in DC. Take in the monuments/memorials, Capitol Hill, the Smithsonian's that line the National Mall, Ford's Theatre and Petersen House. So much of Washington, DC is free.

If you are intent on shopping, Pentagon City Mall offers a nice selection of stores. For dining, I recommend Old Ebbitt Grill and if you are in the mood for a good burger and beer, then Harry's Bar is the local place to go.

Mr Smith Goes To Washington

Smithsonian, Washington Monument, Arlington National Cemetery

Kate V

The Holocaust Museum is an absolute must see!

Plus all the other things people have mentioned here.

If you're going to be using public transport don't get one of the pre-organised bus tours. We did that and were so disappointed with the limited tour stops and the useless tour guide that we ended up ditching the tour halfway through. Instead get on the "Hop on, Hop off" bus and you can go wherever you want at your leisure. Cheaper too.

Aliz

Take the bus tour around all the sites. You can get on and get off any where you want. Be sure to visit the Air & Space museum at the Smithsonian.

Jacob C

Go check out the White House. Occasionally, they will give special tours. Not sure when though.

Have fun!

Roxy

The Smithsonian's. National Landmarks. The White House! Just explore!

Father

Go to the washington monument, i think there's a museum of technology and a museum of history there too. Keep in mind i am getting all this information form the game Fallout 3 inwhich you are running around in washington DC wastelands after a Nuclear war. If there are such museums, they shouldn't look as though they have been hit with a nuclear bomb so you should be alright :D

Go to The Mall at night. It's beutiful. By best friend proposed to his girlfriend in front of the fountain at the ww2 memorial. Very romantic. Also the smithsonian is very good. If you like baseball nationals tickets are like 4 bucks because they're terrible. Have fun.

Grundoon

Is the Smithsonian too obvious an answer?

negrita

Union station or the pavillion for food.
7th street
georgetown to shop
espn is still down there i think which is a bunch of fun
the museums are long but i liked the art galleries and a musuem with an elephant in front
plus the air and space museum

vareeabull

Second on the Smithsonian

AliSa DaNiElleâ™¥

Smithsonian Museums, Shopping.... White house, pentagon city!

Made of Honor

Go to the Jefferson Memorial, Korean War Memorial, Arlington Cemetery, White House, Capital Building, Etc...
Good luck!

Kevin Daniel

protest religion at the memorial

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