Things to see in Washington D.C.?

Hey guys I will be in the DC area next week, and its the first time in a while I have been in DC with some extra time to go site seeing. I really want to go to the smithsonian and any other cool museums.

I will be staying near the Pentagon in Cristal City, but I have no idea where that is in relation to the rest of D.C. Anyone have any ideas of what to see, and if its easiest to get there by taxi, rental car, or train?

The sub way system is really cool. Doesn't take too long to figure it out. My top three spots were:

• The Wall
• Arlington National Cemetary
• Smithsonian ~ any one of the buildings

Kinda fuddy duddy places, but as you get older these things grow on ya...

JL,

I will second Bill's suggestion's and include
The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

I would have enjoyed all of these places
at age 10 had I the opportunity to visit
them. Perhaps I was a weird kid.

I would imagine the subway would be the best
option. A cab would have to be expensive.

I hope that you have fun. Do enjoy yourself.


Terry

The NRA National Firearms Museum in Fairfax. Zowie, what a collection. I took my wife there for our second anniversary.

shoot straight,
LG Roy

I live next door to the firearms museum and still haven't gone. JL, you'd probably like that. If you want we might be able to go together as the Metro will only take you as far as Vienna. The Metro would be my choice to visit D.C. as well.

Take Yellow line and transer to Orange, get off at Fed Triangle I'd say.

You can use this guide to get around

http://rideguide.wmata.com/

I would personally avoid the buses whenever possible and be careful if your walking alone at night . . . don't bring any firearms with you.

The key to understanding the Metro is to get on the line you want and get on the train that is heading in the correct direction. Direction is described by the last stop on that line. So to go from Crystal City to Smithsonian you'd go Yellow/Gallery Pl. Chinatown, then transfer to Orange/Vienna and get off at Smithsonian. So Color equals rail line and the last stop on that rail is the direction your going. Makes sense?

You may want to just go here

http://www.wmata.com/metrorail/systemmap.cfm

and print.

BTW, there is NO eating on the Metro and it is strictly enforced.

Thanks for the ride guide link. I'm planning on going up there my self soon.

Jeremy

Your welcome, my choices are the National Archives, the Air and Space Museum (you could spend half a day in each Smith building I think) and Camelot club by Dupont Circle (hey the gf likes strip joints, I just go for the drinks...really :-0)

I lived there for almost 20 years. I would agree with air and space museum if you like that kind of thing. The Vietnam memorial is a must visit. Old Town Alexandria is also a pretty cool place to walk around in on a nice day (Five Guys burgers are the best I've ever had). For nightlife, I would check out Bethesda (try Caddies(sp?) on Kordell and tell Gabe and or Andy that Jordan - the ex-pound for pound beer drinking champion says hi).

Also, when you take the Metro, please don't stop at the bottom of the escalator to look around!!! I used to hate that! Tourists...:rant: We don't put up with that kind of thing in NYC.

Enjoy your trip.

Jordan

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by AFDavis11

I live next door to the firearms museum and still haven't gone. JL, you'd probably like that. If you want we might be able to go together as the Metro will only take you as far as Vienna. The Metro would be my choice to visit D.C. as well.

Take Yellow line and transer to Orange, get off at Fed Triangle I'd say.

You can use this guide to get around

http://rideguide.wmata.com/

I would personally avoid the buses whenever possible and be careful if your walking alone at night . . . don't bring any firearms with you.

The key to understanding the Metro is to get on the line you want and get on the train that is heading in the correct direction. Direction is described by the last stop on that line. So to go from Crystal City to Smithsonian you'd go Yellow/Gallery Pl. Chinatown, then transfer to Orange/Vienna and get off at Smithsonian. So Color equals rail line and the last stop on that rail is the direction your going. Makes sense?

You may want to just go here

http://www.wmata.com/metrorail/systemmap.cfm

and print.

BTW, there is NO eating on the Metro and it is strictly enforced.

---

I would definitely meet up and go to the firearms museum with you. I should be done in the pentagon / crystal city area in one day. I think I am working tuesday but probably leaving by thursday (my company will only pay for a hotel for so long), I dont know if you are free on any of those days. Let me know.

-Josh

P.S. - isnt the air and space museum IN the smithsonian???

Could be, I may have had the terminology wrong all these years. The area encompasses several buildings (Art, Natural History, Air and Space). I've never really paid attention. So you'd be looking to go to the Firearms museum on Wed or Thursday?

The National Firearms Museum is only open until 4pm

http://nra.nationalfirearms.museum/info/default.asp

so it makes sense for you to either meet me there if you already have a rental car around 2pm or for me to pick you up off the Metro, probably around 1:30 pm. Either day is fine with me I think (I'll have to check my schedule).

Wednesday would be best for me I believe...I wont be able to firm up anything until tuesday though because they are being a little secretive about exactly what I have to do there.

I'll be able to give you more details on monday or tuesday when they give me more info on the schedule.