Has anyone been to Washington, D.C.?

Question

Where's a good place to stay (cheap)?
eat?
landmarks and buildings?
historic sites?
monuments/memorials?
museums?
parks/gardens?
nature and science attractions?
surronding theme parks?

waht did you like, what should I do, did you like it there?

Answer 1

I stay at my apartment, (not cheap, no a good place for others to stay)

Museums:
Smithsonian Museums are free, they just re-opened the National Portrait Museum, and the Native American Museum
The Corcoran, the Phillips, and the Spy Museum for a small fee
If you want to shock and amaze locals find the "National Aquarium" and tell them you are going to spend the day there, (been here for years and I have never even talked to anyone who has actually been there)

Memorials:
FDR, the new WW2 memorial

Historic Sites:
Ford's theater (Lincoln was assassinated here)

Under visited:
National Arboretum, Botanical Gardens, National Shrine
of the Immaculate Conception (if you are interested in religious history), National Cathedral

Parks
Rock Creek Park (has horseback riding)
Great Falls Park (watch kayakers in the white water)
Roosevelt Island
C&O canal (rent a bike and take a ride)

Answer 2

Cheap...LOL...this is not a cheap town...at all! If you're determined to stay in the city, consider going to Craigslist (.com) and finding someone who rents out a room in their place. I've found them to be an excellent resource. There are few hostels within the metro area proper...and you can expect to pay upwards of $70, off-season, in the surrounding cities...not 'downtown' as locals call it. Metro is your best bet for a 'cheap' ride...but there are limitation on where it goes and it's often easier just to talk...most of the monuments and musuem line "The (National) Mall"...it's almost 2 miles from one end to the other (if you don't stop...which you will), so that's do-able. The newest musuem is the Native American Museum, which is closest to the Capitol and near the Air and Space Museum...but go early to get a free ticket with a TIME...it's VERY popular and well worth it. Save the theme park experience for another place...although there are three within a 2-hour radius, don't bother...you'll have more than enough to do. All the Smithsonian museums are free to the public...this is the cheapest 'entertainment you'll find...and it could keep you busy for a whole week. If you're fit and looking for a unique view of the area, walk up the Washington Monument.

For food, go native...grocery stores (hard to find in the District, but there) usually have ready-to-eat sandwiches and sometimes hot food dishes, drinks, sometimes self-serve salad bars. If you MUST eat 'out'...do it at lunch time...most restaurants have lunch specials which are slightly smaller portions, but plenty, for much less than their dinner menu prices. There are, of course, the usually complement of 'fast food' restaurants and street vendors...I'm not keen on these, so you're on your own with their fare! Try coming off-season for the best prices...if you want to stay downtown, go online and find the best price, and then schedule your trip around that! Good luck...BTW...NEVER carry a lot of cash (or show it)...and try not to look TOO much like a tourist!

Answer 3

I don't know about hotels, but the sight seeing is wonderfully, endless.

Spend a morning walking from the Wash. Monument (tickets are 1st come- 1st serve to go inside, but I wouldn't bother) across the wwII monument, along the reflecting pool (reminds me of forrest gump), to the lincoln monument.

Donate a full day to see the capital. Everything here has a security checkpoint, so pack light. You can walk from 1st and independence street ( you'll find the offices of representatives and a part of the library of congress). you can take an air-conditioned walk, through the underground tunnel connecting those buildings (the LOC has 3 buildings). I suggest buying lunch at the 6th floor of the monroe building of the LOC. head up 1st street and you'll find the supeme court. keep going and you'll find the senate offices (my favorite) on consitution street. If you get inside one, you can find a directory on the wall, find your senator, and see if they are there, or ask you senator's desk clerk for a rotunda pass, so you can get an ashtonishing view in the capital building from the rotunda.

You'll need another full day for the smithsonians. Go the their site and plan which one you want to go to. I enjoyed the Air and Space museum, both art museums, and the american history museum. the native american museum just opened and the exhibits are kinda lacking ( i really wanted to go, too).

If you go in a year or so you could see a completed pentagon memorial, which will be astounding. the jefferson monument has a gorgeous river view. Arlington Cemetary is lovely. JFK, Jakie, and RFK, and to see the laying of the wreath at the tomb of the unknown soldier, but the walk is rather long. Instead of going in the Wash. Monument, try the Old Post Office. You can eat there and go to the top and get a great view. The Spy and Holocoust Museaum are fantastic, but buy tickets before hand. For laughs, go see The Capitol Steps who perform friday and saturday at the international trade center (political humor that left me in stiches). you may want to go in spring for the cherry blossom trees.

By the way, D.C. is always under alot of construction, and sirens go off every 5 minutes but its quite beautiful and enjoyable.

Enjoy your trip!

Answer 4

You can stay in DuPont Circle for a fairly low rate. There are trams that you can get on and off of all day for one price. They go to all of the landmarks, museums, etc. The closest amusement parks are 6 Flags or Busch Gardens which not close by. If you are driving, you can also visit Ocean City and Williamsburg. A word to the wise: Do not come to DC until late Sept. or Oct. The heat and humidity during the summer are unbelievable. It's 97 degrees right now.

Answer 5

All of the suggestions so far are great... the Smithsonian museums and the monuments are great because they're all completely free. Also the C&O Canal has a lot of stuff that's good to go to especially around Great Falls. But also it's unbearably hot and humid in DC in August, the fall is better. Sorry I don't know of any cheap places to stay, I'm from DC originally so when I visit I stay with my family or friends.

Answer 6

its not cheap but i stayed at the L'Enfant hotel (great hotel)
not very many places to eat but theres a lot of mcdonald's and stuff like that unless u wanna pay tons of money at a nice restaurant, u could try the hard rock cafe
u needs to see the washington monument, air and space museum, and the two war memorials(korean and vietnam)
visit the lincoln memorial too
no theme parks i dont think
my favorte part was probably visiting the air and space
museum and seeing all the memorials and the statues were beautiful!!!!
u should see all the things i already said
i loved it there!!!!!!!!!!! i hope to back there soon

Answer 7

I love it there. One of the best cities in the world - and I have been to many places. The city is full of history and you can see great things. All the memorials, museums, the white house etc. Just visit it, there is no way u won't like it. As far as hotels, I can't help u there, because I live one hour away from the city and when I drive down there I don't stay overnight. But, like I said, one great city! Go for it, see it.

Answer 8

Go to all the memorials and the Smithsonian.
The Ford Theater
National Archives
Capital Building

There is a Busch Gardens theme park in Virginia thats relatively close. Also while you are in Virginia drive down to Williamsburg and Jamestown - both worth it.

Answer 9

This is funny to me.. I live like 10 mins out of the city in oxon hill md. I see the real city. Its dirty and full of crackheads and homeless ppl and this is the tourist spots. I wont even get into Southeast dc which i have to travel trhu all the time. Its not that bad to me but im used to it but a tourist. Its grimey.. and theres a crime emergency there cuz its murder capital. Why do ppl come here.. they should be pissed that our nations capital has the worst crime, the worst schools, the worst drug problem and after spending HOURS waiting for busses to arrive the worst transit system. The only city on the east coast that sucks more is baltimore.

Answer 10

The Youth Hostel at 11th between K and L is very good and inexpensive - cetrally located....if you want a real hotel, and a bit of time, stay in the suburbs (Bethesda, greenbelt Md) and take the subway in - don't need to rent a car.....
Must see: white house, washington monument, national gallery, arlington cemetary (also on the subway)