Things to do in Washington D.C.

[orangeban]

So, I noticed that other thread about things to do in NYC, and I realised that I could ask the same thing about Washington, I'm going there next week for 3 days and I was wondering what to do.

I mean, obviously I'm planning to look round the centre bit, see the various memorials, but I was wondering what stuff there is outside of there to do? And which museums are worth looking at. Also, if the Capitol building is worth seeing.

Just wondering, any help would be appreciated.

 

[D-Class 198482]

Clear out all the Super Mutants
Put up a new sattelite on the Washington Monument
[sub]ironically i saw your picture after i put in the first sentence[/sub]

 

[Volstag9]

For museums, the Air & Space one is probably the best. All the museums are very close together so just walk in to a few if you want.

The capitol building is worth it in my opinion. The tour and the building itself was a good way to waste a few hours.

 

[BENZOOKA]

Food.

Food is always a good choice.

 

[Soviet Steve]

See the Washington monument before they close it up, and if you visit the Capitol be sure to bring something to drink. Also be warned that it is very very very very very very very hot. I visited the last three weeks and temperatures hit 105F (Up from the 60F I was used to)

 

[BlackEyedBetty]

If you like music, try to see a show at the Black Cat on U street. There are a lot of local bands that play there and the space itself is pretty cool. It's a good place to go at night and is a nice alternative do just doing the museums. Also, the National Zoo on Connecticut is amazing and since it's part of the Smithsonian it is also free.

 

[Fappy]

As others have said, Air & Space Museum is awesome. Go there!

 

[orangeban]

Thanks! I was planning to check out the museums, and it's nice to know that the Air & Space one is so highly recommended. And I didn't even know there was a Zoo, let alone that it was free, so I'll definitely check that out.

 

[DustyDrB]

Holocaust museum. But here's the hitch: If you're really interested in it, go alone to it. I've been twice, and both times felt rushed by my friends (love them to death, but I didn't go to the Holocaust Museum for a casual stroll).

On a lighter note, I had fun lying to a rather naive friend of mine as we traveled around the city and the exhibits. I'd identify inconsequential objects such as the Herbert Hoover Memorial Lamp Post. Also, in the Smithsonian: "Ahhh, see this? This is the Mitozolandria. It was microscopic organism that was the Tyrannosaurus Rex's greatest predator. It would make its way into the T-Rex's food. It was able to survive and even reproduce asexually in the T-Rex's stomach, and would reproduce to the point that it would actually burst through the abdominal cavity, where the cycle would begin again"

Flex your BS muscle!

 

[Ruedyn]

Play basketball with Obama, or play with Bidens train set. Just don't go near the ghettos.

 

[Souplex]

Go to the Smithsonian, then get out as fast as you can.
It's a bleak, horrible depressing place that was made worse when they built that city over the swamp.

 

[ratzofftoya]

Zoo. Little Serow. Columbia Room.

 

[Greyhamster]

Clear out all the Super Mutants
Put up a new sattelite on the Washington Monument
[sub]ironically i saw your picture after i put in the first sentence[/sub]

Ninja'd! Wanting to say that was the entire reason I opened this thread. It only got better when I saw the picture.

 

[Launcelot111]

Most Smithsonian museums are good (except the Native American museum). The Air and Space, American History, and Natural History are best. Outside of the Smithsonian, the Spy Museum is pretty awesome. The Zoo is also good, and all the monuments and war memorials are good, although don't plan to spend any great amount of time at any monument. I've heard the Mint is cool, but I've never made it myself. The Capitol can be good if you get a tour, same with the Supreme Court.

For music, the 9:30 club and the Black Cat are good calls. There might be something worth checking out at the Kennedy Center as well. They've had the play Shear Madness there for ages, which is improvised a bit every night through audience suggestions and which as I recall is pretty good.

For neighborhoods that can be good for a wander around, Georgetown and Old Town Alexandria are pretty good.

Arlington Cemetery might be worth a look. The changing of the guard at the tomb of the unknown soldier is pretty neat to see.

Last thing, Toki Underground (on H street I think) is a very cool ramen place with lots of bars and little music clubs around it. It's a solid choice for some nightlife.

Also, driving in DC is a nightmare, so get a map. Street parking is thankfully not too bad in my experience.

 

[BOOM headshot65]

#1- Smithsonian: Air and Space. It isnt a real DC visit until you have been there.

#2- If you dont mind jumping through about 20 differnt security points, you can go and see the Capital. I got in through Brownbacks officers there. You can sit on a seat overlooking the senate floor, and they have some museum stuff you can go to. Worth going through the security IMO.

#3- Holocaust Museum. One of the only times I was actually slow and quiet going through a museum. Seriously, there are some things you cant unsee, unread, or unhear. All of my years of researching it (8 years total) had never prepared me for that.

#4- White House.

#5- Various memorials. Vietnam, WW2, Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln.

#6- Arlington National Cemetary. If you go there, make sure you get there at the top of the hour. The changing of the guards at the tomb of the unknown soldier is a sight to behold.

#7- US Navy Muesum. Located at the Navy yard. It is kind of small, but still very good. They also have a decommissioned Cold War destroyer there that they allow people to go out on, as well as the biggest artillery yet devoloped by the US, the 15"/50 caliber Railway gun used in WW1.

As for some interesting things I saw when I was there (but wont happen again because they were just luck.)

#1- When we were going to the Kansas office to head to the Capital, we got stopped by some people in black uniforms. Then, 3 black SUVs pull up. More people in black get out of the front and back one, then got to the middle one, and wisked someone inside. My dad, who keeps up on politics and leaders, was the only one to get a really good look at him. Who was it? Leon Panetta, director of the CIA. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leon_Panetta]

#2- When we were passing the FBI building, we saw a car leaving with heavy escort. While the guard couldnt tell us who it was[footnote]My dad got this little exchange with him: D) Who was that? G)If I told you, I would have to kill you. D)Well, just tell me and then you can shoot me, make something up. G) Nah, theres too much paperwork for that.[/footnote], we think it was the director of the FBI.

#3- When we were just walking around, we had the Vice Presidents motorcade pass us. My dad knew it was the VP because there was no ambulance with the convoy, and the president always has one on hand.

Captcha- sound of sirens

Happened alot when I was there.