Any "tourist" advice, for a trip to DC?

[Larry]

I might be coming to DC for maybe 3 days, starting 12/11.  

 

I'll be meeting an ex girlfriend, who's never done the touristy things.  Me, I've done them.  But haven't been to DC in 30 years, maybe 35?  And never done anything like a hotel there.  

 

How's it like getting around the touristy areas, now days?  About the only place I used to go was NASM, which had an underground garage.  But it filled up really early.  (Like before the museum opened.)  

 

And I remember driving was a nightmare.  But I assume all of the routes that I used to know, have changed.  

 

Hotel in DC or Roslyn, and cab/Uber?  Or as a person who used to drive in DC, rent a car?

 

And a lot of the touristy places, like the capitol, Washington monument, Lincoln memorial?  I don't have any clue how to drive there.  Is it possible to park within a mile?  

[ixcuincle]

metro in. big spate of car robberies in DC. 

It's amazing that the city has largely stayed the same, and technology has advanced with GPS, and driving in DC is still so frustrating and painful. Never ever do it. It's not worth it.

 

From the constant red lights to the slow traffic to the one way signs, it's just something you should not do. Park in the suburbs and ride the train in. Then you can walk anywhere you want in the city, or at least most places in NW, downtown. NE is more difficult but doable. Unless you're going to Georgetown, take the train in and you can walk most places

 

[TradeTheBeal!]

Need the guy from the Progressive commercials to teach Larry how to install and use the Uber app.

[Riggo-toni]

I went back last year and stayed in VA and took the Metro around town. The National Art Gallery and Phillips Museum (not great, but there is arguably Renoir's greatest painting there).  Used to do NASM all the time as a kid growing up in Bethesda.

[PleaseBlitz]

13 minutes ago, Larry said:

I might be coming to DC for maybe 3 days, starting 12/11.  

 

Dress warm. 

 

13 minutes ago, Larry said:

 

I'll be meeting an ex girlfriend, who's never done the touristy things.  Me, I've done them.  But haven't been to DC in 30 years, maybe 35?  And never done anything like a hotel there.  

 

BOW CHICKA WOW WOW.

 

13 minutes ago, Larry said:

 

How's it like getting around the touristy areas, now days?  About the only place I used to go was NASM, which had an underground garage.  But it filled up really early.  (Like before the museum opened.)  

 

It's fine, and I don't think the week you are coming is particularly touristy.  

 

13 minutes ago, Larry said:

 

And I remember driving was a nightmare.  But I assume all of the routes that I used to know, have changed.  

 

No idea what things were like 30-35 years ago.  Probably preferable not to drive, as the Metro is currently relatively functional and Uber exists now.  

 

13 minutes ago, Larry said:

 

Hotel in DC or Roslyn, and cab/Uber?  Or as a person who used to drive in DC, rent a car?

 

Hotel depends on what you want to do and see.  The Grand Hyatt puts you in the middle of everything.

 

13 minutes ago, Larry said:

 

And a lot of the touristy places, like the capitol, Washington monument, Lincoln memorial?  I don't have any clue how to drive there.  Is it possible to park within a mile?  

 

If you want to do the stereotypical touristy things, then I generally advise my family when they visit to start at the Lincoln Memorial and walk east.  You can see the WWII memorial (somewhat newish), see the Washington Monument and the south front of the White House, stop in the American History museum, have lunch at Old Ebbitt, then continue to the Capital (which has a newish and awesome visitor center/museum).  

 

If you stayed at the Grand Hyatt, you'd have one quick Uber ride from there to Lincoln, then a quick Uber ride or longish walk up Pennsyvania Ave back to the hotel. 

[TradeTheBeal!]

I know it’s far from a budget option, but I LOVE the Riggs.  Great location, top-tier bedding and the lobby cafe is one of the finest French joints that I know of on the East coast.

 

https://www.riggsdc.com/

[PleaseBlitz]

2 minutes ago, TradeTheBeal! said:

I know it’s far from a budget option, but I LOVE the Riggs.  Great location, top-tier bedding and the lobby cafe is one of the finest French joints that I know of on the East coast.

 

https://www.riggsdc.com/

 

 

True story, a few years ago I stopped into the bar at the Riggs with a friend of mine for a drink.  Who comes in and sits next to me?  Porn star Nikki Benz. 

 

Not my typical DC brush with famous people. 

Edited November 29, 2023 by PleaseBlitz

[TradeTheBeal!]

1 minute ago, PleaseBlitz said:

 

 

True story, a few years ago I stopped into the bar at the Riggs with a friend of mine for a drink.  Who comes in and sits next to me?  Porn star Nikki Benz. 

Nikki loves a good halibut ceviche and a French 75…and who could blame her???

[China]

58 minutes ago, Larry said:

I might be coming to DC for maybe 3 days, starting 12/11.  

 

I'll be meeting an ex girlfriend, who's never done the touristy things.  Me, I've done them.  But haven't been to DC in 30 years, maybe 35?  And never done anything like a hotel there.  

 

How's it like getting around the touristy areas, now days?  About the only place I used to go was NASM, which had an underground garage.  But it filled up really early.  (Like before the museum opened.)  

 

And I remember driving was a nightmare.  But I assume all of the routes that I used to know, have changed.  

 

Hotel in DC or Roslyn, and cab/Uber?  Or as a person who used to drive in DC, rent a car?

 

And a lot of the touristy places, like the capitol, Washington monument, Lincoln memorial?  I don't have any clue how to drive there.  Is it possible to park within a mile?  

 

If you haven't been in 30-35 years then maybe visit a couple of the museums that weren't here then, like the National Museum of the American Indian or the National Museum of African American Culture.  Not sure what others you may not have seen.  The Air and Space Museum now requires tickets to limit the number of people inside, so you may want to make a reservation if you're considering going there, and if you're into that kind of think you may not have gone to the Udvar Hazy Air and Space Annex near Dulles airport.  But if you only have 3 days, you may not want to use a day on that one museum.

Edited November 29, 2023 by China

[CousinsCowgirl84]

Make sure you go to national harbor one night 

[Larry]

Yeah, me, I'd love a day at the Dulles museum. But pretty sure Lisa wouldn't. She's said she's not much into museums at all. 

[PleaseBlitz]

Just now, Larry said:

Yeah, me, I'd love a day at the Dulles museum. But pretty sure Lisa wouldn't. She's said she's not much into museums at all. 

What is she into?

 

[Larry]

Criticizing me? 

 

She says she likes nature things. But I'm not sure about National Zoo. If they had pandas, I'd try it, but ....

[EmirOfShmo]

I'll echo using Metro & Uber to get around. Also toss in using the water taxi - it's a great way to see the skyline from the river. When we stay at the Wharf, we take it either to Old Town or Georgetown. If you haven't been to the Wharf since the days of Hogate's it's incredible to see the changes there. It's also a short walk to the Tidal Basin & Jefferson memorial from the Wharf. 

[Larry]

My brother was proud of a picture of himself next to the sign for the George Bush Center for Inteligence. 

 

 

[CousinsCowgirl84]

2 minutes ago, Larry said:

Criticizing me? 

 

She says she likes nature things. But I'm not sure about National Zoo. If they had pandas, I'd try it, but ....

Great falls national park is close to dc.  They have access to it on the md and Va side, can’t remember which but one of them has a nice boardwalk built out over the falls.

[Renegade7]

17 minutes ago, CousinsCowgirl84 said:

Make sure you go to national harbor one night 

 

And the FDR memorial on the tidal basin, it has waterfalls that look best at night, and right next to MLK memorial

[Larry]

I've been to the Jeff memorial, long ago. Not the others. 

[Xameil]

11 minutes ago, Larry said:

Criticizing me? 

 

So she fits right in with ES? 🤣

 

Bring her to Georgetown, show her the stairs from the Exorcist. If she critisizes you then tell her she can experience a movie scene, and start calling her Father Karras

[Dan T.]

Super touristy, but when you have limited time and want to see a lot, the hop-on hop-off buses or trolleys are not a bad way to go.  Old Town Trolley winds through the whole Mall area from the Capitol to the Lincoln Memorial with a bunch stops along the way.  www.trolleytours.com/washington-dc

 

 

 

[China]

If you're in that part of town, you could also tour The National Cathedral.  Interesting, plus they have a nice garden, and you can search for the interesting gargoyles and grotesques like the Darth Vader one:

 

[JCB]

Go to Capitol Hill and have lunch somewhere around Eastern Market. The Hill is chill.

[PleaseBlitz]

2 hours ago, Dan T. said:

Super touristy, but when you have limited time and want to see a lot, the hop-on hop-off buses or trolleys are not a bad way to go.  Old Town Trolley winds through the whole Mall area from the Capitol to the Lincoln Memorial with a bunch stops along the way.  www.trolleytours.com/washington-dc

 

 

 

 

I've lived and worked in or near DC for almost my whole life, and I still love doing the hop-on, hop-off tours, especially with my kids.  I tend to use Big Bus, and recommend the one that goes around Arlington Cemetery where you can see the Iwo Jima memorial and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

8 minutes ago, JCB said:

Go to Capitol Hill and have lunch somewhere around Eastern Market. The Hill is chill.

 

If you go to Eastern Market and want lunch, go here and get (1) the sangria and (2) the tuna crudo (large version):  https://joselitodc.com/About-page

[bearrock]

Botanical Garden has the holiday decorations up if your friend is nature oriented.  Nearby the Mall, so easy to drop by while doing other things in the area.

[TheGreatBuzz]

5 hours ago, Larry said:

Yeah, me, I'd love a day at the Dulles museum. But pretty sure Lisa wouldn't. She's said she's not much into museums at all. 

 

5 hours ago, PleaseBlitz said:

What is she into?

 

 

The Mpire Gentlemen's Club

(202) 808-8300

 

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