Visiting Washington D.C.

[jeffsquire]

I'm visiting the nation's captiol from 8/24 through 8/29 2008. For those of you around the beltway, any suggestions of good food/restaurants, unknown dives, less known monuments, or local stuff that vacationers wouldnt know about?

It goes without saying that I'd be delighted to meet with any of you if possible.

Jeffsquire

[Rick V]

Man I feel sorry for you. I live about 100 miles from DC and that is too frigging close. It is a crime when our nations capitol is in the shape it is. You will see when you get there.

[tboyer]

Tons of great restaurants downtown, especially a couple of blocks in from Penn Ave. One of my per favs is Georgia Browns on 15th street. Check out Chinatown, the Spy museum, WWII memorial, all must sees.

If you take the Metro red line to Silver Spring, I'm only a mile or so from there. We have a awesome downtown with tons of great restaurants too. 2nd largest city next to Baltimore :) Anyway, PM me when you're in town, maybe we can hook up for a beer. :cheers:

[Quickurt]

Man I feel sorry for you. I live about 100 miles from DC and that is too frigging close. It is a crime when our nations capitol is in the shape it is. You will see when you get there.
I'll second that one. I took my daughter for an interview at Bethesda's med school. (during the DC sniper crises, man was it easy to get around to all the monuments!) What a crap hole! I really sweated going into the military area with what I lied about having in my car, but there was no friggin way I would have gone to that war zone city unarmed.
As it was, when the gate guard checked my license (drivers) to allow me on base, he couldn't make out the worn printing on the seven year Florida license and thought it was expired. It was confiscated on the spot and I had to do the rest of the trip with no driver's license! I began challenging his decision until the other guy stepped out of the shack with his M4. Mum IS the word!
And some people want the government in charge of your health care?

[jeffsquire]

Tons of great restaurants downtown, especially a couple of blocks in from Penn Ave. One of my per favs is Georgia Browns on 15th street. Check out Chinatown, the Spy museum, WWII memorial, all must sees.

If you take the Metro red line to Silver Spring, I'm only a mile or so from there. We have a awesome downtown with tons of great restaurants too. 2nd largest city next to Baltimore :) Anyway, PM me when you're in town, maybe we can hook up for a beer. :cheers:
_____________________

This is exactly the information I'm looking for!! When you say "downtown" do you mean the D.C. downtown, or say the Georgetown downtown?

[jeffsquire]

My query wasnt limited to D.C proper. Outlying areas are included. Please tell me about the POtomac, Baltimore, northern VA etc. ALl input is appreciated.

[FTD]

Excellent and timely posting! I am headed up there the day after tomorrow for four days to hang with my sisters. There is so much to see and do, and there is much I have seen and done. Asking for suggestions of good food/restaurants, unknown dives, less known monuments, or local stuff that vacationers wouldnt know about will also be of interest to me. One of my sisters has us spending Th evening eating in Old Town Alexandria at a Spanish restaurant that has Flamenco dance performances [Las Tapas]. Share a plate of paella mariscos, a pitcher of sangria, and enjoy some tapas during the show........ then walk it off on the river promenade. That sounds like a good launching pad. :) I especially welcome tips on restaurants.

[FTD]

these sites can help with your discovery/investigation. I didn't create them as a link [too lazy], so copy/paste them in your browser address bar.

http://www.nps.gov/state/DC/

http://www.fodors.com/world/north-america/usa/district-of-columbia/washington-dc/

http://www.independenttraveler.com/community/topten.cfm?ID=15

[70Sixter]

I've always loved Fredericksburg, VA. There is a historical driving tour you can take at your own pace including Mary Washington's house. The Battlefield still has remains of Southern breastworks.

I'd go there by way of the Geo Washington Pkway along the Potomac from Alexandria past Mt Vernon to US 1 South. There are several old historical homes along the way. One near Lorton that's name escapes me.

Chancellorsville is my favorite battleground. Or go out to Wilderness and the graveyard where Stonewall Jackson's arm is buried. Manassas (Bull Run to Yankees) is interesting, but like many battlefields is competing with modern encroachment.

There were a bunch of good places in Old Town Alexandria. Have been there in 7 or so years, so not up to date. Several old fish restaurants I used to frequent. Ireland's Own was my favorite pub, with Irish bands on some nights. Don't miss the Torpedo Factory if you are interested in seeing working artists and their works.

Drive thru Arlington Cemetery. Or better walk. Whatever your politics it is chilling. The Vlietnam Memorial especially to me as a man or that era. And the famous Iwo Jima Memorial. You can get free tickets to the Marine sunset parade one nite a week, or the 8th and I street Marine Barracks on Friday or Sat. I fergit. And of course the Tomb of the Unknowns (changing of the guard every half hour) and Kennedy's Eternal Flame Site.

In DC take the Metro. It goes close to everything. Walk from Washington Monument past the Mall and hit the Lincoln Memorial and the Capitol. And don't miss the Jefferson Memorial on the Tidal Basin, my favorite monument. The are plenty of tour buses if you are in a hurry. Since they blocked the White House street access walking there is better too.

As mentioned, southern Maryland is beautiful. You have to eat crabs on a table with butcher paper for a table cloth. It is a law, I think. The Harbor area was a neat attraction with a bunch of restaurants sort like Pier 39.

Oh, and there is a new Marine Corps Museum in Quantico, VA.

There are wonderful bike/pedestrian paths along Rock Creek Pkwy and from Alexandria to Mount Vernon along the Potomac. Others too that I cannot bring to mind right now.

I am sure I've missed something important, but maybe I can stir up some other memories from others.

Whatever you do, stay off the inbound hiways in the morning and the outbounds in the afternoon. And watch out for diplomatic license plates!!!!

Hope it is a fun trip for you. :cheers:

[jeffsquire]

I've always loved Fredericksburg, VA. There is a historical driving tour you can take at your own pace including Mary Washington's house. The Battlefield still has remains of Southern breastworks.

I'd go there by way of the Geo Washington Pkway along the Potomac from Alexandria past Mt Vernon to US 1 South. There are several old historical homes along the way. One near Lorton that's name escapes me.

Chancellorsville is my favorite battleground. Or go out to Wilderness and the graveyard where Stonewall Jackson's arm is buried. Manassas (Bull Run to Yankees) is interesting, but like many battlefields is competing with modern encroachment.

There were a bunch of good places in Old Town Alexandria. Have been there in 7 or so years, so not up to date. Several old fish restaurants I used to frequent. Ireland's Own was my favorite pub, with Irish bands on some nights. Don't miss the Torpedo Factory if you are interested in seeing working artists and their works.

Drive thru Arlington Cemetery. Or better walk. Whatever your politics it is chilling. The Vlietnam Memorial especially to me as a man or that era. And the famous Iwo Jima Memorial. You can get free tickets to the Marine sunset parade one nite a week, or the 8th and I street Marine Barracks on Friday or Sat. I fergit. And of course the Tomb of the Unknowns (changing of the guard every half hour) and Kennedy's Eternal Flame Site.

In DC take the Metro. It goes close to everything. Walk from Washington Monument past the Mall and hit the Lincoln Memorial and the Capitol. And don't miss the Jefferson Memorial on the Tidal Basin, my favorite monument. The are plenty of tour buses if you are in a hurry. Since they blocked the White House street access walking there is better too.

As mentioned, southern Maryland is beautiful. You have to eat crabs on a table with butcher paper for a table cloth. It is a law, I think. The Harbor area was a neat attraction with a bunch of restaurants sort like Pier 39.

Oh, and there is a new Marine Corps Museum in Quantico, VA.

There are wonderful bike/pedestrian paths along Rock Creek Pkwy and from Alexandria to Mount Vernon along the Potomac. Others too that I cannot bring to mind right now.

I am sure I've missed something important, but maybe I can stir up some other memories from others.

Whatever you do, stay off the inbound hiways in the morning and the outbounds in the afternoon. And watch out for diplomatic license plates!!!!

Hope it is a fun trip for you. :cheers:
__________________________
I don't know how to thank you. In the coming days, my wife would be interested in any restaurants you can think of.

Any particular place on the Maryland shore for crabs?

[FTD]

Any particular place on the Maryland shore for crabs?
Stoney's on Soloman's Island, if it is not too far off your path. They got famous, made money, and upgraded their digs. I like the original locale better and I have it in my head that the crab cakes were better then too, but I ate there last year and it was still delicious. They also have fresh soft shells.

[Quickurt]

Stoney's on Soloman's Island, if it is not too far off your path. They got famous, made money, and upgraded their digs. I like the original locale better and I have it in my head that the crab cakes were better then too, but I ate there last year and it was still delicious. They also have fresh soft shells.

In your best Homer Simpson - "Mmmmmmmmmmmm, soft shells." :cheers:

[LoveBunny]

I've never been to DC, but I've been told that people there drive like maniacs. Is that true?

[Blkboxster]

I've never been to DC, but I've been told that people there drive like maniacs. Is that true?


yep and im one of them :cheers:

[Rick V]

I've never been to DC, but I've been told that people there drive like maniacs. Is that true?
Yeah I am fond of 495 (the beltway) at rushhour. :D

[edevlin]

"I've never been to DC, but I've been told that people there drive like maniacs. Is that true?"

We live a couple hours south of DC and get up there from time to time. I was quite suprised when we were at the mall and waiting at a traffic light. The light changed I waited a second or so and then started to drive out into the intersection. A car came zooming through the intersection right in front of us in an attempt to run a very red light. No one was hurt, but it made me a very defensive driver when in DC....


Ed

:o

[70Sixter]

After almost three years of commuting in from North Stafford in the early 80s, I became very unsympathetic to fools and their cars. So when I saw a wreck I always hoped the fools got each other and not some innocent commuter.

I also admit to hoping they were taken out of the gene pool for eternity.

I saw idiots with newspapers or magazines on their steering wheel.

Women applying makeup and men shaving were other travesties.

At least cell phones weren't around in those days. My friends say the commutes are worse and the fools more plenteous (is that a word?).

And just let one little flake of snow fall....

[FTD]

Well, I am back from my highly excellent four day trip with my very wonderful sisters and one of my nephews. Yes, the traffic within DC proper is not for passive drivers or folks that take offense at being honked at for not getting in the game. Its not the worse I 've seen, but its up there.
I cannot believe all that we did and enjoyed. It was a super sensory high, and given that most of what we did was 'free' [federal tax dollars], it was also an amazingly inexpensive experience.
I don't know what my favorite site is from this trip, but the Phillips Gallery and the Washington National Cathedral are at the top. Olde Towne Alexandria is always a fave and dinner with the flamenco guitartist and dancers were definitely the most impressionable entertainment
Other top highlights are the military bases where we lodged - the coolest being at Anacostia where we were on the Potomac; looking across the river to the left to watch the evening flights in and out of National and to the right to see the city lights and skyline markers ie: Washington Monument and Capitol building; boats cruising by on the river - drinking Mojitos over ice.
We woke around 7:00 every morning and weren't asleep before 1:00 AM [despite better intentions :) ] What a great time!

[jeffsquire]

Well, I am back from my highly excellent four day trip with my very wonderful sisters and one of my nephews. Yes, the traffic within DC proper is not for passive drivers or folks that take offense at being honked at for not getting in the game. Its not the worse I 've seen, but its up there.
I cannot believe all that we did and enjoyed. It was a super sensory high, and given that most of what we did was 'free' [federal tax dollars], it was also an amazingly inexpensive experience.
I don't know what my favorite site is from this trip, but the Phillips Gallery and the Washington National Cathedral are at the top. Olde Towne Alexandria is always a fave and dinner with the flamenco guitartist and dancers were definitely the most impressionable entertainment
Other top highlights are the military bases where we lodged - the coolest being at Anacostia where we were on the Potomac; looking across the river to the left to watch the evening flights in and out of National and to the right to see the city lights and skyline markers ie: Washington Monument and Capitol building; boats cruising by on the river - drinking Mojitos over ice.
We woke around 7:00 every morning and weren't asleep before 1:00 AM [despite better intentions :) ] What a great time!
_______________
Welcome back! Was the Flamenco dancing at Las Tapas? ANy more places I should go that you didnt anticipate? Never heard of the Phillips Gallery, but will make sure to visit.

Other favorite restaurants?

[derb]

Jeffsquire,
If you get near the Hard Rock Cafe or ESPN Zone I'll buy you lunch (weekdays). I'm working at Ford's Theatre until the end of the year and both of those places are close- Hard Rock is next door and the Zone is a block away. Look for the ugliest building in town, the FBI building, and Ford's Theater is on the next block. 515 10th St. NW.
PM if interested.

Have a nice visit.
mike

[FTD]

_______________
Welcome back! Was the Flamenco dancing at Las Tapas? ANy more places I should go that you didnt anticipate? Never heard of the Phillips Gallery, but will make sure to visit.
Other favorite restaurants?
thank you! Yes - Las Tapas for dramatic Flamenco and very good food
Surprisingly good meals at King Street Blues in Olde Towne [I wouldn't normally choose this genre], and in the same area I have eaten at The Wharf for seafood and live band in years past and liked it. About the time that we were headed for Union Station we were hungry and the food at the restaurant in the middle of Union Station overlooking the mob was very good. A picnic in one of the parks along the Potomac off of the George Washington Pkwy was top notch - the stocked cooler and wine were a gift to us, but perhaps a great idea for your adventures? Also lots of new things going on at the National Harbor that recently opened. It makes a spectacular presentation of itself at night. We did not have the chance to get to some true Maryland seafood and crab places, so unfortunately nothing in the DC area to refer you to. :)

As far as the Phillips Gallery goes, I cannot believe this is a private collection. I cannot believe the painters and the paintings. Beautiful, beautiful and several paintings are so famous I cannot believe I did not have to go to Paris or Moscow to see them. They only display a few hundred of the collection at a time so gawking :) does not eat up an entire day. If you like or respect this sort of stuff, don't go to the internet first because the element of surprise was big.

Also of interest might be the Treasures of Afghanistan at the National Gallery of Art. Very kewl stuff on exhibit until September.

And true to DC this time of year, it was HOT and MUGGY. A Godiva Dark Chocolate Decadence frozen something helped! A hat, umbrella, sweat band, portable fan, buckets of ice water would also have helped. :)


I hope you have a great time.

[fragdude]

my post got deleted :confused:
But what I said was something along the lines of this:
If you come from the north (I-95 through Maryland) you can take the Baltimore-DC Parkway to avoid some beltway traffic, although it is a bit of a gamble and you can accidentally get off it early right into the heart of beltway traffic.
And a nice road to drive on is this one:
http://www.blueridgeskyline.com/
I never actually got to drive it (the trip got rained out), but I've heard good things.

Have fun on your trip