Can someone explain DC to me?

[LongLiveBevo]

I'm trying to plan a trip to DC and having trouble picking a hotel. They all say "5 miles from Reagan" or "2 blocks from the Capitol" or "20 minutes to Arlington National Cemetery". How far apart are these things? I want to go to the White House but is that far away from museums and stuff?

I can only equate this to a local example. Say I'm going to Dallas and I want to go to Dealey Plaza but I hear there are good museums in Fort Worth. In this case, I'd rather stay closer to where there are more things I want to do and take a cab one day to the other side of town for the one thing that's over there.

Another example is when we went to the Rose Bowl. My mother refused to fly into LAX so we flew into Anaheim. Booking the trip as a combo was cheap but it gave us hotels close to the airport. We ended up staying across the street from Disneyland and having to commute to LA every day.

Please save me from this headache again.

 

[Used2btexaslover]

Reagan is the closest airport by far (as opposed to BWI or Dulles.) Way, way more convenient.

The White House, The Capitol, the Smithsonian museums are all right downtown on the Mall. The cemetary you will not be able to walk to, however. Well, you could, but it's not that close.

The metro is very convenient and clean and will get you where you need to go.

I'd stay in a hotel right north of the White House or the middle of the Mall. THe ones near the Capitol get you too far east and some are in shadier areas after dark. Or, you could stay across the river in Arlington and take the metro from Crystal City right into DC.

 

[Campus Loop(y)]

I dunno, I think that the boneyard is very easy to walk to from the mall, especially if you are going from the Lincoln Memorial. It is just across the bridge and it is a pleasant and pretty walk.

But you will be doing a ton of walking going from the Capital to the Lincoln. If you add in the Portrait and other things to the sides of the main Mall area, you will be very tired.

I suggest you dedicate at least two days to the Mall area. Start at the capital and then hit two museums the first day. The Air & Space and Gallery of Art. Maybe the Hirschorn or Corcoran if you start out early.

Then hit the others and end up at the Lincoln. You will do some walking the first day for sure but you get the more popular ones out of the way first. This way you end up at ANC and can Metro or subway where you need to go or end up.

Don't forget that DC is very humid so drink lots of water.

 

[Luke Duke]

This should explain things.

 

[LongLiveBevo]

Cute, LD.

 

[Luke Duke]

Thank you, thank you. I'll be here all week.

 

[Nolalonghorn16]

Staying anywhere downtown will give you easy access to the metro which gives easy access to everything. Reagan is by far the most convenient airport. I would highly suggest the Spy Museum, it's a lot of fun

 

[EuroHorn]

I stayed in the JW Marrott in DC and it is about one block from the White House. A very nice hotel too, so if you can get a good rate then stay there.

 

[FAST FRED]

The Link


Have a good trip.

 

[oak forest horn]

Its hard to compare DC to Texas. Everything is compact in DC and 5 miutes on Metro will get you far fast. Try staying In Arlington, Its a 10 minute walk to Georgetown and a quick metro ride away from the Mall and sights you want to see. Reagan has metro service as well so no need for a cab. I stayed at the Hilton in Arlington. It was a block from the metro station and made getting to and from DC a snap.

 

[savvy]

this will save you some grief - when riding Metro, stand to the left and walk to the right.

 

[Napoleon]

I went to DC for a wedding some 4 or 5 years ago (I think). I stayed at a hostel just northwest of the Capitol building about 4-5 blocks.

I was in a "dorm" room with about 5 or 6 sets of bunkbeds. I had a bed on a bottom bunk. At about 2:30am, I went to the bathroom for about 2 minutes. When I returned a 4 to 5 year old Asian boy who didn't speak English was in my bed.

This proved to be a problem because I wanted my bed and I wanted my pillow, but I didn't want to have explain what a guy my age was doing messing with a 4 to 5 year old Asian boy at 2:30am.

I ended up snagging my pillow and sleeping on a top bunk of another bed in direct flow of a artic air conditioning vent. The kid got my bed and I got a cold.

I don't recommend this hostel.

 

[HORN_FAN_86]

I just left DC last summer and go there frequently on business. All above are good ideas, savvy's is right up there

. Fly into Reagan and only use the Metro. Alexandria and Arlington/Crystal City have tons of rooms within a block of the Metro. Rosslyn is also convenient, on the Metro line and one stop from ANC. Be prepared at ANC. The walk in frmoteh Metro stop is all up hill to the Tomb of the Unknown and Arlington House.

Wednesday evenings in the summer there is a Twilight Tattoo, NW side of the Washington Monument, well worth going to. Its a military ceremony put on by the "Old Guard" with music and drill.

 

[Campus Loop(y)]

(former Old Guard soldier) I got some messages about my reference to ANC as the boneyard. Sorry, we were there almost every day and it is just what we call it. Never any disrespect meant, quite the contrary. But I am former TOG so that is why.

Tatoo was the most fun of our dog and pony shows. Though the Spirit of America was fun but at the time it was way in the hell out in Landover, MD.

 

[eljefe76]

The Link

You might check this place out. Prices seem reasonable. Not sure how fancy it is, but I can vouch for the convenience and location since I live next door to the place. There are plenty of Cap. Hill bars within a block. Also, you're only a block from the metro, Supreme Court, Capitol, Library of Congress, etc. If you have alot of luggage, it's only about a $12-15 cab ride from Reagan.

And above posters are right, you really can't compare it to Texas. Everything is compact. Most likely everything touristy you will want to do is in DC, except for Arlington Cemetary, and they're mostly all along the metro. You'll be tired, but you "can" walk from Supreme Court and Library of Congress to the Capitol, to the Smithsonians, to the monuments on the mall, past the White House, to Arlington Cemetary if you really wanted to in 1 day (it's 2 miles from Capitol to Lincoln, so add basically 1 more mile to add Supreme Court and the Cemetary). Of course, you will likely want to take your time to see all these places and spend several days covering it all.

 

[savvy]

one of my old roommates had a thing for Bravo Company at Ft. Meyer/old Guard. Made me watch "Gardens of Stone" repeatedly.

I live on the Senate side by Union Station, so here's my advice:

contact your Rep. and Senators' offices to help you schedule tours. check their websites to see what all they can schedule, as it's limited. Ask for a Capitol tour from an intern, as it's much better than waiting in line with the sweaty masses, and the intern will most likely be from TX. Schedule the tour for the morning so you can grab a tasty and cheap breakfast in the Dirksen Senate cafeteria before you arrive for your tour. Then go check out the Library of Congress (get your Rep. or Sens. to set up a tour) and the Supreme Court. For lunch, Armand's Chicago pizzeria on the Senate side has a $5.99 all you can eat lunch buffet during the week. Walk over to Union Station and you can hop on a trolley tour of the city. I recommend the Park Service's night time tour of the monuments but the other trolley tours are pretty good. you can hop on and off all day, and you can do a separate Mount Vernon day trip. Beware, the DC Duck is a waste of time and money.

Beware of hard hit grounders and long balls while walking on the Mall in the evening. Softball is very serious business.

As Loopy mentioned, the Old Guard has twilight tattoo near the Washington Monument in the Summer on Wednesday nights. Marine Corps has one at 8th and I on Friday nights (you need a reservation) and sunset parade at Iwo Jima on Wednesday nights. Navy Band has a free summer concert series on the Capitol steps on Monday nights during the summer. Air Force band does them on Tuesday nights at the Capitol and Friday nights near the base of the Washington Monument.

WH public tour is overrated and you have to be in a group of 10 or more to get tickets. Best bet is if you know someone that can hook you up with a West Wing tour, or if you find out when the WH Summer Garden Tours are and plan around that.

If you can't get to the top of the Monument, go to the tower of the Old Post Office Pavilian for a comparable view.

Ford's Theater on 10th Street. There are several t-shirt shops on that street if you want to pick up cheap and cheaply made souvenirs.

Check out the National Cathedral if you're in NW.

 

[LongLiveBevo]

Thanks for the replies! It sounds like my itinerary is all planned out. I love military shows so we will be checking those out. I'm also looking forward to losing 10 pounds that week!

 

[Campus Loop(y)]

Why Bravo Company? Was he in that Company? I know it well. Was not in that company but knew people there. Usually people not stationed there gravitate towards Echo Company (Tombies) or Fife and Drum or Alpha (Colonials). Some really like H Company as they have Caisson and the horses.

If you want to mess with an Old Guard soldier ask them if they do the Tomb. To the outside it is awesome. To those in the unit, it is for the overly gung ho kool aid drinkers. It does take a special breed of sorts. Under no circumstance would I have ever wanted that duty or assignment. No way, no how. Odd fellows. But they have a job and they do it with precision and kick *** at it. Glad they volunteered so we did not have to.

Pay attention to when the TOG guys go by. They have steel on the inside heel, toe and heel under the show. We would loosen the metal plate inside the heel so it would make a little bit more noise and sound better. Also, they drag their right foot when taking off to march. Tatoo will be on grass so you won't hear it.

But if you get a chance to see a funeral or something in ANC, go check 'em out. It is impressive and moving. Look for a guy who will be directing everything. He will be in a suit and his last name is Mercer. He was featured on PBS about the running of ANC, coordination of funerals and things like that.

He was a good friend of mine when we were both in that unit. He now works for ANC. Tell him that "Tip" says hi and he may give you a really great tour and info that most don't know or talk about. Or, he may start spouting off **** I got away with back in the day so beware.

 

[savvy]

that's why i said "if you're in NW."

Loopy, I don't know why Bravo...she wasn't all there in the head to be honest. And yes, the Tomb guys were definitely kool aid drinkers, but very good at doing their jobs.

 

[Campus Loop(y)]

He must have been well endowed or just gave her all of his paycheck twice a month. Bravo? And yes, I have seen Gardens of Stone oodles of times. I served with many that were in that movie when it was filmed. They used many areas we used everyday. It was kind of cool to look around and be in a former movie set. Then it passed and it did not matter.