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Phyllis Meyer
06-05-2007, 4:21 PM
Hi Everyone,

The daughter's flight benefits have kicked in for Mom and Dad. My husband wants to go to Washington for the 4th of July. We are looking up all the wonderful things to do, any advice on which tours to take? Hotels/motels (we don't need anything fancy, just safe and walking/public transportation areas).

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Phyllis:)

Joe Pelonio
06-05-2007, 4:40 PM
I'll have to pass on this one since I have not been there since 1972. I do remember a lot of wig shops with multi-colored "naturals" in the windows.

I'm guessing those are gone now.

Phyllis Meyer
06-05-2007, 4:46 PM
Joe,

You are too funny!:)

Phyllis,

P.S. Please check your email.

Glenn Clabo
06-05-2007, 4:52 PM
Phyllis,
DC is a great place during the 4th. I spent 20 years around there...and have gone back a number of times.

There a many places to stay...most are on the expensive side...but if you go on line and search you can get some ideas. Be warned but not frightened...there are parts of DC that are not a good place to walk around especially after dark. If you go to a nice hotel (IMHO well worth the expense)...they will tell you the truth and you can decide if a cab or walking is the right way. There are many great hotels and places to eat (and shop) in the Georgetown area.

If you only have a few days...and want to get a flavor of Washington...the area around the mall is FULL of great things to see. Besides the fireworks...just going through the Smithsonian...and all the galleries...and memorials...will wear out a few shoes.

You will enjoy the visit...if you make sure you take a breath and absorb it. I loved my time there and love still love my visits there.

Mitchell Andrus
06-05-2007, 5:12 PM
My wife and I took the kids (13 and 17) a few years ago. If you stay at a hotel near a metro stop, you don't need a car. Seriously, we drove from NJ and didn't touch the car for six days. You won't need one unless travelling.

Wear comfortable shoes and travel light - you'll walk A LOT!!! Take lots of breaks to sit and relax. Duck into someplace with A/C often, DC is hot in summer. Don't mind the ugly Americans, they're hot too and they aren't staying in your room.

Some do not misses:
Wash monument and Capitol tour MUSTS!!!! (gotta sign up a day before, first come, first served. Get in line for tickets at dawn and don't miss your timeslot) You won't be sorry for the trouble it takes.
All of the Smithsonians
Bureau of engraving if open
Holocaust museum if up to it.
If you have time, grab a boat ride in the bay.
Spy museum - really. Good for two hours or so.
Walk all the way round the pond to the Jefferson and Roosevelt mems just after dinner. It'll take two hours but its a great way to work off dinner.

Pre-purchase tickets in the morning for pm movies at the museums. It'll be hot then. The A/C will feel good.

Russ Filtz
06-05-2007, 5:12 PM
Check out the train station too, I think it's near the mall area. Forget what it's called. HUGE cathedral type ceilings in all directions. Pretty impressive.

Jonathon Spafford
06-05-2007, 5:30 PM
You are in for a treat... that would be so cool to see during the 4th of July. For starters you'll want to see the memorials! Those are great to see! If you can get into the White House that is also a great place to see. If you can get into the Capital (if you contact your congressman he might be able to get you in) it is awesome to tour. When I went last fall we got to see congress in session... really amazing! Arlington Cemetery is a gotta see! Washington's home - Mount Vernon - is just awesome so you got to check that one out. You can take a ferry boat over there from Alexandria. Alexandria is a great little town right on the river to walk around in... at night they have a ghost tour. We didn't go on it, but it sounded interesting - they take you around and tell ghost stories. I went on a similar tour in Williamsburg... any little kids in the family might get a kick out of it! The Smithsonian are really great to see if you have time, but you could almost make a seperate trip just to see these! I would probably tend to stick with the historical stuff and see the other stuff if you got time... just my personal preference. Nation Archives is another must see... while we were there they had a George Washington impersonator give a talk. He was just great... so if they have that going on I would recommend seeing that.
To get around DC I would really recommend the metro. This is a really simple way of getting around... really nice alternative to taxis and rental cars! Easy to get around on and pretty cheap!
Oh... and about food: there is an AWESOME sandwich shop in DC called Potbelly, I believe. You have to go there. It has great sandwhiches! Kinda like a Subway style of make your own, but the sandwiches are just so awesome; much better than Subway IMVHO... so try that!
When I went we stayed at Homewood Suites. Really a nice hotel and you get free breakfasts and dinners! And the dinners are really good! I liked it a lot.
As was mentioned there are places that you wouldn't want to go at night so make sure that you figure that out before you take evening walks. There are some rough places in town, but DC does have a lot of gorgeous spots!
So hope you have fun! Make sure you tell us all about the trip when you get back ;)

Jonathon Spafford
06-05-2007, 5:39 PM
Oh yes... and like Mitchell said... the Holocaust Museum is spectacular. It is a really different experience, but a must see. The Spy Museum is likewise a fun museum.

Joe Chritz
06-05-2007, 7:57 PM
If you get time check out the Law Enforcement memorial.

A trip to Arlington for a changing of the guard is supposed to be a fantastic sight. Not in DC but easy to get to I imagine.

Joe

Phil Thien
06-05-2007, 11:20 PM
We liked One Washington Circle Hotel. It is right in the heart of GW University. The Metro station is right across the street. Great shopping one direction, walkable to the mall the other. Our room had a kitchen (stove, fridge) which is nice because there were five of us and we could eat breakfast in in the morning, and there was always some snacking (frozen pizza, french fries, etc.) at night.

BTW, on the other side of the block is one of the Ritz Carltons. We visited some friends there. Room was about four times the price and they walked twice the distance to the Metro.

I loved the Metro.

http://www.thecirclehotel.com/index2.htm

Pat Germain
06-05-2007, 11:32 PM
Great advice thus far. I lived in D.C. for awhile, although it was a long time ago. I still visit occasionally for work. Here a few of my takes:

- If you can find a good deal on a nice hotel, great. However, I wouldn't expect it over 4th of July. This is a very popular time to visit DC. Be careful of cheap hotels. They can be in very bad areas.

- A hotel near a Metro station is worth every extra dollar. Old Town Alexandria is a very nice place to stay and has a Metro station. This area also has numerous restaurants. I took a professional class there years ago and enjoyed staying in the area.

- "Rough neighborhoods" doesn't begin to describe it. You must never get lost in D.C. How bad is it? I got lost there once and a police officer pulled me over, then escorted me back to the Beltway. Don't drive unless you have to and always plot your course ahead of time with a good map. You should be fine in any tourist area.

- Ride the Metro whenever possible. It is clean, safe and goes almost everywhere in DC.

- The Smithsonian museums get very crowded during the Summer. Try to arrive early if you want to tour them. Otherwise, it's not nearly as much fun with people packing in everywhere.

- The most popular Smithsonian museum is the Air and Space Museum. Therefore, it's the most crowded.

- Some of the best Air and Space Museum exhibits are actually in an annex just outside DC near the Dulles airport. That facility is much larger and has a lot of the "big stuff". If you can get out there, I highly recommend it.

- Make every effort to see the Marine Corps Memorial (often referred to as the Iwo Jima Memorial). It's not on the Mall, but rather nearby; Arlington, I think. It will be on any good map of the area. This is the only monument which overwhelmes me for its size. Unlike every other monument, it's actually much bigger than you'd expect. It's also in a nice park where you relax away from crowds.

- Just off the Mall is Ford's Theater. In the basement is a small museum dedicated to Lincoln's assassination. It has some very nice exhibits. Across the street you can see the room where Lincoln was taken after being shot and later died. It's been kept just the same. (It's been many years since I've been there. I'm assuming it's still the same.)

- The changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is very popular and for good reason. It's a rare example of military discipline at its finest. (When the guard tells you to remain standing, you'd better do so!)You should be able to find a schedule for the changing of the guard on the Arlington Cemetary Web Page. The cemetary itself is also worth seeing. Popular graves include Audie Murphy and, of course, JFK. There's also a nice, granite monument for the crew of the Challenger.

Jonathon Spafford
06-05-2007, 11:58 PM
- Just off the Mall is Ford's Theater. In the basement is a small museum dedicated to Lincoln's assassination. It has some very nice exhibits. Across the street you can see the room where Lincoln was taken after being shot and later died. It's been kept just the same. (It's been many years since I've been there. I'm assuming it's still the same.)

YES! I forgot about this one! This is an amazing site... everything really comes alive here! This was one of the best spots (actually they were all good)... the downstairs museum has everything in there related to the assasination and it is really amazing to see all the stuff... you definitely should squeeze in an hour or so to visit here!

Phil Thien
06-06-2007, 9:19 AM
- The changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is very popular and for good reason. It's a rare example of military discipline at its finest.

Reminds me of our visit there a few years ago. I was using an absolutely new and tiny video camera that you sorta hold like a gun. My family was around me and I was filming (well, sorta, it is digital). Anyway, a friend that was with us says, "incoming, incoming" and I looked up and saw one of America's finest coming at me like a bat outa hell.

As soon as he was able to get between the camera and the ceremony, he did. And he started walking right towards me. If it had been a gun, he was basically inserting himself directly into the line of fire.

The entire event took place within just a few seconds. We were pretty much the only people there at the time, and I thought I had mistakenly filmed something I wasn't supposed to. I started to put it away and when he got to us I was apologizing for using a camera and causing a problem. He asked to see the camera and I happily showed it to him. Once he understood what it was, he told me I had done nothing wrong.

But I had a renewed, deep-seated appreciation for this and other soldiers. And I still fealt bad for causing a commotion.

None of that was lost, BTW, on my two daughters. The older one, about fourteen years old at the time, understood that serving your country was serious business. And when I asked my daughter what lesson her dad had learned, her response was, "don't mess with marines?"

Right on! I nearly browned my shorts!

Washington D.C. was an awesome trip. We've been dragging the kids around the country (and out of the country, too), visiting as many cities as we can, to try to expose them to the world outside of Milwaukee. Washington D.C. was a top-five trip.

Lee Schierer
06-06-2007, 12:38 PM
The Air and Space museum out by Dulles airport is great. There was considerable construction around the Lincoln Memorial when we were there so roads weren't open. We parked for free ont eh Mall, but moved the car every 2 hours to avoid tickets. We used hand held walkie talkies to get the driver back together with the group.

Obey all parking regulations as they love to ticket visitors and the tickets are healthy deductions from your check book. Use the subway if you can.

All the Smithsonian places are great and it is nice to get into the National Archives and see the real documents our founding fathers wrote.

Expect delays entering most buildings as they check bags.

Get there early on the fourth if you want a spot to watch the fireworks as the croud is huge and most come early in the day, stack out a patch of ground and picnic/party all day long. Best spots are along the reflecting pool or Lincoln Memorial. Traffic afterwards is terrific, take an extra measre of tolerance for rude and agressive drivers.

Expect to walk a lot!

It is hot and humid so be prepared.

See your congressional reps now and get tickets for special tours of the white house. These are far better than the walk up and wait in line tours.

Go see the Mint if you have time The stacks of money are impressive. Sorry they don't give out samples.

Kevin Beck
06-06-2007, 12:38 PM
Like Phil's family we've been traveling with our kids for years. We spent 4-5 days in D.C. last October and thoroughly enjoyed it. We stayed in McLean (Staybridge Suites) and the hotel had a courtesy shuttle to the Metro station several times per day. The Metro is very convenient, inexpensive, and the kids enjoyed it almost as much as the attractions.

We really enjoyed the Spy Museum, Arlington National Cemetery (the changing of the guard is awesome, though it did make me want to smack some people who weren't being respectful during it), Postal Museum, Holocaust Museum (might not be appropriate for young kids), the monuments, and the National Smithsonian museums. My daughter (8 year old) had been studying Martin Luther King at school so when we went to the Lincoln Memorial she asked the guard on duty where MLK stood during his "I Have a Dream" speech. The guard was very friendly and took my daughter to the step and poured water on the engraving on the step so that she could see it better.

We felt safe at all times but did stay in and around the national mall area. I would love to go back this year and spend another week. If I were by myself I'd spend at least half a day in Arlington National wandering around.

Union Station, the National Smithsonian, and the Ronald Reagan building are all good places to eat lunch.

Kevin

Eddie Watkins
06-06-2007, 1:48 PM
The Mall is the place to be. The majority of the stuff will be around there. I like the American History Museum and the Natural History Museum. You use to be able to go on a tour of the White House, I'm not sure you still can but you might try. There is a shuttle service around the Mall where you can buy a day ticket and get on and off as many times as you want. It shuttles you around the Mall area between the different museums. The ticket booth was by the Lincoln Memorial when I was there. The shuttle will take you all over the mall area, across the Potomac to Arlington, around to the Jefferson Memorial , by the Capitol (Union Station (Train)) is within walking distance). National Archives are also on the mall where you can see the Declaration of Independence, Constitution, etc. The National Art Gallery is also the on the Mall. The Department of Commerce has an Aquarium in the basement that is nice. THe Holocaust Museum is a couple of blocks off the Mall. If you have a car, the drive the Blue Rdge Mountains via Front Royal was nice but I don't think it would be very interesting for kids. Also, the last time I was there, pollution was killing some of the trees. THe Marine Corp drill team performs on Wednesday nights at the Marine Corp headquarters at 8th & I Streets. That is one of the areas you don't want to go by yourself. It is better to go to the Navy yard and take a bus for safeties sake. We spent two weeks in the early nineties up there and still didn't see everything so pick the things that you enjoy, wear really good shoes, and use the metro/taxis as much as possible through the week and you will have a great time. Any hotel on the metro lines is convenient to the Mall so you can get out of the DC area and find cheaper(less expensive) accommodations pretty easy. DC is tied with hiking the Grand Canyon as our best vacation ever.
PS. Montecello and Jamestown our good day trips from DC.

Eddie

Eddie

Phyllis Meyer
06-06-2007, 3:39 PM
Wow, a great big thank you to everyone who took the time to respond, all of your information is greatly appreciated! We hope to actually sit down on Friday and nail down all reservations. The hotel and restaurant names are great...thank you!

If anyone would like to know about Northern Wisconsin let me know:)

Sincerely,
Phyllis

Curt Fuller
06-06-2007, 9:38 PM
I visited Washington DC a couple years ago. At the time I felt like I was being dragged on a trip that I didn't really want to go on. Turned out it was the best vacation I've ever taken. Stayed at the Grand Hyatt which was really way out of my price range but made up for it by not having to rent a car or drive at all for that matter. The Metro is great transportation plus there's a good bus service and lots of cabs. But mostly take some comfortable walking shoes. I want to go back again because we only scratched the surface in the few days we were there. It's like nowhere I've ever been.

Leigh Costello
06-06-2007, 11:58 PM
Phyllis,
This is more of a memory, but still applicable IMHO. I was in DC in 1976 for the Bicentennial. I was 13. I am still in awe of all that I experienced. The museums, the many, many diverse ethnicities, and best of all, watching the fireworks from a hillside near Arlington cemetery. My aunt and uncle lived near DC for many years. Now and then, when I see fireworks displays, and I ooh and ahhh, I am back there for a moment. Magical. Have a great trip!

Jim Becker
06-07-2007, 9:28 AM
There is so much to see and do in DC...you could spend weeks on the mall, alone!!

Bill Lewis
06-07-2007, 12:19 PM
Well, Since I live 'round here I guess I ought to chime in. Pretty much what everyone has said so far will definately fill your vacation time. Some other sites to see, The National Archives and The white House are worth considering. You used to have to go to your congressional representatives office to get tickets for the White House Tour. I don't know what it takes these days. For that matter, check in advace (online) what restrictions are for every museum, memorial, government building or attraction that you intend to visit. Most limit what you can bring in these days.

I grew up in McLean (VA) and now live in MD. I've been to the "Mall" to watch the fireworks many times, but probably not for 15-20 years. I wish I could tell you what is the best place to go to watch the fireworks, but it's been too long. However, I can tell you that the fireworks are launched from the end of the reflecting pool between the Lincoln Memorial and Washington Monument (on the WM end). You've got the whole mall between the Capitol and the WM to view them from. So pretty much anywhere in between is ok. The heaviest crowds are located at the Washington Monument "hill". And there can be some pretty heavy crowds.

As far as the "bad" parts of DC, Well in general if you stay in the NW, or SW you're pretty much ok. Definately stay out of SE.

I'd have to say that your best bet is definately stay in an area that has easy access to Metro (subway). Don't take your car down there, parking is virtually impossible. Expect to walk miles and miles. You can use Cabs to get around, but they use a funky zone system (no meters) and can be confusing to someone who doesn't use it regularly.

Kent Fitzgerald
06-08-2007, 12:01 PM
I stayed most recently (Memorial Day weekend) at the Marriott Courtyard Convention Center (900 F St, NW, across the street from the Spy Museum). There's a good microbrewery and restaurant right in the hotel - we liked it enough to eath there both nights, even though there are lots of other restaurants in the neighborhood. The location is great, within a couple of blocks of the Metro and walkable to the Mall, Smithsonians, etc. Service at the Marriott was very nice, except for one uncooperative housekeeper (the desk staff was responsive to my complaint and very apologetic). I'd go back.

Mark Berenbrok
06-08-2007, 12:37 PM
Get "The Unofficial Guide to Washington DC". It'll be the best $12 you ever spent. My wife used it when we went two years ago with our boys.

Use the Metro - clean, convenient, and it goes everywhere. The staff at the stations are very helpful.

Nancy Laird
06-08-2007, 1:00 PM
Phyllis, don't know if it's still running, but in late '92 there was a tram running through all of the "tourist" areas. You bought a one-day ticket and got a pass that let you get on and off at the stops you wanted to make--it even went to Arlington, IIRC, but it made all of the stops on and around the Mall. Saved a little walking.

Just a word of advice, if you plan on doing a lot of walking in flat shoes/sneakers when you get there, get out of your heels NOW (if you wear them) and stretch the Achilles tendons and calf muscles. I made the mistake of walking the length of the Mall and back in one day in sneakers (was a fashion maven in 3" heels at all times then), and almost could not walk for three days afterward--and climbing steps was a nightmare.

Don't forget to put Rock Creek Park, the National Zoo, and the National Cathedral on your list. A walk along M Street north from Wisconsin Avenue in Georgetown will showcase some neat homes--drive along Mass Avenue NW and see some of the embassies--take a quick stop in DuPont Circle for some of the funky side of the city (try 4-500-square-foot apartments!!).

Have fun! But if I were you, I would avoid the Mall at all costs on July 4 - the place is a nightmare!!!! I have a friend who almost got trampled in the crowd one year.

Nancy

Brian Dormer
06-08-2007, 7:42 PM
Having lived and worked in close proximity to D.C. all my 47 years, I'll share a few thoughts about the 4th on the Mall:

1. D.C. was built on a swamp (makes you wonder what George Washington was thinking). In summer - it's very still, 110% humidity and hotter than blazes. Every year, the National Park service hauls about 100 people off the Mall with heat stroke on the 4th. And they treat MANY,MANY MORE in first-aid tents. If you are at all "delicate" - keep this in mind.

2. The crowds are hideous (250,000 plus). Everyone is jammed into the Mall (it's not as big as you might think). You'll have to go down before noon to stake out a place to watch the concerts/fireworks. The fireworks end around 10 PM - you'll be lucky to be out of the city before 1 or 2 AM. You'll be riding the Metro (subway) along with the rest of humanity. It makes a VERY long, VERY uncomfortable day (all for a 30 minute fireworks show).

Decide on showering order before you leave - it cuts down on arguments at 3 or 4 in the morning - you will ALL want nothing more than a COLD shower - and then to go to bed with the air conditioner set to "arctic winter" blowing on you FULL BLAST.

3. Some of the people that attend are ignorant, nasty and rude. The heat does not help their disposition. It takes very few a-holes to really screw things up for everybody. How bad are they? Public Urination is not uncommon (see #4) and I've had to dodge bottle rockets fired horizontally into the crowd (missed me by a good 6 inches - but I was faster back then) - Oh - did I mention the little girl that got sent to the hospital with burns on her face? Yeah, the rocket exploded right in front of her - about 20 feet away from my group.

4. If you need to "go potty" - you'll have a choice of about 50 or so reeking, filthy porta-potties thoughtfully provided by the National Park Service. There will be about 10,000 other people in line in front of you (Beer does that to people). Bring your own toilet paper, seat covers and disinfectant. And watch where you step. Honestly - you are better off if you "just hold it". It's THAT BAD.

5. If there is any puff of breeze and it blows the smoke from the fireworks towards the crowd (it happens all the time because of the prevaling weather patterns) - you'll be choking on it. My father got a cinder in his eye once. Not fun.

Having seen the fireworks downtown a few times (when I've been dragged along by others that HAD TO GO) - in all honesty - you are better off setting the TIVO to get the "Capitol 4th" on PBS and going to a nice, small-town fireworks display.

I live in one such (fairly) small town. So, on the 4th, rather than trek into D.C. - I travel about a mile to a medical office's parking lot - I get there about 8:45, watch the local fireworks (Oooooh... Ahhhhhh...) and I'm home 5 minutes after the shows over. If it's hot - we all stay in the car with the a/c on. Not exactly a Norman Rockwell painting - but then - neither is the "BIG SHOW" down at the Mall.

If you STILL MUST GO... (now that you know what you'll be getting into) Take at least 3 or 4 bottles of FROZEN water (don't worry - they will melt) for EACH person. Take rain ponchos (in case it rains - which it usually does about 4 PM every day in the summer). Take a bunch of water soaked cheap washcloths in ziplock baggies (freeze them too!) Take something (a blanket) to sit on (keep in mind the ground will either be ROCK HARD or MUSHY). If you are a masochist - you can take lawn chairs - but you'll have to schlepp them with you and they do get heavy after the first mile or so (and the rangers may not allow them anymore due to security). Take garbage bags to go under the blanket after it rains (they also make dandy ponchos - just rip a "head hole" and pull it on) Don't take anything valuable or sentimental (it will get lost or stolen). EVERYTHING you take should be disposable. Wear OLD clothes that you won't mind throwing away. Wear comfortable (but disposable) walking shoes - YOU WILL WALK A LOT! Most important - SUNBLOCK! You will burn even if it's overcast.

PRAY for wind - even a 5 knot breeze makes a world of difference.

Don't even think about doing museums or monuments on the 4th - they will be MOBBED if they are even open. They will probably close them for security reasons.

On just about any other day - The Smithsoinain musuems (on and off the Mall) are not to be missed. Those alone will keep you busy for weeks if you let them. You'll have to pick and choose. The Archives is an easy hour or two (it's about 2 blocks off the Mall). You can get into the Capitol and Washington Monument - but you will wait in LONG lines to do so. No, you probably can't get into (or even near) the White House. The Lincoln and Jefferson memorials are easy in-easy out. As are the Vietnam and WWII memorials. The Iwo-Jima memorial is a little off the beaten path - but it's so iconic - it's worth seeing. Arlington Cemetery (you can see the side of the Pentagon that got hit on 9/11). There's lots of Civil War battlefields nearby in both Virginia and Maryland if you are into that sort of thing.

Keep in mind that you'll probably be WALKING (or taking a cab $$CHA-CHING$$) - as there's little parking downtown. You'll take the subway in from the 'burbs and surface "near" (a relative term) wherever you want to go.

You can see if the Treasury Building is open for tours (still no free samples - sorry). If you are in to Theatre - there's PLENTY of choices. But the one to see is Fords Theatre (where Lincoln was shot and recently restored). Last time I looked - they were still running "Our American Cousin" - which is the last play Lincoln saw. Just about ANYTHING at the Kennedy Center is going to be good.

There are various tour buses that whisk tourists around from place to place. Not bad if you want to see how many sights you can check off in a single afternoon. Downside is you don't get INTO the sights. Sort of "drive -by tourism". Kinda defeats the purpose.

Keep in mind that D.C. has much tighter security that almost any other city (except maybe New York). So getting into some buildings (or even areas) will take longer than you expect. If some VIP(s) are in the vicinity (happens ALL THE TIME), the law enforcement may close off areas without warning.

Cliff Rohrabacher
06-09-2007, 9:34 AM
There's a civil war medical museum.

All the museums are very good.

david hines
06-10-2007, 4:40 PM
hello, I live in the dc suburbs. The museums are all nice and best of all free.the air and space museum at dulles airport has parking fee.local mass transit is "metro". there is a large fireworks display on the fourth at the wash monument. see national park service web site, atlantic ocean beaches 3 hours away. there is lots to do and see.