Entertainment For Lively Minds
What to do in Virginia and Washington DC
Posted by Leedsboy on 7 May 2011 - 7:44pm.
I'm off for a work trip to Virginia tomorrow. Whilst I won't have any free time on weekdays or evenings, I do get Saturday and Sunday free next weekend.
Has anyone any tips or places to visit? I'd like to get a gig but I'm struggling to find any listings. My hotel is close the the metro and I'll have a car as well. Any suggestions gratefully received.
- More from Leedsboy.
- Login or register to post comments
-
Smithsonian
One word - more time than you've got. The Air and Space museum does it for me.
Oh, and you could always drop in on Obama. I believe he likes people to call round unannounced for a chat. Or maybe not.
Or maybe not
Osama might disagree, were his last words truly, to the first two Navy Seals he saw, "I need you two like a hole in he head?"I know...I know.(Pours glass of red wine).
Alternatively
Have you heard about the new cocktail? It's called the Bin Laden - two shots and a splash of water...
too soon?
W. A. S. H. I. N. G. T. O. N. Baby, D.C. !!
They have a few open-top bus tours that run from Union Station that you can hop on and off, and that takes you round most of the tourist places.
The cemetery at Arlington is worth a visit - there is the Tomb Of The Unknown Soldier (if you time it right you can see the changing of the guard), and the graves of the Kennedys - amongst many, many others.
The Library of Congress is also worth a look. A lot of the museums and galleries are pretty close together - running from Capitol Hill down to the Lincoln Memorial.
It's a beautiful city, and I hope to go back soon.
Enjoy...
Baseball
If you've never been to a baseball match then I would say its a good thing to do at least once. Preferably an evening kick off (I know) for a better atmosphere and the lighting, colours etc.
If there's no game in DC, Baltimore is easily reachable by car.... and there's always the minor leagues.
If you're planning a visit to the air and space museum, bear in mind all the big planes (including a shuttle) are on a newish site near the airport.
You really should just visit some of the outdoor sights in DC they look just like they do on television! - that's one of the things that never fails to please in the states I spent the whole of my first weekend there 20 years ago saying "New York, just like I pictured it" to myself.
Agree
Get you buttocks to the Lincoln Memorial, turn and face the Washington Monument and start walking.
See how many movies you can name check before you get to the Capitol. A great day's walking. For a quick cuppa with Obama, detour left before the needle.
If you do find yourself near the airport, the Air and Space museum has a space shuttle, Enola Gay, a stealth bomber and shed-loads more. Brilliant.
I would focus on DC
Virginia's a wonderful place but is really all about the great outdoors and you need to spend a longer amount of time there.
Obviously, there are number of attractions and tourist sites in DC and the Smithsonian is well worth a visit but - my call would be go hang out around the Georgetown area. Either around K street and the Harbour area. Or around Georgetown U. Loads of cool bars, restaurants and shops and a feel iike the Village in NYC. Lots of familiar locations from The Exorcist, West Wing and other films and TV shows.
Americans are extraordinarily outgoing and generous and I'm sure you will find one or two colleagues will offer to take you out and about but you may well want just to hang out and chillax dude rather than go tearing round the city sightseeing. Baked and Wired is a great place for coffee and cake and peoplewatching.
The Newseum
is near the Smithsonian museums..and if you don't mind paying to get in its great! museum of news reporting
Smithsonian museum of AMerican history also worth a visit
Gigs: 930 club Black
Gigs:
930 club
Black cat
Birchmere
Verizon Center
Museums:
Smithsonian
National Portrait
Udvar Hazy (Air and Space) out by Dulles
George Washington's home
Georgetown's nice; Adams Morgan has a nice vibe
Civil War? Go south 50 miles to fredericksburg - wilderness, Chancellorsville and Fredericksburg all have significant battlefields. The 'Burg is an interesting little city to walk around.
I live in Fairfax and work just over the river from Georgetown. PM me if you want more specific stuff for the area
DC stuff
The best thing about DC is that most of the monuments and museums on the Smithsonian Mall are free. The best monuments are the Lincoln Memorial, the Vietnam Wall, and FDR Memorial. Arlington Cemetery is fascinating (and free).
One place that no one's mentioned so far: Ford's Theater (where Lincoln was assassinated) is pretty cool to visit (and free, too). You can see the booth where he was killed, and the National Park Service gives a short talk, and there's a small museum below with some interesting artifacts (the clothes he was wearing, etc.) Across from Ford's Theater is the small Peterson house where Lincoln actually died and you can tour that, too.
Best place to eat if you're hanging around the museums and monuments along the Smithsonian Mall is the cafeteria in the American Indian Museum. The food is from various indian cultures from North and South America.
If you're into gardening the Botanic Gardens next to the capitol is nice (and free).
Word of advice: Bring comfortable walking shoes. The monuments and museums all look close together but it's a looooonnngg walk from, say, the Lincoln memorial at one end of the mall all the way down to the capitol at the other. Enjoy!
If you want to get out of town
I recommend a visit to Great Falls Park, Virginia. It's only 15 miles from DC. A lovely place to spend an afternoon.
Thanks for all of that
Really appreciated.
Report back
Any chance of a post visit report? Were planning on another couple of days in DC after some visits to civil war sites later in the year and haven't finalised any plans yet
Will do
Which sites?
I used to live in Fredericksburg, which has a fair few. Happy to lend local perspective an/or travel tips if needed.
I don't know!
The trip is definitely happening but we haven't worked anything out yet - we haven't even worked out how long the trip needs to be yet! We're going in September so any suggestions will be seriously considered. Thanks.
My report back
Well the first thing to say is I had a lot less free time than I would have liked. Weekdays were pretty much all work into the night.
On the Friday late afternoon we managed to get into the Smithsonian Air & Space at Dulles airport (or just near to the airport). Well worth a visit if seeing a space shuttle, a Tomcat and Enola Gay tickle your fancy. Very well laid out and lots to see.
Saturday was a ball game. Washington Nationals (Go Nads!) v Florida Marlins. We managed to get corporate tickets so we had fill yer boots on beer, buffet and nachos. I have to say, the concept of having someone bring beer and nachos to your seat whilst watching sport is near perfect. If the game had been halfway as good as that, it would have been stunning. A 0-1 game was a bit tedious to be truthful.
Sunday afternoon was spent in Georgetown. Nice place to while away an afternoon. Nice eats and bars and shops and scenery. 5 Guys burgers are great. 1 lasts all day! Waterfront area wasn't up to much though.
Baseball
Is NOT about the game. it's about socializing, hanging out, beer, peanuts and the rather excellent Polish sausages they do at Nat's Park.
As I learned last year when my boss rather smilingly tore me a new one.
"What are you doing? we've hardly seen you"
"Weeelllll, I'm watching the game."
Apparently, breach etiquette. Some great restaurants within walking distance of the park as well.
Do Virginia's Skyline Drive…
… we saw bears and eveything. Then stop off in Wynn's Restaurant, Front Royal, and order yourself some sausage gravy and fried potatoes.
Another up turned thumb for Georgetown.
Some great bars, eateries etc and the walk from Georgetown University to THE EXORCIST STEPS is a must-do, with or without Tubular Bells.