Life Planning a Trip to Washington, D.C.

CaliforniaChief · 03-23-2017, 07:51 PM

The kids have never been, they're old enough to enjoy it and hang with the insane amount of walking we'll do.

Going in June.

Flying in from Southern California, probably into Dulles. Looking to Airbnb a place so we can cook our dinners and have our own breakfast, saving money.

The Metrorail gets you almost everywhere, but we would need car access to get groceries, see Mount Vernon, maybe a day trip up to Gettysburg, etc.

Any other insights? Things I should do that can save me money? Going for a week, probably.

scho63 · 03-23-2017, 08:26 PM

I just relocated from the DC area this week after 10 years. I lived all around the Dulles airport area and know the DMV as well as anyone.

I'll send you a PM tomorrow to ask you questions about your family, ages, likes, time frame, budget, etc to give you advice that matches your family's needs, not mine.

I have NEVER let anyone down with my travel advice and you will not be the first.

**DaFace** · 03-23-2017, 08:29 PM

In my opinion, the Air and Space Museum at Dulles is even better than the one on the National Mall. Don't miss it.

And all of the Smithsonian museums are free, so you can save a lot by just taking advantage of that.

**lewdog** · 03-23-2017, 08:34 PM

I got food poisoning from a bison burger at the Native American Museum.

Which left me blowing out the bathroom when I arrived at the Holocaust museum.

**Meatloaf** · 03-23-2017, 08:36 PM

Lots of bus/tram tours available. Do those to break up all the walking.

scho63 · 03-23-2017, 08:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaFace

In my opinion, the Air and Space Museum at Dulles is even better than the one on the National Mall. Don't miss it.

And all of the Smithsonian museums are free, so you can save a lot by just taking advantage of that.

DON'T GO STEALING MY ADVICE!

THE STEVEN UDVAR HAZY AIR AND SPACE MUSEUM is unlike anything you have ever seen. It's at the southern end of Dulles Airport off Mclearan Rd. My old office is very close.
https://airandspace.si.edu/udvar-hazy-center

The ACTUAL Enola Gay that dropped the atomic bomb is there, Gary Powers Blackbird, Space Shuttle, Apollo Mission capsule and suits, all kinds of planes. Incredible place.

**Meatloaf** · 03-23-2017, 08:45 PM

A couple of ideas here:

https://www.visitthecapitol.gov/plan...ed-itineraries

scho63 · 03-23-2017, 09:01 PM

Sent you a pm

Hoover · 03-23-2017, 09:31 PM

I'm a nerd, and I have yet to travel to DC with the kid, but I enjoy a evening in Georgetown. And frankly I go to DC to wine and dine, so if you were looking for some kick ass eats I'd have plenty of suggestions.

That said, the National Cathedral is free, and cool. You can check out embassy row on your way there. Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception (Catholic) is cool too if you are into that stuff.

Nothing beats a cigar on the Speaker's Balcony looking down the Mall at the Washington Monument, but you kinda need a hook up for that. Having drinks with the Speaker at the Capitol Hill Club (Republican) is pretty cool. Its the ultimate smoke filled room experience you will ever have.

scho63 · 03-23-2017, 09:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hoover

I'm a nerd, and I have yet to travel to DC with the kid, but I enjoy a evening in Georgetown. And frankly I go to DC to wine and dine, so if you were looking for some kick ass eats I'd have plenty of suggestions.

That said, the National Cathedral is free, and cool. You can check out embassy row on your way there. Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception (Catholic) is cool too if you are into that stuff.

Nothing beats a cigar on the Speaker's Balcony looking down the Mall at the Washington Monument, but you kinda need a hook up for that. Having drinks with the Speaker at the Capitol Hill Club (Republican) is pretty cool. Its the ultimate smoke filled room experience you will ever have.

CaliforniaChief · 03-23-2017, 10:07 PM

You guys are awesome. I seriously appreciate each and all of you!

I thought we had a house set up on Airbnb but it got rented out, so back to square one...but I can't imagine not doing that. More space, ability to make meals like breakfast/dinner to save money, more amenities.

**Rain Man** · 03-23-2017, 10:11 PM

Before you do anything else, anything at all, go to the National Archives. It's where the really cool stuff is. Obviously, it's got the Constitution and Declaration and Bill of Rights, but it has all sorts of other famous historical things. One that I particularly remember is the first note sent back from the front lines in WWII that Americans were in Paris.

To me, a big differentiator between the National Archive and other museums is that other museums will have cool specimens that are representative of stuff (e.g., here's a pilgrim hat), while the National Archives will have stuff that actually was history making (e.g., here's the first draft of Roosevelt's Four Freedoms speech).

**Buehler445** · 03-23-2017, 10:15 PM

Wifes sister and brother in law lived in Newport News and we went to DC. Somehow we managed to find parking right outside the plaza for free. We went pretty early in the morning, maybe that was it. But the traffic wasn't bad and we found free parking. Apparently that's the unicorn, but we didn't have any trouble. Might be worth a look if you're renting a ride anyway.

We did the normal touristy stuff. If you don't plan on watching the changing of the guard at the tomb of the unknown soldier, do it.

If you want a tour of the whitehouse, your congressman has to schedule it.

Get excited. Do as much as you can. There is a lot of great shit in that area.

Jenson71 · 03-23-2017, 10:16 PM

I would definitely go to the Georgetown neighborhood and especially walk up the Exorcist steps at night.

You can arrange to meet your Congressman for a photo and handshake. Depending on how old your kids are, they might think that's cool. Tour the Capitol at that time.

**Buehler445** · 03-23-2017, 10:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaliforniaChief

You guys are awesome. I seriously appreciate each and all of you!

I thought we had a house set up on Airbnb but it got rented out, so back to square one...but I can't imagine not doing that. More space, ability to make meals like breakfast/dinner to save money, more amenities.

We ended up staying at a nice hotel in Maryland for like $75 a night. We all shared a room so it ended up being super cheap. Obviously a BNB would be better, but just a few miles out there were good hotels for crazy cheap.

03-23-2017, 07:51 PM
CaliforniaChief #RIPAce Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: So Cal Casino cash: $12322899	Planning a Trip to Washington, D.C. The kids have never been, they're old enough to enjoy it and hang with the insane amount of walking we'll do. Going in June. Flying in from Southern California, probably into Dulles. Looking to Airbnb a place so we can cook our dinners and have our own breakfast, saving money. The Metrorail gets you almost everywhere, but we would need car access to get groceries, see Mount Vernon, maybe a day trip up to Gettysburg, etc. Any other insights? Things I should do that can save me money? Going for a week, probably.
Posts: 17,326

03-23-2017, 08:26 PM	#2
scho63 Politically Incorrect Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Scottsdale, AZ Casino cash: $2491110	I just relocated from the DC area this week after 10 years. I lived all around the Dulles airport area and know the DMV as well as anyone. I'll send you a PM tomorrow to ask you questions about your family, ages, likes, time frame, budget, etc to give you advice that matches your family's needs, not mine. I have NEVER let anyone down with my travel advice and you will not be the first. __________________ *"The only difference between sex for free and sex for money is that sex for free costs you a WHOLE LOT more!"* ~Redd Foxx~ ~~2018 2019 2020 20212022 2023~~ 2024 Adopt a Chief - Clark Hunt and Brett Veach "The men who drafted Patrick Mahomes"
Posts: 50,786

03-23-2017, 08:29 PM	#3
DaFace Kind of a mod Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Donkey Land Casino cash: $1746899	In my opinion, the Air and Space Museum at Dulles is even better than the one on the National Mall. Don't miss it. And all of the Smithsonian museums are free, so you can save a lot by just taking advantage of that.
Posts: 51,964

03-23-2017, 08:34 PM	#4
lewdog Mod Team Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Valley of the hot as **** Casino cash: $1621900	I got food poisoning from a bison burger at the Native American Museum. Which left me blowing out the bathroom when I arrived at the Holocaust museum.
Posts: 45,659

03-23-2017, 08:36 PM	#5
Meatloaf Supporter Join Date: Feb 2013 Casino cash: $4080359	Lots of bus/tram tours available. Do those to break up all the walking.
Posts: 3,118

03-23-2017, 08:45 PM	#7
Meatloaf Supporter Join Date: Feb 2013 Casino cash: $4080359	A couple of ideas here: https://www.visitthecapitol.gov/plan...ed-itineraries
Posts: 3,118

03-23-2017, 09:01 PM	#8
scho63 Politically Incorrect Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Scottsdale, AZ Casino cash: $2491110	Sent you a pm __________________ *"The only difference between sex for free and sex for money is that sex for free costs you a WHOLE LOT more!"* ~Redd Foxx~ ~~2018 2019 2020 20212022 2023~~ 2024 Adopt a Chief - Clark Hunt and Brett Veach "The men who drafted Patrick Mahomes"
Posts: 50,786

03-23-2017, 09:31 PM	#9
Hoover Rufus Dawes Jr. Join Date: Aug 2000 Casino cash: $1388179	I'm a nerd, and I have yet to travel to DC with the kid, but I enjoy a evening in Georgetown. And frankly I go to DC to wine and dine, so if you were looking for some kick ass eats I'd have plenty of suggestions. That said, the National Cathedral is free, and cool. You can check out embassy row on your way there. Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception (Catholic) is cool too if you are into that stuff. Nothing beats a cigar on the Speaker's Balcony looking down the Mall at the Washington Monument, but you kinda need a hook up for that. Having drinks with the Speaker at the Capitol Hill Club (Republican) is pretty cool. Its the ultimate smoke filled room experience you will ever have.
Posts: 17,385

03-23-2017, 10:07 PM	#11
CaliforniaChief #RIPAce Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: So Cal Casino cash: $12322899	You guys are awesome. I seriously appreciate each and all of you! I thought we had a house set up on Airbnb but it got rented out, so back to square one...but I can't imagine not doing that. More space, ability to make meals like breakfast/dinner to save money, more amenities.
Posts: 17,326

03-23-2017, 10:11 PM	#12
Rain Man NFL's #1 Ermines Fan Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: My house Casino cash: $3038491 VARSITY	Before you do anything else, anything at all, go to the National Archives. It's where the really cool stuff is. Obviously, it's got the Constitution and Declaration and Bill of Rights, but it has all sorts of other famous historical things. One that I particularly remember is the first note sent back from the front lines in WWII that Americans were in Paris. To me, a big differentiator between the National Archive and other museums is that other museums will have cool specimens that are representative of stuff (e.g., here's a pilgrim hat), while the National Archives will have stuff that actually was history making (e.g., here's the first draft of Roosevelt's Four Freedoms speech). __________________ I'm putting random letters here as a celebration of free speech: xigrakgrah misorojeq rkemeseit. Last edited by Rain Man; 03-23-2017 at 10:18 PM..
Posts: 141,663

03-23-2017, 10:15 PM	#13
Buehler445 Supporter Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Scott City KS Casino cash: $2034734	Wifes sister and brother in law lived in Newport News and we went to DC. Somehow we managed to find parking right outside the plaza for free. We went pretty early in the morning, maybe that was it. But the traffic wasn't bad and we found free parking. Apparently that's the unicorn, but we didn't have any trouble. Might be worth a look if you're renting a ride anyway. We did the normal touristy stuff. If you don't plan on watching the changing of the guard at the tomb of the unknown soldier, do it. If you want a tour of the whitehouse, your congressman has to schedule it. Get excited. Do as much as you can. There is a lot of great shit in that area.
Posts: 56,918

03-23-2017, 10:16 PM	#14
Jenson71 fides quaerens intellectum Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: United States Casino cash: $8330900	I would definitely go to the Georgetown neighborhood and especially walk up the Exorcist steps at night. You can arrange to meet your Congressman for a photo and handshake. Depending on how old your kids are, they might think that's cool. Tour the Capitol at that time.
Posts: 15,986