First time visiing Washigton D.C.

Fly into Reagan National and take Metro wherever you want to go. You won't really need a car if you plan on staying in the city most of your trip.

Stay outside the city at a hotel near a Metro station.



The Smithsonian museums are free. Spend some time visiting those. The National Zoo is also free, but isn't that great IMO.

The International Spy, Crime and Punishment, and Newseum musems are good but charge admission.

Georgetown is good for nightlife but you will need to either take cabs or buses as the subway does not go near there. Adams Morgan is a good nightlife spot as well.

Go to Ben's Chili Bowl off the U Street-Cardoza Metro station on the Green line.


I'll try to think of more ideas.

Quote from w3kn : Fly into Reagan National and take Metro wherever you want to go. You won't really need a car if you plan on staying in the city most of your trip. Stay outside the city at a hotel near a Metro station. The Smithsonian museums are free. Spend some time visiting those. The National Zoo is also free, but isn't that great IMO. The International Spy, Crime and Punishment, and Newseum musems are good but charge admission. Georgetown is good for nightlife but you will need to either take cabs or buses as the subway does not go near there. Adams Morgan is a good nightlife spot as well. Go to Ben's Chili Bowl off the U Street-Cardoza Metro station on the Green line. I'll try to think of more ideas.

Thanks. That was very helpful.

• Create a Priority Club account here. [priorityclub.com]Then using this link [ichotelsgroup.com] , find and book this hotel. [holidayinn.com]
• Use that "Friends and Family" link. Don't book it directly through the hotel website.
• You should be able to get a standard room for around $70 a night. (That's what I got when I stayed there a month ago)
• This hotel is 10 minutes away from the National Mall and other major DC attractions.
• I'm assuming/hoping you have a car?
• In DC, it may be difficult finding parking spots, but if you're arriving on a weekend, there's a really swell parking lot right opposite the Capitol, about 5 minutes away from the Smithsonian museums. Technically, we're not allowed to park there, but multiple cops told me that it's okay to park there on a weekend. And parking on a Sunday is free anyway.

Places to see.

• You can check out the Arlington Cemetery which is about 10 minutes away from the hotel.
• Also check out the Iwo Jima Memorial (especially at night) which is also 5 minutes away.
• In DC - The Smithsonian museums! Especially the Air and Space museum. The Natural History museum is right opposite it.
• This entire area is filled with museums.
• Further on, you'll find the Washington Monument and further ahead the Lincoln Memorial.
• If you're into zoos, then the Smithsonian zoo is not too far, and entry is free. As mentioned, I also didn't find it all that great, but I got there late and most of the enclosements had shut down.
• There's also the Spy museum if you're into that.
• A fun thing to see is the Exorcist steps.
• If you like checking out churches, then do visit the National Cathedral.
• If you want to see the Capitol and the White house, you will need special passes. These passes are available through your Members of Congress.
• Find their website and somewhere there you'll see a place to apply for passes. In my case it took them over 45 days to get me the passes, so I'd recommend applying atleast 2 months in advance.
• Right there is also the Library of Congress..also amazing.

There's a nice restaurant called "Peacock Cafe" [peacockcafe.com], but it's next to impossible to find parking there. But parking lots are relatively cheap. I saw many that had 24 hrs parking for $6-7.
If you're into Sushi, then I'd highly recommend Sushiko in DC. [sushikorestaurants.com]
As W3kn mentioned, you have got to check out Ben's Chili Bowl. [benschilibowl.com]

Taking the metro is actually a good idea...but it depends from person to person. I was fed up of metros after 3 days in NYC, and I liked having my car.

Here's a nice list that I referred to when I was in DC. [usnews.com]
Cheers.

Quote from w3kn : and take Metro wherever you want to go. You won't really need a car if you plan on staying in the city most of your trip. .

Metro? why not rent a car? i think it's a way more convenient, especially if they're plannin' to stay in the city!

Metro? why not rent a car? i think it's a way more convenient, especially if they're plannin' o stay in the city!

Quote from Tapok : Metro? why not rent a car? i think it's a way more convenient, especially if they're plannin' to stay in the city!

Parking sucks in DC. $30-40/day in garages isn't uncommon. As I stated earlier, if you don't plan on venturing too far outside the city, a car really isn't required unless you can't walk long distances. If you're a ZipCar member or don't mind doing a bike sharing program, those are also available in DC.

Quote from the.J129 : Create a Priority Club account here. [priorityclub.com]Then using this link [ichotelsgroup.com], find and book this hotel. [holidayinn.com] Use that "Friends and Family" link. Don't book it directly through the hotel website. You should be able to get a standard room for around $70 a night. (That's what I got when I stayed there a month ago) This hotel is 10 minutes away from the National Mall and other major DC attractions. I'm assuming/hoping you have a car? In DC, it may be difficult finding parking spots, but if you're arriving on a weekend, there's a really swell parking lot right opposite the Capitol, about 5 minutes away from the Smithsonian museums. Technically, we're not allowed to park there, but multiple cops told me that it's okay to park there on a weekend. And parking on a Sunday is free anyway. Places to see. You can check out the Arlington Cemetery which is about 10 minutes away from the hotel. Also check out the Iwo Jima Memorial (especially at night) which is also 5 minutes away. In DC - The Smithsonian museums! Especially the Air and Space museum. The Natural History museum is right opposite it. This entire area is filled with museums. Further on, you'll find the Washington Monument and further ahead the Lincoln Memorial. If you're into zoos, then the Smithsonian zoo is not too far, and entry is free. As mentioned, I also didn't find it all that great, but I got there late and most of the enclosements had shut down. There's also the Spy museum if you're into that. A fun thing to see is the Exorcist steps. If you like checking out churches, then do visit the National Cathedral. If you want to see the Capitol and the White house, you will need special passes. These passes are available through your Members of Congress. Find their website and somewhere there you'll see a place to apply for passes. In my case it took them over 45 days to get me the passes, so I'd recommend applying atleast 2 months in advance. Right there is also the Library of Congress..also amazing. There's a nice restaurant called "Peacock Cafe" [peacockcafe.com], but it's next to impossible to find parking there. But parking lots are relatively cheap. I saw many that had 24 hrs parking for $6-7. If you're into Sushi, then I'd highly recommend Sushiko in DC. [sushikorestaurants.com] As W3kn mentioned, you have got to check out Ben's Chili Bowl. [benschilibowl.com] Taking the metro is actually a good idea...but it depends from person to person. I was fed up of metros after 3 days in NYC, and I liked having my car. Here's a nice list that I referred to when I was in DC. [usnews.com] Cheers.

The Monument is cool to see, but since the earthquake in 2011 it's been closed to visitors. It's not expected to reopen until sometime later in 2013, well after OP is here.

I personally don't like what they did with the American History museum. They removed a lot of exhibits to focus on two major ones - the Gettysburg Address and the Star Spangled Banner flag. Neither were on display full time until a few years ago, and a lot of full-time exhibits were downsized or removed completely. I just found it to be a disappointment personally.

Natural History is ok if you're into that kind of thing.

I'll try to think of more stuff. I don't venture into DC as much as I used to, but still go a few times a year.

I would suggest not renting a car, for most tourist sites the Metro is sufficient...but each person's itinerary is different.

If you do fly into Reagan (DCA) sit on the left hand side of the plane, and hope for a "river visual" approach - really great views of the Mall on the way in. Search youtube for Reagan airport river visual for some videos. DCA is way more convenient if the price is not too high.

Quote from eighta2 : Hello, My family and I will be visiting Washington D.C. for the first time in early March. Can anyone please avise me of any good, inexpensive hotels in the area or outskirts. any other tips or "have to see" things that anyone could recommend would be great (on a tight budget). Thanks.

Driving is mostly a nightmare in the city, even when its not rush hour. The Metro is fast, convenient, generally reliable and stops near most of the desired tourist spots.

Library of Congress is a really cool place to visit - better than it sounds - and is also free. Rarely crowded as most people skip it.

IMO - Ray's Hellburger in Arlington for best burger in the city (or near the city at least). Sample the food trucks in the Smithsonian area if possible rather than eating in one of their cafeterias. Although if you want to relax there is a very good Carmines close to the Smithsonian area, easy walking distance, that serves food comparable to it's New York parent.

Fogo de Chao is a real fun place to eat, although expensive it is very good. Lunch prices are more palatable and the food is the same. It is a chain, but there are not many locations and they are all relegated to big cities. Fairly easy to get in during the week at lunch time and if you are a meat eater you will not leave hungry.

a bit of good info in here

http://slickdeals.net/f/4187398-w...see-it-all

Some more recommendations
- Udvar Hazy center (discovery shuttle)
- Cherry blossom festival (early April)

I will be in DC next week. We are staying at Hotel Rouge http://www.rougehotel.com/ its a 3.5* hotel and the rates were real reasonable compared to the other hotels in the area. Book early and request a room with bunk beds for your kids. It fairly close to most of the attractions down town. It gets great reviews on Trip Advisor: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_...umbia.html

If your family likes to walk, stay in Rosslyn, VA for the first night. Plenty of cheaper hotels/motels in that area. Wake up early, walk to iwo jima, national cemetary (make sure to see tomb of unknown soldier,) walk out of cemetary, cross bridge, it'll take you right to lincoln memorial, reflecting pool, you can check out vietnam wall, I forget the monument at the end of reflecting pool? From there white house, washington monument, the mall area, all the museums, capital. You can break this up depending on how long you will be in the city.