Washington DC... tips?

04JaxBride

I have a job in DC the first week of October... I'm going to stay a couple of extra days to see the sights, what are my must-do's, and where should I stay?  The client is paying, so I need something not ridiculously luxurious...lol.

I'll be shooting one of the evenings,  but hope to have a couple of full days to roam around.  I definitely want to see the Star Spangled Banner.  If I do nothing else, that is on my list.

missjake

Smithsonian American History and Air & Space Museums.  I've never been, but I hear the Holocaust Museum is great. 

TXsun

Lincoln Memorial is really cool to see

PAGAS

Washington, Lincoln and Jefferson Memorials, Vietnam Memorial, Smithsonian (Air and Space, Natural History, American History are the highlights), National Archives, and The Mall.  Everything is FREE.  The Metro is easy to use and very well laid out.  I would stay wherever the wedding is.

Have fun! 

OUKatie

Stay near a metro stop (red and orange lines)! We stayed in Dupont Circle but Arlington, VA is a great, close option that has more affordable options.

ETA: Also, most everything is free. Be sure to see the monuments at night...so gorgeous! We loved our visit to Arlington National Cemetary and to Mount Vernon (George Washington's estate). The tour of the Capitol was very nice. Make reservations in advance. If you are there during the week, go talk to your representative or senator's office to be able to go into the galleries if either is in session.

The National Museum of American History (Smithsonian, so FREE!) has a great display about the First Ladies, including their inauguration gowns. Very cool! The Julia Child kitchen is there, too.

Sweet_Thang

oh you HAVE to spend the money to do a Segway tour!!!  That is just such an awesome experience!  We did Segway in the City.  But there are other options for the tour.

 

 

OUKatie

Sweet_Thang:

oh you HAVE to spend the money to do a Segway tour!!!  That is just such an awesome experience!  We did Segway in the City.  But there are other options for the tour.

 

 

I REALLY wanted to do a Segway tour but my mother was terrified So jealous that you did one! They looked great.

junebride611

All of the above (but American History is my personal favorite--and since you're a photog, the Library of Congress and National Cathedral are WONDERFUL places to capture beauty!!) Plus, eat at a restaurant called Old Ebbitt Grill. Well known in the area for hosting senators and the like on a regular basis ....but REALLY great food!! We make sure to stop there every visit.

http://ebbitt.com/main/home.cfm?Section=Main&Category=About_the_Ebbitt

savannah11

I second visiting the monuments at night.  We went around midnight, the mall was deserted, all lit up, and amazing.  Also, the pentagon 9/11 memorial at night was the most moving.  We sat there in reflection for a long time.  

04JaxBride

If I can get someone to go with me, I am totally doing the monuments at night : ) The couple is getting married in Houston, but want to shoot their engagement pics in dc, to kind of share that part of their lives with the wedding guests... I believe they want to take pics in front of the Capitol building, and some places around there. I'm sort of depending on them to tell me the best place to stay. I found a hotel across from the library of congress... Is that a good/not good location?

OUKatie

If you go in the evening and leave by 9:30/10:00, you'll be fine, even alone. There are tons of people around. You could also do a tour if you are hesitant about going alone but you won't have much time at each memorial. You can easily walk from the Lincoln Memorial to the Korean War, Vietnam, WWII Memorials, and Washington Monument. The Korean War Memorial is amazing at night and the WWII Memorial is so beautiful with all of the water, pillars, and lights.

KKMMex

Arlington National Cemetery, Holocaust Museum, WWII memorial, Vietnam Memorial, FDR Memorial, Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial.  Lunch in the House cafeteria where you may spy some politicos.

pinkangelmoon

If you want a night tour of the monuments without going alone, I highly recommend doing the Walk of the Town with Tim. He has Saturday evening tours that start at 6pm. No reservations, you just show up at the meeting point. The tour is about 3 hours long and FREE (tips only).  He's great!

http://www.walkofthetowndc.com/

CallMeKel

My very favorite thing in DC was most definitely Arlington/Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.LOVE DC! You are going to have a blast!

michellebelle

I have only been there on business and haven't been able to do as much touring around as I would have liked.

I just wanted to recommend that you stay away from L'Enfant Plaza Hotel.  I stayed there because it was convenient to where I was doing business at the time and it was nice and quiet while I was there.  When I got home I found my identity had been stolen - TWICE from two different employees of the hotel.  It took a long time to clear up. I am sure it was a freak situation but if there are so many other options available to you I wanted you to avoid this one.

PLUS walking from the metro to this hotel at night felt kind of creepy and dangerous, even though it was completely fine during the day.  It is just sort of isolated - I'd stay near the capital and pubs/restaurants if possible.  Safety in numbers.

Have soooo much fun.

KNJepp

The Washington Marriott at Metro Center is a nice hotel in a GREAT location.  It has a major Metro stop underneath it, making it easy to get places, and is within VERY easy walking distance of the White House and Chinatown, as well as an easy walking distance of the National Mall, Capitol, etc.  I've stayed there before, and I think Halfpint has as well (after I recommended it).  The Metro stop right there makes getting other places (Georgetown, Arlington, etc.) very easy.  When we stayed there, we took the Metro to Union Station one day, rented a car, and drove out to Mt. Vernon, which worked out very nicely.

04JaxBride

I just got off the phone with my client-- everything on hotels.com was upwards of $300 a night, so I did priceline and put in 250.  I'll be staying here:

http://www.rougehotel.com

 

It's gotten good reviews on citysearch, yelp, and a lot of the other hotel sites, so I'm looking forward to my boutique hotel experience complete with zebra print robe...lol.  It's downtown.

We will be shooting at the capitol building and jefferson memorial, and wherever else we decide to go (those are their special places).

i'm super excited!

suzannepdc

Good hotel and good location (I'm partial to Kimpton hotels - I love them).  You'll be near the redline on the metro.  You can pretty much take the metro anywhere you want to go (with the exception of Georgetown - you have to navigate and walk a little).  Like everyone said, pretty much all museums are free so you can just roll on in and out as you like.  I love the American History Museum (where the Star Spangled Banner is).

I would skip Old Ebbitt - food is just eh.  There are many better places to eat.  I *love* Jaleo - traditional Spanish tapas - the chef just won the James Beard Award for best chef in the country and the place has been open since 1993 (i.e. before tapas were cool) and it's not expensive.  Raiska is one of the best Indian restaurants in the country - it is fantastic as well.

rayskit10

I can't believe no one has mentioned the National Museum of the American Indian. It's a beautiful space with amazing pieces of American history. Some of the hand crafts are beyond words- whole buckskin dresses beaded with teeny beads. That might not sound too impressive... until you see it. It also has an amazing gift shop with really gorgeous jewelry.

National Gallery is one of my fave places, too.

I loved the Holocaust Museum, but it is kind of a downer. I think I cried the whole time and kept going for an hour after we left.

04JaxBride

I know it's horrible... but I don't want to go to the Holocaust Museum.  That's too much for me : (

 

i'm sooooo excited, my cousin is going with me.  she is one of the only other people i know who will dawdle and look at stuff as much as i like to... and she's as big of a history buff as i am (when i told her about the inaugural ball gowns she squealed).  i feel so much better knowing she will be along!  i can have her assist me when we do the photo shoot, too, so that will be helpful.

 

we were going to stay through thursday evening and leave, but decided to leave super early in the morning on friday, so we can have the whole day on friday to see stuff.  we'll take the train back to baltimore and find somewhere near the airport to stay so we can make our 6:20 am flight.

 

i'm so excited : )