HI, I am going with my daughter and we are hoping to see some of the more unique sights of the city. besides all the smithsonian museums and memorials what should we not miss! Where is there fanueil hall type place?? any advice is appreciated. 
washington dc
Started by
donna4128
, Mar 16 2013 07:03 PM
42 replies to this topic
#1
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- VibeTribe
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Posted 16 March 2013 - 07:03 PM
#3
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Posted 16 March 2013 - 09:15 PM
touring the capitol means getting to the kiosk about 6am w/ everyone who will be touring to get tickets for whenever is available, so contact your congress person for passes in advance...
FDR memorial is very cool (along with the big 3)
Capitol Chop House was cool art deco lunch with our kids when younger (fancy, but they had "kid food")
we're heading down for 3 nights starting Easter Sunday
oh, Smithsonian zoo is fun....FREE!
#7
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Posted 16 March 2013 - 11:41 PM
If you have a vehicle go to Old Town! Charming and good food. Just outside DC 20 min max. I used to Live just outside of DC. Lived in Mount Vernon. If you have time try to go there and visit. George Washingtons house its pretty cool. If you take the road that drives by the river it is freakin great. Great Bike path when I was there.. Any other questions please ask. As far as the smithonian (sp) check out the coin collection section. Very cool!!! If you like hand made $
Cake!
Chefjeff
#8
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Posted 17 March 2013 - 12:10 AM
thanks guys, whats in Georgetown??
its a really cool little district with amazing bakeries, restaurants,, bars, and shops. The Key bridge takes you over to Arlington where you can go to Arlington National Cemetery and catch the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unkown Soldier. Probably my favorite thing to see in all of the Capitol (Smithsonian would be in competition.
#10
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Posted 17 March 2013 - 11:40 AM
The Zoo is definitely a nice thing to do. And easy to get to, right off the Metro. Georgetown does have a lot of cool shops and places to eat, but nothing is cheap. If youre looking for a cool area with lots of different restaurants, id try Adams Morgan. Lots of ethnic restaurants. Unless youre specifically interested in Mt. Vernon or the Arlington National Cemetary, I wouldnt take the time to leave DC to go see them. Plenty of stuff do in the city.
Dont count on free parking at any decent hotel.
#12
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Posted 17 March 2013 - 01:42 PM
When are you coming to DC ?
this is a nice and different place to vist
http://www.myfrancis...s/garden-tours/
Don't forget to check out the daily free concert at the Kennedy Center 6pm
http://www.kennedy-c...ams/millennium/
#15
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Posted 17 March 2013 - 07:49 PM
You might be able to catch the end of the cherry blossom festival.
http://www.nationalc...ates-announced/
#19
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Posted 18 March 2013 - 11:51 AM
I lived there in the 80s for a short time, I liked the variety of ethnic restaurants in Adams Morgan neighborhood. Georgetown is like Harvard Square, Adams Morgan is like Allston with better restaurants It close to where many of the embassies are, and many ex staff have something to do with the restaurants.
#20
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- VibeGuide
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VibeGuide
Posted 18 March 2013 - 11:56 AM
the supreme court cafeteria is an interesting place to eat when you are exploring places around the mall. it's open to the public and you never know with whom else you might be sharing a dining room. plus, it's in the supreme court which is cool to check out. when i last ate there, i sat at a table next to former justice harry blackmun (rip).
#22
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Posted 18 March 2013 - 10:17 PM
Hello,
DC Resident here!
Sorry to say but there are no cool bars in Georgetown any more. No less than six of them have been closed in the past 2 years do to increasing rents. If you want to wait in line for a $5 cupcake, get lost in a three story Nike store, buy some knock off Louis Vuitton or consult with the nerds at the Apple Store genius bar, by all means! The restaurants are overpriced & mediocre at best (aside from Bourobon Steak in the Four Seasons which is overpriced and incredible). I guess if you want to do some clothes shopping or see the Potomac RIver waterfront it might be worth your while.
You asked about some Faneuil Hall type places. Check out Union Market http://unionmarketdc.com/ which is walking distance from the NoMa stop on the redline. Eastern Market http://www.easternmarket-dc.org/ & the surrounding area is worth checking out on the weekends.
The Museum of American Art (also called the Portrait Gallery) is probably my favorite museum. Since it's not down on the mall it's less of a touristy mobscene. Be sure to make it to the third floor for some really trippy modern stuff.
And here's the inevitable plug for my club. We have killer New Orleans style food and live music. You're actually going to be in town when we have the Soul Rebels Brass Band. Here's the full line-up. http://bayouonpenn.com/www/music.php
Let me know if you have any other questions.
#23
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Posted 19 March 2013 - 12:18 AM
Hello,DC Resident here!
Sorry to say but there are no cool bars in Georgetown any more. No less than six of them have been closed in the past 2 years do to increasing rents. If you want to wait in line for a $5 cupcake, get lost in a three story Nike store, buy some knock off Louis Vuitton or consult with the nerds at the Apple Store genius bar, by all means! The restaurants are overpriced & mediocre at best (aside from Bourobon Steak in the Four Seasons which is overpriced and incredible). I guess if you want to do some clothes shopping or see the Potomac RIver waterfront it might be worth your while.
You asked about some Faneuil Hall type places. Check out Union Market http://unionmarketdc.com/ which is walking distance from the NoMa stop on the redline. Eastern Market http://www.easternmarket-dc.org/ & the surrounding area is worth checking out on the weekends.
The Museum of American Art (also called the Portrait Gallery) is probably my favorite museum. Since it's not down on the mall it's less of a touristy mobscene. Be sure to make it to the third floor for some really trippy modern stuff.
And here's the inevitable plug for my club. We have killer New Orleans style food and live music. You're actually going to be in town when we have the Soul Rebels Brass Band. Here's the full line-up. http://bayouonpenn.com/www/music.php
Let me know if you have any other questions.
been awhile since i have been down there...thanks for the update
#25
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Posted 20 March 2013 - 09:10 PM
Another DC resident.
Georgetown has its pluses and minuses. It is a bit swarming with tourists for me to stomach very often and most of the businesses are common shopping mall type spots, but nearly everyone visiting town enjoys window shopping and people watching there. The campus is lovely that time of year and might be of interest to a 15 year old. It can be tough to get there. The circulator bus goes but the metro (subway) doesn't. And street parking limits are strictly enforced.
Union market is a fun new development, but more for locals looking to stock up on foody items than a true tourist attraction. It is also a bit off the beaten path, but within walking distance of the NOMA NY Ave metro stop.
Eastern Market is a functioning version of what Fanuiel Hall once was. The inside hall has butcher counters, fishmongers, a bakery, home made pasta, a deli, etc. and the outside on weekends has a farmers market, many artists, and a flea market. There are many decent restaurants on Barracks row across Pennsylvania Ave to the south, and the coffee at Peregrine is the best in the city. You can walk there if you are on East side of Capitol, or catch metro from the Mall, or Capitol South. If you are Top Chef fan you will pass two of Spike Mendhelson's fast food joints. They aren't amazing, but pretty good and kinda fun if you like top chef. Goodstuff burgers and shakes and We The Pizza are just SE of Capitol on PA Ave.
Roosevelt Island is a nice oasis a bit off the Mall. I'd second recs to check it out if you want to stretch you legs and get away from crazy crowds.
You should still find plenty of cherry and other blossoms. Local forecast is suggesting a later than usual peak to cherry blossoms I think around april 10-15. The tidal basin is the prime viewing spot, but DC is blooming everywhere in April.
I would add the Botanical garden, the sackler/freer (asian art) and the Native American museum to the Smithsonian list. The Zoo is a great idea. It is nestled in Rock Creek Park. Would be good to tie in with a trip to Adams Morgan. The air and space and natural history are classics but tend to appeal to younger audience. Mostly up to what interests you and your daughter. The Newseum is also cool, but not free.
Maybe think about going to a theater production. Also keep an eye on Washington Post Going Out Guide for cultural events.
Nationals Baseball will be underway and the park is a stark counterpoint to Fenway; cheap, comfortable, and great food. Everyone here loves this ballpark and until last year no one cared much about the team.
If your up for it, you can ride around on capitol bikeshare bikes. DC has lots of bikelanes but it can still be a little unnerving if you don't ride in the city ever. They are pretty cheap so long as you re-dock them every 30 minutes. There is a phone app to help you navigate where to find and return them.
Don't know the hotels very well. The school field trips mostly stay in Crystal City in Arlington. My folks always stay downtown, usually by Thomas Circle. I think you can save a few bucks staying in NE by NY ave metro, but further NE you go the less safe the neighborhood, and don't cross Anacostia River.
Have fun.
#26
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Posted 21 March 2013 - 01:45 AM
I used to take NY Ave to 295 all the time getting home and there isn't going to be a hotel on that road in the NE area that you're going to be happy with. Especially with a teenage girl. Other than that, I love everything yem said.
Really with hotels, you have to pay a lot or go to the suburbs, like Arlington. Be very careful with anything less than a 3 star hotel in DC. (And really, id say 4 star).
#28
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Posted 21 March 2013 - 02:48 AM
The Spy museum is tons of fun for adults and kids, I think we visited it 5 or more times over just 2 visits (got a season pass). Already mentioned was the Holocaust museum and even for kids it's a great place to visit. They have little walls over anything disturbing so if you want you will have to pick up young ones so they can see or you can watch and not let them see. Even if you just visit to see the building and their wonderful gift shop....it's worth it. Sort of touristy but a fun way to see the area is the duck tours (land and water tour). The US mint is also a fun tour, seeing pallets of money and learning how money is made....oh and their gift shop sells sheets of real $1.00 bills.
IF you do the zoo you might as well add the National ...big ass church...forget the name but someone will fill it in. It's about a 10 minute walk and the place is incredible even if you are not into the whole church thingy.
Embrace the subway system, it's cheap....already mentioned...parking is not cheap and it sucks. The taxi system use to be pretty good with flat "zone rates" (in one zone costs a fix price, from one zone to another fixed and so on), now it's changed, not sure for the better or not.
Oh I sooooo miss living an hour outside of DC and exploring that city.
#29
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Posted 21 March 2013 - 01:05 PM
I'll be there the second or third week in April. I will definitely check out the free concert thing too. I'm really looking forward to getting away with from Steve.
Fixed it for you. 
talk to me when it get's closer, my kid lives town there and will have some good ideas/recommendations. Eat at Founding Farmers.
#30
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Posted 21 March 2013 - 05:42 PM
Sorry missed the bit about your daughter's age. Unfortunately we're not all ages for live music but the restaurant is and the food is really top notch & reasonably priced by DC standards.
The same night the Soul Rebels are playing my place, they'll be doing the free show at Kennedy Center's Millennial stage if you're at all into the New Orleans brass thing. I'd imagine that's all ages.
#32
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Posted 21 March 2013 - 06:57 PM
Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception ?
http://www.nationals...k.BF65/Home.htm
i'm not into the whole Christian / Catholic thing anymore, but i do remember thinking this was one amazing building.
#33
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Posted 22 March 2013 - 02:58 PM
Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception ?http://www.nationals...k.BF65/Home.htm
i'm not into the whole Christian / Catholic thing anymore, but i do remember thinking this was one amazing building.
My daughter went to school at Catholic University, where this is located. I got to see her sing there many times, an amazing building....her graduation exercises were right outside the door..
Goddamn am I glad I don't have to play those f'in tuition bills no mo.
#34
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Posted 26 March 2013 - 02:39 PM
Just got back from a week in the District. If you're there on a Sunday, don't miss the drum circle in Meridian Hill/Malcolm X Park. It starts slowly around 3 p.m., but get there around 4 when the groove really gets going. It takes place in the plaza next to the Joan of Arc statue. The most diverse and approachable gathering in the city - perfect for a mother and daughter. You can either dance, join in the drumming if you have one, or hang out on the south wall, from which you can get a pretty nice panorama of the city skyline. Take some time to walk around the park itself too. Hopefully the fountains will be on and you can get a real appreciation of the landscape architect's vision (he was going for an Italian Renaissance thing in an otherwise heavily Paris-influenced city). The park is a five-minute walk from 18th Street in Adams Morgan, where all the restaurants are, so you can go there afterward and have dinner.
One thing tourists forget about in D.C. is the embassies. Most of them occupy the old gilded-age mansions along Massachusetts Avenue that the owners had to sell off during the Depression. If you or your daughter have a particular interest in any country’s culture, Google that nation’s D.C. embassy. They just might be having a public event that week and you can get inside and meet some of the staffers. If not, find out who the public information officer is and e-mail him or her. Try to play up any personal or professional connection you might have to the country (grandpa came from there to the U.S. in 1890, etc.), and see whether you can finagle a visit. Even if the up-front answer is no, the officer might email you later in the week and say, “Hey, we have a few free hours on Thursday. Do you want to come by for lunch?” I actually got an invitation to the Italian embassy this way.
If your 15-year-old is on the girly side and likes clothing and jewelry boutiques, King Street in Old Town is definitely worth a stop, with U Street and 14th coming in second. Both are easily reached on the Metro or by car, and King Street has a free trolley. I have to second the locals' thoughts about Georgetown. The neighborhood is historically significant, but if you've seen one cluster of generic chain stores under a single roof, you've seen a mall - and your daughter might get bored very quickly.
Agree on the Kennedy Center too. Even if you don't make a performance at the Millennium Stage, try to take a free walk-in tour. They're usually given by very charismatic foreign exchange students and you'll get to see where the President sits during performances and see the Kennedy Center Honors stage. The roof deck is a good spot for photos. Don't try to walk or drive there, though. Best bet is the free shuttle from the Foggy Bottom Metro stop.
And another music suggestion: The main draw of the National Cathedral, besides the architecture, is the choir and the organ. If you go at all, try to time it to a performance.
If you have any interest in the Capitol, definitely email your local Congressperson today and ask him or her to set up a tour (the Web site may say "we need a month," but not really. They'll get you in). Then show up to his or her office the morning of your tour (either the Rayburn, Longworth, or Cannon building - you've got to put your bags through a scanner, but it's very quick) and ask the person at t he front desk of the Congressperson’s office for “gallery passes”.
Elevate your voice a bit. If the Congressperson in question is actually at his or her desk, he or she will be so thrilled that someone who is NOT a lobbyist is actually paying him or her a visit, he or she will invite you into his or her office, show you the window view of Capitol Hill, and send his or her intern to the Capitol with you to give you a “personal tour”, which means you won't have to wait on line at the Visitor’s Center for the official, and overcrowded, tour (you can also linger and actually appreciate the amazing artwork that the official tours whizz past). If the intern seems a little less than “with it”, directly ask to see the Congressperson in question and the same result should occur.
After the tour, the gallery passes you asked for will get you into the House chamber. If your 15-year-old is taking any sort of U.S. government class (one hopes), this will certainly be of interest to her. You might catch some rep from Oklahoma you never heard of filibustering a farm bill to an empty room. Or you might catch Nancy Pelosi or Eric Cantor fiercely debating gun control. Either way, it’s a great experience for your daughter and gives her an in-person view of her government (ostensibly) at work.
The Library of Congress is always great and you can walk there through a tunnel from the Capitol. Skip the official tour (again, they whiz past the artwork) and just explore the Jefferson Building on your own. Don't miss the Guttenberg Bible. What you're doing right now wouldn't be possible without it.
As far as hotels go, anything in Crystal City is good. Easy to get on the George Washington Parkway south to Old Town or north to the District. I can vouch for the Hilton Garden Inn. They're all fine, I'm sure, so just shop around.
Speaking of the George Washington Parkway, if you've got the time, pack a lunch and drive over to Gravelly Point, one of the more unique picnic spots in the east.
Presuming you'll be there for more than a few days, you should invest in a SmarTrip card for the Metro (good on the subway and bus). Get them at the shorter machines to the left or right of the big block of blue "per-ride" machines in each station. They're $10 each ($5 of which you get back in rides) and you have to get one for your daughter and one for yourself, since you can't share them like you can in NY. That said, if you want to do a lot of traveling and don't want to worry about parking (and those astronomical garage fees), it pays for itself big time.
If you’re only there for a three-day weekend though, just pay per ride. Hold on to your tickets! You need the same one you used to enter the system in order to leave the system.
Here’s the other thing about driving in the District: It's a pain, but if you’re willing to drive around the block a few times, you can find spots. I parked for free right in front (or back, technically) of the Supreme Court last Friday. The spots are good for two hours, so if you know you can get out of wherever you’re visiting within two hours and move the car again, you’re good to go.
And yeah, Capital Bikeshare is always an option if the weather's nice.
Hope this helps. Have a great trip!
#35
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Posted 26 March 2013 - 03:30 PM
wow, you are all wonderful, thank you for all the great ideas. We currently have a reservation at the hilton garden inn arlington/shirlington but may switch to the doubletree crystal city (any preference anyone??) I am sure both are fine. I went with garden inn due to free parking but may switch. The drum circle sounds cool, we may try to make it. Im not that into zoos or churches, but maybe. mark says "founding farmers," Im in. if i can find it.I will email my congressmen today and see what I can get, she might like that.
#42
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Posted 09 April 2013 - 05:21 PM
I can't think of anything in Crystal City, but you'll be so close to Alexandria, you may as well go there. It's literally 5 minutes by car, 10 on the Metro.
Here's a list: http://www.visitalex...om/restaurants/
My wife and I found a place in an old converted firehouse that was quite nice. It's right off the main drag, on St. Ataph Street: http://www.columbiaf...enus/menus.html
