Things to do in Washington, DC

[CaptainCrunch]

I'm heading down to D.C. for three days later on this month. I have the first day free and then a conference for the last 2. Of course I plan to go and see some of the more historic things in D.C.

But I wonder if any of you world travelers can recommend restaurants or other interesting things to do.

[Minnie]

Haven't been, but I've got a good friend in DC. I'll pose your question to her and see what the local recommends. You might want to give a price point on restaurants though. They're kind of ridiculously loaded so she may recommend something heinously expensive.

[Tyler]

Any suggestions on a relatively affordable hotel that's close to all the good historic POI's, and not in.. well you know, the ghetto

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by Minnie

Haven't been, but I've got a good friend in DC. I'll pose your question to her and see what the local recommends. You might want to give a price point on restaurants though. They're kind of ridiculously loaded so she may recommend something heinously expensive.

That's the question isn't it. I don't want to go to D.C. to eat at a Earls calibre restaurant. If there is a place that I have to try then price point doesn't matter as much.

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by Tyler

Any suggestions on a relatively affordable hotel that's close to all the good historic POI's, and not in.. well you know, the ghetto

I got booked into the Hyatt at Reston, I didn't have much choice on hotels as that's where the conference is going to be.

but it seems reasonable at $199.00 per night for a two double suite.

[Bill Bumface]

Smithsonian Air & Space! Smithsonian Air & Space! By far the best thing I did there, and likely right up your alley.

[Northendzone]

I'd have to think the smithsonian as well. I have never been, but assume one could spend several days there.

[habernac]

The Smithsonians are amazing. You gotta go to the steps of the Lincoln Memorial as well, Vietnam Wall, the Korean one is really cool, the WW2 one was built after I went so I can't comment on that. I went three different weekends and wasn't able to see everything there.

[gonzo29]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

That's the question isn't it. I don't want to go to D.C. to eat at a Earls calibre restaurant. If there is a place that I have to try then price point doesn't matter as much.

There are tons of great restaurants in D.C., Acqua al 2 on Capitol Hill and Cafe Milano in Georgetown are both excellent places to go if you like Italian.

For sightseeing, with only one day free I'll echo what habernac said and recommend just wandering around the national mall and checking out the monuments and museums.

[Minnie]

CC & Tyler - her response:

Where is the conference? I'm in Penn Quarter and there are a lot of great restaurants - Graffiato is a Top Chef restaurant - good pizza, great brussels sprouts (I know). If he is in Metro Center there is a new place, WTF, that just opened that is supposed to be great. But I need a neighborhood to give better direction. The Corcoran is a beautiful art museum on 17th that is off the "tourist" mall path. The Capitol is all new so that is worth a visit as well.

"Relatively affordable" just doesn't exist. Honestly, anywhere in NW should be safe to stay. If he wants to be near the Mall I would look in Penn Quarter, Metro Center and even the Hill. If you start getting out toward DuPont, that's kind of a hike to the Mall. Now, he could stay in VA - Ballston or Courthouse and take the Metro in to the city. Or if he stays in Rosslyn he could walk over the bridge into Georgetown. There is a crappy Hilton and the Key Bridge Marriott that shouldn't be half as much as his mortgage.

[corporatejay]

Tony kornheiser always raves about the palm. Might be worth checking out.

[c.t.ner]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

That's the question isn't it. I don't want to go to D.C. to eat at a Earls calibre restaurant. If there is a place that I have to try then price point doesn't matter as much.

I lived in D.C./Arlington for the past two and a half years. DC is a fantastic foodie place. I've always found there are two types of places to eat in DC. The first is the posh restaurants for International Big Wigs and the Second are the tried and true, gritty DC joints.

Places that I've taken friends and family to in town and they loved are:

• Bus Boys & Poets - It's a staple in DC and has three locations - http://www.busboysandpoets.com/ (Fair warning it's a left wing hangout) The 5th & K location is central in DC so you'll probably be within Distance.
• If you really want a taste of DC take the Metro (or a cab) up to U Street and Ben's Chili Bowl. This place is the heart and soul of DC, this is mandatory for any visit to the district. U-Street is a bit of an intimidating neighbourhood, but it's well worth it. Any person we brought there or recommended it to raves that it was a highlight. A chili half-smoke is amazing. (P.S. only two people get free food their Bill Cosby and Obama) http://www.benschilibowl.com/ordereze/default.aspx.
  
• If you have a full day to tour and end up near the Capitol, You need to hit up The Good Stuff Eatery. Run by a Montreal'er (It's Spike from Top Chef's restaurant). The Rosemary and Thyme Fries are to die for as well as the Obama and Michelle burger and the Shakes are amazing. http://www.goodstuffeatery.com/
• Dupont Circle has a some great places to check out (and if I recall most conferences are around that area). Churchkey was one of my favourite places to eat and drink at. Amazing selection of beer (even though I don't drink). http://www.churchkeydc.com/
• If you end up near the verizon centre/chinatown and don't want to eat at Hooter's, District of Pi Pizza Joint is really good. http://www.pi-dc.com/ they do a St. Louis/Chicago style deep dish pizza that was amazing.
• If worse comes to worse you can also eat at most of the Five Guys as those are some of the original 5Guys franchises (it's a Virgina based company).
• Also if you have a chance hit up the food trucks. DC has an amazing Food Truck culture that runs 365 due to the warm weather. - http://foodtruckfiesta.com/dc-food-trucks/

There are literally dozens of great food places if you need some advice, just DM me and I can send you some of my favourite places based on your location.


In regards things to do, as others have said there is so much to do in DC. Be forewarned the Mall is quite the walk so be prepared. (There's also not much of food/drinks except for a crummy McDonalds in one of the smithsonians and other museums).

Other tid bits

• All smithsonians are free, so don't worry about having to pay for them.
• The Jefferson Memorial is actually off the beaten track from the Mall and the new MLK is a bit of a walk from the Lincoln Memorial.
• You won't be able to do a tour of the white house. To do that you need to book it with the Canadian Embassy about three months ago. (I only say this because we've had friends that wanted to go and though they could just show up)
• The Canadian Embassy is a very neat place from the out side (only embassy on the mall).
• The Newseum, which is right by the Cdn Embassy is a cool place, but it's an expensive tour (something like 20 bucks for two days of access). We always like going there to see what Canadian News Paper is featured outside (A deal Mulrooney and the CDN Embassy made when it was built).
• Cabs are great and easy way to see the city quickly (just don't do it during rush hour). The Metro is pretty reliable, just remeber to stand on the right side, if you stand on the left you'll get yelled at)
• Don't go to Georgetown unless you're big into shopping and d-bag rich kids. It's pretty out of the way if you're staying in downtown d.c. and it's nothing more than a glorified Kensington.
• Virgina is somewhat interesting, but only along the Clarendon, Ballston (The Caps practise facility is atop of Ballston Mall) corridor and if you only have a day it might not be worth the trip out there.

Anyways, hope it helps.

[Cowboy89]

A guy like you would probably get a lot out of a visit to Arlington Cemetery. I went this past Veterans Day weekend and it was very worth while. You can probably get a good visit in about 3 hours and it's easily accessable via subway.

[CaptainCrunch]

Thats a great idea

[HELPNEEDED]

The entire mall bro. Start with a free guided tour, you can google where they meet. This will take you through the entire mall in about 4-hours. That will get you ready for what you want to spend more time at.

We were there for 3-days and that was not enough.

[nfotiu]

Originally Posted by c.t.ner

I lived in D.C./Arlington for the past two and a half years. DC is a fantastic foodie place. I've always found there are two types of places to eat in DC. The first is the posh restaurants for International Big Wigs and the Second are the tried and true, gritty DC joints.

Places that I've taken friends and family to in town and they loved are:

• Bus Boys & Poets - It's a staple in DC and has three locations - http://www.busboysandpoets.com/ (Fair warning it's a left wing hangout) The 5th & K location is central in DC so you'll probably be within Distance.
• If you really want a taste of DC take the Metro (or a cab) up to U Street and Ben's Chili Bowl. This place is the heart and soul of DC, this is mandatory for any visit to the district. U-Street is a bit of an intimidating neighbourhood, but it's well worth it. Any person we brought there or recommended it to raves that it was a highlight. A chili half-smoke is amazing. (P.S. only two people get free food their Bill Cosby and Obama) http://www.benschilibowl.com/ordereze/default.aspx.
  
• If you have a full day to tour and end up near the Capitol, You need to hit up The Good Stuff Eatery. Run by a Montreal'er (It's Spike from Top Chef's restaurant). The Rosemary and Thyme Fries are to die for as well as the Obama and Michelle burger and the Shakes are amazing. http://www.goodstuffeatery.com/
• Dupont Circle has a some great places to check out (and if I recall most conferences are around that area). Churchkey was one of my favourite places to eat and drink at. Amazing selection of beer (even though I don't drink). http://www.churchkeydc.com/
• If you end up near the verizon centre/chinatown and don't want to eat at Hooter's, District of Pi Pizza Joint is really good. http://www.pi-dc.com/ they do a St. Louis/Chicago style deep dish pizza that was amazing.
• If worse comes to worse you can also eat at most of the Five Guys as those are some of the original 5Guys franchises (it's a Virgina based company).
• Also if you have a chance hit up the food trucks. DC has an amazing Food Truck culture that runs 365 due to the warm weather. - http://foodtruckfiesta.com/dc-food-trucks/

There are literally dozens of great food places if you need some advice, just DM me and I can send you some of my favourite places based on your location.


In regards things to do, as others have said there is so much to do in DC. Be forewarned the Mall is quite the walk so be prepared. (There's also not much of food/drinks except for a crummy McDonalds in one of the smithsonians and other museums).

Other tid bits

• All smithsonians are free, so don't worry about having to pay for them.
• The Jefferson Memorial is actually off the beaten track from the Mall and the new MLK is a bit of a walk from the Lincoln Memorial.
• You won't be able to do a tour of the white house. To do that you need to book it with the Canadian Embassy about three months ago. (I only say this because we've had friends that wanted to go and though they could just show up)
• The Canadian Embassy is a very neat place from the out side (only embassy on the mall).
• The Newseum, which is right by the Cdn Embassy is a cool place, but it's an expensive tour (something like 20 bucks for two days of access). We always like going there to see what Canadian News Paper is featured outside (A deal Mulrooney and the CDN Embassy made when it was built).
• Cabs are great and easy way to see the city quickly (just don't do it during rush hour). The Metro is pretty reliable, just remeber to stand on the right side, if you stand on the left you'll get yelled at)
• Don't go to Georgetown unless you're big into shopping and d-bag rich kids. It's pretty out of the way if you're staying in downtown d.c. and it's nothing more than a glorified Kensington.
• Virgina is somewhat interesting, but only along the Clarendon, Ballston (The Caps practise facility is atop of Ballston Mall) corridor and if you only have a day it might not be worth the trip out there.

Anyways, hope it helps.

Good post, I'll have to try some of these places. I do like Georgetown though. And I'm not sure what you mean about standing on the left, am I doing something wrong! I do find figuring out the metro fares to be insanely complicated. I missed the $1 each way surcharge for paper tickets, and it cost be an hour of standing back in line after a Nats game.

[valo403]

Hill Country BBQ in Chinatown is great if you're in the mood for Texas BBQ

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by HELPNEEDED

The entire mall bro. Start with a free guided tour, you can google where they meet. This will take you through the entire mall in about 4-hours. That will get you ready for what you want to spend more time at.

We were there for 3-days and that was not enough.

The guided tour of the mall might be the best bet, I really only have one day free so the tour and then a nice meal might be all I get.

Hopefully I get enough of a look to decide if I want to go back and spend more time.

[GirlySports]

If you have time, take the Metro (blue line IIRC) 30 minutes down to Old Town Alexandria Virginia.

You will feel like you're in 1799!

[gonzo29]

Originally Posted by Cowboy89

A guy like you would probably get a lot out of a visit to Arlington Cemetery. I went this past Veterans Day weekend and it was very worth while. You can probably get a good visit in about 3 hours and it's easily accessable via subway.

Make sure to watch the changing of the guard if you make it to Arlington National Cemetary, it's quite the sight.