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Recommendations needed for Washington DC
Yahoo Message Number: 136027
We are planning our first trip to Washington DC and the east coast and would appreciate any recommendations for:

1. Must-see sights in DC and side trips to the surrounding areas, incl. MD and VA; and  
2. A good DC guidebook. I've been on Amazon and they all sound good, it's hard to pick just one!

Thanks! The Murphys 05' IB - Bruin Blue & Gold
Re: Recommendations needed for Washington DC
Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 136028
A must see is the Smithsonian Institute in D.C., there are a number of museums attached to them.  The Aviation Museum and the American History Museum are at the top of my list.  As for VA, Harper's Ferry, at the junction of West Virginia and Virginia is a lovely historical spot.  Plus the Williamsburg, VA Colonial Village/Theme Park is a great spot to go to.

Fodor's is the best option on guidebooks.

Happy Travels,

Donna of the Lazy Daizy 1997 RB of Vaughn, WA

D. G. Smeall
 

"Books are my people, and people are my friends."
Re: Recommendations needed for Washington DC
Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 136029
Smithsonian. National Archives. The monuments on the Mall. Arlington National Cemetery. The old Post Office for a good view from the tower of DC.

John A Wozniak
Re: Recommendations needed for Washington DC
Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 136031
It's been year ago but I really liked The Unofficial Guide to Washington DC. It suggested touring the NSA  museum which was quite a treat.
Lk in 87 tk

Sent by iPhone
2018 24' Twin King (replacing 1987 22' TK)
Re: Recommendations needed for Washington DC
Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 136032
The Holocaust Museum. We were there exactly one month after 09/11/2001, and it was very relevant. Spent at least 6 hours there when we expected to pop in and out briefly.

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Re: Recommendations needed for Washington DC
Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 136034
Quote
We are planning our first trip to Washington DC and the east coast and would appreciate any recommendations for:

1. Must-see sights in DC and side trips to the surrounding areas, incl. MD and VA; and  
2. A good DC guidebook. I've been on Amazon and they all sound good, it's hard to pick just one!
How much time are you planning to devote to DC?  When we visited DC a few years ago, we only had 10 days.  It seemed like we could only hit a few of the high points and had to skip several things we would have liked visiting.  Next time we visit we'll probably try to spend closer to a month.  We really liked the Smithsonian's Udvar-Hazy air museum out by Dulles Airport, the Newseum News Museum, the Supreme Court and the Library of Congress.  If you would like to visit the White House, contact your congressional representative beforehand.  We would need a couple of weeks just to properly visit most of the Smithsonian Museums.

Art
Art and Barbara
Settled in Atterdag Village of Solvang
2015-2022 fulltime in a 2016 Tiffin Allegro Bus 37AP
2002-2015 2002 LD MB
Art's blog
Re: Recommendations needed for Washington DC
Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 136035
Darn it . . .

From the title of this thread I was thinking it was my opportunity to tell 'em:
 'Quit wasting our money and quit spending more than what you take in taxes!'

Guess that wouldn't be the kind of recommendations you meant, huh?

bumper

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bumper
"Yonder" '05 MB
"WLDBLU" glider trailer
Re: Recommendations needed for Washington DC
Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 136037
If you're going to drive into the city from camp (assuming a rental or toad) plan on $20-$22 a day parking. The subway will drop you off on the Mall next to the Smithonian Institution Building (aka Smithonian Castle) central to all the museums on the Mall.  For a small group or family parking down town is less expensive than taking metro.  If you manage to time your arrival at the mall (the area with the museums) a little before 1000 am you can park most of the day for free but have the car after 4 hours or so. The time limit is keep the people who work down town from parking on the Mall.  You can spend a month on and near the mall.  If this is your first trip just keep a flexible sked and know that you can come back some time.  A suggestion if driving into town, visit the Jefferson Memorial or Arlington early then drive over to the Mall to park getting there around 9:40 - 9:50 to grab the free parking that opens at 1000.
 I like the Air & Space, East wing Art Gallery, American History, Natural History.   If you're into walking (miles) you can also visit the WWII, Lincoln, and Viet Nam memorials with creative planning and parking. The Washington Monument is closed for a while due to our earthquake a little while ago.   Well worth a visit, the Spy Museum and the Newseum. The National Portrait Gallery is often overlooked, but in a part of town with many good places to eat (at DC prices though) and not far at all from the Mall.   I will second the visit to the NSA museum if your travels take you to MD and suggest the Marine Corps Museum in Quantico.
 In southern VA, the Newport News city park campground ( http://www.nnparks.com/parks_nn.php ) is close to Jamestown,  Williamsburg, Yorktown.  The Mariners Museum and Williamsburg Winery are also good visits.
Have fun, John
Currently: 2008 36' Tiffin Open Road
Previously: 2007 Mid Bath
Re: Recommendations needed for Washington DC
Reply #8 –
Yahoo Message Number: 136038
Quote
We are planning our first trip to Washington DC and the east coast and would appreciate any recommendations for:

1. Must-see sights in DC and side trips to the surrounding areas, incl. MD and VA; and  
2. A good DC guidebook. I've been on Amazon and they all sound good, it's hard to pick just one!

Thanks! The Murphys 05' IB - Bruin Blue & Gold
You have received some excellent recommendations so far regarding DC.  I offer the following additional thoughts:
 Obtain a AAA map of DC.  The maps we have used were excellent for finding our way around town and the subway stops are well marked.  On our pre-LD trips, we would stay in Arlington VA and ride the subway to virtually anywhere we wanted to go in DC.  Just try to avoid rush hours.  Rush hour fares are more expensive and crowded.
 You may know this, but the Smithsonian is not one building.  It is a complex of many different museums.  To see many of the museums, even at a quick pace, will take several days.
 If able, plan on walking to many of the memorials and museums along the Mall.  It is virtually flat in most places and is a good place to exercise.
 If driving in town, be aware that because there are diagonal streets, some of the intersections have sharp turns. Also, be cautious driving in the area between the White House and Capital Hill, as black SUVs with flashing lights may appear at any time snaking through traffic.
Another issue (or not) is that DC uses "round abouts" at certain intersections.
 To the sites recommended by others, I would add the DC zoo, the National Cathedral, Mt. Vernon, old town Alexandria, and Kennedy Center.  I also second the recommendations to see Willimsburg, Yorktown, and Jamestown.

Happy travels,

Bob
2011 MB
Re: Recommendations needed for Washington DC
Reply #9 –
Yahoo Message Number: 136039
"rm2011ldmb"  wrote: Obtain a AAA map of DC.
--- An additional suggestion is the detailed and comprehensive DC city map from "Streetwise":

http://tinyurl.com/bkb4r64

Joan
2003 TK has a new home
Re: Recommendations needed for Washington DC
Reply #10 –
Yahoo Message Number: 136040
Hi:  Most responses have pretty well covered the DC highlights.   I would add George Washington's home in Mt. Vernon and a tour of the Naval Academy.   Both very interesting and worth considering.   I also note that no one has mentioned the Cherry Hills RV Park.   It's one of the top choices in the DC area and the bus will pick you up in the park and drop you off at the subway which will drop you off at the National Mall or anyplace else in DC.  Do plan on at least 2-3 days to see/enjoy the mall, and wear good walking shoes.   They also have a very good travel advisor in their office who can answer your questions about seeing DC.  Please don't drive your car into the downtown area.   You'll spend half your day driving before you find a place to park, and then you'll be walking a long way to get to wherever you were headed.   You can drive to Mt. Vernon and the Naval Academy.   Enjoy!    Gale
G N Wilson
2008 Mid-Bath
Re: Recommendations needed for Washington DC
Reply #11 –
Yahoo Message Number: 136052
From the amount of responses to this thread, D.C. is a mighty popular RVing destination.  I'll certainly endorse that.  The only problem is the amout of time one has to explore it.  As Art (and others noted), a few days will only provide a taste.  We spent two weeks there last June, and it still wasn't enough.  We stayed at the pricey, but nice, Cherry Hill park mentioned by another poster.  All the amenities you could want, and then some, but the most useful was the city bus that stopped right on the grounds, then took you to the metro lines.  Other than our scooter, which we did not want to ride into town on, we had no toad, but with the public transit we had no problems getting wherever we wanted to go, even as far down (south) as Mount Vernon (CH is located just outside the north beltway).  If you're a senior (yay!), you're in luck as you can get a half-price pass, the Senior SmarTrip Card.  Here's a link to the metro page that has the fares and passes: http://www.wmata.com/fares/purchase/passes.cfm
http://www.wmata.com/fares/purchase/passes.cfm>    You can buy the passes at the CH office, if you choose to stay there, but you have to "fill" them at a metro station kiosk/machine.
 I won't repeat all the sightseeing recommendations made by others, but I second most all of them, especially the Newsmuseum.  Just follow your own interests, but take a few chances, and you won't be disappointed.
Outside the immediate D.C. area, for us, we could not do Williamsburg in just one day.  There's lots to see and going on, and two days was just right.  We tried to make it to Annapolis for a Grad Week formation at the Academy, but the scoot's fuel pump died just as we got there, and we spent all day dealing with that problem.  Further afield, we enjoyed Jefferson's Monticello at Charlottesville, the homespun Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library and Museum in Staunton, and the surprise bonus of our trip, the Luray Caverns in the north Shenandoah Valley.  Utterly spectacular, and far superior to the surprise dud, Mammoth Caves in KY.
 Stop at the Welcome Centers as you enter each state and load up on the free maps, campground guides, and brochures that cover virtually every attraction they have to offer.  For pre-planning, believe it or not, we found the AAA Guidebooks to be great for organizing all the touristy things we shamelessly wanted to do.  In DC we picked up and relied on extensively the "Official Visitors Guide" put out by Destination DC.  It has an excellent fold-out map and up-to-date listings and tips on all the things to see.  This is a freebie that you can pick up at the Welcome Centers and other locations.
 Well, writing this has motivated me to get cracking on blogging that trip, albeit way ex post facto.  Enjoy yours!  -- Jon & Loni ('06TK "Albatross")>

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(Former) ‘06 TK “Albatross.” And (former) Vespa 250.   Alas, no more; both are gone.😕 Great memories remain! 😄
Re: Recommendations needed for Washington DC
Reply #12 –
Yahoo Message Number: 136069
Thanks to everyone for the great information and recommendations, esp. re sidetrips.
 We don't have a toad & were worried that might be a problem, but it sounds like the public transportation will work fine at least in & around DC itself.
 We've booked 3 weeks at Cherry Hill RV Park and they were very helpful as people mentioned.
 Initially we thought 3 weeks might be a little long, but again, it sounds like we will have plenty to do during that time.

Thanks again! The Murphys 05 IB Bruin Blue & Gold

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Re: Recommendations needed for Washington DC
Reply #13 –
Yahoo Message Number: 136080
I spent 2 weeks in DC last year and had a great time.  I admit to not reading all of the responses, so I hope these are not repeats.
 I saw you are staying at Cherry Hill, I did too.  Ask them about the tour of the memorials at night.  While I typically do not like tours, I enjoyed this one.  Seeing the memorials at night is very different than during the day.  One day, I decided to do a memorials walk.  I walked about 8 miles and saw just about all the memorials.  They do have bus passes for this, but I wanted the exercise and was a nice change from visiting museums.
 I needed the exercise because I had discovered the Dutch Country Farmers Market in Laurel, MD.  It's about a 15 minute drive from the campground (I don't know how long by bus).  It's only opened a few days a week, but well worth it.  Great Breads, pumpkin rolls, veggies, BBQ Meat (chicken wings!!), salads....  They have a good website that gives you an idea of what they have.
 Also, a visit to Great Falls Park is a nice change of pace.  You could perhaps rent a car for the day and combine this and the Dutch Country Farmers Market.
 By the way if you are into photography there are a few photography tours, I didn't take one but talked to the leader of one and it sounded good.
 I blogged about most of the above in my blog --   http://travelingwpam.blogspot.com/2012/05/washington-dcpart-1.html

Have a great trip! Pam
2008 MB