things to do in DC (before you're gone)

[winterbadger]

I've been wishing I were in the UK a lot lately, missing the places that I've been that I'd like to go again, and looking forward to places I've not yet been that I'd like to go to (in the UK and other places in Europe--National Geographic has a nice article on Como, for instance, and the grrls have great pictures of lots of Spain and Italy that make them look very enticing).

But I won't be doing that any time soon, so, in an attempt to take a more positive approach, I'm trying to think of all the things I want to be sure to do and see around here before I leave DC.

• visit all the Smithsonian museums at least one (or one more) time
  
• see how many of DC's public statues I can find (my old bookstore in Boston used to have a great pocket guide to all the statuary in that city--I wonder if there's one for DC--it would have to be very big!)
  
• alas, I think I missed out on my chance for a personal guided tour of the Capitol :-(
  
• tour the National Cathedral
  
• ride the whole of each of the local bike trails (though maybe not the C&O Canal Towpath Trail...
  
• take another cruise on the Potomac
  
• kayak along the Potomac
  
• visit all the NPS sites in the area (can you tell I'm a bit of a completist?), including the ACW sites in VA, MD, and PA
  
• go to the theatre a few more times
  
• visit Arlington Cemetery
  
• go to the Hillwood gardens and museum
  
• visit the (new) Newseum and the National Geographic exhibition
  
• tour the National Arboretum/Botanic Gardens
  
• have tea at the Willard, chili at Ben's Chili Bowl, and hit up a few more of Bethesda's and Alexandria's inexhaustible supply of restaurants
  
• see the view from the top of the Washington Monument
  
• say goodbye to the animals at the National Zoo
  
• see the cherry blossoms on the Mall in the spring

Wow! That's along list! Any other suggestions?

Comments

[azbound.livejournal.com]

Eamonn's, the Dublin Chipper in Alexandria. I absolutely *love* that place.

[winterbadger]

I'll give it a try--where is it?

[azbound.livejournal.com]

Washington and King streets, I believe. It's where that freaky old Scottish place used to be.

[winterbadger]

Oh, Scotland Yard, where they poisoned Chris's old boss from the Monitor...

[sun-in-splendor.livejournal.com]

Just a few thoughts.

Early July - do a joint tour of Kenilworth Aquatic Garden and the Arboretum. That way you see two spectacular displays: waterlily and daylily. Also stop in at the Bonsai collection, see the 500 year old, 4 foot tree.
Visit Brookfield Gardens in late April. One of the finest azalea collections on the east coast.

You'll have to hurry because it is closing soon (maybe next month) - the Walter Reed Medical Museum. Several fascinating collections: civil war medicine, microscopes, medical field hospitals, body systems, medical devices. There is the bullet that killed Lincoln, a history of the fluoroscope, film on the history of battlefield medicine.

Don't forget the cherry blossoms of Kenwood. IMO a better experience than the Mall.

As nice as the view from the Washington Monument is the view from the Post Office Pavilion Tower.

Congressional Cemetery, especially if you can get a tour.

[winterbadger]

Thanks for the ideas! I'll have to compare the Brookfileds Gardens azaleas with the ones at the Norfolk Botanical Garden, where I spent many, many hours as a kid.

[wcg.livejournal.com]

Not precisely *in* DC, but near it:

Goddard Spaceflight Center's visitor center

Patuxent National Wildlife Research Center (Just up the road from Goddard. Both of them make a nice daytrip. Let me know and I'll play friendly native guide.)

The Henry and Clover Adams memorial (sometimes called the statue of Grief) in Rock Creek Cemetery. Their names aren't anywhere on it, and you don't even know they're buried under it unless you've learned that somewhere else, but it's one of the most amazing statues in DC.

[winterbadger]

Thanks for the offer! I/we may take you up on that!

[curiousangel.livejournal.com]

It's not really a "tourist thing", but I heartily recommend drinking beer at The Brickskellar. I also had a great time watching the fireworks on the Mall for July 4th, although you have to have a great tolerance for crowds.

[winterbadger]

I've done both of those several times, though I'm not averse to having another go at the Brickskellar. My principal objection to the fireworks on the Mall is the near-necessity of spending a good portion of the day there in the blazing heat in order to have any sort of comfortable view. I *would* like to see them from one of the numerous privileged vantage points around the city, but I fear as we're planning to visit my mother that weekend, I'll probably not be doing that except maybe someday as a tourist. :-)

[drsherlock.livejournal.com]

Library of Congress? :)

[winterbadger]

Been there a lot. Not saying it's not worth going again, but it would be for research as much as for seeing the beautiful Jefferson building.

[ticktockmary.livejournal.com]

I second Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens. Also National Museum of Health and Medicine. (BONUS: they celebrate national hairball awareness day in April! I know this will be of special interest to you - hah!)

I can get you tix to the Folger, though our theater season doesn't start until October.

If you like down home soul food (which you certainly won't get overseas!) go to Oohs and Aahs, just down the street from Ben's.

[winterbadger]

Thanks for the offer! I/we may take you up on that!

for what it's worth

[gr-c17.livejournal.com]

The National History Museum is closed for renovation but should be open soon.

If the Brickskellar was on 14th next to the Warner Theater, it's not there now.

I'd be happy to join you and Neta for the Walter Reed Museum, I've always wanted to see that one.

USE METRO FOR THE F'ING CHERRY BLOSSOMS
( for others who may not know I hate those damn trees , it's personal don't ask )

I wish I had secured a copy of the one book which was know to have all the statues in D.C. listed. Hardbound, some 300 pages. Went out of print in the '80's.

Re: for what it's worth

[winterbadger]

No, the Brickskeller is on 22nd St, near the edge of Georgetown. They have a huge beer menu, but you have to have several choices ready for the server, because theya re oftne out of some of the more obscure items.