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I would add that it is 2 hours to Kings Dominion from DC, but Wiliamsburg is actually closer to 3 hours away since it is another 60 miles away via the interstate. Traffic is bad on 95 South every Friday afternoon from around May to Labor Day since much of DC is headed to Virginia Beach. If you want to visit Virginia Beach, I suggest you go in the middle of the week to reduce travel time.
Tyler Cowen, an economics professor at GMU, has an excellent online guide to eating in the DC metro area. www.gmu.edu/jbc/Tyler/tyler_cowen.htm Annandale, VA has a lot of good Korean restaurants while the area around Rockville, MD has good Chinese food. Luray Caverns is 89 miles away from DC. I have not visited it myself, but my friends have told me that they enjoyed going through the caves. www.luraycaverns.com/ |
If you want an historic hotel I think the Willard is the only way to go. I think Grant stayed there when he came to Washington to meet Lincoln and be offered the job of commander of the Union Armies, which he accepted. Been there a long time and is still a nice place in a central location. Definately dont drive. I used to live there and it can get ugly driving. It is even worse now because so many streets are crapped up with security blocks.
Another thing that you and your brother might enjoy is the National Geographic Building. It is a really neat building that has the Explorers Hall and usually a special exhibit or two, some of which are really fantastic. I second the suggestions of the zoo and the canal in the Georgetown area. Both are very nice. |
The Smithsonian museums offer a lot more than exhibits -- there are hands on activities, concerts, coffee houses. There are also some fun historic house museums that are often overlooked -- like Octagon House, for example. Plenty to do in DC.
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tyler cowan update:
http://www.gmu.edu/centers/publiccho...de2012_aug.htm this one not bad either http://www.donrockwell.com/index.php...washington-dc/ |
Originally Posted by slawecki
(Post 20933647)
tyler cowan update:
http://www.gmu.edu/centers/publiccho...de2012_aug.htm this one not bad either http://www.donrockwell.com/index.php...washington-dc/ |
Originally Posted by asearchforfirst
(Post 5793465)
DC resident here. Lots of good things in this thread. Couple of additions.
First, I don't think a car is nearly as much of a hassle as is made out. Parking is expensive, and can be a challenge on weekdays. But other than rush hour, it's much easier driving around the city than out in the suburbs! I would add that the Nationals and DC United play at RFK stadium in the city.
Originally Posted by asearchforfirst
(Post 5793465)
Great Falls is great for rock climbing/hiking. I prefer MD side. Canal/towpath are pretty interesting for a bike ride, with some working locks. You can rent a paddle boat by the Jefferson memorial, do some sailing on the Potomac (short drive down the GW parkway in VA),
Originally Posted by asearchforfirst
(Post 5793465)
or go to Annapolis/Baltmore Inner Harbor for nautical stuff.
Originally Posted by asearchforfirst
(Post 5793465)
There's an IMAX in Air and Space and in the museum right across the Mall (Natural history I think). The Awakening statue at the very tip of Hains Point is pretty cool,
Out of town, the ocean is 2.5 hours, Williamsburg/Kings Dominion about 2 hours, Baltimore and Annapolis slightly less than an hour. Mount Vernon is about half an hour. Blue Ridge mountains/sky line drive are less than 2 hours. Things I like: Spy Museum, Air and Space (both Udvar Hazy and the original on the Mall), the Hirshhorn, Bureau of Engraving and Printing, the Washington Monument, changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknowns, the Renwick, National Zoo, Natural History, Washington Navy Yard museum, Botanical Gardens, National Arboretum. All these except the Spy Museum are free! Others to do: Georgetown, Alexandria, etc. |
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