Art lovers and everyone else: Don’t miss the National Gallery. Housed in two buildings, a classic Greco-Roman revival museum and a stunning modern masterpiece by I.M. Pei, its vast collection of treasures includes the only painting by da Vinci to be seen on this side of the Atlantic.
True, it's beautiful and so big. There's far to much to see in one day. The Art Museum needs 2 days. The museums would take a week to really see thoroughly.
Also, off the top of my head, the Hirshhorn Museum, the U.S. Mint, the Holocaust Museum, National Arboretum, Arlington Cemetery, the National Cathedral (massive gothic architecture) , the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception (massive Byzantine architecture), Roosevelt Island (Ted, not Frank), & the C&O canal, its towpath & associated bike paths.
His nephew Arthur should have been King, so tough to Johnnie. (And tough to Arthur, the way he was disposed of.) Anyway, Magna Carta is certainly worth a reverential look: it's where one derives the rule of law and "no taxation without representation" (indirectly), which the west side of the pond exploited profitably in the eighteenth century.
All I know is that Arthur was a Plantagenet, like his father and Uncle John (they being brothers, his father having died in a joust and thus being unavailable to protect Arthur and his sister).
@Edward Miles Yeah I just checked actually he was indeed a Plantagenet the French of Dreux-Montfort hadn’t inherited Brittany yet. Some reasons heirs called Arthur don’t do too well. Such is also the case of Arthur Tudor.
I would definitely recommend the zoo, maybe going to see a baseball game at Nats Park, heading across the river to see the changing of the guard at Arlington National Cemetery, and taking a walk through Georgetown
YES THE ZOO!! God I love the zoo, I grew up going there all the time and my parents lived across the street from it when they had my older sibling. That, natural history, and air and space all are favs of mine.
The zoo is free admission, too, being yet another Smithsonian institution. Shout out to James Smithson, famed English chemist and the Smithsonian's founding donor.
I would recommend the Tomb of the Unknown Solider in Arlington National Cemetery along with Robert E. Lees house. its a very powerful sober feeling you have walking though that place
The National Portrait Gallery is the best off-the-mall Smithsonian museum, located in Chinatown near the hockey arena. While you're there, you can get some of the best food in the city.
Chinatown is amazing, I've driven/ridden the metro over an hour each way just to eat dinner there on a whim. Totally worth it even if everything else about DC sucks at that time of night.
Nicholas Scott I prefer the downtown version because it is exhibition centric. At Udvar-Hazy I feel like I am wandering around trying to create an exhibition in my head. But the shuttle is fabulous.
I used to work on the Hill. Before your visit to DC, ALWAYS write your Senator and your Rep, and let them know when you will be visiting. They have access to Free Stuff, including extended and guided tours (rather than mere walk-throughs) and maps, invitations to stop by their offices. . .we would send out lovely books describing the sculptures in various buildings. We used to be able to take people to the Congressional dining room for fantastic bean soup. It's great soup. Anyway, different offices offer different things. Send them a list of what you plan to do, and see what they can offer.
Roosevelt's island is my favorite place in all of DC. It's such a peaceful place for where it is in the city, full of beautiful nature trails as a living memorial to such a legendary outdoorsman and conservationist.
If your looking for different locales in DC,I highly recommend visiting Rock Creek Park. It's a massive National Park in the middle of DC that is full of secluded nature trails, fauna, and babbling creeks, you'll forget your in the middle of a city! Georgetown area is also pretty interesting, It has a unique feel and style from the rest of DC, and has tons of shops and outdoor activities along the Potomac river. DC's Chinatown has some really great food too!
My dad and I went to Washington D.C. in March 2019 for spring break and walked absolutely everywhere! Never took a car, only the metro which was amazing! The most I walked in one day during the trip was about 13 miles and it is a bit hellish. All in all, we saw the Washington monument, Lincoln memorial, Arlington, a Denny’s in Maryland, air and space museum, etc. We drove from Michigan to dc and stopped by the air force museum in Dayton Ohio, spent absolutely ages there and it was wonderful! We saw similar things between the air force museum and air and space museum, which was fine Getting back to dc, the hotel was terrible and really expensive at I think $90 something a night, even on the outskirts of dc, but it didn’t really matter except when it started to warm up towards the end and wasn’t bloody cold. In summary, Washington D.C was awesome and if you can, go see it. Oh, another thing my dad and I saw the White House and talked to a secret service agent for a moment and the agent was really friendly. Took a panoramic of the capital building and had a lot of fun.
Georgetown is my favorite part of DC. It also has my favorite museum in the entire city, Dumbarton Oaks. It has collections that are much older than other art museums. Byzantine, medieval, ancient Egypt. Really fascinating stuff. Also the building and grounds are lovely.
Yes! My high school graduation was in there. It is spectacular. The rose window has a moon rock in it if I recollect. It's too bad they'll miss the garden at it's best.
Agreed. Even though Lawrence comes from the land of Plenty of Cathedrals Already, the Space Window is worth seeing, and the setting looking out over the city is splendid.
It's actually pretty close to the Mall though! I was visiting my uncle who lives several blocks north of the Mall and found that you just need to jump on P Street or whatever up to Connecticut Ave and I think it takes you all the way up. Only about a 12-15 minute drive. I too recommend a journey up to it and then a short self-guided tour around Georgetown University and then maybe dinner in Georgetown itself :)
DC holds a special place in my heart as it's the place of my birth. On another visit, you may want to visit the tidal basin in the spring when the cherry blossoms are in bloom. It's quite beautiful!
There is a Jay St. NE, but not in the L'Enfant grid between I and K. (Lawrence needs to come to grips with the quadrants when he comes back for a longer visit. That'll be a test for his love of grids.)
@@CarinRuff You are so right. Your reply must have sharpened my memory, temporarily. There is no "I" street. In it's place is "Eye" street. Thanks for the clarification.
There are sections of "I" street also if you don't know where to look, lol. They find you on accident. DC is confusing but only for the first 3-4 years of living and driving there, lol. By that time you'll be able to get in and out of all 4 regions of the city and hopefully avoid some red light cameras and daily traffic jams. Patience is the most helpful driving skill in the capital!!!!!
Hiya there, Lawrence! I’m a DC native! I’m so glad you’re enjoying this city that I love so much. I always recommend going for a walk on the foot trails in Rock Creek Park. It’s one of my favorite places to go when you need a little nature in the city. It would be a pleasure to show you around if you’re ever back in town! Just say the word.
Next time go to the south part of DC! Depending on the time of year, you’ll be able to see a Nationals (baseball), DC United (Soccer), or Defenders (American football) game! There’s tons of great restaurants around there too. Spring would be a great time because of the cherry blossoms!
The Smithsonian's Air & Space Museum's annex near Dulles Airport is really worthwhile (and also free admission!). It's massive. You can see the actual Space Shuttle Columbia, the Enola Gay, a real Air France Concorde, the SR-71 spy plane, historical space capsules & rockets, etc. It's an immense hangar filled with aerospace history. Truly an amazing place. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steven_F._Udvar-Hazy_Center
Ok Lawrence, here’s a couple of suggestions for your next D.C. visit: 1. Ford’s Theater... absolutely fascinating, though eerie at different points. 2. The Vietnam Memorial. Hard to explain this piece of Americana, sobering. 3. The Lincoln Memorial. Any American can be proud of our martyred President; Old Abe!! It is happy there (that’s tricky to justify, It just is). Great spot to pose for a picture. Ok amigo, cheerio😎
YinYang Devil - Not sure where ur coming from YY, but this American experience called the Vietnam War had a LARGE impact on us, in many ways... akin to WW II or, you know, the Cold War. The monument itself is indeed “Americana”... visit with your eyes open please.
You should visit the great falls of the Potomac. I especially like the remnants of the lock system that George Washington was trying to build back in the 1700's.
The FDR MLK and Jefferson memorials are all away from the Mall but right next to each other if I remember. The WW2 memorial is one of the most beautiful memorials I've ever seen (ironic for such a bleak war). Also Arlington is amazing as far as cemeteries go. Those would be my suggestions.
The Inner Harbor at Annapolis MD is a must see, away from the hustle of DC. The site of the US Naval Academy. Mount Vernon on the VA side was Washington's home and his grave is there as well. We live west of DC, past Manassas VA on the freeway.
That's true, but the Churchill War Rooms are perhaps geared more toward history-buffs, (as I doubt regular tourists will appreciate going). Yet being quite the Churchill enthusiast as I am, going to see the actual war rooms was absolutely worth the price. But if there's one thing, don't forget the time you have to fork over waiting in the queue - up to two hours if I recall waiting just to get in.
That's true, but the Churchill War Rooms are perhaps geared more toward history-buffs, (as I doubt regular tourists will appreciate going). Yet being quite the Churchill enthusiast as I am, going to see the actual war rooms was definitely worth the price. But if there's one thing, don't forget the time you have to fork over waiting in the queue - up to two hours if I recall waiting just to get in.
I went to DC twice as a child. Definitely the best part of the city is the monuments. And the cherry blossoms are beautiful in the summer. BTW, another fantastic video mon ami
Living near there my favorite part was the Metro. Clean, reliable, frequent, and reasonably priced. Riding that to work or to the museums or monuments made it easy to not miss cars. Got so much reading done on my commute.
I absolutely love DC, so much free or nearly free amazing things to go see, food is awesome too. I got really bad tendinitis in my foot from so much walking one of the last times we visited.
Glad you made it to DC, and that you got the Height of Buildings Act factoid right. We have SO MANY ALPHABETS. Not just the plain letters one, but after that the two-syllable words alphabet, the three-syllable words alphabet, and the trees-and-flowers names alphabet. You'll encounter them when you come back and get out (and up hill) from the Mall and explore the neighborhoods. You can take the bus due north on 16th Street from the White House until you hit the Maryland line and you will cross ALL THE ALPHABETS. Oh, and if you groove on grids, you should also visit Old Town Alexandria, Virginia, across the river from DC.
Try going down at night when it is less crowded and make sure to check out the monuments, especially Lincoln's. The lighting, Lincoln seated, it's really impressive !!!
If you liked the DC air and space museum you should check out the one next to Dulles airport (Udvar Hazy), it's got an amazing collection with an SR71 and a Space Shuttle as it's main displays with like 50+ other aircraft spanning the history of aviation including some rare examples of late war German jets.
Well you still have all the other museums and monuments to go back and see. Also consider visiting the Arlington National Cemetary and The Zoo. BTW take a ferry ride from DC to Alexandria, VA and learn about its historical Old Town and how once upon a time it was meant to be a part of D.C. which would explain why D.C. looks like half a diamond.
You didn't see The District, you saw the Federal Enclave. Get up to the U street corridor, or out to NE. Hear some Go-Go, or some Jazz, try some mumbo sauce. The people you saw there were all either tourists or commuters. Meet some of the locals, it really is a nice city.
Lesser known DC attractions (I know, DC natives, I've left a ton of stuff out): - Politics and Prose Bookstore - Tons of breweries - DC neighborhoods: Adams Morgan, Georgetown, Dupont Circle, Foggy Bottom, "Chinatown", Southwest & The Wharf - Music venues: Blues Alley, the Lincoln Theater, the 9:30 Club, Union Stage, The Black Cat, The Howard Theatre, DAR Constitution Hall - Theaters: Shakespeare Theater Company, Woolly Mammoth Theater, National Theater, Arena Stage, Warner Theater, Studio Theater Major attractions that haven't been mentioned yet (I don't think). Some are private, and thus may not be free: - The Renwick Gallery - The Kennedy Center - The National Portrait Gallery - Freer/Sackler Gallery - The Phillips Collection - National Building Museum - National Zoo - National Museum of African American History (the last time I checked tickets were free but had to be reserved months in advance -- perhaps it's improved since when it first opened)
I like you love Washington DC. So much so that recently I drove down twice from New Hampshire in the course of four weeks for two 3 day stays. I would definitely recommend the Natural History Museum, although I like the one in London a bit more, the National gallery if you like art and the Federal Bureau of printing and engraving where you can see them making money. Outside of DC in Virginia near Dulles airport is the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center National Air and Space museum. This is the large hanger where a space shuttle, Enola Gay, a SR71 blackbird and many other planes are shown. I would highly recommend talking a night walk around the Lincoln memorial area. The Vietnam memorial and the Korean war memorial have an especially haunting and poignant feel after dark. A hint, to save some money stay in Virginia or Maryland near one of the Metro lines.
Excellent advice@Mike Bates. I have recommended to friends going to DC to book a hotel or Air BNB along the Metro's Orange Line just across the river from DC in Northern Virginia. Less expensive and very convenient.
I grew up near DC and was a National Park Ranger at four of the monuments/memorials on the Mall. I very much agree with all of your suggestions. If I may tack on a few more, the Octagon House near the White House is an outstanding example of Federal architecture and is quite historic in regards to the War of 1812 and the burning of Washington. I'd also go a few miles into NW DC to visit the National Cathedral. My last addition would be to cross the river into Virginia and proceed south to George Washington's home Mount Vernon.
You could head into Maryland and visit the NSA museum at Ft. Meade. It's halfway between DC and Baltimore. And it has a gift shop. Or sign up for a tour of the Pentagon.
I at the opening day of the Air & Space museum. I watched President Ford give the opening speech with a huge crowd waiting to get inside. The A&S museum in 1976 was spectacular. I can't image what it is like now...
Having lived most of my life just outside DC, I would recommend Hillwood Estate - Margorie Merriweather Post's (of breakfast cereal fame) home that features Faberge Eggs, Russian and Oriental collections. There's also a cute dacha on the property. If ever visiting Maryland, try a trip to visit Calvert Cliffs State Park on the shore of the Chesapeake Bay in Lusby, you can collect fossilized shark teeth and other fossils along the shore.
If you enjoyed the Air & Space museum on the Mall, you should try to get out to the Udvar-Hazy annex out near Dulles airport. It has everything from the last Concorde to fly to Federal Express' first plane. A huge open space quite unlike the one in DC.
The Frederick Douglass House, the National Arboretum, Iwo Jima Memorial, Arlington National Cemetery, the Aquatic Gardens, Ford's Theater and any of Rick Snyder's tour sites are all worth a visit.
Well, since the Air&Space Museum got such a warm review, there is an Annex to it called the Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, VA at Dulles International Airport. It has an IMAX theater, and it houses some restoration facilities with an actual visitors viewing area. This has the original prototype of the Boeing 367-80 aircraft that became the 707 and the C-135 that Tex Johnston did two full barrel rolls in. Here also is _Enola Gay_ , the Space Shuttle Discovery, the Gemini 7 capsule which carried Lovell and Borman, 2/3s of the crew of the Apollo 8 mission which first flew around the Moon and took the _Earthrise_ photograph, a french Concorde, and an SR-71. Bringing you back to your homeland is the _Gossamer Albatross_ , the first human powered aircraft to fly across the English Channel. And, as they say, *♫Many Moooore♫*
DC is a beautiful place to be. I was once stationed at nearby Andrew's AFB and so I was able to go to those places which I very much enjoyed. I do miss the Smithsonian museums.
Damn, Zion- you took it dark...Gun violence is all over the place in America. For instance, where I am currently. But we can't live our lives in fear. What good would that do?
@@passiert1027 I wouldn't say all over America it's mostly safe as hell but there's a few standout cities with extreme amounts of gang violence (parts of cities)lol St Louis, Baltimore, New Orleans, Chicago for example even DC ghetto as hell in certain areas which is what this person saying
When you return, go to Washington's home, Mount Vernon, which is in Mount Vernon, Virginia. It's about 30-45 minutes away from the city depending on traffic. You will want to use Uber, Lyft, because the bus service will take a long time.
Though not in DC, you should consider visiting Thomas Jefferson's Monticello (I pronounce the c as a ch but some say it's as an s). Anyway, it's about 2 hours southwest in Virginia but it is a fascinating place. But get there early as the demand for tours is pretty intense.
Wonderful! Thanks so much for this. Having lived near DC, I share the pleasure in these felicities. One more thing to enjoy there (I suspect you already did, as you mentioned it): the Metro system. I know many large cities have underground transport, but this one seems especially neat and pleasing to the orderly mind, partly because it's more recent than most: it wasn't begun until the 1970s. As for museums in Chicago, you didn't mention the Museum of Science and Industry. I've hope you've gone or will go soon. I see that it now charges admission -- it used not to, when I was growing up there -- but it does have free days for Illinois residents.
RE DC’s street grid: Numbered streets actually run north to south, while lettered streets run east to west. As for other things to check out there, I often recommend Eastern Market, one of the last surviving public markets in the city. It was refurbished a few years back after a fire gutted it.
Lost in the Pond, and Roll with Cole and Charisma, both drop videos on the same night!!! Life is good!!! 😁😁❤❤ I wish I would have know when you were in D.C. I would have loved to have done a meet up!!!
I live in suburban DC. I love going into DC, especially taking visitors from out of town. One comment: the numbered streets run north-south, and the alphabetical streets run east-west.
Next time get your Congressman's office to give you a tour of the Capitol, you won't have to wait in tourist lines. It's beautiful inside. Also go to the second Air and Space Museum out by Dulles Airport. It amazing, so much history there, including the Enola Gay! The War Memorials are very moving especially the Korean and WWII and DO NOT forget Arlington at the Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown!
The first actual vacation I ever took (by myself) was to DC. In addition to other things, it is a tourist town--the locals are very accommodating and good natured. I have fond memories of one of the local specialties: crab cakes.
I grew up outside of DC and, like you, was surprised to find later when visiting other cities (Chicago) that museums cost money. The Smithsonian's Natural History Museum is also a great choice. Rock Creek Park and the National Zoo are great way to "escape" while in the city as is the C&O Canal (starts in Georgetown).
Not too far from DC is Williamsburg, Virginia. You can go to Busch Gardens amusement park & Colonial Williamsburg. Also, Mt. Vernon (George Washington’s home) is near DC as well.
Busch Gardens? Not too far? That’s almost three hours away. You could be in New Jersey in that amount of time going the opposite direction. It’s really far away...
Laurence, I grew up in DC and thought all museums were free also. You can imagine my shock when they asked me for money when I went to a vienna museum.
1) The Freer and Sackler Galleries are hidden favorites and great if you like Asian art. 2) The Udvar Hazy is worth a trip but you have to pay for parking. You can get up close and personal (but not touch) the space shuttle Discovery. 3) The National Building Museum has some of the more unusual exhibitions at times. Plus, it’s adjacent to Penn Quarter/Chinatown, and a slew of restaurants. 4) You probably already know the National Museum of African American History is currently one of the hot tickets. 5) The National Arboretum is sprawling, serene, and close to the up and coming neighborhoods of H Street NE and Ivy City. Ivy City has the excellent city winery for food and they often have musical shows upstairs. H street has a lot of new restaurants. 6) The Kennedy Center has an excellent rooftop terrance and free concerts daily. 7) The I. M. Pei designed east building of the National Gallery of Art is exceptional and worth it for the giant Alexander Calder alone, but has its great exhibitions. There are a lot of interesting neighborhoods in DC but Dupont and Logan Circles tend to be the trendiest. Georgetown and Capital Hill have their bright spots but not as much and the aforementioned circles. There are some great restaurants and vintage shops along 14th and U streets NW, but the area is dynamic and ever changing.(My friends from France thought DC looked very “English” to them, for what that’s worth) There’s tons more but I don’t know enough about what you want to see.The Phillips Collection has an entry fee. The Aquarium or Visionary Art Museum in Baltimore are worth a look if you feel like hoping a train up or taking a car or bus. Or the little know but highly praised Glenstone Museum in Potomac, MD, but that has no parking so you need a cab or something to drop you there. And when you get back to your hotel in DC, you can watch a local broadcast channel devoted entirely to programming from the UK, WETA-UK.
Arlington Cemetery and Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Lincoln Memorial, Ford’s Theater, Vietnam Veterans Memorial (the Wall), Museum of Natural History to name a few.
The war memorials are striking: provocative, and evocative at the same time, they are a fabous examole of what art is, and a fitting tribute to the people who paid the ultimate price. While we're on that topic, the Arlington National Cemetery, and the tomb of the unknown soldier are worth a visit. BTW, I feel tge beed to state (as I'm sure others have) that the site of two famous speeches you mentioned is actually the front steps of the Lincoln Memorial. Only as you look at tge back of the heads of the speakers can you see the Washington Monument as a backdrop.
Arlington National Cemetery. Try to time your visit with the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. It’s very moving. I also found it interesting to step away from the tour and just walk around the cemetery. The parts of the cemetery where they hadn’t decided that all tombstones must be uniform were the most interesting.
I went to D.C. in an 8th grade trip. I did enjoy seeing everything but I had a problem with the people. At the Union station, four teens were blocking the stairs by laying on them. My friends and I had to step over their legs. When I went over one of them slapped my behind. One of my friends flipped them off for that. We heard them yelling at us but we went on. This is why I love the U.P. and small towns more. There are more people with manners there then urban cities.
You were at the Mall and missed the Natural History Museum! You missed the elephant, the brontosaur, the allosaur, the skull of a mammal like reptile, and the dentures of the Maryland megalodons? I weep for you! One place to go in D.C., not too far from downtown, is Nationals Park to take in a baseball game. The Nats are doing very well just now, certainly better than the Cubbies or Sox.
Also, off the top of my head, the Hirshhorn Museum, the U.S. Mint, the Holocaust Museum, National Arboretum, Arlington Cemetery, the National Cathedral (massive gothic architecture) , the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception (massive Byzantine architecture), Roosevelt Island (Ted, not Frank), & the C&O canal, its towpath & associated bike paths.Read more Show less
Definitely recommend crossing the river into Virginia (my state) to see the Pentagon, the national cemetery (I can't remember the name), Mount Vernon, Monticello, and the city of Alexandria. Also you should come down to Virginia Beach sometime.
You are the 1st visitor (American or not) to appreciate our grid system. A slice of unicorn cake to you sir. Most people don't understand how easy it is if you can count to 100 or spell a-z lol
DC has the nicest subway system in the world, and it has had the time till next train boards since the 1980s, something Chicago finally had only 5-10 years ago. The precast concrete coffers that play off the neoclassical dome ceilings is striking and one of the few brutalist architectures people seem to appreciate. And they go everywhere in the city. As for places, the National Zoo is renowned. The National Cathedral is great architecture and with it's high gothic style you'll feel a bit like you're in Salisbury. And for good nightlife and dinner hit the Georgetown area. Other must see things across the Potomac are Arlington Cemetery, Alexandria, and Mount Vernon.
It would have been nice to see video of you exploring DC. For your next visit, I recommend the National Portrait Gallery (housed in the old Patent Office Building from the 1830s); Congressional Cemetery, where all the famous Americans from the late 18th and 19th Century are buried, before it was cool to be buried at Arlington National Cemetery; the Navy Yard; go to a Washington Nationals baseball game; the Botanic Gardens; the US National Arboretum; the Air and Space Museum campus at Dulles Airport (not the one downtown); and Old Town Alexandria.
Ah I visited D.C. earlier this year! After I was in Ottawa, Canada!! I love Great Britain so much and just absorb all of your nation’s history, and I have pretty much your monarchs’s memorized. Now I as an American am so in love with Brit!
My two favorite things from our last visit to DC were the Native American Museum and the Museum at the National Archives. Also, if you ever make it back to St. Louis, we have tons of free &/or inexpensive museums, and our zoo is free too.
There are some really nice parks along the mall between the Lincoln Memorial, the World War 2 Memorial and the Vietnam War Memorial. The park dedicated to the Signers or the Declaration of Independence is one of my favorites. The best times to come to Washington DC are in the spring when the trees, including cherries are in bloom and in the fall when the leaves are turning. It can get really hot and humid in the summer and can get quite cold in the winter but also nice if the weather is good. Please remember that DC is a working city, not Disney Land, and stand on the right of the Metro escalators without blocking the way and let the commuters pass on the left.
Go up Massachusetts Ave. from Dupont Circle to see Embassy Row. When you get to Wisconsin Ave., hang a left and if it’s summer go see a show at Ft. Reno, for a little slice of harDCore history.
I really liked Washington D.C. It has been a while since I visited but I remember liking all the Smithsonian museums. The Air and Space Museum was so cool, the Spotsylvania Stump was moving. I saw Ray Charles perform, at the JFK Theater, which was amazing. Other things that stood out were, the Metro, it was nice, and Pinocchio's Pizza was terrific. Thanks for the vid peace
You missed the Lincoln Memorial, which is actually where MLK's "I Have a Dream" speech was staged. That western end of the Mall also has some very moving memorials to the fallen during the Vietnam War and to those who fought in World War II. Also, you should come back to see the African-American history and culture museum. There are also a ton of art museums covering every era and region of the world. There really is a lot to see in DC.
See the National Zoo, the Natural History Museum, The National Art Gallery, the Freer Art Gallery, Arlington Cemetery, the Lincoln Memorial --- I was born in DC and lived there for 25 years.
Art lovers and everyone else: Don’t miss the National Gallery. Housed in two buildings, a classic Greco-Roman revival museum and a stunning modern masterpiece by I.M. Pei, its vast collection of treasures includes the only painting by da Vinci to be seen on this side of the Atlantic.
True, it's beautiful and so big. There's far to much to see in one day. The Art Museum needs 2 days. The museums would take a week to really see thoroughly.
National Gallery is great. So too is the Corcoran.
Also, off the top of my head, the Hirshhorn Museum, the U.S. Mint, the Holocaust Museum, National Arboretum, Arlington Cemetery, the National Cathedral (massive gothic architecture) , the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception (massive Byzantine architecture), Roosevelt Island (Ted, not Frank), & the C&O canal, its towpath & associated bike paths.
Additionally there is the Hirshhorn Museum (which includes Rodin's "Burghers of Calais" and the Freer, which contains the famous Peacock Room
The National Gallery of Art has some of the best restaurants on the Mall as well as the nicest bathrooms.
Check out the National Archives to see the Declaration of Independence, Constitution, and even an original copy of the Magna Carta
@Sean Whearty King John of England won’t like that!
His nephew Arthur should have been King, so tough to Johnnie. (And tough to Arthur, the way he was disposed of.) Anyway, Magna Carta is certainly worth a reverential look: it's where one derives the rule of law and "no taxation without representation" (indirectly), which the west side of the pond exploited profitably in the eighteenth century.
@Edward Miles If his nephew Arthur became king of England then the house of Dreux-Montfort would rule correct?
All I know is that Arthur was a Plantagenet, like his father and Uncle John (they being brothers, his father having died in a joust and thus being unavailable to protect Arthur and his sister).
@Edward Miles Yeah I just checked actually he was indeed a Plantagenet the French of Dreux-Montfort hadn’t inherited Brittany yet. Some reasons heirs called Arthur don’t do too well. Such is also the case of Arthur Tudor.
I would definitely recommend the zoo, maybe going to see a baseball game at Nats Park, heading across the river to see the changing of the guard at Arlington National Cemetery, and taking a walk through Georgetown
YES THE ZOO!! God I love the zoo, I grew up going there all the time and my parents lived across the street from it when they had my older sibling. That, natural history, and air and space all are favs of mine.
The zoo is free admission, too, being yet another Smithsonian institution. Shout out to James Smithson, famed English chemist and the Smithsonian's founding donor.
I would recommend the Tomb of the Unknown Solider in Arlington National Cemetery along with Robert E. Lees house. its a very powerful sober feeling you have walking though that place
If you go to Arlington Iphone or Android app it really helps.
Yes, Arlington is a sobering, majestic place. Be sure to stay for the changing of the guard!!
The National Portrait Gallery is the best off-the-mall Smithsonian museum, located in Chinatown near the hockey arena. While you're there, you can get some of the best food in the city.
Chinatown is amazing, I've driven/ridden the metro over an hour each way just to eat dinner there on a whim. Totally worth it even if everything else about DC sucks at that time of night.
I also recommend the portrait gallery
It’s my favorite city to visit. The kennnedy center has a free concert every night. And the air & space annex at Dulles is even better
Nicholas Scott I prefer the downtown version because it is exhibition centric. At Udvar-Hazy I feel like I am wandering around trying to create an exhibition in my head. But the shuttle is fabulous.
Mt. Vernon , Arlington Cemetery (complete with watching the changing of the guard), and Ford’s Theatre are all super full of history and information 😊
"Well, other than that, Mrs Lincoln; how was the play?"
I used to work on the Hill. Before your visit to DC, ALWAYS write your Senator and your Rep, and let them know when you will be visiting. They have access to Free Stuff, including extended and guided tours (rather than mere walk-throughs) and maps, invitations to stop by their offices. . .we would send out lovely books describing the sculptures in various buildings. We used to be able to take people to the Congressional dining room for fantastic bean soup. It's great soup. Anyway, different offices offer different things. Send them a list of what you plan to do, and see what they can offer.
Roosevelt's island is my favorite place in all of DC. It's such a peaceful place for where it is in the city, full of beautiful nature trails as a living memorial to such a legendary outdoorsman and conservationist.
If your looking for different locales in DC,I highly recommend visiting Rock Creek Park. It's a massive National Park in the middle of DC that is full of secluded nature trails, fauna, and babbling creeks, you'll forget your in the middle of a city! Georgetown area is also pretty interesting, It has a unique feel and style from the rest of DC, and has tons of shops and outdoor activities along the Potomac river. DC's Chinatown has some really great food too!
My dad and I went to Washington D.C. in March 2019 for spring break and walked absolutely everywhere! Never took a car, only the metro which was amazing! The most I walked in one day during the trip was about 13 miles and it is a bit hellish. All in all, we saw the Washington monument, Lincoln memorial, Arlington, a Denny’s in Maryland, air and space museum, etc. We drove from Michigan to dc and stopped by the air force museum in Dayton Ohio, spent absolutely ages there and it was wonderful! We saw similar things between the air force museum and air and space museum, which was fine Getting back to dc, the hotel was terrible and really expensive at I think $90 something a night, even on the outskirts of dc, but it didn’t really matter except when it started to warm up towards the end and wasn’t bloody cold. In summary, Washington D.C was awesome and if you can, go see it. Oh, another thing my dad and I saw the White House and talked to a secret service agent for a moment and the agent was really friendly. Took a panoramic of the capital building and had a lot of fun.
Georgetown is my favorite part of DC. It also has my favorite museum in the entire city, Dumbarton Oaks. It has collections that are much older than other art museums. Byzantine, medieval, ancient Egypt. Really fascinating stuff. Also the building and grounds are lovely.
I worked in GT for 15 years, walked past it twice every day. Never knew what it was. I will check it out.
I studied Byzantine civilization in college. I remember that a lot of the books were printed for Dumbarton Oaks. I'll have to go there some time.
@@supercolinblow it’s really lovely. I could spend days there.
The national cathedral is gorgeous, but it is also a little bit out of the way. You should definitely check it out, regardless of your religion!
Yes! My high school graduation was in there. It is spectacular. The rose window has a moon rock in it if I recollect. It's too bad they'll miss the garden at it's best.
Agreed. Even though Lawrence comes from the land of Plenty of Cathedrals Already, the Space Window is worth seeing, and the setting looking out over the city is splendid.
It's actually pretty close to the Mall though! I was visiting my uncle who lives several blocks north of the Mall and found that you just need to jump on P Street or whatever up to Connecticut Ave and I think it takes you all the way up. Only about a 12-15 minute drive. I too recommend a journey up to it and then a short self-guided tour around Georgetown University and then maybe dinner in Georgetown itself :)
@@andromedaspark2241 SAES?
@@jonasblum yes
DC holds a special place in my heart as it's the place of my birth. On another visit, you may want to visit the tidal basin in the spring when the cherry blossoms are in bloom. It's quite beautiful!
Definitely. The cherry blossoms were brought back from Japan by Commodore Perry.
Trivia you may appreciate. There is no "J" street but there is a "Jay" street. Right after I street and before K street.
There is a Jay St. NE, but not in the L'Enfant grid between I and K. (Lawrence needs to come to grips with the quadrants when he comes back for a longer visit. That'll be a test for his love of grids.)
@@CarinRuff You are so right. Your reply must have sharpened my memory, temporarily. There is no "I" street. In it's place is "Eye" street. Thanks for the clarification.
@Tom G. Oh I leaned that from an Episode of NCIS. Season 6 Episode “Broken Bird.”
There are sections of "I" street also if you don't know where to look, lol. They find you on accident. DC is confusing but only for the first 3-4 years of living and driving there, lol. By that time you'll be able to get in and out of all 4 regions of the city and hopefully avoid some red light cameras and daily traffic jams. Patience is the most helpful driving skill in the capital!!!!!
What do you mean there is no "J" Street? I beg your pardon
The air and space annex out by Dulles Is the most amazing thing I saw on my trip there this summer
Hiya there, Lawrence! I’m a DC native! I’m so glad you’re enjoying this city that I love so much.
I always recommend going for a walk on the foot trails in Rock Creek Park. It’s one of my favorite places to go when you need a little nature in the city.
It would be a pleasure to show you around if you’re ever back in town! Just say the word.
Next time go to the south part of DC! Depending on the time of year, you’ll be able to see a Nationals (baseball), DC United (Soccer), or Defenders (American football) game! There’s tons of great restaurants around there too. Spring would be a great time because of the cherry blossoms!
And the Cherry Blossom festival, the taiko drummers are amazing.
The Smithsonian's Air & Space Museum's annex near Dulles Airport is really worthwhile (and also free admission!). It's massive. You can see the actual Space Shuttle Columbia, the Enola Gay, a real Air France Concorde, the SR-71 spy plane, historical space capsules & rockets, etc. It's an immense hangar filled with aerospace history. Truly an amazing place.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steven_F._Udvar-Hazy_Center
Ok Lawrence, here’s a couple of suggestions for your next D.C. visit:
1. Ford’s Theater... absolutely fascinating, though eerie at different points.
2. The Vietnam Memorial. Hard to explain this piece of Americana, sobering.
3. The Lincoln Memorial.
Any American can be proud of our martyred President; Old Abe!!
It is happy there (that’s tricky to justify, It just is). Great spot to pose for a picture.
Ok amigo, cheerio😎
The Korean War Memorial is very awe-inspiring.
Ah yes, Vietnam, a place outside of America so American you can taste the freedom.
Except it isn’t ‘free’
It’s communist!
YinYang Devil - Not sure where ur coming from YY, but this American experience called the Vietnam War had a LARGE impact on us, in many ways... akin to WW II or, you know, the Cold War.
The monument itself is indeed “Americana”... visit with your eyes open please.
You should visit the great falls of the Potomac. I especially like the remnants of the lock system that George Washington was trying to build back in the 1700's.
Counter Tenor if you’re talking about the C&O Canal, then it was actually used a lot to bring goods, especially coal down from Appalachia towards DC
I've been there! It's really cool and the falls are pretty. I actually saw some insane people riding through in kayaks.
The FDR MLK and Jefferson memorials are all away from the Mall but right next to each other if I remember. The WW2 memorial is one of the most beautiful memorials I've ever seen (ironic for such a bleak war). Also Arlington is amazing as far as cemeteries go. Those would be my suggestions.
The Inner Harbor at Annapolis MD is a must see, away from the hustle of DC. The site of the US Naval Academy. Mount Vernon on the VA side was Washington's home and his grave is there as well. We live west of DC, past Manassas VA on the freeway.
Inner Harbour is my favourite spot used to go there regularly when Iived up there!
David Robinson and the MAryland State capitol is one of my favorites
Not sure London is as “free” as you remember. I had to pay around $20 US to go through the Churchill war museum in June of 2016.
Private museum that lives on tickets....all the main ones are
That's true, but the Churchill War Rooms are perhaps geared more toward history-buffs, (as I doubt regular tourists will appreciate going). Yet being quite the Churchill enthusiast as I am, going to see the actual war rooms was absolutely worth the price.
But if there's one thing, don't forget the time you have to fork over waiting in the queue - up to two hours if I recall waiting just to get in.
That's true, but the Churchill War Rooms are perhaps geared more toward history-buffs, (as I doubt regular tourists will appreciate going). Yet being quite the Churchill enthusiast as I am, going to see the actual war rooms was definitely worth the price.
But if there's one thing, don't forget the time you have to fork over waiting in the queue - up to two hours if I recall waiting just to get in.
If you abhor a city street grid layout, visit Boston.
My home town, and I still live in the 'burbs. Thank you for the tribute.
I went to DC twice as a child. Definitely the best part of the city is the monuments. And the cherry blossoms are beautiful in the summer. BTW, another fantastic video mon ami
Living near there my favorite part was the Metro. Clean, reliable, frequent, and reasonably priced. Riding that to work or to the museums or monuments made it easy to not miss cars. Got so much reading done on my commute.
I was spending £15-18 per museum visit during my 2016 stay in London.
Mr. Smithson did this country a great favor, underwriting what would become a great research institution.
He never set foot in the country but he certainly helped set its future course.
James Smithson was English.
@@jtcash2005 I know. His gift was prescient.
He's also a jerk for making so many museums that you can't really visit them all in a single trip.
His remains were brought from Genoa to the Smithsonian in 1904
I absolutely love DC, so much free or nearly free amazing things to go see, food is awesome too. I got really bad tendinitis in my foot from so much walking one of the last times we visited.
Glad you made it to DC, and that you got the Height of Buildings Act factoid right. We have SO MANY ALPHABETS. Not just the plain letters one, but after that the two-syllable words alphabet, the three-syllable words alphabet, and the trees-and-flowers names alphabet. You'll encounter them when you come back and get out (and up hill) from the Mall and explore the neighborhoods. You can take the bus due north on 16th Street from the White House until you hit the Maryland line and you will cross ALL THE ALPHABETS. Oh, and if you groove on grids, you should also visit Old Town Alexandria, Virginia, across the river from DC.
Try going down at night when it is less crowded and make sure to check out the monuments, especially Lincoln's. The lighting, Lincoln seated, it's really impressive !!!
Please remember though, that many of the free museums close at 5 p.m.
You gotta check out Theodore Roosevelt’s Island, it’s his memorial and a nice walk through nature.
But skip the statue; it's a brutal Socialist Realism nightmare.
@@tjcassidy2694 what do you mean?
@@tjcassidy2694 Please no
The 2nd Air and Space museum, the Washington Cathedral, Restaurants, Embassies, spy museum, Virginia Great Falls...and so much more!
If you liked the DC air and space museum you should check out the one next to Dulles airport (Udvar Hazy), it's got an amazing collection with an SR71 and a Space Shuttle as it's main displays with like 50+ other aircraft spanning the history of aviation including some rare examples of late war German jets.
Well you still have all the other museums and monuments to go back and see.
Also consider visiting the Arlington National Cemetary and The Zoo.
BTW take a ferry ride from DC to Alexandria, VA and learn about its historical Old Town and how once upon a time it was meant to be a part of D.C. which would explain why D.C. looks like half a diamond.
You didn't see The District, you saw the Federal Enclave. Get up to the U street corridor, or out to NE. Hear some Go-Go, or some Jazz, try some mumbo sauce.
The people you saw there were all either tourists or commuters. Meet some of the locals, it really is a nice city.
Lesser known DC attractions (I know, DC natives, I've left a ton of stuff out):
- Politics and Prose Bookstore
- Tons of breweries
- DC neighborhoods: Adams Morgan, Georgetown, Dupont Circle, Foggy Bottom, "Chinatown", Southwest & The Wharf
- Music venues: Blues Alley, the Lincoln Theater, the 9:30 Club, Union Stage, The Black Cat, The Howard Theatre, DAR Constitution Hall
- Theaters: Shakespeare Theater Company, Woolly Mammoth Theater, National Theater, Arena Stage, Warner Theater, Studio Theater
Major attractions that haven't been mentioned yet (I don't think). Some are private, and thus may not be free:
- The Renwick Gallery
- The Kennedy Center
- The National Portrait Gallery
- Freer/Sackler Gallery
- The Phillips Collection
- National Building Museum
- National Zoo
- National Museum of African American History (the last time I checked tickets were free but had to be reserved months in advance -- perhaps it's improved since when it first opened)
I like you love Washington DC. So much so that recently I drove down twice from New Hampshire in the course of four weeks for two 3 day stays. I would definitely recommend the Natural History Museum, although I like the one in London a bit more, the National gallery if you like art and the Federal Bureau of printing and engraving where you can see them making money. Outside of DC in Virginia near Dulles airport is the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center National Air and Space museum. This is the large hanger where a space shuttle, Enola Gay, a SR71 blackbird and many other planes are shown. I would highly recommend talking a night walk around the Lincoln memorial area. The Vietnam memorial and the Korean war memorial have an especially haunting and poignant feel after dark. A hint, to save some money stay in Virginia or Maryland near one of the Metro lines.
Excellent advice@Mike Bates. I have recommended to friends going to DC to book a hotel or Air BNB along the Metro's Orange Line just across the river from DC in Northern Virginia. Less expensive and very convenient.
The last time my friend and I took in a Nats game, we stayed in a Comfort Inn and Suites in College Park, MD, 5 blocks from the Metro station.
I grew up near DC and was a National Park Ranger at four of the monuments/memorials on the Mall. I very much agree with all of your suggestions. If I may tack on a few more, the Octagon House near the White House is an outstanding example of Federal architecture and is quite historic in regards to the War of 1812 and the burning of Washington. I'd also go a few miles into NW DC to visit the National Cathedral. My last addition would be to cross the river into Virginia and proceed south to George Washington's home Mount Vernon.
You could head into Maryland and visit the NSA museum at Ft. Meade. It's halfway between DC and Baltimore. And it has a gift shop.
Or sign up for a tour of the Pentagon.
You should check out the air and space museum near Dulles airport, it has the space shuttle there.
I at the opening day of the Air & Space museum. I watched President Ford give the opening speech with a huge crowd waiting to get inside. The A&S museum in 1976 was spectacular. I can't image what it is like now...
Really cool seeing people of different backgrounds enjoying American history so much!
Having lived most of my life just outside DC, I would recommend Hillwood Estate - Margorie Merriweather Post's (of breakfast cereal fame) home that features Faberge Eggs, Russian and Oriental collections. There's also a cute dacha on the property. If ever visiting Maryland, try a trip to visit Calvert Cliffs State Park on the shore of the Chesapeake Bay in Lusby, you can collect fossilized shark teeth and other fossils along the shore.
If you enjoyed the Air & Space museum on the Mall, you should try to get out to the Udvar-Hazy annex out near Dulles airport. It has everything from the last Concorde to fly to Federal Express' first plane. A huge open space quite unlike the one in DC.
The Frederick Douglass House, the National Arboretum, Iwo Jima Memorial, Arlington National Cemetery, the Aquatic Gardens, Ford's Theater and any of Rick Snyder's tour sites are all worth a visit.
Well, since the Air&Space Museum got such a warm review, there is an Annex to it called the Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, VA at Dulles International Airport. It has an IMAX theater, and it houses some restoration facilities with an actual visitors viewing area. This has the original prototype of the Boeing 367-80 aircraft that became the 707 and the C-135 that Tex Johnston did two full barrel rolls in. Here also is _Enola Gay_ , the Space Shuttle Discovery, the Gemini 7 capsule which carried Lovell and Borman, 2/3s of the crew of the Apollo 8 mission which first flew around the Moon and took the _Earthrise_ photograph, a french Concorde, and an SR-71. Bringing you back to your homeland is the _Gossamer Albatross_ , the first human powered aircraft to fly across the English Channel. And, as they say, *♫Many Moooore♫*
DC is a beautiful place to be. I was once stationed at nearby Andrew's AFB and so I was able to go to those places which I very much enjoyed. I do miss the Smithsonian museums.
I'm embarrassed to say that as an American, I've never been to DC😔. On my list of must-see-places before life gets away from me.
passiert1027 Agreed! I feel the same way.
I hope you can go soon. You’ll love it and will want to go again!
Damn, Zion- you took it dark...Gun violence is all over the place in America. For instance, where I am currently. But we can't live our lives in fear. What good would that do?
@@ZionKingg and the gang member/shooter won't be a white person either.
@@passiert1027 I wouldn't say all over America it's mostly safe as hell but there's a few standout cities with extreme amounts of gang violence (parts of cities)lol St Louis, Baltimore, New Orleans, Chicago for example even DC ghetto as hell in certain areas which is what this person saying
When you return, go to Washington's home, Mount Vernon, which is in Mount Vernon, Virginia. It's about 30-45 minutes away from the city depending on traffic. You will want to use Uber, Lyft, because the bus service will take a long time.
Though not in DC, you should consider visiting Thomas Jefferson's Monticello (I pronounce the c as a ch but some say it's as an s). Anyway, it's about 2 hours southwest in Virginia but it is a fascinating place. But get there early as the demand for tours is pretty intense.
Yes! Very neat place to visit. Thomas Jefferson was very original in his design of the house. Lots of clever inventions he put in it.
“Comprehensive public transportation!” 😂
By American standards, sure. You can reach most parts of the city by public transportation relatively easily (remember, BUSES also count).
@Brandi Bohannon "This is the Redline train to Shady Grove... In about 3 hours"
Wonderful! Thanks so much for this. Having lived near DC, I share the pleasure in these felicities.
One more thing to enjoy there (I suspect you already did, as you mentioned it): the Metro system. I know many large cities have underground transport, but this one seems especially neat and pleasing to the orderly mind, partly because it's more recent than most: it wasn't begun until the 1970s.
As for museums in Chicago, you didn't mention the Museum of Science and Industry. I've hope you've gone or will go soon. I see that it now charges admission -- it used not to, when I was growing up there -- but it does have free days for Illinois residents.
As a teenager, I spent many, many hours on weekends exploring and enjoying the Natural History Museum and the National Art Gallery.
Arlington cemetery, Lincoln’s theater, Mt. Vernon (not technically in D.C. but still really cool)!
RE DC’s street grid:
Numbered streets actually run north to south, while lettered streets run east to west.
As for other things to check out there, I often recommend Eastern Market, one of the last surviving public markets in the city. It was refurbished a few years back after a fire gutted it.
Always nice to see what people outside the area think of our city. We also love our free museums.
Lost in the Pond, and Roll with Cole and Charisma, both drop videos on the same night!!! Life is good!!! 😁😁❤❤
I wish I would have know when you were in D.C. I would have loved to have done a meet up!!!
I live in suburban DC. I love going into DC, especially taking visitors from out of town. One comment: the numbered streets run north-south, and the alphabetical streets run east-west.
The Lincoln Memorial is my favorite. You need to see it at night too!
The National Cathedral, The National Zoo in NW DC. Georgetown. The Arboretum. The Botanical Gardens. and of course so many more museums.....
I recommend the portrait gallery... A good combination of art and history.
Next time get your Congressman's office to give you a tour of the Capitol, you won't have to wait in tourist lines. It's beautiful inside. Also go to the second Air and Space Museum out by Dulles Airport. It amazing, so much history there, including the Enola Gay! The War Memorials are very moving especially the Korean and WWII and DO NOT forget Arlington at the Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown!
Make your request for a tour of the Capitol ahead of your visit. You can also request tickets for a tour of the White House!
Glad that you are a person who can focus on the positives. May the rest of us do it more often.
The first actual vacation I ever took (by myself) was to DC. In addition to other things, it is a tourist town--the locals are very accommodating and good natured. I have fond memories of one of the local specialties: crab cakes.
Excellent list, Laurence! Feel free to reach out next time. We can definitely show you some stuff off-the-Mall that's up your alley.
I grew up outside of DC and, like you, was surprised to find later when visiting other cities (Chicago) that museums cost money. The Smithsonian's Natural History Museum is also a great choice. Rock Creek Park and the National Zoo are great way to "escape" while in the city as is the C&O Canal (starts in Georgetown).
I visited the air and space Museum and the planetarium was sooo cool. It was definitely my favorite part
“…a who’s who of educational kids’ puzzles.” 🤣 Love this channel.
Ford’s Theater, Natural History Museum, Arlington, and Georgetown.
You can also see the Capitol building from the concourse of Nationals Park baseball stadium.
James Townsend Sadly you can’t anymore. There have been too many buildings built between them.
I visited DC in 2006 and wow it was amazing
As a Texan I appreciate the note about the Lone Star capitol building
Your shirt brings out the green in your eyes!!! Nice!
Talking about my second favorite American city and living in my favorite city
Not too far from DC is Williamsburg, Virginia. You can go to Busch Gardens amusement park & Colonial Williamsburg. Also, Mt. Vernon (George Washington’s home) is near DC as well.
Busch Gardens? Not too far? That’s almost three hours away. You could be in New Jersey in that amount of time going the opposite direction.
It’s really far away...
Laurence, I grew up in DC and thought all museums were free also. You can imagine my shock when they asked me for money when I went to a vienna museum.
1) The Freer and Sackler Galleries are hidden favorites and great if you like Asian art.
2) The Udvar Hazy is worth a trip but you have to pay for parking. You can get up close and personal (but not touch) the space shuttle Discovery.
3) The National Building Museum has some of the more unusual exhibitions at times. Plus, it’s adjacent to Penn Quarter/Chinatown, and a slew of restaurants.
4) You probably already know the National Museum of African American History is currently one of the hot tickets.
5) The National Arboretum is sprawling, serene, and close to the up and coming neighborhoods of H Street NE and Ivy City. Ivy City has the excellent city winery for food and they often have musical shows upstairs. H street has a lot of new restaurants.
6) The Kennedy Center has an excellent rooftop terrance and free concerts daily.
7) The I. M. Pei designed east building of the National Gallery of Art is exceptional and worth it for the giant Alexander Calder alone, but has its great exhibitions.
There are a lot of interesting neighborhoods in DC but Dupont and Logan Circles tend to be the trendiest. Georgetown and Capital Hill have their bright spots but not as much and the aforementioned circles. There are some great restaurants and vintage shops along 14th and U streets NW, but the area is dynamic and ever changing.(My friends from France thought DC looked very “English” to them, for what that’s worth)
There’s tons more but I don’t know enough about what you want to see.The Phillips Collection has an entry fee. The Aquarium or Visionary Art Museum in Baltimore are worth a look if you feel like hoping a train up or taking a car or bus. Or the little know but highly praised Glenstone Museum in Potomac, MD, but that has no parking so you need a cab or something to drop you there.
And when you get back to your hotel in DC, you can watch a local broadcast channel devoted entirely to programming from the UK, WETA-UK.
Arlington Cemetery and Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Lincoln Memorial, Ford’s Theater, Vietnam Veterans Memorial (the Wall), Museum of Natural History to name a few.
Lincoln’s Summer Cottage in Northeast DC is nice and not as heavy a tourist trap. I recommend a visit when you’re in town next.
Georgetown neighborhood and riverfront. Wonderful culture n shopping
The war memorials are striking: provocative, and evocative at the same time, they are a fabous examole of what art is, and a fitting tribute to the people who paid the ultimate price. While we're on that topic, the Arlington National Cemetery, and the tomb of the unknown soldier are worth a visit.
BTW, I feel tge beed to state (as I'm sure others have) that the site of two famous speeches you mentioned is actually the front steps of the Lincoln Memorial. Only as you look at tge back of the heads of the speakers can you see the Washington Monument as a backdrop.
Arlington National Cemetery. Try to time your visit with the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. It’s very moving. I also found it interesting to step away from the tour and just walk around the cemetery. The parts of the cemetery where they hadn’t decided that all tombstones must be uniform were the most interesting.
I went to D.C. in an 8th grade trip. I did enjoy seeing everything but I had a problem with the people. At the Union station, four teens were blocking the stairs by laying on them. My friends and I had to step over their legs. When I went over one of them slapped my behind. One of my friends flipped them off for that. We heard them yelling at us but we went on.
This is why I love the U.P. and small towns more. There are more people with manners there then urban cities.
What year was that?
@@tjcassidy2694, 2017.
You were at the Mall and missed the Natural History Museum! You missed the elephant, the brontosaur, the allosaur, the skull of a mammal like reptile, and the dentures of the Maryland megalodons? I weep for you! One place to go in D.C., not too far from downtown, is Nationals Park to take in a baseball game. The Nats are doing very well just now, certainly better than the Cubbies or Sox.
Also, off the top of my head, the Hirshhorn Museum, the U.S. Mint, the Holocaust Museum, National Arboretum, Arlington Cemetery, the National Cathedral (massive gothic architecture) , the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception (massive Byzantine architecture), Roosevelt Island (Ted, not Frank), & the C&O canal, its towpath & associated bike paths.Read more Show less
Definitely recommend crossing the river into Virginia (my state) to see the Pentagon, the national cemetery (I can't remember the name), Mount Vernon, Monticello, and the city of Alexandria. Also you should come down to Virginia Beach sometime.
For about last 40 years been going to DC. STILL haven't seen it all.
You are the 1st visitor (American or not) to appreciate our grid system. A slice of unicorn cake to you sir. Most people don't understand how easy it is if you can count to 100 or spell a-z lol
DC has the nicest subway system in the world, and it has had the time till next train boards since the 1980s, something Chicago finally had only 5-10 years ago. The precast concrete coffers that play off the neoclassical dome ceilings is striking and one of the few brutalist architectures people seem to appreciate. And they go everywhere in the city.
As for places, the National Zoo is renowned. The National Cathedral is great architecture and with it's high gothic style you'll feel a bit like you're in Salisbury. And for good nightlife and dinner hit the Georgetown area. Other must see things across the Potomac are Arlington Cemetery, Alexandria, and Mount Vernon.
It would have been nice to see video of you exploring DC. For your next visit, I recommend the National Portrait Gallery (housed in the old Patent Office Building from the 1830s); Congressional Cemetery, where all the famous Americans from the late 18th and 19th Century are buried, before it was cool to be buried at Arlington National Cemetery; the Navy Yard; go to a Washington Nationals baseball game; the Botanic Gardens; the US National Arboretum; the Air and Space Museum campus at Dulles Airport (not the one downtown); and Old Town Alexandria.
Ah I visited D.C. earlier this year! After I was in Ottawa, Canada!! I love Great Britain so much and just absorb all of your nation’s history, and I have pretty much your monarchs’s memorized.
Now I as an American am so in love with Brit!
My two favorite things from our last visit to DC were the Native American Museum and the Museum at the National Archives.
Also, if you ever make it back to St. Louis, we have tons of free &/or inexpensive museums, and our zoo is free too.
There are some really nice parks along the mall between the Lincoln Memorial, the World War 2 Memorial and the Vietnam War Memorial. The park dedicated to the Signers or the Declaration of Independence is one of my favorites. The best times to come to Washington DC are in the spring when the trees, including cherries are in bloom and in the fall when the leaves are turning. It can get really hot and humid in the summer and can get quite cold in the winter but also nice if the weather is good. Please remember that DC is a working city, not Disney Land, and stand on the right of the Metro escalators without blocking the way and let the commuters pass on the left.
Go up Massachusetts Ave. from Dupont Circle to see Embassy Row. When you get to Wisconsin Ave., hang a left and if it’s summer go see a show at Ft. Reno, for a little slice of harDCore history.
I really liked Washington D.C. It has been a while since I visited but I remember liking all the Smithsonian museums. The Air and Space Museum was so cool, the Spotsylvania Stump was moving. I saw Ray Charles perform, at the JFK Theater, which was amazing. Other things that stood out were, the Metro, it was nice, and Pinocchio's Pizza was terrific. Thanks for the vid
peace
Mount Vernon and the National Zoo are always some of my favorite places in the DC area, Mount Vernon is maybe 10-15 miles away, in Northern VA.
Loved this video.
You missed the Lincoln Memorial, which is actually where MLK's "I Have a Dream" speech was staged. That western end of the Mall also has some very moving memorials to the fallen during the Vietnam War and to those who fought in World War II. Also, you should come back to see the African-American history and culture museum. There are also a ton of art museums covering every era and region of the world. There really is a lot to see in DC.
See the National Zoo, the Natural History Museum, The National Art Gallery, the Freer Art Gallery, Arlington Cemetery, the Lincoln Memorial --- I was born in DC and lived there for 25 years.