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I'll be arriving into DC late Wednesday, 11/23 and leaving super early Saturday, 11/26. That only gives me two full days to see the "MUSTS"
Here's what I'm not interested in:
- I don't care about Thanksgiving dinner, as it's just myself and I'd rather be exploring the area
- Art or military museums
- Famous restaurants or shopping
I obviously want to see the WH, The National Mall, etc. Also, The Holocaust Memorial is at the top of my list of museums. If there are any museums that are hands on or interactive, I'd be interested in seeing those.
If anyone can offer advice on places to go, I'd love to hear them!
The US Botanic Garden, near the Capitol reflecting pool, is one of the few places open on Thanksgiving, and is basically a lovely conservatory.
Beyond that, you have many choices but let me mention my favorite - the Reynolds center, AKA Smithsonian American Art Museum/National Portrait Gallery. Beautiful glass ceiling courtyard with a cafe for lunch. Great place a few blocks north of the National Gallery, another must see.
My list of places to skip? Museum of American Indian, American History Museum, National Museum of Natural History until they re-open the dino hall in 2019, but YMMV.
The Spy Museum and Newseum are both well worth visiting, and both are hands on and interactive. Unlike the Smithsonian Museums and National Gallery, there is a charge. Still worth it imo.
I agree, the Newseum, the Botanic Gardens, Spy Museum.
You don't say where you are staying or what your transportation arrangements are, but getting around in DC is challenging. You'll want to plan to use the Metro, or get a ticket for one of those hop on/hop off tour buses (there are lots of double deckers now)
I agree, the Newseum, the Botanic Gardens, Spy Museum.
You don't say where you are staying or what your transportation arrangements are, but getting around in DC is challenging. You'll want to plan to use the Metro, or get a ticket for one of those hop on/hop off tour buses (there are lots of double deckers now)
You can tour the WH?! I thought they did away with that! Well, that sucks
I'll be staying at the Hampton in Arlington. A plus is it provides shuttle service to the airport. I didn't even want to deal with the hassle of renting a car, so I'll just be doing Uber or Lyft.
You can tour the WH?! I thought they did away with that! Well, that sucks
I'll be staying at the Hampton in Arlington. A plus is it provides shuttle service to the airport. I didn't even want to deal with the hassle of renting a car, so I'll just be doing Uber or Lyft.
I second the Spy Museum. I would also take advantage of the Metro. There's also the Air and Space Museum out near Dulles Airport in Chantilly.
The Smithsonian museums are open on Thanksgiving day but pretty much all of the private museums like the the Spy Museum and Newseum are closed that day. You can take tour of Congress on Friday, but it could be a long wait, probably too late to book anything through your own Representative.
Check out the National Cathedral, you can go up in the observation tower and get a great view of the city (esp. now that the Washington Monument is closed).
And I second the hop on, hop off bus tours. We found that a great way to see the city when we were there this summer. Not sure what availability there is over the holiday, but we really enjoyed the nighttime tour of the monuments.
Check out the National Cathedral, you can go up in the observation tower and get a great view of the city (esp. now that the Washington Monument is closed).
I think the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum would be a good choice if you are interested in this topic.
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