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Post by Deleted on Jun 22, 2015 20:59:56 GMT
I posted awhile back that my DH will be on a temporary assignment in Washington DC for 45 days starting next month. I'm going to move out with him because I can work from a co-working location. Of course, we'll be there right in the middle of summer (End of July-middle of Sept) so I'm kind of dreading the weather. We're PNW natives who complain when the temp hits 75  We will be centered in and around Dupont Circle and are wondering what restaurants, stores, things to do (other than the usual) that we have to make time for. We'll have a small apartment so we'll be able to cook meals and have more space than a hotel room. What are your awesome suggestions? BTW, we won't have a car and will rely on Uber, public transportation. |
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Post by originalvanillabean on Jun 22, 2015 21:03:47 GMT
No suggestions, but what a great opportunity. Hope you enjoy it.
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Post by pierkiss on Jun 22, 2015 21:16:28 GMT
Go walk around Old Town Alexandria for a day! They have fun stores, yummy places to eat, and pretty views. You can take the metro over there, I believe there is a stop on King Street (that's the main road through Old Town and it goes straight down to the river). You can take a river boat over to National Harbor, where there are more fun stores and yummy places to eat.
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oaksong
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Jun 27, 2014 6:24:29 GMT
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Post by oaksong on Jun 22, 2015 22:38:37 GMT
Go to a Nationals baseball game. The Metro takes you right to the stadium.
Take a bike ride around the Mall to see the monuments at night. You can rent bikes at little kiosks all over.
Get a library card for the Library of Congress. It's a very cool place to hang out with your laptop or a book.
I'm not sure when the Supreme Court goes back into session, but when they do, get there early in the morning to try to get inside.
Take a day trip out to the Manassas Battlefield, Gettysburg, Valley Forge or Mt. Vernon.
Philadelphia would be a nice weekend excursion. Bucks County is also a quaint little area to spend some time.
Then of course, there's all of the usual awesome museums, monuments, buildings and historic sights to see. Enjoy your time there!
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Post by craftmepink on Jun 22, 2015 22:58:45 GMT
I work in DC and live in VA. There are lots of good places to eat. Here are some of my favorite places:
1. If you like donuts, you must go to Astro Doughnuts & Fried Chicken, here is the link to their site: Astro Doughnuts & Fried Chicken. Their crème brulee donuts are soooo good! Take the red line (since you will be in Dupont Circle, you will be on the red line, to Metro Center, and the place is right across the metro station, a few stores down).
2. If you like pizza, go to &Pizza (there's one at Dupont Circle), they make your pizza fresh for your and you can put as many toppings as you'd like for only $10. Here is the link to their menu: &Pizza Menu.
3. Go to Georgetown and visit Georgetown cupcakes, I love their cupcakes, my favorite is the birthday cake cupcake. Georgetown isn't really that accessible by metro, but you can take a cab there. Link to their site: Georgetown Cupcakes. Also, Georgetown is a fun place to just stroll around, many stores, and lots of cupcakes places as well.
4. Go to Zaytinya, delicious food, here is the link to their website: Zaytinya. If you like Mediterranean food, you must go here. You can take the metro (red line) to Gallery Place Chinatown, it is right across the street from the metro station. My favorite is their chicken shawarma with fries. If you go here, you should probably make reservations since the place fills up.
5. Old Town Alexandria, I second that you go there as well. Take the blue or yellow line to King Street (you can take the red line and transfer from Metro Center or Gallery Place Chinatown) and there's a free trolley right as you get out of the metro. It goes down King Street and you can hop off and hop on all along King Street. My favorite place is Alexandria Cupcake. There's also The Torpedo Factory, which is a nice art gallery right by the Waterfront. And Chart House is a wonderful restaurant if you are looking for something a bit fancier. It's the restaurant overlooking the waterfront, I personally love the shrimp trio. Here is the link to their site: Chart House.
6. Lastly, if you like Greek Food, visit Zorbas Café. I love, love their chicken souvlaki. It is right on Dupont Circle. Link to their site: Zorbas Café.
Hope that helps! There are so many other fun museums to visit as well. |
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peabay
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Jun 25, 2014 19:50:41 GMT
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Post by peabay on Jun 22, 2015 23:20:21 GMT
We lived in DuPont Circle when we lived there for a summer about 20 years ago. We loved it - my oldest was a baby and we had a great time exploring the city. Be prepared for the heat and humidity. We went out early in the morning and later in the afternoon. That daughter lives in Adams Morgan now. Funny how things come around like that.
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Gravity
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Jun 27, 2014 0:29:55 GMT
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Post by Gravity on Jun 22, 2015 23:31:52 GMT
I am so jealous! Enjoy it!
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 22, 2015 23:56:30 GMT
Wow, thanks everyone for the great information! It will definitely be an adventure but I'm lucky that I can work from anywhere with an Internet connection so I get to go along.
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Post by monklady123 on Jun 23, 2015 0:42:04 GMT
I regret to inform you that there is a used book store right at Dupont Circle -- Second Story Books. You might have to visit it. More than once. Often.  oy... I used to commute to Arlington from upper NW DC (farther up the Red Line from Dupont). Sometimes instead of taking the subway home I'd walk across the river to Georgetown and catch a bus up to Dupont just so I could go to that book store. omg. Besides the usual museums, here are some more ideas: -- Arlington National Cemetery (in Arlington, obviously, lol) -- be sure to see the Changing of the Guard -- Iwo Jima Memorial (Arlington) -- Newseum (not part of the Smithsonian so you'll have to pay to get in) -- monuments at night -- Roosevelt Island -- Gravelly Point (the airplanes coming in to land at National will fly RIGHT over your head) -- have a picnic somewhere down along the river (in the direction of Alexandria) -- Washington National Cathedral -- Twilight Tattoo (Army), their schedule is on their web page (free) -- wait till evening when it's cooler and go sit on the top step of the Lincoln Memorial and take in the view -- tour of the Pentagon (if they're still giving them), even if it's just to watch your guide give the entire tour walking backwards. lol (I'm serious) -- Botanical Gardens -- National Harbor (Alexandria) -- Kennedy Center -- lots of free shows on the Millennium Stage, or you can just go and wander around and go up to the roof -- Georgetown -- on the Key Bridge end of Georgetown, just past the bridge, on your right you'll see the Exorcist Steps, the steep flight of steps that the priest fell down. My dd says not to go to Georgetown Cupcakes because it's "too hyped up, over-priced, and not that good". She says you should go to Baked and Wired instead (also in Georgetown). Olivia Macarons is also good. And Dean and Deluca. (this is still my dd speaking, lol... she and her friends go to Georgetown a lot.) I'll come back and edit if anything else occurs to me. lol. There's so much to do around here that I'd recommend you start right away, make a list and start checking things off. lolol |
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Post by annabella on Jun 23, 2015 1:07:05 GMT
There's lots of bike trails and when you're cycling the breeze hits you so you don't feel how hot it is.
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eleezybeth
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Jun 28, 2014 20:42:01 GMT
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Post by eleezybeth on Jun 23, 2015 1:19:22 GMT
Contact your congressman and get tickets to tour the White House. You can also request a personal tour of the capital. I loved both of those experiences.
Get the National Park's Passport book and get all the stamps in the district/NOVA/MD area. Just that alone is a heck of a bucket list.
The amount of free things to do is crazy. You simply can't say there is nothing going on. Ever.
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Post by momofkandn on Jun 23, 2015 1:31:49 GMT
Lots of great suggestions already posted. Make sure to hit all the typical highlights like the museums and monuments. Plan in advance if you want to see the Capitol or White House. From Dupont circle, you can walk up Mass Ave and see all the embassies. There are regular embassy tours that might be going on when you are here. You will be right in the heart of restaurants, bars and stores.
Here are some additional suggestions given the amount of time you will be here:
You can bike or walk through Rock Creek Park. It goes from the Mall area all they way through Northwest. You can stop at the National Zoo along the way. The Zoo has an outdoor concert series during the summer.
Hillwood has been mentioned on other threads. Highly recommend it. It's Marjorie Merriweather Post's house. She had a collection of Faberge eggs and the Japanese gardens are amazing.
See the National Arboretum. Its not on a metro line but worth a cab ride.
Catch a show at the Kennedy Center and the Folger. See a game at Nationals Park.
Eat in Chinatown. Visit Union Station which is within walking distance of Chinatown.
Walk around the residential areas near the Capitol and the National Cathedral. They aren't close to each other. But both neighborhoods have unique architecture if you are interested in that kind of thing.
There's plenty to do in DC for 7 weeks, but you could also consider some stuff nearby:
Rent a car for a day and travel to Baltimore. You can see the Aquarium, the Inner Harbor and the USS Constellation.
If you like Civil War history, DC is within driving distance of many battlefields including Gettysburg.
If you want to get away for a weekend, travel to the Chesapeake Bay. Its beautiful. St. Michaels is a very cute town on the eastern shore. Eat at the Crab Claw. Visit the maritime museum.
Again if you are willing to travel a bit, drive up to Harper's Ferry. You can also do a rafting or tubing trip that originates there.
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Post by txdancermom on Jun 23, 2015 1:37:21 GMT
There are amazing restaurants all over the city - metro will get you all over, and I am sorry I don't know the names of all of them - but I do know we have been to several amazing places down by the Navy Yard, one is a belgian cafe, another is Ted's Bulletin, there are others, and I know that there is a metro stop not far away.
Most of the places our ds takes us to are in neighborhoods, away from what is considered the main tourist areas.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 23, 2015 2:19:14 GMT
Be sure to visit Mt. Vernon. When we were in DC we went there. It was so cool. Monticello is a couple hours away but worth it. I liked it better than Mt. Vernon but I have always found Thomas Jefferson fascinating.
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Post by anonrefugee on Jun 23, 2015 13:06:51 GMT
momofkandn, you made a great suggestion for out of town trips! One of the best things about living in DC is you'll be able to see the DC sites in bits and pieces. You really can pop into a museum or monument and then go on to dinner, or integrate it into your work day. Since most are free you can walk through in 30 minutes and get a sense of you want a full visit later. Or even better revisit an exhibit you loved. Don't forget Library of Congress, and Folger . Be sure and see many of the monuments at dusk or night too. They're less crowded and have more impact too. Definitely travel on the weekends, trips to Monticello and Baltimore, Harpers Ferry or even Gettysburg. They'll give you a complete change of pace, plus the history is amazing.
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Post by moveablefeast on Jun 23, 2015 13:22:31 GMT
You might consider a Zipcar membership for the time you'll be here. It will offer you a lot of additional options.
Also DC has bike-sharing too.
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peppermintpatty
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Post by peppermintpatty on Jun 23, 2015 14:30:45 GMT
I regret to inform you that there is a used book store right at Dupont Circle -- Second Story Books. You might have to visit it. More than once. Often. oy... I used to commute to Arlington from upper NW DC (farther up the Red Line from Dupont). Sometimes instead of taking the subway home I'd walk across the river to Georgetown and catch a bus up to Dupont just so I could go to that book store. omg. Besides the usual museums, here are some more ideas: -- Arlington National Cemetery (in Arlington, obviously, lol) -- be sure to see the Changing of the Guard -- Iwo Jima Memorial (Arlington) -- Newseum (not part of the Smithsonian so you'll have to pay to get in) -- monuments at night -- Roosevelt Island -- Gravelly Point (the airplanes coming in to land at National will fly RIGHT over your head) -- have a picnic somewhere down along the river (in the direction of Alexandria) -- Washington National Cathedral -- Twilight Tattoo (Army), their schedule is on their web page (free) -- wait till evening when it's cooler and go sit on the top step of the Lincoln Memorial and take in the view -- tour of the Pentagon (if they're still giving them), even if it's just to watch your guide give the entire tour walking backwards. lol (I'm serious) -- Botanical Gardens -- National Harbor (Alexandria) -- Kennedy Center -- lots of free shows on the Millennium Stage, or you can just go and wander around and go up to the roof -- Georgetown -- on the Key Bridge end of Georgetown, just past the bridge, on your right you'll see the Exorcist Steps, the steep flight of steps that the priest fell down. My dd says not to go to Georgetown Cupcakes because it's "too hyped up, over-priced, and not that good". She says you should go to Baked and Wired instead (also in Georgetown). Olivia Macarons is also good. And Dean and Deluca. (this is still my dd speaking, lol... she and her friends go to Georgetown a lot.) I'll come back and edit if anything else occurs to me. lol. There's so much to do around here that I'd recommend you start right away, make a list and start checking things off. lolol This is a great list. If you don't like it over 75, you won't like it here. We have our own "special" humidity. July and August are downright oppressive. It doesn't really cool down until late September/October. All of the monuments are much nicer at night. The lights are beautiful. I agree about Georgetown cupcakes. Not great. There is a great pie place in Georgetown (very close to the Exorcist steps) called Pie Sisters. Try them out. The Holocaust Museum is wonderful and very moving. I highly recommend it. I don't know if anyone recommended the 9/11 memorial in Virginia. We also have done ghost tours of DC. It is interesting although a lot of walking. |
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Post by annabella on Jun 23, 2015 14:33:06 GMT
Visit some VA wineries on the weekend.
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peabrain
Pearl Clutcher
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Post by peabrain on Jun 23, 2015 14:57:03 GMT
I hadn't been to Mt Vernon in a long time and my dd had never been. We went up recently. We also went to Monticello within the last year. We loved Monticello. I was rather disappointed in Mt Vernon. I was quite surprised at the new commercialism now. Food court wasn't there last time I went.
It was nice but I felt rushed and I didn't feel like they gave me much info....rather I guess you have to buy a tour or something whereas last time I was there it was included.
I thought Monticello was better overall. Just sayin.
The following day we went to Arlington cemetery and loved every minute of it. |
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Post by anonrefugee on Jun 23, 2015 15:03:49 GMT
peabrain, a food court? Oh my  Do they rush you through the grounds too? I liked the working gardens and lawn better than the house. I agree Monticello is better but that owes much to Jefferson's skill set.
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peabrain
Pearl Clutcher
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Post by peabrain on Jun 23, 2015 19:14:25 GMT
anonrefugee, no we spent most of the day outside. It was a Saturday and there was a re-enactment, which was nice. And we sat on the chairs outback, which was nice too. I mean it was all nice, but yeah, I don't remember historical Mrs Fields. I mean, I LOVED a good cookie, but it was strange to me. So commercial now. The new visitor center was nice. Just more built up than I remember but I thought the experience suffered.
Yes, Jefferson's mind was wonderful with the many touches to his house.
I just don't know how much my dd got out of the trip....meaning how much she learned about Washington as a man. Although she took much away from Monticello.
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Post by Basket1lady on Jun 23, 2015 19:35:21 GMT
If you are here over the 4th, I recommend watching the fireworks from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. Yep, it's crowded, but less so than on the Capitol Steps. And it really is a once in a lifetime experience. We take the Metro to Arlington National Cemetery and walk across the bridge. There is always a great display of different countries down on the mall during the day. It's really interesting to see all the different cultures.
Check out to see if there are any street fairs or local celebrations. You have time to see things at a slower pace, which is nice. And many places are open in the evenings, which will allow you to work during the day and see things at night when it's cooler. And there are plenty of places to visit within an hour or two of DC. Baltimore, Annapolis, the wineries in Western Virginia. Chincoteague, Monticello, Williamsburg, Philadelphia, etc. You could do something new every day and not run out of places to visit.
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Post by anonrefugee on Jun 23, 2015 19:40:19 GMT
peabrainMrs Fields?  N o o o o o! Almost makes me weepy!
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peabrain
Pearl Clutcher
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Post by peabrain on Jun 23, 2015 19:43:37 GMT
Well, it was a good cookie, but yeah. The coffee sucked but the cookie. But it was hard to swallow thinking of George ha ha ha.
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Post by annabella on Jun 23, 2015 20:54:06 GMT
For car rental check out car2go you use the app to find where someone has parked the car, then you pay per the minute. You can park it anywhere when you're done, its easy since the car is so small. |
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Post by kckckc on Jun 23, 2015 21:01:52 GMT
Get a library card for the Library of Congress. It's a very cool place to hang out with your laptop or a book. We just returned from a week in DC. We did all the big attractions and our tour of the Library of Congress was one of things I enjoyed most. Getting a library card and just hanging out there is now on my bucket list. |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 24, 2015 17:07:07 GMT
These are such awesome suggestions - I'm bookmarking everything and I think we will have a great time!! Thanks so much!
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 24, 2015 17:08:06 GMT
If you are here over the 4th, I recommend watching the fireworks from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. Yep, it's crowded, but less so than on the Capitol Steps. And it really is a once in a lifetime experience. We take the Metro to Arlington National Cemetery and walk across the bridge. There is always a great display of different countries down on the mall during the day. It's really interesting to see all the different cultures. I was really hoping we'd be there for the 4th, but we won't be out until the end of the month |
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Post by annabella on Jun 24, 2015 19:08:27 GMT
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We will be centered in and around Dupont Circle and are wondering what restaurants, stores, things to do (other than the usual) that we have to make time for. We'll have a small apartment so we'll be able to cook meals and have more space than a hotel room.
oy... I used to commute to Arlington from upper NW DC (farther up the Red Line from Dupont). Sometimes instead of taking the subway home I'd walk across the river to Georgetown and catch a bus up to Dupont just so I could go to that book store. omg. 
N o o o o o! Almost makes me weepy!