The Smithsonian..

OK, so what's the best way to approach DC to check it out?
I'm driving.. but I bet parking sux... Is there somewhere to park and take the subway there? or what?

Vass how about that spy museum? Worth the trip?

[Knothead]

Ooooh, the Smithsonian....**droool**

One of my most cherished goals in this life...(Besides Ireland) I wanna check into a local hotel for a coupl'a weeks and go there every day...just tour everything, and then get familiar with it all, and maybe see the stuff I REALLY like twice...maybe three times!

[kenyg]

Surreal - are you staying there?? if so where abouts?? the metro there (subway) is simply the easiest way to get around.

Air and Space is really cool - make time to see the Imax film (in 3D) - very cool

also - I really liked the Ameican cultural history one, the view from the top of the monument... the vietnam veterans memorial is just stunning in it's solemness - the zoo is very cools also - tigers, panda's etc..


Ken

[vass0922]

Ok well first thing you have to realize is the smithsonian is NOT one building
Its really like 10 buildings...
If you'd like if you wanted a hotel in VA sometimes the hotel will have a shuttle service to the metro station. The metro can take you to the smithsonian stop in DC which brings you within eyesight of a number of museums
The metro will also take you within a block of spy museum if you wish
Ohhhh also suggest cheesecake factory for food
Yea I liked spy museum, it was pretty cool
Its a linear walkthrough museum, you follow the passageways. There are lots of movies to watch and lots of gadgets

Also from the spy museum stop (can't remember which one, theo may know.. I know its on the spy museum website) you can walk a couple blocks and get to the whitehouse if I remember right...
Depending on when you're going some places you'll have to get to REALLLLLLLLLLY early in the morning (around 7/8ish) to be able to get in. (white house, and washington monument are really bad for this) spy museum at least this past summer we got there at 11am and the line was wrapped around the opposite side of the block .. so we went early and it was only around one corner of the block

MarriottA friend of mine really likes this marriott in falls church. They have a shuttle that takes you to the metro station, and has a pool and whirlpool and overall a nice hotel. If you stay over the weekend you maybe able to get their 60 or 70 dollar a night rates instead of the weekday rates (120 a night I think). Its not hard to find, but not much around it.. unless you drive like 5 miles away is tysons corner where there is quite a bit of stuff
I don't know any hotels IN DC .. Theo maybe able to help with that

http://www.wmata.com/default.cfm this site is a huge help
You put in your destination and your source, and it'll tell you which trains to take and which buses if necessary
Most times if you ride into DC on the metro the places should be within a good walking distance.. given you're going on a below freezing day

Nah I'm driving down, it's only a couple hours from here.

That's why parking will be a problem I think.. I don't remember seeing much the last time I was there, and I took the subway everywhere.. But I had flown out from LA that time.

We were just going to drive down for the day..

[vass0922]

ahh IC, if you go on a weekend parking usually isn't too bad at metro stops. I don't know any of them from the MD side.. I usually go to the Vienna stop here in VA when I drive to metro.
(metro being the subway )
Vienna has a parking garage that is fair sized and I believe parking is free on weekends

You could probably park at shady grove, or glenmont (not real familiar with that area, but believe shady grove shouldn't be too far from 270)

Are you coming in 70 to 270?
Not sure where you're coming from other than PA so not sure what stop you'll be nearest to on the way in

[Brainchild]

spy museum at least this past summer we got there at 11am and the line was wrapped around the opposite side of the block .. so we went early and it was only around one corner of the block

AHHH the joys of sightseeing

[vass0922]

sightseeing DC in a single day!??
you're just asking for trouble hahaha
You won't even be able to see 1% of the museums/monuments

[Knothead]

Ok well first thing you have to realize is the smithsonian is NOT one building ---Vass

Yep, that's the deal...Don't just "do" the Smithsonian, "Do" the HELL out of it!

[vass0922]

http://www.smithsonian.org/
pick one.. any one

African Art Museum
Air and Space Museum <--- IMAX theater, very cool!
American Art Museum and its Renwick Gallery
American History Museum
American Indian Museum
Anacostia Museum
(African American history and culture)
Arts and Industries Building (changing exhibitions)
Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum
Freer and Sackler Galleries (Asian art)
Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden (modern and contemporary art)
National Zoo
Natural History Museum
Portrait Gallery
Postal Museum
Smithsonian Institution
Building, the Castle (visitor information)