Visiting DC: We are attending a wedding in Washington, DC at the end of July, and plan to stay a few more days (Aug 1-5) for a short vacation. Looking for ideas as to how to spend the...

Jesu S

We are attending a wedding in Washington, DC at the end of July, and plan to stay a few more days (Aug 1-5) for a short vacation. Looking for ideas as to how to spend the time. This is not our first trip, so we have already seen many of the touristy attractions. Need not be photography related, since my wife will be coming along. Interested to know what is open and what is still shut down. We do not plan to rent a car, since our hotel is downtown. Thanks for any ideas. Jess

RichinSeattle

If you haven't done the Nat'l. Zoo, it's worth an afternoon visit. (It's between the Woodley Park and Cleveland Park Metro stops on the Red Line. Entrance to the Zoo is uphill from WP downhill from CP.) Follow that with a stroll down Connecticut Ave. to the Adams Morgan neighborhood for some great ethnic food. A nice downhill stroll from the Zoo is on the Rock Creek Trail through woodlands. You can get off the trail near Dupont Circle for more great restaurants. Alexandria "old town" (Metro blue or yellow lines) is worth a visit.

Important to remember: August weather in DC is awful - very hot and humid - so these suggested outdoor strolls might not what you want; much better in Sept., Oct. (BTW, the DC Metro - trains and stations - is air conditioned.)

twowindsbear

You can't go very wrong touring the Smithsonian museums, the Arts and Industries building is open after a major multi year refurb. Have a great trip & congrats to the soon to be newly weds.

Jesu S

RichinSeattle wrote:

If you haven't done the Nat'l. Zoo, it's worth an ... (show quote)

Had not thought about the Zoo. I did anticipate the hot and muggy weather. Thanks.

Jesu S

twowindsbear wrote:

You can't go very wrong touring the Smithsonian museums, the Arts and Industries building is open after a major multi year refurb. Have a great trip & congrats to the soon to be newly weds.

I take it the museums are now back to normal operations. We visited some of the Smithsonian museums many years ago, but I'm sure there are plenty of new exhibits.

Any suggestions for places to grab a quick lunch while visiting? Used to be the National Gallery had a nice restaurant.

Jesu S

Anyone know if the National Archives are back open? Tickets needed?

marshall

American Indian museum, great choices of foods of the different parts of the country, nice portions of food, and an excellent head chef that runs the kitchen.

Ksocha Loc: Bethesda, MD

Jesu S wrote:

We are attending a wedding in Washington, DC at the end of July, and plan to stay a few more days (Aug 1-5) for a short vacation. Looking for ideas as to how to spend the time. This is not our first trip, so we have already seen many of the touristy attractions. Need not be photography related, since my wife will be coming along. Interested to know what is open and what is still shut down. We do not plan to rent a car, since our hotel is downtown. Thanks for any ideas. Jess

Everything mentioned so far requires an appointment now! Perhaps this happened because of Covid, but trust me you should check websites and call. Our friends from CA last week wound up going from place to place thinking an opening might have occurred and saw nothing. No zoo, no Smithsonian.

Bridges Loc: Memphis, Charleston SC, now Nazareth PA

Jesu S wrote:

We are attending a wedding in Washington, DC at the end of July, and plan to stay a few more days (Aug 1-5) for a short vacation. Looking for ideas as to how to spend the time. This is not our first trip, so we have already seen many of the touristy attractions. Need not be photography related, since my wife will be coming along. Interested to know what is open and what is still shut down. We do not plan to rent a car, since our hotel is downtown. Thanks for any ideas. Jess

The botanical garden and the Indian museum were two of my favorites. Head over to Georgetown and have lunch on an outdoor terrace overlooking the river. You might see Georgetown University practicing skull racing. If you like BBQ have some at Red, Blue and Hot. I also liked walking along the basin. Arlington National Cemetery is worth visiting if you like history. Everyone knows about the Lincoln, Jefferson and Washington monuments, but I liked the Theodore Roosevelt monument. It is horizontal more than the others and is multifaceted with several bronze statues, a waterfall, and some really nice architecture.

jerryvans

Jesu S wrote:

We are attending a wedding in Washington, DC at the end of July, and plan to stay a few more days (Aug 1-5) for a short vacation. Looking for ideas as to how to spend the time. This is not our first trip, so we have already seen many of the touristy attractions. Need not be photography related, since my wife will be coming along. Interested to know what is open and what is still shut down. We do not plan to rent a car, since our hotel is downtown. Thanks for any ideas. Jess

If such a thing would interest you, the Museum of the Bible is quite an amazing building/exhibit.

jackm1943 Loc: Omaha, Nebraska

Jesu S wrote:

We are attending a wedding in Washington, DC at the end of July, and plan to stay a few more days (Aug 1-5) for a short vacation. Looking for ideas as to how to spend the time. This is not our first trip, so we have already seen many of the touristy attractions. Need not be photography related, since my wife will be coming along. Interested to know what is open and what is still shut down. We do not plan to rent a car, since our hotel is downtown. Thanks for any ideas. Jess

There are a jillion places to visit there, but don't miss the national cemetery. You can get there easily by subway.

Jesu S

marshall wrote:

American Indian museum, great choices of foods of the different parts of the country, nice portions of food, and an excellent head chef that runs the kitchen.

Thanks.

Jesu S

Ksocha wrote:

Everything mentioned so far requires an appointment now! Perhaps this happened because of Covid, but trust me you should check websites and call. Our friends from CA last week wound up going from place to place thinking an opening might have occurred and saw nothing. No zoo, no Smithsonian.

Thanks for mentioning this. It would not have occurred to me that I would need reservations for the Smithsonian. I see that some of them ar already booked for the days I plan to be there!!

Jesu S

Some friends suggested Luray Caverns and Monticello. Both are day trips that would require renting a car. If you could do only one, which one would you do, or would you not bother with either? Thanks.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

Jesu S wrote:

Some friends suggested Luray Caverns and Monticello. Both are day trips that would require renting a car. If you could do only one, which one would you do, or would you not bother with either? Thanks.

The experiences of those places are as different as night and day

Make your own decision by browsing the websites:
https://www.monticello.org/
https://luraycaverns.com/

If anyone in your group is claustrophobic, they won't want to go in the cave.