Going to D.C; but where to go?

[EskimoJoe]

Hey all, I'm heading off to D.C. for spring break this year to visit my father. We've made some plans to hit up the Air and Space museum, as well as a handful of other places. I'm wondering if any of you could suggest a few good local places to eat would be, and maybe some rather unknown goodies in the area.

Thanks!
-E.Jay

[Selino631]

well i saw on a episode of Man vs Food just alittle north of DC there is a place called Chick & Ruth’s Delly (Annapolis, MD) they have a eating challenge you'll get your name and pic on the wall if you can finish a 6lbs milkshake and a 1.5lb burger in under a hour! you should do it!!

Also a tip, If you want to tour the Capital  building or the Washington Monument (i highly recommend you go up the monument its amazing) you MUST get tickets in advance.

When you visit the National Air and Space museum i believe there is a bus that will take you to the Udvar-Hazy museum in Chanitlly, VA ( i think the bus is free but i am not for sure) they have the Enola Gay, the Space Shuttle, and various WWI - Present Day aircraft.

If you happen to see 4 US Government helicopters flying in a group your possibly looking at Obama

[uptown]

The natural history museam is right across the mall from the air and space building. Well worth the walk. The zoo in DC is also worth the trip. Those 3 things alone will take a couple of days to see. 

[maddafinga]

Get some crab cakes from the kiosks around the mall.

The FDR memorial is pretty neat and worth checking out. 

If I remember right there's a good barbeque place on the hill there called something like Hogs on the Hill, though it's been a few years since I've been there and it may not be there any longer.  Lots of good seafood places on the river too.

[Eagler]

http://www.visitingdc.com/virginia/dulles-air-space-museum.htm

    

[druski85]

Swing by my apt, (walking distance to air and space) I'll cook up some tenderloin the grill.   

Also, I would second checking out American History and Natural History across the mall from A & S , both have all sorts of eye candy that will keep you occupied should you have crappy weather.  Old town Alexandria and Anapolis are both nice areas to wander about if you want to get a bit outside of the district.  As for unknown goodies, to be honest there aren't too many that aren't well documented around here.  I can however tell you that Ben's Chili Bowl is overrated.  (ducks)

If you happen to see 4 US Government helicopters flying in a group your possibly looking at Obama

3. 

[JunkyII]

Its about an hour from DC but Ft McHenry is interesting.........Check out the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier as well in Arlington

[Saurdaukar]

Hey all, I'm heading off to D.C. for spring break this year to visit my father. We've made some plans to hit up the Air and Space museum, as well as a handful of other places. I'm wondering if any of you could suggest a few good local places to eat would be, and maybe some rather unknown goodies in the area.

Thanks!
-E.Jay

Air & Space - all the Smith, in fact, is excellent.

However, if you are limited to a single museum, I would go to the Udvar-Hazy Center.  http://www.nasm.si.edu/UdvarHazy/

The Mall A&S location has some great aircraft on display (Spit, 109G, P51D, Zeke) but the UH Center collection is immense - far more airplanes and many of them extremely rare - if not the sole surviving examples.

Cut and past from the website; some of the WWII highlights.

Arado Ar 234 B Blitz
Boeing B-29 Superfortress "Enola Gay"
Curtiss P-40E Kittyhawk  
Dornier Do 335A-1 Pfeil
Focke-Wulf Fw 190 F    
Grumman F6F-3 Hellcat
Hawker Hurricane Mk.IIC    
Heinkel He 219 fuselage    
Junkers Ju 52/3m    
Kawanishi N1K2-Ja Shiden Kai "George"    
Kawasaki Ki-45 Toryu "Nick"    
Lockheed P-38J Lightning    
Nakajima J1N1-S Gekko "Irving"    
Northrop P-61C Black Widow    
Republic P-47D Thunderbolt    
Vought F4U-1D Corsair    
     
They also have an extensive collection of... well... everything.  WWI to the SR71 to the JSF to the Shuttle.  Gun/missile displays, engine displays, etc, etc, etc.  Great way to spend the day.  Its near Dullus - about a 15 minute drive from the Beltway on 267.

Here are a bunch of pictures that were taken by a friend of mine last time I was there.  Also included are some of the Changing of the Guard at ANC.  One of the group was a tomb guard-relation and was able to get us into the barracks.  Great experience.

http://s572.photobucket.com/albums/ss168/catseyeweb/DC%20Trip/?albumview=slideshow

[PFactorDave]

Check out the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier as well in Arlington

Everyone should do this at least once.  Arlington is a very moving place to visit.

[greens]

eskimohojo is obama ur daddy?! tell him i says hi and i wont miss him when he gets booted outta office fer palin. i joke. ducks at skuzzys ban bat hope you have a great time eskimo be careful checkout the lincoln memorial and the smithonian. <S>

[DREDger]

Definately try the crab cakes if you've never had them before.

I liked the Lincoln memorial, and the Vietnam and Korean memorials are right there.  Haven't been since the WW2 was done.  That is all considered 'the mall', but it might be pretty cold for a foot tour.  Also on the mall you can see Washington momument, white house off to the side, capitol hill.  Across the way is the Jefferson and FDR.

Tomb of the unknown soldier is at Arlington cemetary, which is a sight to behold.  I believe every day at the tomb they do a color guard tribute (not sure what you call that).  Much of it used to be Robert E. Lee's land, which is an interesting snippet.  Also, part of the fence to the cemetary is actually made of the gun barrells of confiscated confederate arms....but just looking you would think it a wrought iron fence...found that neat.  Close by is the eternal flame of Kennedy.

Next time I go I would take a paid tour by bus, plus you can stay warm.  For years I've gone places and tried to do it alone with a brouchure...Im all about paid tours now, you just get so much more out of it.

[JunkyII]

Definately try the crab cakes if you've never had them before.

Hey!!! We are talking about DC....not Maryland

[maddafinga]

Well it's right there and all...

Actually I've had some really excellent crab cakes in DC.  I used to go there all the time, had a good friend who was a tour guide at the capitol building for years.  I couldn't tell any difference between the Maryland crab cakes and the DC ones.  We just can't seem to get a decent crab cake here in Tulsa. 

[cactuskooler]

However, if you are limited to a single museum, I would go to the Udvar-Hazy Center.  http://www.nasm.si.edu/UdvarHazy/

What he said.

I saw a lot of the sights when I was in DC for a week, but the Udvar Hazy was unforgettable. I wish I could have spent a full day or two there

[Selino631]

What he said.

I saw a lot of the sights when I was in DC for a week, but the Udvar Hazy was unforgettable. I wish I could have spent a full day or two there

the Observation Tower is my favorite part.