Going to D.C; but where to go?

[oTRALFZo]

The Arado really amazed me.
Tons of things to do here in DC. remember the Metro rail is YOUR FREIND!!. Its very easy to get around >>>>>  http://www.dcmetromap.net. Just remember most of the places close at 5pm so try to plan your day before you go out. The Spy museum is pretty cool and if you have some $$$, some nice restaurants around that area.

[Saurdaukar]

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.

You are probably referring to the "Changing of the Guard."  It occurs once every 60 minutes, IIRC.

ANC is full of little interesting tidbits of information.  I didnt know about the gun barrels/fence.

Last I was there, one in the group asked about some of the unusual headstones.  I never thought about it, but if you go, take note of how nearly 100% of the Confederate headstones are "pointed" at the top.

This, we were told, was done upon request so that "the Union could not sit on top of them."   

[DREDger]

When buying crabcakes, don't go to cheap places, expect to pay $20 a plate and enjoy the good ones.

If you are posting here, you're probably a fan of aviation, so the Air and Space museum makes sense.  However, I really enjoyed the natural science museum too.

[DREDger]

ANC is full of little interesting tidbits of information.  I didnt know about the gun barrels/fence.

Last I was there, one in the group asked about some of the unusual headstones.  I never thought about it, but if you go, take note of how nearly 100% of the Confederate headstones are "pointed" at the top.

I wonder why that is?

Someone told me about the gun barrell fence when driving by, but I'm not sure I read it anywhere or heard it from an authority, so I hope I am correct about that.

Here a neat tidbit on cemetaries, I visited the cemetary at Omaha beach in Normandy France (twice). 

All of the headstones face west, towards the USA that the men buried there were from, but would never return to.  I found that moving, mostly because someone at sometime thought to do that.

Also moving is that the French make us pay for the upkeep to show their gratitude...I heard.

[Obie303]

Quite a few people have already mentioned it.  Arlington National Cemetery is very moving.  They do offer tours for the historic significance.  

When I was stationed at Henderson Hall, I used to take my lunches there on the nice days.  It's a part of my life I will always remember.

[DYNAMITE]

Hey bud...I've lived in DC for the past 7 years.

These are my suggestions-
Visit: Any Smithsonian - You've already paid for them with your tax dollars and they are fantastic.  Of them I suggest you hit up-

Air & Space - Udva Hazy Center by Dulles... much cooler than the one on the mall though that one is good too. The UH Center is free but it costs $15 to park there.  Or they run a shuttle back and forth from the A&S located on the mall that is free.

American History Museum is awesome, and also right on the mall.

The National Archive - a place EVERY American should visit.   Inspiring and really cool.  DO IT!

Arlington National Cemetery

The Vietnam / Korean / WWII / Lincoln & Jefferson Memorials.

The National Holocaust Museum.  Absolutely devastating and worth seeing. (You have to pay to see it though)
http://www.ushmm.org/

The International Spy Museum - This is a privately owned place but cool to visit and has tons of cool insights on espionage and lots of cool spy toys.  Pretty much all the stuff you've seen on James Bond is in there - except this stuff is the real deal.  
http://spymuseum.org/

Where to Eat:
DC has ton of great places to eat. That said... YOU HAVE TO GO TO BEN'S CHILI BOWL.

Ben's Chili Bowl : A DC treasure and worth waiting for (and yes you will most likely have to wait but do it)
http://www.benschilibowl.com/ordereze/default.aspx

As far as other places to go... check out the restaurants near the Verizon Center.  There are a ton of good places to go near there.

Anyway - have fun and take a ton of pics