Our Next Trip

[Tinker]

and only 3 more nights to sleep .
Jimminey & I leave Friday for Virginia .We check into the Courtyard Marriott and then we are going to check out the Potomac Outlets . Anyone know if the Disney outlet is still there ?
We were invited to attend a Lobsterfest on Saturday . Since we usually go to WDW in May , we were unable to make it previous years . Can't wait to see some friends that we haven't seen in a long while . . Weather is looking good .
Sunday, we are going to visit Jims sister, Kristel & her DH . They have a house boat and we are going to cruise the Potomac River . Afterwards we are driving to the Hilton in Alexandria, VA . We have a DC view of the Washington monument . If we still have time on Sunday, we may do some touring . Must sees are the Smithsonian Museum, The Capitol, the Eternal Flame, The Vietnam Wall , White House Tour , Washington Monument . Is there anything else that I'm leaving out .
We don't check out till the 19th, so we have plenty of time .
Jimminey & I really need this getaway as his father has been poorly and we are up there everyday . We even offered to cancel this trip, but his MoM won't hear of it . At least we offered . Really looking forward to doing something different ! Any recommendations that I don't know about seeing, are very welcome .

[Britchick]

I loved Washington , what about Arlington, take a Potomac river trip to Mount Vernon?

[foreverducky]

Sounds like so much fun! I have been to DC, but it's been decades. (I can't believe I am old enough to say "decades") I would love to go back now, so much to appreciate and enjoy. I think the museums sound fantastic as well. I had a friend who visited and said that the public transportation is really good.

I hope you can share photos with us!

[uscwest]

Anyone know if the Disney outlet is still there ?

If we still have time on Sunday, we may do some touring . Must sees are the Smithsonian Museum, The Capitol, the Eternal Flame, The Vietnam Wall , White House Tour , Washington Monument . Is there anything else that I'm leaving out .
We don't check out till the 19th, so we have plenty of time .

You know we live right on Top of Potomac Mills and even I don't know if it is still there. The last time we were in it however almost everything they had was for small children.


That is a lot to try and cover. the Smithsonian itself is a HUGE complex of many buildings that would take several days to see. If you want the White House tour you have to get in line quite early in the AM and take your chances. The best way to "see" everything might be to take one of the hop on/hop off Tourmobile buses. Parking in downtown DC at anytime is a nightmare.

[Johnie]

I thought you had to have advance reservations with your state senator to get into the White House tour? Or did they change that?

Oh yes, the Smithsonian is many, many museums in one. I think you may need to pick which ones you want to see the most. My fave is the Natural History museum. Smithsonian: Museums

See you Sat!

[Johnie]

yep you still have to go through your Congress person

Tours & Events | The White House

[Dawn]

If we still have time on Sunday, we may do some touring . Must sees are the Smithsonian Museum, The Capitol, the Eternal Flame, The Vietnam Wall , White House Tour , Washington Monument . Is there anything else that I'm leaving out . .

In one day?

Took me all day to see the Smithsonian.

[Tinker]

No, we have 3 days to see everything .
Johnie the natural history museum is the one Jim wants to see . He also said one has Dorothy's Ruby slippers and Archie Bunkers chair that he wants to see .
Okie, Dokie, then WH tour is eliminated . Will just be satified trying to get a pic or two of the WH .
Britchick, we did that Boat ride when I was a senior in High School, Ages Ago . Is it a ferry boat, sort of like the one at WDW in Liberty Square . I remember we had dinner on it too .
We toured the WH then, so it must have been set up through the school via Congress .
Jim said something about the Washington Zoo ?

[Tinker]

The best way to "see" everything might be to take one of the hop on/hop off Tourmobile buses. Parking in downtown DC at anytime is a nightmare.

Yes, that is what Kristel said also, to take the Metro bus into DC . On Sunday, we may try to park in DC as we can't check into the Hilton till 3 PM . Depends on when we are done visiting Kristel & Mike . May only end up with 2 touring days . Although we don't have to leave early on the 19th as Jim is still on vacation .

[Johnie]

I beleive the American History museum is the one with the slippers and the chair.

I LOVE the National Zoo. The pandas are my absolute favorite there.

The zoo is an all day sort of place. At least for me it is.

I can also spend the whole day in the natural history museum. The Holocaust museum is overwhelming and we took all day in there as well.

DC is a wonderful city but it is a bear to drive in. Is your hotel on the Metro line? If so, you should be able to park at the hotel even if you can't get your room.