Washington DC

[steves]

Hey Guys
Planing a trip to DC with my 10yr old grandson.The wife is all over the AAA trip planing stuff.Just wondering about any cool buildings with architectural details I should be on the look out for.Or any construction museums that may not be on the usual tourist maps.
And lets not forget any good or bad restrauant recomendations

[JMS BUILDERS]

The mall is a pretty neat place

The capitol building is sweet with the tour tons of cool murals and such great architecture all around you

check out the HORN AND HORN SMORGASBOARD if it is even still in business the best buffet ever

[TSJHD1]

The mall is a pretty neat place

The capitol building is sweet with the tour tons of cool murals and such great architecture all around you

check out the HORN AND HORN SMORGASBOARD if it is even still in business the best buffet ever

What d'ya know about Horn and Horn???

Tom

[Robert Z]

Hi Steve,

I haven't been to this museum, but it is supposed to be really wonderful:


http://www.nbm.org/

[Bluewoodrock]

The building museum is ok, but kind of small. and probably boring for a 10 year old.
The spy museum was pretty cool


[http://www.spymuseum.org/]/url

[Happy Home]

I'm originally from DC...

Yes, the Capitol is a good tour. statuary hall, the rotunda etc. I believe the new visitors center there is now open too. Don't waste your time on the White House or Gov't Printing Office where they print the money.

A must see is the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum. http://www.nasm.si.edu/museum/ The #1 attraction of all the museum's in DC. Right behind it is the Natural History museum where the big upright dinosaur skeleton is and the History and Technology museum is right beside it. That's where you see technology of a few hundred yrs ago up to now. Not a must see, but maybe good for a 10 yr old.

A few blocks away is the National Archives Bldg where the Declaration of Ind and Constitution are as well as many other documents. The Archives will go pretty fast as you just file past the docs for a few minutes. If you have time its usually visiting the Archives or going across the river to (VA) Arlington Nat'l Cemetary. Many famous people their as well as our war dead and the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown. Good for adults but maybe not the top choice for a 10 yr old but maybe for a short time.

Possibly the Lincoln (#1) and Jefferson (#2) Memorials as he'll be studying these folks soon. Forgot the Washington Monument. The big obelisk that's about 20 stories in the air. You can go to the top by elevator and see all of DC. Also the recently opened WW II Memorial, mostly a walk through park like area. And the Viet Nam Veteran's Memorial right next to the Lincoln Memorial. An outdoor walk through area, this is a uniquely constructed and moving memorial.

All these attractions are right around the Nat'l Mall and within a good walk or short taxi ride.

Just what I've described is 2+ days. Happy planning.

Steve

Addl: If you have an extra day visit the Nat'l Zoo http://nationalzoo.si.edu/ One of the best and well kept in the world. You can take the Metro uptown in about 15 min.

All this stuff is free by the way.

[steves]

Wow thanks for the sugestions and the links,that building museum looks cool.
We don't leave untill the end of July,so keep the ideas comming

[Wngsprnt50]

The spy museum is pretty neat to see. Union Station is a nice building that is not usually thought of in DC. The IRS (yeah i know...) building is actually a well built building, very straightforward but neat. My brother lives in DC so, when I visit him, I actually find myself gravitating toward new construction, especially condo buildings. He has several in process basically right next door and if you are upfront and can pull it off with a site guy, they usually let ya take a good look around. The building practices are definitely different than here (Indiana) but I always find it interesting to see what others are doing.

BTW, Massachusetts Ave NW is the area I am speaking of. There is a metro stop at the Verizon Center that is pretty close, and it is surrounding "Chinatown" and some damn good food.

[Happy Home]

Wow thanks for the sugestions and the links,that building museum looks cool.
We don't leave untill the end of July,so keep the ideas comming

Expect 90 deg heat and 90% humidity.

[JMS BUILDERS]

What d'ya know about Horn and Horn???

Tom

I know it was some of the best damn short order buffet style free for all food I ever had the pleasure of consuming

Steve

Ford theater is pretty sweet too

Watch out for all the freaking Yahoos selling fake oakley sunglasses and fake rolexes though, lol

[Joe Adams]

If you want great architectural details, the National Cathedral is a must see.

http://www.frommers.com/destinations...dc/A21272.html

You might try reading Ken Follett's "The Pillars of the Earth" before your visit to help set the mood.

http://www.amazon.com/Pillars-Earth-...9523698&sr=8-1

Enjoy!

[Dick Seibert]

I've always wanted to tour the Watergate, and of course see the Tidal Basin where Wilbur Mills did whatever to Fanne Foxx to make her jump in (wonder what Fanne looks like now at 71?).

[jvsloan]

I spent five years in the Marines, for the majority of that time I was stationed in Washington DC. Everyone has made great suggestions about place to visit. However, I think one of the best kept secrets is the Friday Evening parades held throughout the summer at the Marine Barracks in Southeast DC. I've probably seen almost a hundred of these parades and I still get chills watching them. The show is free but you really need to make a reservation as soon as possible if you plan to attend this July. If there are no seats available for the Friday parades, there is also a parade every Wednesday night at the Iwo Jima Memorial. The Iwo show does not require a reservation; you can just bring a blanket and sit on the grass. I took my grandfather to one of the Friday night parades the year before he died. This man spent three years in the Army and earned a Silver Star and a Purple Heart on Omaha beach as a medic. In the thirty some years that I knew him, though, the only time I ever saw him cry was at that Friday Evening Parade at the Marine Barracks when they played Taps at the end of the night. It's hard to explain, but it's a night you and your family are not likely to forget. If it's something you're interested, just search Marine Barracks Washington on Google and it'll bring it up. Have fun on your trip.

Joel Sloan

[Tischler]

If you want great architectural details, the National Cathedral is a must see.

http://www.frommers.com/destinations...dc/A21272.html

You might try reading Ken Follett's "The Pillars of the Earth" before your visit to help set the mood.

http://www.amazon.com/Pillars-Earth-...9523698&sr=8-1

Enjoy!

National Cathedral is awesome, just be careful with that 10 year old when walking through the gift shop. I think they crowd the aisles in hopes people will knock stuff off the displays and break it.

[davenorthup]

However, I think one of the best kept secrets is the Friday Evening parades held throughout the summer at the Marine Barracks in Southeast DC.

I bet that would be quite an experience. I was in DC only once when I was about 9 with my uncle, all I remember is spending a few hours with him at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. It made a huge impact on my life at that point and is a place I'll never forget. I do not carry any other memories from the trip.