Vacation

[icepixie]

So! I think my parents and I have decided to go to Washington, DC, in the second week of June. (Since we're driving, we're going to stop here along the way, too.*)

I plan to spend as much time as humanly possible in the Smithsonian buildings, but what else should we do? Myself, I like museums/history museums, interesting architecture, and flowers. Presumably the National Mall provides all of these things in abundance (maybe not the flowers), but will we miss interesting things by limiting ourselves to that area?

I also have the lifelong inlander's natural response to journeying within fifty miles of an ocean, namely, OOOOH A BEACH I MUST LOOK AT IT! I am assuming this is feasible as a day-trip sort of thing, since we'll have a car, but am not entirely certain. Suggestions?

* We are not foolish enough to try and drive around DC. The plan is to stay at a hotel in a VA suburb on the Metro's blue line, as it goes directly to the stop labeled "Smithsonian," and take the Metro into the city in the morning and back out in the evenings.

Comments

[gamesiplay.livejournal.com]

Delmarva beaches are kinda not so great, honestly, but your best bets if you want to day-trip to the coast from DC: Sandy Point State Park (which I think is closest to the city) or Ocean City in Maryland, Bethany or Rehobeth Beach in Delaware, and Virginia Beach in Virginia. There are also Chincoteague and Assateague Islands, if you're into that stuff. :)

Most of the best / most accessible (and free!) tourist-y stuff is around the National Mall, yeah. If you ever want to just wander around a pretty neighborhood with good people watching and food, Dupont Circle (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dupont_Circle,_Washington,_D.C.).

[nickless.livejournal.com]

I second the Virginia Beach suggestion.

And the you'll-do-fine-sticking-around-the-Mall idea, too. I strongly suggest going at night - it's less crowded and very pretty. If you wander around a bit on the other side of the street (White House side), you'll run into some other interesting stuff, too. We liked finding the old port gates (?) and such. But, I wouldn't recommend wandering TOO far off the main path, particularly at night... :)

Georgetown was pretty cool, if you can get there (I didn't pay much attention to where/how far things were, honestly). The zoo is great and free, too.