Going to Washington D.C.

[yz250roost]

Hello Everyone,
As the title states, I'll be heading to Washington D.C. at the end of the month and was wondering if I could get some pointers from anyone who has been there. I'll be around the Quantico, VA area the majority of the week but would love to head into D.C. on my one day off.

I'd imagine there's far more to see than one day allows so I want to make my trip well worth it. What would you recommend for me to see while I'm out there? Should I stick mainly to the monuments or museums? Are there any other local attractions that I should see near Quantico?

I already plan on visiting the Law Enforcement Officers Memorial, what else should I add to my list?

Thanks in advance for the recommendations.

[alexfarrington]

Good for you, I just got back from a week in DC myself.

Last year I spent 24 hours in the District (it was my first time) and I saw quite a bit, considering how little time I had. My advice is to avoid the museums -- you'll never be able to even scratch the surface. By all means do what you want, especially if you want to see a particular exhibit, like the Hope Diamond or something, but I'd try to save the museums for another trip.

Given the one day trip scenario, I'd make sure to hit up the National Archives (at least the Rotunda -- you could probably spend the rest of your life in there and still come across amazing documents) -- the Declaration is fading fast, and it's truly an awesome sight to behold. Even in the darkened and temperature controlled Rotunda it's likely to continue fading quickly. You'll also get to see the Constitution, the Bill of Rights and an original copy of the Magna Carta. If there aren't many people in there you can see everything in the Rotunda pretty quickly.

http://www.nationalgeographic.com/walkingtours/images/tour/map_dc_large.gif

As you can see, the Archives are basically at the middle of the Mall, where the majority of the Smithsonian facilities are located. From the archives you can easily walk to the Lincoln Memorial, the Washington Monument, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the Capitol and the White House.

Also a must see: The Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknowns inside Arlington National Cemetery. Arlington is just across the Potomac from the Lincoln Memorial. It's truly an awe inspiring and solemn display. This happens every hour on the hour during the off-season and every half hour until the end of September. I'd get there early, as the Changing of the Guard is typically well attended, and the more people you have in the audience, the more likely it is that you'll encounter some disrespectful yahoo.

The entire cemetery is amazing, and the most visited sites are well marked.

Adjacent to Arlington, the Marine Corps War Memorial (based on the Iwo Jima flag raising) is another very worthy spot to reflect on what's made this country great.

There's no shortage of tour buses you can jump on to see a lot if that's your thing, but I prefer the walking. Seeing all that I mentioned plus the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial can easily fill a day or more, but I think you could see it all in one day -- I did it easily, but depending on the weather and how many visitors are out when you visit, your experience will vary. If possible, I'd try to shoot for mid-week.

Sorry this post was so long, but enjoy your trip!

[Lilrecruit21]

I would recommend going to Arlington cemetery, it's just outside of Quantico if I remember correctly. My wife and I lived in VA for about four years (military), and it is quite a site to see. When we went to D.C. we saw the Lincoln Memorial, National Monument, and WWII Memorial...they are all three in the same place, so it makes for good pictures and less walking or traffic. Unless you really like somber stuff, avoid the Holocaust Museum, it's a little depressing. I would also recommend checking out the National archives, and see the Decl. of Independence.

[yz250roost]

Great, thanks for the recommendations guys. I appreciate it. The free day I have is on a Monday so hopefully it won't be too crowded. I'll also be off by 3:00pm each day and I've heard the monuments are phenomenal after dark, so I'm considering going back in the evenings as well. Thanks so much for the map, that was very helpful.

[dw]

Arlington (http://www.arlingtoncemetery.org/): You really have to spend most of the day. Make sure you get on the tour with the old guy, the kids are worthless.
Old Ebbitt Grill (http://www.ebbitt.com/): Bloody Marys and Benedict.
The International Spy Museum (http://www.spymuseum.org/): Much less lame than it sounds.
The rooftop bar (http://www.starwoodhotels.com/pub/media/3279/who3279re.75032_md.jpg) at the top of the W Hotel (http://www.starwoodhotels.com/whotels/property/overview/index.html?propertyID=3279) (was the Hotel Washington): Awesome views, right across the street from the White House. Stop by in the evening.
Air and Space Museum (http://www.nasm.si.edu/): If you're into that.
National Portrait Gallery (http://www.npg.si.edu/): Much less lame than it sounds.

[Tom]

All the war memorials are cool...but do the Korean war memorial at night. Trust me....worth it.

[LadyVol@330]

If you want to see the original Star Spangled Banner, it's in the National Museum of American History. Remember that there is no charge for any of the museums, so you can just go in to see one thing if you want. (Hard to do!) We spent five full days there and still didn't see everything. Ford's Theatre is interesting, as well as the house across the street where Lincoln died. We went in October and I overdressed, thinking that since it was autumn there, it would be starting to get cool --not! Still very warm and humid. Enjoy your time there!


http://americanhistory.si.edu/starspangledbanner/visit.aspx

[AyatollahGondola]

Visit you congressman and thank him for (fill in the blanks)

[Yzeman]

Visit you congressman and thank him for (fill in the blanks)
"The Deficit"..."Record Un-Employment"..."The Economy"...Jeeez AG, didn't you hear he ONLY has one day!!:biggrin:

[Chippysgt]

Yes, contact your congressional rep but do it now before you go. What they can do is get you passes for a variety of attractions in and around DC and they will also give you are personal tour of the Capitol.

No trip to DC is complete for me unless I go to Arlington, the Wall, The Law Enforcement Memorial. Take the Metro to Judiciary Square and you get off at the Memorial. The gift shop is down the street. The National Building Museum is across the street and it is worth a look. The stairs inside are very wide with a low rise because it was the old Veterans Building where disabled Civil War veterans came to get their benefits etc.
I also enjoyed the Air and Space Museum on the mall as well as some of the other museums already mentioned. Seeing them working on the Star Spangled Banner stirred my soul. If you are around Dulles there is another Air Museum of the Smithsonian and it is well worth seeing. The WWII memorial is another soul stirring sight and the newest veteran's memorial.
I enjoyed a tour of the Bureau of Printing and Engraving. I hear under the new administration they are giving free samples:tape:.
Here is a website that you can take a look at.
http://washington.org/

It would be hard to hit all the neat stuff working fulltime for a week. But do as much as you can. It is a great place to visit and the public transportation is great. The Metro is terrific.

[Tom]

I believe that the Air museum near Dulles that ChippySgt refers to has a SR171 Blackbird, The Enola Gay and the first Space shuttle in it.....is that right? Been a bit.....

[alexfarrington]

I believe that the Air museum near Dulles that ChippySgt refers to has a SR171 Blackbird, The Enola Gay and the first Space shuttle in it.....is that right? Been a bit.....

Yes sir, that's correct.

It's a huge facility that houses aircraft that are too big for the original museum on the Mall. There is a $15 parking fee at this museum to discourage Dulles travelers from using the parking lot.

For anyone with even a slight interest in aircraft and aviation history, this place is amazing. I flew through it in 3 hours, which was really moving. There's so much to see, and I missed out on a lot of reading and learning by only having the 3 hours.

I really think the Smithsonian facilities deserve at least one full day a piece, for what that's worth.

And Chippysgt is right -- the WWII Memorial is also very moving. It's at the opposite end of the Reflecting Pool from the Lincoln Memorial near the Washington Monument. It's the little blue oval just east of the Pool in the map I posted earlier.

[Chippysgt]

I believe that the Air museum near Dulles that ChippySgt refers to has a SR171 Blackbird, The Enola Gay and the first Space shuttle in it.....is that right? Been a bit.....

That would be an SR 71 without the one. And there is one to be seen in California also. It stands proudly in front of Castle Air Museum at the former home of Castle AFB in Atwater, Merced County. My wife is the former curator and is doing a book signing on Oct 4 for a book she authored on the history of Castle AFB.

Also in the Dulles Museum is an unbelievable Constellation and a Concorde plus some of the earliest aircraft ever flown and a space shuttle. WOW

[yz250roost]

Wow what a vast knowledge base you all have! Feeling a little overwhelmed but I'm excited at the same time, just wish the family could be there with me. So are all the monuments accessible at night? Looks like I'll try to hit Arlington, LEO Memorial, Air and Space Museum (definitely interested), WWII memorial and anything else I can squeeze in there. I'll take tons of pictures while I'm there. This could be the last business trip I'll have before an all expense paid 6 month business trip to Sacramento.....

[Tom]

That would be an SR 71 without the one. And there is one to be seen in California also. It stands proudly in front of Castle Air Museum at the former home of Castle AFB in Atwater, Merced County. My wife is the former curator and is doing a book signing on Oct 4 for a book she authored on the history of Castle AFB.

Also in the Dulles Museum is an unbelievable Constellation and a Concorde plus some of the earliest aircraft ever flown and a space shuttle. WOW

Yea...whatever....it flies....fast.....not near as important as a fast attack submarine.....:badgrin:

[Chippysgt]

"Posturing" :cool:

When the SR-71 was retired in 1990, one example was flown from its birthplace at United States Air Force Plant 42 (http://www.chpforums.com/wiki/Plant_42) in Palmdale, California, to go on exhibit at what is now the Smithsonian Institution (http://www.chpforums.com/wiki/Smithsonian_Institution)'s Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center (http://www.chpforums.com/wiki/Steven_F._Udvar-Hazy_Center) (an annex of the National Air & Space Museum (http://www.chpforums.com/wiki/National_Air_%26_Space_Museum)) in Chantilly, Virginia (http://www.chpforums.com/wiki/Chantilly,_Virginia). On 6 March 1990, Lt. Col. Ed Yielding and Lt. Col. J. T. Vida piloted the Blackbird, setting a coast-to-coast aircraft speed record: 67 minutes 54 seconds, at an average speed 2,125 miles per hour (3,420 km/h). Three additional records were set within segments of the flight, including an average speed of 2,190 miles per hour (3,520 km/h) measured between the radar gates set up in St. Louis and Cincinnati. These four speed records were accepted by the National Aeronautic Association (http://www.chpforums.com/wiki/National_Aeronautic_Association) (NAA), the recognized body for aviation records in the United States. An enthusiast site devoted to the Blackbird lists a record time of 64 minutes 20 seconds between Los Angeles and Washington DC for that 6 March 1990 flight.
The SR-71 also holds the "Speed Over a Recognized Course" record for flying from New York to London in 1 hour 54 minutes and 56.4 seconds, set on 1 September 1974 while flown by U.S. Air Force Pilot Maj. James V. Sullivan and Maj. Noel F. Widdifield, reconnaissance system officer. This equates to an average velocity of about Mach 2.68, including deceleration for in-flight refueling. Peak speeds during this flight were probably closer to the declassified top speed of Mach 3.2+. (For comparison, the best commercial Concorde (http://www.chpforums.com/wiki/Concorde) flight time was 2 hours 52 minutes, and the Boeing 747 (http://www.chpforums.com/wiki/Boeing_747) averages 6 hours 15 minutes.)

I am guessing that an SR 71 could take off from Marysville, go to New York, head south to Puerto Rico, west to Los Angeles and back north to Marysville in less than 4 hours.

I totally appreciate the Navy but we cannot compare speed of Navy vessels and Air Force stuff.

The Virginia class fast attack submarines are 377 feet long, have a beam of 34 feet, and draw 32 feet of water (surfaced.) Their full load displacement is 7,800 tons submerged. Ship's compliment is 134 officers and enlisted. The Virginia class submarines have a top speed of 25 knots on the surface and a submerged speed of more than 32 knots. The maximum diving depth is in excess of 800 feet. Because the reactor in the Virginia class submarines is designed to outlive the useful life of the hull, the operational range of these submarines is effectively unlimited.

Again, I salute the Navy, Air Force, Army, Marines and Coast Guard, for each in their unique way.

[Tom]

Yes...it was a deliberate act of comparison. I always thought it was funny in submarine movies they try to make them exciting....exciting?...they are slow and boring....kind of like me.

Serious thread hi-jack. The blackbird was an impressive plane.....built by the Skunkwerks Division of Lockeed? Memory....again....

[Yzeman]

Chippysgt...you owe me 5 minutes!

[Chippysgt]

Yep, the Lockheed Skunk Works in Palmdale was the builder. They have and continue to have some of the great aeronautical engineers working there on stuff that you don't need to know about.

Slow and boring would be my description also but I have a vivid imagination.


I hope we have peaked interest in visiting the Smithsonian Stephen Udvar-Hazy Center. $15 to park, up from $9 about 2 years ago but no admission charge to this awesome museum..........back on thread

[cjincognito]

Chippysgt, I have always been fascinated by the SR-71. When I was in the Air Force, that was a fun plane to watch take off at night. The afterburners shot flames like 30 feet behind the plane and as the front of the plane lifted off, the flames would hit the runway and "ricochet" off at the same angles as billiard balls off the cushions! Wiki has a fascinating article on the SR-71.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SR-71

[Chippysgt]

Roger that, I would love to have seen a Blackbird take off. I understand they leak fuel like a sieve until they get altitude.

You oughta take a trip down to Castle Air Museum in Atwater, less then two hours south of Sacto and only about 2 miles east of SR99

http://www.castleairmuseum.org/

[cjincognito]

Thanks, I'll do that when I get the chance.

[yz250roost]

Hey guys,
Just wanted to drop a line and let you all know my trip is going GREAT! I spent Monday walking all over the place, my feet hurt and I slept very well that night. I had to get up at 4:00 the next morning to setup for our event at Quantico and just got back to the hotel, man I'm beat. Anyway, I've taken alot of pictures and will post them up here as soon as I return. I'm hoping to go back tomorrow night to see the memorials all lit up. See you soon!