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DCGallim

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Wife was talking about taking a 3 day weekend to DC, possibly going up on the 4th and staying until Sunday. Mostly spending our short time there in the museums. We are looking for somewhere to stay within a child’s walking distance of Air and Space and Natural History museums. I think it would be pretty cool place to be for the 4th of July and there’s probably a great fireworks show that night.
 
Wife was talking about taking a 3 day weekend to DC, possibly going up on the 4th and staying until Sunday. Mostly spending our short time there in the museums. We are looking for somewhere to stay within a child’s walking distance of Air and Space and Natural History museums. I think it would be pretty cool place to be for the 4th of July and there’s probably a great fireworks show that night.

The oriental mandarin fits that bill but is $$. I'm not sure how much but it was only $6.00 Uber ride to all the museums. It's about a block from the bureau of engraving and printing and just a short walk the wharf district which is very cool.
 
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The oriental mandarin fits that bill but is $$. I'm not sure how much but it was only $6.00 Uber ride to all the museums. It's about a block from the bureau of engraving and printing and just a short walk the wharf district which is very cool.
To many kids for an Uber ride, that’s the main reason for walking distance. I guess we could do 2 Uber’s and divide and conquer.
 
To many kids for an Uber ride, that’s the main reason for walking distance. I guess we could do 2 Uber’s and divide and conquer.

It was less than a mile from almost most everything. Uber XL fits up to 6 people and we did 8 with only one saying anything. He shut up with a cash tip.
 
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Hotels in DC are usually pretty insane price wise. You could probably save some money and get a hotel out of DC near one of the metro stops and just take the train into the city each day, it’s pretty cheap and easy and there are stops near all the popular tourist sites. My wife and I go to DC on the weekends sometime and use the metro, it’s great.
 
If you’re talking THIS July 4th, I’m betting you’re S-O-L with how many people flood the town for the 4th. I’ve never been (yet) for the 4th, but the PBS show seems like 100,000+++. My guess is you have to make those reservations a year out, especially on the Mall.

I’ve got a one weekend DC trip on the middle burner of my mind for the family. When/if we do, I’d like to catch the train to DC, them Metro back out to the outskirts of the Metro system (VA side) to get a cheap(er) hotel. Then just ride the Metro in/out.
 
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Hotels in DC are usually pretty insane price wise. You could probably save some money and get a hotel out of DC near one of the metro stops and just take the train into the city each day, it’s pretty cheap and easy and there are stops near all the popular tourist sites. My wife and I go to DC on the weekends sometime and use the metro, it’s great.
This. I stayed in VA last time within walking distance to the metro. And they have a metro app that shows where each stop is and what’s around it
 
we stay in Springfield, VA which is the last stop (or first stop) on the Metro which has
much much cheaper motel rates than any in DC. also, get to claim your good seats for the ride in.
please understand, the 4th of July is Prime-Time for DC.
 
I looked on Kayak.com and there were quite a few for <$200 a night for that weekend. Of course staying somewhere for $50 a night would be awesome if all we had to do was hop on a train. I looked into taking AMTRAK up there but it isn’t as cheap as you would think.
 
Pentagon City Sheraton is great because its 1 stop past Reagan Airport,has a underground tunnel with a small mail the metro station, 10 min metro ride to the Mall (yellow)
 
Pentagon City Sheraton is great because its 1 stop past Reagan Airport,has a underground tunnel with a small mail the metro station, 10 min metro ride to the Mall (yellow)
Isn’t it called “Star City” or something? We stayed in the Double Tree there bout 12 years ago. Good spot, but pricey.
 
There is a time and place to let your spouse know they are crazy. This would be the time. DC is expensive, anti-gun and the home of evil. Maybe a nice trip to the mountains or even Hilton Head would do you good.
 
There is a time and place to let your spouse know they are crazy. This would be the time. DC is expensive, anti-gun and the home of evil. Maybe a nice trip to the mountains or even Hilton Head would do you good.
They don’t have dinosaurs at any of those places. This is more for the kids to see the Smithsonian's than anything else.
 
They don’t have dinosaurs at any of those places. This is more for the kids to see the Smithsonian's than anything else.

Take them to the local library. Plenty of dinosaur pictures there. :p It’s not like they will see a dinosaur eat a cow or something in DC. o_O
 
They don’t have dinosaurs at any of those places. This is more for the kids to see the Smithsonian's than anything else.

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Half of the air and space museum is shut down for renovations right now or at least was in April. It's a cool trip go and have fun.
 
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Dan - I fully support this idea, I LOVE DC.
Family is from the area, so I went a lot as we would travel up to see the great grandparents.
In the past year Ive been twice, and MIGHT be heading that way on Friday...

I, too, recommend staying a bit out and taking a train in.
It'll also save your nerves cause the traffic and parking really does suck.
Finding FREE parking is a PITA, and a lot of the paid spots are 14 bucks...per hour. It's nuts.

I'll echo what was said above about the Air and Space Museum on the mall - it's half closed and you can really look at everything and be out of there in about an hour or less. We did it in 40. Was sort of a bummer, but DO go!

Air and Space and Natural are pretty much in front of each other, with American history a short walk from Natural, maybe two blocks away. Do American History while youre there. See the flag from Battle of Baltimore and other really cool things.

Then, keep in mind, Korea / Vietnam / Lincoln / Reflection Pool/ WW2 are all very close too.
From Lincoln, at night, it's a GREAT view across the Reflection Pool to the Washington Monument (not open right now), with the Capital in the background.

And I dont remember which branch you went, but also just outside of DC is the Marines Museum - it's freaking excellent!
I, with no military experience/history, loved it, and think that due to your background you would too.
And that your kids would like seeing the displays, it's awesome and FREE



Yes, DC aint cheap. Expect to pay a bit more than here for things, Hotels, restaurants etc. But you'll be opened up to so many free attractions it's totally worth it!
 
Some pictures to entice you further

https://www.carolinafirearmsforum.com/index.php?threads/sitting-in-d-c.43153/#post-746880

me and another member were both in DC about the same time back in April



Mount Vernon, Washington's home, is another good spot.


The Smithsonian greenhouse or something like that with a bunch of plants in it (again, near the others) is really neat as you walk through different 'regions' and see the various plant life. I thought it sounded lame, but actually did enjoy it. AND IT'S FREE and indoors.
 
There is a nice Marriott Hotel right across the street from the White Flint Metro station. You could walk to the station, take the train in, and walk back to the hotel. Just FYI in case you needed recommendations on hotels close to metro stops.
I haven't been since I was 15 so any advice is welcomed. I know you guys go up there quite a bit so I'll listen.
 
I was in Fairfax, VA, a year ago for a funeral. The place is a traffic jam about 18 hours a day. I mean, it's not like around here where it gets bad for a couple of hours twice a day.

If you stay in VA, you can leave the gun in the hotel, and at least you'd have it for the ride there and back. If you go into DC or MD, make sure you search the car thoroughly first. Even expended brass can get you in trouble up there.
 
I grew up in the DMV, DC, Maryland VA and go there at least once a year. I still have a lot of family in the area. I went to HS in DC on North Capital St near Union Station. I spent a lot of time there and believe it or not the city is in much better shape now than it was when I went to HS there. I went to school there when it was the murder capital of the world. Marion "Mayor for Life" Barry was mayor and it was the height of the crack epidemic. Parts of the city were no go zones. No one went past NY Ave on North Capital because it was a demilitarized zone. I still have a soft spot in my heart for the city because you good times.

Here are my thoughts. I would not go to DC as a non-local during the 4th. It can be a fun time but it is a mad house. If you are not familiar with the area getting in and out of the city will be a chore. It will be super crowed and rates will be higher for hotels. Also large sections of the mall are roped off so moving from one Museum to another is harder than normal. I would pick another time if it were me. If you want to stay outside of DC I would stay on the VA side because of gun laws. In MD you can "transport" your gun but I advise to have it unloaded and separated from ammo in a locked case. This will remove any issues that might come up from a traffic stop. Do not bring anything into DC proper.

The Metro is great to get into the city but it is not as fast as the maps tell you it is. Transit times listed are almost always based on you getting into the station and getting a train immediately not the reality that durin non rush hour you will wait for a train. The system is nicely laid out and easy to get around. It is not like NYC which is a nightmare to figure out which train is which. Also depending on when you are riding it, think rush hour, for a family of 4 it is not cheap. It is less than an Uber or a taxi but it is not super cheap. During rush hour it is $2.25 to $6.00 and non- peak $2.00 to $3.85 per person per ride. The further out you stay the longer the ride and the more it will cost. One thing to remember is that in the DC area lots of people work for the Federal Govt so rush hour is a bit different than in other cities. In the DMV is starts around 4:00 and runs to 7:00. Lots of federal works start their day early and are one by 3:30 PM so the flow of people into the mass transit system starts around then. Plan accordingly.

If you really want to stay outside of DC proper I would look at the Pentagon City area. There is is a decent mix of different levels of hotels within walking distance of the Metro Station. Everything from Ritz Carlton to Holiday Inn Express. There is shopping and lots of restaurants in this area. Crystal City is another area just outside of DC. Again right on the Metro and you can get into the city quickly IIRC under 10 minutes. The next recommendation is the Old Town Alexandria area. Nice safe area with lots of walkability. Restaurants, shopping and art galleries etc... It is about a 20 minuted Metro ride to the Smithsonian. It is further out but it is great area.

That said I would stay in DC. One of the great things about DC is its size. It is not a big city. It is extremely walkable for adults and older kids. If you plan right you can get a hotel in the city for not much more than the cost of one in the suburbs. For example a Westin in Crystal City will cost you in the $80-$100 range while one in DC proper would be $125-$150. Just make sure you check what they are charging you for parking. When you stay in town getting around is much faster. Since you are traveling with kids you can also break up the day easier. You can get breakfast head to a museum or attraction and then go back to the hotel to refresh or take a quick nap. If you are going in the summer it is going to be hot in the city. Low to mid 90's and high humidity so tromping around for 8 hours straight with kids without a break can make for a long day. Being a short walk or metro ride back to the hotel for a "break" can save the day. I have seen and know a lot of tourist who stay outside the city and by 3:00 PM are literally dragging their kids around the Mall because they have to get in all the sights before they head back to VA or MD for the evening. Food prices will be about the same inside or outside the city.

The "Mall" where the Smithsonian is localed is nicely laid out so getting from the Air and Space to the Natural History to the Museum of American History is extremely easy. If you are into plants the US Botanical Gardens is a nice spot near the capital which is not as heavily visited. If I were going for the first time I would do Museums one day then do the Monuments the next. The Monuments are more spread out. Getting one of those "tour bus" passes if your kids are younger might be a good idea. Being able to get on and off those buses to get from one Monument to another is great. You can get to more places in a shorter amount of time and the younger ones won't be a worn out. You can also easily take the metro to Arlington Cemetery if you want to add that to the list.

Also the National Zoo is a great place for the kids. It is a short walk from the Cleveland Park Metro. Lots of great exhibits and everyone loves seeing a Giant Panda. The Spy Museum is located over near Gallery Place in what used to be Chinatown. Not much of Chinatown is left these days. It costs to get in but its pretty cool. The National Portrait Gallery is also right in that area. This is a good area for food because the Capital One arena where the Capitals and Wizards play is located there. Also depending on the time of year and if you like baseball the Nationals park is great. You can get in for day games for a little as $12 IIRC. Lots of things to do in DC.

Two things outside the city that are worth looking at are the Marine Corp Muesum in Quantico which is south of the city off of I95. It is a beautiful building offers an amazing array of exhibits. Another one to consider if you have a car is the Air and Space Museum at Dulles. They have the Discovery Space Shuttle and a SR22 Blackbird. There is also a very good imax theater there. If you go just watch out for rush hour. Both of these might be too much for a short 3 day trip but might work on the way in or out of town.

Anyway I highly recommend going to DC. I would not want to live there anymore but to visit it is a great time. I always enjoy going back into the city and messing around. If you have any questions about certain areas specific hotels etc just ask and I will try to answer.
 
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Some pictures to entice you further

https://www.carolinafirearmsforum.com/index.php?threads/sitting-in-d-c.43153/#post-746880

me and another member were both in DC about the same time back in April



Mount Vernon, Washington's home, is another good spot.


The Smithsonian greenhouse or something like that with a bunch of plants in it (again, near the others) is really neat as you walk through different 'regions' and see the various plant life. I thought it sounded lame, but actually did enjoy it. AND IT'S FREE and indoors.
Holy cow am I just "another member" now a days? Dang I guess I need to post naked guys like Derick to get people to remember me.
 
Yep I would look at staying in Bethesda MD (unarmed), Falls Church or Arlington VA.

Only problem will all those locations is they will be 30 minutes into the city.
 
Only problem will all those locations is they will be 30 minutes into the city.

Yep. That's what smartphones and headphones are for. #1 will be cheaper #2 you don't have to disarm in Virginia (yet) and #3 people ride the tram and trains into Disney World all the time and never complain about it.
 
Some pictures to entice you further

https://www.carolinafirearmsforum.com/index.php?threads/sitting-in-d-c.43153/#post-746880

me and another member were both in DC about the same time back in April



Mount Vernon, Washington's home, is another good spot.


The Smithsonian greenhouse or something like that with a bunch of plants in it (again, near the others) is really neat as you walk through different 'regions' and see the various plant life. I thought it sounded lame, but actually did enjoy it. AND IT'S FREE and indoors.

US Botanical Gardens https://www.usbg.gov/hours-and-location-0
 
Yep. That's what smartphones and headphones are for. #1 will be cheaper #2 you don't have to disarm in Virginia (yet) and #3 people ride the tram and trains into Disney World all the time and never complain about it.

Those areas are not much cheaper. Montgomery Co, Arlington Co and the city of Falls Church county are some of the wealthiest areas in country. Hotels, food etc... are all on par with the city. It is not cheap to stay in those areas. The difference will be eaten up by transportation costs IMHO. As I also pointed out staying 30+ minutes outside the city makes for very long days. I know people do it but I don't recommend it for a short 3 day 2 night trip.
 
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If you are going in the summer it is going to be hot in the city. Low to mid 90's and high humidity so tromping around for 8 hours straight with kids without a break can make for a long day.
I always heard this but never experienced it until a couple years ago. I was there in June and holy crap-ola it was hot. This coming from someone who grew up in Florida. I believe Marines and others stationed in DC at one time (maybe a long time ago) actually got hazard pay because of the mosquitoes and weather/environment.
 
Those areas are not much cheaper. Montgomery Co, Arlington Co and the city of Falls Church county are some of the wealthiest areas in country. Hotels, food etc... are all on par with the city. It is not cheap to stay in those areas. The difference will be eaten up by transportation costs IMHO. As I also pointed out staying 30+ minutes outside the city makes for very long days. I know people do it but I don't recommend it for a short 3 day 2 night trip.

I don't agree with your math at all. My family lives in Baltimore MD so they're pretty familiar with the DC Metro area.

Riding Metro costs between $2-4 dollars and it's a 30 minutes train ride each way. Less than my commute back and forth to work every day and I don't have to do the driving.
Last hotel I checked within walking distance to the National Mall was over $300 a night on a non-holiday weekend (I was trying to convince F-I-L not to stay inside the beltway...).
The Hampton Inn at Falls Church VA costs $112 a night on a weekend.

So $188 dollars buys ALOT of metro fares, per day. And alot of food. And alot of entrance fees to non-free attractions.

Giving up an hour a day commute via the excellent Metro system is worth $188 a day to me. Not having to disarm myself the entire trip up there is priceless.
 
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I don't agree with your math at all. My family lives in Baltimore MD so they're pretty familiar with the DC Metro area.

Riding Metro costs between $2-4 dollars and it's a 30 minutes train ride each way. Less than my commute back and forth to work every day and I don't have to do the driving.
Last hotel I checked within walking distance to the National Mall was over $300 a night on a non-holiday weekend (I was trying to convince F-I-L not to stay inside the beltway...).
The Hampton Inn at Falls Church VA costs $112 a night on a weekend.

So $188 dollars buys ALOT of metro fares, per day. And alot of food. And alot of entrance fees to non-free attractions.

Giving up an hour a day commute via the excellent Metro system is worth $188 a day to me. Not having to disarm myself the entire trip up there is priceless.

Stayed at the Sofitel in DC right off of Lafayette Sq for $179 a night Friday and Sat. 5 Minute walk to the White House. 15 minute walk to the Mall. I would take a Sofitel over a Hampton Inn for a $67 difference but I understand others might not. The difference in the class level of the hotel justifies the price difference in and of itself. The location is a bonus. Even so in my example after paying to take the Metro in and out of the city for a family of 4 you are saving less than $50 a day. We could go back and forth on this all day but what I am trying to point out is that the difference is not always 100% more and there are advantages to staying in the city.

I also would prefer to walk in the city for 15 minutes looking at the sights and taking what the city has to offer vs sitting in a metal tube with head phones on for 30 minutes. For me personally when I travel I want to see the city. When I go to a city like NYC, Paris, DC, Chicago etc... I want to experience the city and enjoy its culture. I am not just there for the tourist attractions. Cities like DC have a lot more to offer than just that. IMHO

As far as disarming I can understand that but I do not live my life entirely through the sights of a gun. I have no problem leaving a gun at home when I travel. It is a trade off I am willing to make in order to have an experience outside the bubble of my everyday life. This is my take and I understand that I am most likely in the minority on that but a gun does not dictate every choice I make. If you are smart, stay out of high risk areas and up your situational awareness you do not always need to have a gun on you. IMHO YMMV
 
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Did u travel 8hrs via I-95 to Layfayette square? Because I'd say every time you stop at a rest area you're in a high risk area.

I just stayed in Charleston on Church street so I am familiar with grand historical cities, their culture, and taking in the sights. I prefer to be armed while traveling even on a short trip. Especially with kids. YMMV and et al
 
Did u travel 8hrs via I-95 to Layfayette square? Because I'd say every time you stop at a rest area you're in a high risk area.

I just stayed in Charleston on Church street so I am familiar with grand historical cities, their culture, and taking in the sights. I prefer to be armed while traveling even on a short trip. Especially with kids. YMMV and et al

Then I guess DC is a no go for you. If you are going to The Mall to see the museums you are going to disarm. Last time I was up there I left my gun at my sister in laws in VA. I picked it back up on the way out of town. Other times when I flew the gun stayed at home. Did not feel in danger. I personally do not restrict where I travel solely based on where I can carry. I understand that others feel compelled to do it but I don't. Anyway we are getting off topic.

Staying in DC proper has some advantages along with some disadvantages like most things in life. OP hope you have a good trip.
 
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DC is a fine trip. I'm just not gonna disarm for the 8hr drive up there. And like you said, you did not either but left it in VA.

Since this is the Traveling 'shooters' area, it isnt off topic to discuss when and where you can carry while traveling.
 
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