In planning your trip you should check the official Washington DC Tourism
Corporation (WCTC) website www.washington.org - they feature hotel packages
and deals, information on transportation, and a "What's Hot" section for
current exhibits/programs and other general tourist information. You should
definitely stay in DC if you can - Dupont Circle, Capitol Hill, Downtown,
Georgetown, Foggy Bottom - all have great hotels, including some fun
boutique ones, and great places to eat - plus the convenience of being able
to walk or metro to all sorts of great stuff!
The WCTC site also has up-to-date information on current attraction opening
and closings:
Ford's Theatre is closed until November for renovation.
The White House tours are currently not open to the general public, ditto
for FBI.
The National Portrait  Gallery, American Art, the National Archives and the
Newseum are all closed doing construction/renovations (NPG has an exhibit up
in the Ripley Center on the Mall next to the Freer).
Security at most museums is just a bag check - so when you're out for the
day, bring as little as possible, and make sure you have a photo id just in
case its asked for.

There are also over 60 museums/attractions off-the-Mall which have fabulous
collections!! For information on those attractions and the historic
neighborhoods of Washington DC, visit our website www.dcheritage.org - there
is also an extensive calendar of events and information on walking tours.

The Smithsonian website - which someone has already mentioned - is a great
resource and should have info on the Castle tours- which I've heard are
great. Check the National Gallery's page www.nga.gov also for a listing of
their current exhibitions. And the National Park Service site will have
up-to-date info on their numerous DC sites - which includes the monuments
and memorials on the National Mall, Ford's Theater, the C&O Canal, and many
more!! http://www.nps.gov/parks.html

If you're here the first weekend in October, you'll be here for DC Open
House when 12 neighborhoods offer free walking tours and museum admissions.
Columbus Day weekend is Taste of DC - featuring some of Washington's best
restaurants.

Crowds in October are generally pretty mild - but if you're daunted by the
Washington Monument lines, great views can also be had from the Old Post
Office Pavilion Tower, the National Cathedral, and the Frederick Douglass
Home.

Definitely plan to use Metro - it's very easy and affordable! If you go to
the Zoo - get off at Cleveland Park and walk downhill, then when you're
heading back to the metro, continue to walk downhill to Woodley Park - it's
only a few blocks from either station, but going downhill instead of uphill
makes a world of difference! You can also get from all three area airports
into the city very easily - and inexpensively - with public transportation.
The Washington Flyer runs from Dulles to West Falls Church metro
http://www.washfly.com/.  National Airport is on the blue and yellow metro
lines.  And Baltimore Washington International (BWI) offers free shuttle
service to the MARC train which runs right into Union Station.

You should also make a stop at the DC Visitors Information Center located in
the Ronald Regan International Trade Center at 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue,
W  - they have information on DC attractions, restaurants, etc. plus a nice
gift shop.

The Kennedy Center offers free performances every night at 6pm on their
Millennium Stage - and there are usually a number of other fun, free or
cheap, evening activities as well. TicketPlace in the Old Post Office
Pavilion offers day-of tickets for shows - Washington has more theater seats
than any American city outside New York City - so take advantage of it if
you have time!!

If you're willing to walk your feet off, you can see an amazing amount of
stuff in six days! Washington DC is a GREAT city for walking  - beautiful
architecture, charming neighborhoods, and lots of green space! You won't be
able to see it all in one go, so you'll have to come back! :)

Julie Carpenter
DC Heritage Tourism Coalition
www.dcheritage.org
  -----Original Message-----
  From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On
Behalf Of sharron
  Sent: Wednesday, July 24, 2002 11:44 PM
  To: [log in to unmask]
  Subject: Visiting Washington DC


  A query from Australia.
  Several years ago we made a trip to the USA with the major intention of
visiting Washington and finally seeing the Smithsonian campuses and the
Holocaust Museum.
  At that time there was a budget or congessional funding crisis and,
although American friends assured us it would never be a problem, when we
arrived everything was closed (and stayed that way for the 5-6 days of our
visit).
  We're giving it another go in October.  We have six days (Monday through
Saturday) and want to spend the whole time seeing museums, galleries, and
the zoo.  If I could impose on list members with local knowledge...
  (1) It's probably not enough time, but how much time should we allow at:
zoo, Air and Space museum, American History Museum, National Gallery of Art,
Natural History Museum, the Holocaust Museum
  (2) We have been Smithsonian members for many years and know that
membership includes a "tour" of the Castle...should we book that and do it?
  (3) When we were last there we did get to the Viet Nam Memorial, and the
major monuments (fortunately not closed!!).  What are "must see" items
should be on our list?
  (4) Given the Australian dollar is worth 50cents US, can anyone recommend
convenient but reasonable (no, read cheap!) accommodation?  We hear some
areas are a bit unsafe.
  My sincere thanks for advice.  It's a long way to traveland this time we
are really hoping to make the most of it!  Please reply off-line if you
prefer so it doesn't inconvenience or annoy other list members.
  [log in to unmask]

  Sharron Dickman


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