Monday, May 18, 2009

Planning

Jason and I are going to Washington D.C. for our anniversary! We are very excited about our trip and are really looking forward to getting away. Thank you all for your suggestions about where we should go. All of your suggestions were very tempting. We have visited Asheville, Charleston, New York, and San Diego before. Jason and I definitely want to go on an Alaskan cruise one day when we can afford to do it right. My parents are on an Alaskan cruise right now and I am so happy for them and can't wait to see their pictures. We really wanted to go to Boston, but we couldn't get tickets to a Red Sox game without selling all that we own. I still want to go to Savannah one day and hopefully Hawaii, too.

We are now planning our trip and we can't wait! Once again, we are looking for any and all suggestions from those of you who have been to D.C. before.

9 comments:

one BleSSed gal! said...

take comfy shoes =)

Alisha said...

I am no help since we have never been there. I know you guys will have a great time and that it will be a perfect getaway.

-Lane said...

We spent a week in the D.C. area, and loved it. Here's what we did.

We actually stayed in Annapolis, which is about 45 minutes to an hour away. We would drive to the subway station that was closest to Annapolis, and then take the subway in, so we wouldn't have to worry about parking in D.C., which is a real big headache. We were able to rent a house on the Chesapeake bay for a lot cheaper than finding a hotel in D.C., plus it was on the bay, and it was quieter.

Get the Smart Card for the subway, and add the funds as needed. You will each need one, and you can buy them at the terminal where you park your car. The subway ride from that station we stopped at was about a 15 minute ride.

Contact Robert Aderholt's office, and arrange a tour of the capital building. He's a great man, and a Christian man as well. He took time out of his day not just to take a photo op, but to explain several things to us (we saw Nancy Pelosi in the capital building, but that just made us angry).

Forget trying to do a White House tour, its not worth it. However, we did arrange for a Pentagon tour, and that tour was worth it just to see the memorial from the 911 attack.

Be sure you go see Arlington, and plan about 3 hours to see all the neat stuff, including the changing of the guard.

A must see is Mt. Vernon, home of George Washington. Plan on spending a good chunk of time there, at least half a day.

If you are Museum people, plan a whole day to tour the Smithsonian Museums, which are divided into about 8 or 10 different buildings. There are many different ones, but the Natural history, the American History (where the storm trooper outfits are and Jerry Seinfeld's puffy shirt are located), and the air and space museum are great, but so is the Museum of the American Indian, one of the newer ones.

Of course, you need to visit the Lincoln Memorial, and at least walk by the White House. Everything in D.C. is expensive, so plan on bringing a lunch, or eating outside of D.C.

If Annapolis doesn't float your boat, you may want to try Alexandria. Its an historic city, and there's several hotels there, and its right next to D.C. If you don't have a GPS, I'd get one to help you around.

Email us with any other questions. Monticello is great, we didn't visit our last trip, but I've visited it before, and its amazing as well, but a bit outside of D.C.

Every American should visit D.C. Its a great place. You'll probably see more foreign visitors there than domestic.

TARA said...

I am SO excited for you guys. We stayed cheap at a B&B Adam's Place. It was near the Metro so we took pulic transportation everywhere.

Contact your senator NOW to get the White House, National Cathedral, Library of Congress, and Capitol Building FREE tours. Only your senator or congressman can take care of these tours for you. My personal Fav's were the Library of Congress (most beautiful building I've ever been to) and the National Cathedral. We also worshipped at the National Cathedral on Sunday.

I'd go back in a heartbeat. A week wasn't long enough to do it all.

THE MORROW FAMILY said...

I'm excited for ya'll! Don't have a lot of advice to give...other than what Joy said. :)

Jamey said...

We went to D.C. when I was 8 months pregnant with Avery. It was our last hurrah before we had children. It was one of my favorite trips we've ever taken!

Luckily our package that we bought included a hotel that was two blocks away from the White House, so we walked there every night! You will definately be using the Subway a lot, so get the cards. Then I would recommend all the main sites. One of my favorites was the Archives Museum. There were letters to presidents from all sorts of people when they were young children (some of whom are now famous)!

There were so many things! I'm sure whatever you decide to do with be fantastic!

chesley said...

sounds like sooo much fun! I've never been there, but would love to go. my hubby isn't much of a tourist though so I don't think it will be a couples getaway! can't wait to see your pics. sounds like Lane has great advice. I have been to Monticello and it's gorgeous...had no idea it was even near there. Obviously geography is not my strong suit!

chesley said...

btw..the flip flops are from GAP Outlet

Alice S said...

I see that it was already mentioned but I wanted to add that the Library of Congress is the best kept secret of DC. Must go! Have a great time! It was blazing hot when we were there over the 4th of July 10 years ago (110 degrees!), but hopefully it'll be more moderate for you.