WAY too much to do, WAY too little time...

[thefannishwaldo]

So I'm heading to D.C. at the end of October.  One day will be taken up by the rally.  My actual 'last day' in town will be mostly travel.  One day will be most certainly spent at the National Zoo (Black Footed Ferrets and Giant Pandas FT effing W

Comments

[onlyonechoice]

From what I know, the FBI building only does tours on weekdays, so if you want to do that, keep that in mind :)

The Spy Museum is a blast, as is the Museum of Natural History part of the Smithsonian Institution.

Have a GREAT time! I love DC.

[thefannishwaldo]

Good to know about the FBI. It's probably the kind of thing I'd do after getting in on Thursday, so I'd be okay. But yes, good to know.

I was thinking of the Spy Museum. How much time do you think I'd need there?

[onlyonechoice]

Boooo, from the FBI Tour site:

"The FBI Tour is presently closed. No date has been set for its reopening. In the meantime, please learn all about the FBI on this website. You can also see exhibits about the FBI at local museums in the nation's capital, including the "G-Men and Journalists" display at the Newseum."

As for the Spy Museum, set aside 2-3 hours, as one of the commenters said below, and it's one of the few museums you have to pay to get into. Wear good shoes and the swag is awesome :D

[thefannishwaldo]

Swag? From the SPY museum? Okay, that makes me want to go just for that! And since I just found out the zoo is free (Oh HAPPY DAY!), I can pop a few bucks for spy stuff. :)

I'm planning to bring two pairs of shoes on this trip: my hiking boots and my good trainers. I should be covered. :)

Thanks for the help. :)

[heidi8]

I highly recommend one of the round-the-city hop-on-and-off bus tour things. You can check your bag at Union Station and embark here - but I think buying a ticket in advance may be cheaper. You'll get to "see" everything, and take a longer walkabout through anything you particularly want to see. We walked from hhe Washington Monument to the Lincoln to the FDR to the Jefferson with my kids in August and it took about two and a half hours, and it is a wonderful walk, if the weather is fine. But if it isn't you'll be glad for the bus! I think the old town trolly does a two-days-for-the-price-of-one deal, which means you could use it both days....

Also, the Newseum and Spy Museum are kind of cool if you're into that.

Sorry for all the edits. Yes, you can just walk into any senator or rep's office - they arrange for white house tours and the like. But that week e House and Senate will be out of session so everyone can campaign at home...

[thefannishwaldo]

Ooh! This intrigues me! Is it easy to get from IAD (Dulles, yes?) to Union? I could totally ditch my bag there and it would be a good place to meet up with my host when I'm done. :)

[neadods]

Is it easy to get from IAD (Dulles, yes?) to Union?

God, no. Is it too late to get a flight out of BWI? Or National? Dulles isn't on public transport.

[thefannishwaldo]

My problem is that I can only make this trip because I have credits on Southwest... which only goes to Dulles. I did find a railway to get me from Dulles to Union, but apparently it's going to suck up two hours of my day. *grumps*

... pokes SW site... BWI is better? I can try to get SW to switch me to BWI if you think I should.

[chelseafrew]

Both The Spy Museum and The Newseum are fun. Both take 2-3 hours, and both cost money, but they are both Metro accessible.

[jya_bd_cp_ttgb]

Gotta check out the Hope Diamond, so second vote on the Natural History section. Also, since I can't go, maybe the Native American museum?

[scifinut]

I've never been to DC, but I submit my vote for the FBI building in the hopes that you'll see Mulder or Scully there. ;)