Comments on: Notes from Touring Washington, DC

By: Jon

Jon — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 19:30:27 +0000

Just make sure when you ride the metro that you:

1. stand on the right on the escalators and walk on the left.

2. move to the middle of the metro and don’t lean against the doors… the whole train shuts down if you break a door.

By: Matt

Matt — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 02:21:33 +0000

Some of your impressions of DC remind me of a vacation I took to Missouri a couple months ago.

I visited St. Louis and after touring the museum attached to the arch, I left more convinced than ever that the arch is symbolic not as the gateway to the west, but as the gateway to the swindling and genocide of native Americans.

By: Steve-O

Steve-O — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 01:00:12 +0000

I know it’s not “DC,” but my reaction to Arlington was similar to your reaction to the Vietnam War Memorial. Combined with Montecello, it was worth the trip.

By: Eric Hammer

Eric Hammer — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 18:15:56 +0000

My wife and I visited DC a month ago, and found that Priceline can get you really good rates on rooms if you are not particular to where you stay. We ended up paying 50$ a night for a place just off Capitol Hill (I think it was called the Capitol Hill Suites). It was just a smallish room for 2 people, but was very nicely furnished and was really pleasant. Granted, it was two blocks from there to the Capitol which means it was about a half mile from the Smithsonian, and all the restaurants were on the other side of the Mall (except for a really nice little Thai place nearby) but we found it to be a great place to stay.

Oddly though, we didn’t like the Air and Space Museum, but spent about 8 hours over two days in the Natural History Museum. Of course my wife likes animals more than people, but still, the A&SM seemed sort of dull for how many people we had to shoulder through. The Botanical Gardens were a surprising treat as well.

By: John Sterling

John Sterling — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 15:03:44 +0000

Udvar-Hazy is a wicked awesome museum. However be sure to get the nomenclature corect. It’s properly known as the “STEVEN F.” Udvar-Hazy Center, which is helpful because the first name and middle initial distinguish it from all of those other “dime a dozen” Udvar-Hazy attractions choking every street corner.

By: Jeffrey Ellis

Jeffrey Ellis — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 12:51:27 +0000

I’ve been to the International Spy Museum too and agree it’s well worth the time.

By: Craig

Craig — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 04:19:26 +0000

“I thought the modern art collection in the annex was pretty mediocre.”

That can be said about any modern art collection.

By: anonymous

anonymous — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 20:09:58 +0000

A few comments from one who works inside the Beltway and works downtown:

(1) Yes, most restaurants in DC itself either suck or are ok but cost too much for the quality. There are exceptions. Use http://www.washingtonian.com’s guides (top 100 overall and top 100 cheap eats).

(2) Udvar Hazy is much, much better than the main Air & Space. You can stand a few feet from a real SR-71 blackbird. What else can I say?

(3) The Old Post Office building is pretty neat — and there’s little/no line to go to the top of the tower for the 2nd best view in town. That’s just north of the mall.

By: Vladtheimp

Vladtheimp — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 17:48:33 +0000

Coyote,

Having worked there for years, and involved in the construction of the Visitor Center and the renovation of the Botanic Garden Conservatory, you are spot on. The Visitor Center was plagued by micromanagement of Congressional Members, Committees,GAO and especially staffers who wielded unbelievable power with or without the knowledge of their Members, and by unconscionable grasping for space.

The B.G. Conservatory is a must see, but it was also the subject of large amounts of bureaucratic meddling, and a $22 million dollar project was the subject of protracted contractor claims for an amount in excess of the original contract price. That’s how the contracting game is played by the big guys with Congressional clout who focus on federal construction.

Shame you missed the Thomas Jefferson building of the Library of Congress – its Reading Room and artwork scattered throughout the building are treasures and not to be missed if you visit DC again.

By: Eric

Eric — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 16:00:12 +0000

I’m glad to hear that intern-led tours are still available! Two summers ago, I worked as an intern for one of Minnesota’s senators, and I really enjoyed giving tours of the Capitol. We were told that the new Capitol Visitor Center would probably elimate Congressional staff-led tours in favor of the “professional” tours offered by the cranky Capitol tour guides.