Going to the east coast

[maat55]

I have a trip to the D.C. this coming sept. 19th. We have plans to see the city for two days, then we are driving to Atlantic City and then to New York.

Any suggestions for what I should see or do? We will only have 3 days after D.C. We leave D.C. the 24th.

[Like2Plan]

Do you like to visit museums and/or monuments?
Are you staying in DC?

Getting around:
Tourmobile
You can buy a two day pass with off and on privileges. Tourmobile will get you closer to the monuments than metro will.

metro rail
You can buy a One Day Metrorail Pass for $7.80 (it can be purchased on-line, too).
Valid for one day of unlimited Metrorail travel on weekdays after 9:30 a.m. or all day on Saturdays, Sundays or federal holidays. The pass expires at 4:00 a.m. on the day following first day of use.

DC Duck tour

Old Town Trolleys

segway tours

[maat55]

Do you like to visit museums and/or monuments?
Are you staying in DC?

Getting around:
Tourmobile
You can buy a two day pass with off and on privileges. Tourmobile will get you closer to the monuments than metro will.

metro rail
You can buy a One Day Metrorail Pass for $7.80 (it can be purchased on-line, too).
Valid for one day of unlimited Metrorail travel on weekdays after 9:30 a.m. or all day on Saturdays, Sundays or federal holidays. The pass expires at 4:00 a.m. on the day following first day of use.

DC Duck tour

Old Town Trolleys

segway tours

This old town trolley looks very interesting. Sounds like a good way to see all the things I want without the hassle of driving and parking.

We are staying at some hotel at the reagan airport for two days. We have a car rented for the five days, but will avoid driving around DC if possible.

Thanks Like2Plan

[buildmybudget]

You should definitely visit the National Mall in D.C. and see all of the monuments. That alone will take the better part of a day. There is also several great museums there, my favorite of which was actually the International Spy Museum. It was a blast. There is so much to do in DC you shouldn't be bored at any point.

[maat55]

You should definitely visit the National Mall in D.C. and see all of the monuments. That alone will take the better part of a day. There is also several great museums there, my favorite of which was actually the International Spy Museum. It was a blast. There is so much to do in DC you shouldn't be bored at any point.

That will likely be one of our stops, I am a big fan of early history and the founders.

[kork13]

I'll just second buildmybudget... The national mall is incredible, and a definite must-see. It'll take a full day to even start exploring, but it's fun. The museums are also quite fun. I'm a bit of a space geek (related to my college major), so I really enjoyed the Air and Space Museum.

[Like2Plan]

There are lots of National Parks in DC--Here is a link that will give you info on all them-- such as The Washington Monument (and how to make an advance reservation), WWII, Korean WAR, Vietnam, Lincoln, TJ, FDR and many, many more.
link to National Parks in DC (main page)

Here are a couple of interesting notes:

Mule-drawn canal boat rides are currently running five days a week for the Charles F. Mercer. Please call the Great Falls Visitor Center at 301-767-3714 or the Georgetown Visitor Center at 202-653-5190 for more information.
Notice: Canal Boat rides on the Georgetown Canal boat will not run from August 26, 2009 through early to mid September. Please call the Georgetown Visitor center at 202-653-5190 or the Great Falls Visitor Center at 301-767-3714 for the latest information.
link to NPS C & O canal

link to NPS Constitution Gardens

Fords Theatre Museum Grand Reopening
Ford's Theatre Museum reopened to the general public on July 15, 2009. Note: Fords Theatre, the Museum and the Petersen House will be closed September 22-23, for park maintenance.
link to NPS Fords Theatre

link to Arlington

[Like2Plan]

Mt. Vernon is also a popular destination--probably easiest to visit by car. I visited Mt Vernon in July. They have added a huge visitor center and museum (it had been years since my last visit ). I spent the whole day there. I recommend taking a tour of the main house and grounds in the morning and then spending the afternoon in the museum (which is air conditioned! )
link to Mt Vernon

Of course, the Smithsonian Museums are the crown jewels. What I like the best is they do not charge admission and they are awesome!
Link to the Smithsonian Museums

If you have any extra time--There is the National Air and Space Udvar Hazy Center which is located near Dulles airport. (Best reached by car). There is no admission, but they do charge you for parking ($15.00). (At one time, they waived the parking fee after 4:00pm, but I'm not sure they do that anymore and it doesn't give you much time at the museum. )Smithsonian-Udvar Hazy

[cantretire]

I would love to get back to the Smithsonian so please go for me! Post links to pics.

Have a great time!

[wincrasher]

You could spend several days on the mall looking thru all the musuems plus the historic buildings.

Of course all these are free - your tax dollars hard at work.

natural history, air and space, the mint - all fantastic.

as is the zoo. You can get around from hotels to the mall on the metro - fast, safe and cheap.

the bus tours i guess are interesting, but there is so much information available on line and to see within walking distance, i've never bothered.

[scfr]

Did DC/NYC 2 years ago.

DC & NYC Vacation: WOW!: scfr's Personal Finance Blog

If this is your first trip to DC and you only have 2 days to spend there, I recommend sticking to The National Mall. Mt. Vernon is fantastic, but you really need a full day there.

Are you a AAA member? If so, swing by your local office and get a free guidebook for DC. It breaks down the Mall in to suggested walking routes.

As for NYC, the CityPass is a great way to economize and hit the major attractions:
Costco - New York CityPass®

You may not have enough time to hit them all, but at least this will give you some ideas of what are considered "must-sees."

[maat55]

Thanks for all the tips guys and gals. Looks like spending a full day and maybe part of another at the mall is going to be the plan.

DW is trying to get us in the White House the morning before we leave, hope she succeeds.

We thought while we were that close we would drive up to Atlantic City and New York leaving us a little less time in D.C.

I don't travel much so this will likely be a trip to remember.

[cantretire]

How long will you be in NY?

[Scanner]

Interesing what people commented on. . .I am a South Jersey guy since 1997 so I'll give you Atlantic City advice.

Hmmm. If you are in Atlantic City, of course, more than likely, you are going to want to see and do the boardwalk and/or beach and that's fine. You can't go wrong with things to do - casinos, Ripleys' Beleive It or Not Museum, resteraunts, shows, The Tropicana has an IMAX theatre. There is alos Steel Pier, which has rides for the kiddies.

YOu can even watch DisneySteve playing a mean game of $5 blackjack at the Borgata

But if you want to go off the beaten path, and something a little more family oriented, you could drive down to Wildwood, NJ (30 minutes south of AC on the GS Parkway) and do the doo-wop tour of the town. Wildwood is a classic middle class destination for Philadelphians and New Yorkers for families and actually French Canadians are interspersed in there too. They have their own boardwalk and the beach is a little unique for it's size and the hard blackish sand near water's edge (good for jogging on). They have fireworks every Friday night but I think that ends at Labor Day. But if you are going on a weekend in Sept, 10 to 1 bet there is a parade going on of some sort - it's a huge convention town.

If you go to Wildwood, you'll have to get a slice of boardwalk pizza from either Sam's or Mack's (there are 32 pizza places on teh boardwalk but those are the 2 cults). I am in the Sam's cult - their sausage pizza is what I get.

You could also do the walking mall in Cape May. Chicks dig that stuff with the Victorian shops and all and you can sip a beer at the Owl Tavern, I think it is.

Hope you have fun.

[maat55]

Interesing what people commented on. . .I am a South Jersey guy since 1997 so I'll give you Atlantic City advice.

Hmmm. If you are in Atlantic City, of course, more than likely, you are going to want to see and do the boardwalk and/or beach and that's fine. You can't go wrong with things to do - casinos, Ripleys' Beleive It or Not Museum, resteraunts, shows, The Tropicana has an IMAX theatre. There is alos Steel Pier, which has rides for the kiddies.

YOu can even watch DisneySteve playing a mean game of $5 blackjack at the Borgata

But if you want to go off the beaten path, and something a little more family oriented, you could drive down to Wildwood, NJ (30 minutes south of AC on the GS Parkway) and do the doo-wop tour of the town. Wildwood is a classic middle class destination for Philadelphians and New Yorkers for families and actually French Canadians are interspersed in there too. They have their own boardwalk and the beach is a little unique for it's size and the hard blackish sand near water's edge (good for jogging on). They have fireworks every Friday night but I think that ends at Labor Day. But if you are going on a weekend in Sept, 10 to 1 bet there is a parade going on of some sort - it's a huge convention town.

If you go to Wildwood, you'll have to get a slice of boardwalk pizza from either Sam's or Mack's (there are 32 pizza places on teh boardwalk but those are the 2 cults). I am in the Sam's cult - their sausage pizza is what I get.


You could also do the walking mall in Cape May. Chicks dig that stuff with the Victorian shops and all and you can sip a beer at the Owl Tavern, I think it is.

Hope you have fun.

We have reserved an room at the Trump Marina Casino. I like the small tourist type shopping towns, hopefully, I can get her to shop while I sip a beer.