Speak Out: Your Tips for Out-of-Town Guests

LG November 21, 2012 at 12:21 pm

It has been my experience that 3 days devoted to sightseeing will be adequate to see a good sampling of the sights.
When my guests visit, we divide out time as follows: --1 day to see the Natural History Museum and National Gallery of Art (or other museum of their choice). --1 day for the bus tour around DC that allows them to hop on and off. We usually hop off at the Jefferson Memorial then walk to the Roosevelt Memorial, then on to the Lincoln Memorial where one may walk to the VietNam Memorial, Korean Memorial, Reflecting Pool and get a breathtaking view of the Washington Monument. --1 day to see other desired attractions such as Mt. Vernon, Old Town Alexandria, Great Falls or more museums as they wish. Be sure to plan the 3 days around weather, saving the nicest day for outside activities. For lunch, consider the restaurant located between the Natural History Museum and National Gallery of Art. If possible, get a friend to drop you off at the Virginia Square Metro Station. The escalators are not too steep there, which is sometimes a plus for older visitors. When you are ready to leave the Mall area at end of day, call your driver and have them pick you up at the same place. Be sure to get your Smart Card at CVS prior to the trip. IT will be easier. This plan has worked for me on several occasions with young senior visitors.

S. A. Misener November 21, 2012 at 12:24 pm

The Mount Vernon estate is open on Thanksgiving and running their standard programs. I can personally recommend Hoecakes and Hospitality, which is a look at how George and Martha Washington entertained their guests, and all the labor on the estate that went into creating some of the most cutting-edge hospitality in the 18th century.

LG November 21, 2012 at 12:41 pm

If one is planning to use the "Hop on, Hop off" bus around monuments in DC, be aware that the old "Ride On" bus that drove around the Mall area is no longer in business as of 2011. On our last trip in October 2012, we had to get our bus tour tickets on-line. Several companies offer the service. We also printed out a map with designated stops, then picked up the bus as appropriate. Find out ahead of time how long you will have to wait between buses. If you do this and walk between memorials/monuments, be sure to take the map with you. Tour bus stops are not marked with signage and there are numerous bus companies that run the same route. The trip worked well enough for us, but it was not a busy day. Also, it takes a while for the bus to drive through DC streets, so be sure to factor that into your schedule. Decide ahead of time where your group will be getting off the bus.

Mary Ann Barton (Editor) November 21, 2012 at 10:09 pm

Going to the movies can be a nice break; Patch should have a review out in the next few days, courtesy of Cinema Siren, of a new film coming out this weekend. Stay tuned.

LG November 27, 2012 at 11:55 am

Young visitors might enjoy the Reston Petting Zoo. Dress warm and comfortably. If you are able, purchase a bucket of the food pellets and seeded bird sticks. Children of all ages have the opportunity to feed lamas, goats, watusies, giraffes, etc. from there hands. In the bird section, calmly hold up the food sticks and the birds will sit on your hand to peck off the seeds. Contact the zoo directly to find out details of admission cost & other. I only visited during the summer months. Also, a day-trip away at Natural Bridge, VA is the zoo's sister zoo. At that location, cars are driven through the park and animals are fed from the car. Both locations were great fun for animal lovers.