Road trip!

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mkp81

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No off-road adventures (not planned anyway) but headed to D.C. for the week. First trip over 5 hours in my LE. Almost threw my stock Yokohamas back on lol, but we'll see how well the Nittos hold up I suppose. First trip to D.C. and pretty pumped. Staying in Arlington with a view of the mall. Coming back down Thursday to Durham, NC to stalk coach K and catch a Bulls game.. then to Mount Airy to pay my respects, hopefull back in Bama Friday night. If anybody sees a black LE with satoshi and no roof rack, wave!
Any tips for D.C. Would be great. Got a good plan of attack but pointers never hurt.
Thanks.
 
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Don't drive in DC. That's the best advice I can give you. Leave your car in Arlington and use their metro system. You'll save hours and headaches by dong this.
 
eddie333 said:
Don't drive in DC. That's the best advice I can give you. Leave your car in Arlington and use their metro system. You'll save hours and headaches by dong this.
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That's the plan. Complimentary shuttle to the nearest metro station. Figure I'll get a weekly pass.
 
Single? Hit up the bars near the Capitol Building. One is called Hawk and Dove I believe....interns love to hang out there. lol

The metro is freaking awesome, so the weekly pass is smart. I lived there for a summer internship. The weekly pass is smart, go see the Constitution if you never have. Oh, and once you leave the main DC area....it's a shithole!

Finally, if you have time, go see the changing of the guard at Arlington National Cemetary.
 
K0nfusion said:
Single? Hit up the bars near the Capitol Building. One is called Hawk and Dove I believe....interns love to hang out there. lol

The metro is freaking awesome, so the weekly pass is smart. I lived there for a summer internship. The weekly pass is smart, go see the Constitution if you never have. Oh, and once you leave the main DC area....it's a shithole!

Finally, if you have time, go see the changing of the guard at Arlington National Cemetary.
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I second the Arlington National Cemetery and the changing of the guard. It's a very humbling experience to see, much more so than the museums. Stay in Virginia, the bar scene is much nicer IMO. Just be warned that "The Crystal City Restaurant" is not a regular restaurant, and their "strip steak" special comes with more than just a steak.
 
Regarding Durham:

Skip the stalking coach K, and visit the Tar Heels one town over :boxer:

Excellent choice on the Bulls game though. Always a good time.

(Durham native, living in Cary, NC)
 
Presenting of the Colors (by either the Army or the Marines) at Iwo Jima is cool. Takes an hour and starts at 7PM. Plus the Dutch carillon is right beside it.

The Korea monument is really cool at night.

I discovered the Marine Corps museum outside of town (along I95 in MD) last week. I really enjoyed that.

Okki
 
Here's my 2 tips. If you stay in hotel with underground parking, make sure parking has enough clearance for your truck. I stayed as Washington Plaza few years ago and had my wife to walk besides and tell me when I'm about to hit sprinklers with roof rack. Could be real problem in some other hotel I guess.
Second tip is that if you going to the US Capitol and want to visit Congress or Senate - don't tell them that you're a US citizen. US citizens need to go to different building to get they Congressman or Senator office to issue a pass. Not a short trip under hot summer sun. Canadians are just going downstairs and get pass off the reception and nobody asks for ID as long as you're saying that you're from Canada : ) And make sure you don't have anything sharp or liquid, security is like in airport.
 
scanny said:
Here's my 2 tips. If you stay in hotel with underground parking, make sure parking has enough clearance for your truck. I stayed as Washington Plaza few years ago and had my wife to walk besides and tell me when I'm about to hit sprinklers with roof rack. Could be real problem in some other hotel I guess.
Second tip is that if you going to the US Capitol and want to visit Congress or Senate - don't tell them that you're a US citizen. US citizens need to go to different building to get they Congressman or Senator office to issue a pass. Not a short trip under hot summer sun. Canadians are just going downstairs and get pass off the reception and nobody asks for ID as long as you're saying that you're from Canada : ) And make sure you don't have anything sharp or liquid, security is like in airport.
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Out of curiosity, what would OP if they did happen to ask for proof of ID/Canadian citizenship? Flee suspiciously out of the Capitol Building? :caked:

Call me a pansy, but misrepresenting yourself in this manner is probably not a great idea especially in a federal building :p

[MENTION=92160]mkp81[/MENTION] are you traveling with anyone that might be interested in visiting the National Zoo or the are really into aeronautics?

Both free admission (just pay parking) and both a worthwhile visit if you or anyone else is into that stuff. Here are the links:

Meet Our Animals - National Zoo

Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center | National Air and Space Museum

As a matter of fact the great thing about DC is that all of the museums which are part of the Smithsonian are all pretty much free, so if you are a history buff, this would work out great for you. Here's the link in case you are interested: Museums and Zoo | Smithsonian

Like others have said take advantage of the metro because navigating DC in any vehicle is one major pain in the behind. Two words: TRAFFIC CIRCLES, you'll see what I mean if you actually drive around in the city, lol.

If you do plan to stay out late, make sure to check the metro schedule to see if it will still be running by the time you want to go back, some lines stop after a certain time I think.
 
eddiebx said:
[MENTION=92160]mkp81[/MENTION] are you traveling with anyone that might be interested in visiting the National Zoo or the are really into aeronautics?

Both free admission (just pay parking) and both a worthwhile visit if you or anyone else is into that stuff. Here are the links:

Meet Our Animals - National Zoo

Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center | National Air and Space Museum

As a matter of fact the great thing about DC is that all of the museums which are part of the Smithsonian are all pretty much free, so if you are a history buff, this would work out great for you. Here's the link in case you are interested: Museums and Zoo | Smithsonian

If you do plan to stay out late, make sure to check the metro schedule to see if it will still be running by the time you want to go back, some lines stop after a certain time I think.
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+1 on both counts. The Air and Space at Dulles is awesome. Eddiebx is also right on the metro times. Most of the Smithsonian museums are all within walking distance of each other.

Okki
 
eddiebx said:
Out of curiosity, what would OP if they did happen to ask for proof of ID/Canadian citizenship? Flee suspiciously out of the Capitol Building?
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Just show them driver license and if they ask questions, maintain innocence - did we say we're Canadian, oh, no way, we're US citizens, sorry for misunderstanding, can we have a pass please : )
 
go to the park at the end of runway1 at DCA airport take GW parkway from the airport north and stay in the far right lane and then you'll see the entrance to the park on the right just after the airport. hopefully they'll be departing to the south and you can view the low flying landing over your head
 
Thanks for all the replies! I've been on the road for 13 hours lol. Stopped in Roanoke for breakfast at the Texas Tavern... Then got side tracked at the D-Day memorial in Bedford. Eating now, next stop Arlington.
I'm thinking about doing a guided night tour of the monuments.. Definitely going to Arlington for the changing of the guard. Also, got a few Smithsonians I want to spend some time in. Only going to have tomorrow and Wednesday to do all of that, brought my comfy shoes lol.
No plans to visit Congress or anything. That'll be another trip. Just got a new Nikon D5100 last week so this is mostly a "scenic" trip. I am a history buff though, looking forward to the next few days.

GO DUKE! ;) (And war eagle)
 
On you way back stop by Lexington, VA (home to Washington & Lee University and VMI), go pay your respects to General Lee, whose tomb is in the basement of Lee Chapel on the W&L campus.

-Ditto Arlington Cemetery changing of the guard.
-Mount Vernon if you have time (for my money, go through the house quickly then sit on the porch and enjoy the view).
-If you head to Udvar Hazy out by Dulles (this is hardly DC though, at 18 miles out), also check out the NRA headquarters and National Firearms Museum in Fairfax. Get some indoor range time there too.
-Nighttime monument visit is a good idea. They are open.
-Try to hit any museums when they open in the AM. Fewer crowds.
-Go to a Nats game.
-Get a few drinks at the Washington Harbor (Georgetown waterfront)
-Check out Great Falls, either VA or MD side (20 minutes out of town)
-Get off the road a rush hour. Trust me.
 
mkp81 said:
No plans to visit Congress or anything. That'll be another trip. Just got a new Nikon D5100 last week so this is mostly a "scenic" trip. I am a history buff though, looking forward to the next few days.
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If you reconsider they give quite interesting free guided tour there, and you'll need pass only to check out actual rooms when Congress or Senate make laws (after the tour). Speaking about history I found also interesting George Washington Masonic Temple in Alexandria.
 
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