We live within driving distance, but usually avoid DC. My son’s girlfriend is here, and they want to take advantage of some Christmas things. She has seen the mall and the Smithsonian museums already. They are 21 and 22.
They may go to the zoo and zoo lights, and to the Morman Temple and Brookside Gardens, because we live in Maryland, and she wants to see Christmas lights.
She wants to go to the Library of Congress.
They may go to union Station, but I hear it’s not as nice as usual because of construction.
National Christmas Tree, and maybe the Capitol.
They are looking for cheap things, and they are not drinkers, but if anyone knows an easy to get to place with a view right in DC, that would be interesting.
Ideas?
I may not be able to respond often, but I will be reading.
Thanks
You might look at a rooftop restaurant in Rosslyn- just go for an Arnold Palmer at sunset or something. With temperate weather, riding bikes around some of the neighborhoods would be fun.
How about Georgetown?
Thanks. Georgetown is tough because it’s not accessible via metro. Is there anything special there for the holidays? They probably won’t make it to VA.
ZooLights, definitely. Ignore Union Station; last time I was there (about 1.5 years ago, but they were just starting construction) it was a mess. I’d recommend going to the International Spy museum (near the Verizon Center, I think) and the Botanic Gardens. I used to spend hours at the USBG on weekends when I was a little kid.
Thanks. I put bot. Gardens and spy museum, along with Newseum, as possible choices.
Anyone know much about walking around monuments at night?
When my boyfriend and I went, the most fun part was renting city bikes for the day and riding around all the monuments. We did the whole trip on our bikes, and the farthest place (the zoo) wasn’t even that bad. Then again, this was August not December.
Just got back from DC. The temps were pretty varied, from 30s/40s to 70s. We were mostly in VA, so probably wouldn’t work well for them. We were near the end of the Silver line. We enjoyed a drive around Manasus monument.
We didn’t see anything Christmassy this trip, except some nice lights in Alexandria suburbs, but need a car for that.
There is a great exhibit at the newly reopened Renwick Gallery, which is part of the Smithsonian, so it’s free. renwick.americanart.si.edu/wonder
Is there anything going on at the tidal basin?
We enjoyed a drive around Manasus monument.>>
What is this?
Do you mean Manassas?
There’s a nice Christmas Market on F Street. It’s near the Portrait Gallery/American Art Museum, which they may have missed on a typical Smithsonian visit. I don’t know about views, but there are lots of nice restaurants nearby.
There’s a weird little museum at the Daughters of the American Revolution that illustrates the lives of American women. http://www.dar.org/museum/exhibitions/period-room-tours
How about Christmas on the Potomac at Washington National Convention Center. That seems to be a major holiday attraction in the area. It actually takes place at National Harbor, Maryland.
www.Christmasonthepotomac.com
http://www.marriott.com/hotel-info/wasgn-gaylord-national-resort-and-convention-center/christmas/xyjvxiz/home-page.mi?stop_mobi=yes
There also seems to be a circular bus from union station to Georgetown.
http://washington.org/DC-guide-to/georgetown
Capitol tree is just as nice, if not nicer, than the one near the White House - and not as crowded. I would second the Zoo (with Zoolights) and the Botanic Garden with beautiful holiday displays. And you can get to Georgetown from the Foggy Bottom/GWU Metro stop - it’s only a 15 minutes walk and there are lights in Georgetown as well but it’s only until the 20th. You can find more info on light displays at http://www.timeout.com/washington-dc/things-to-do/where-to-see-christmas-lights-in-dc.
If they go to Union Station, the Smithsonian’s National Postal Museum is right across the street. It may sound boring, but there are some really cool exhibits there including Owney, the railway mail service mascot who traveled around the country by rail.
To get in the holiday spirit, they could also enjoy a decadent (non-alcoholic) hot chocolate: http://www.yelp.com/search?find_desc=Hot+Chocolate&find_loc=Washington%2C+DC.
Arlington National Cemetery is beautiful this time of year thanks to Wreaths Across America.
I was also going to suggest the Renwick Gallery. DH was there a couple of days ago on a business trip long layover. He’s done most of the things in DC, but really enjoyed the exhibit that is at the Renwick now.
If you and they haven’t done the Newseum and are interested in the media and 20th century history, it is very cool.
I was just at the Mormon Temple last night, which is near where I live. Gorgeous lights for free, but it won’t take too long to see them all. There are also free concerts there each night at 7 and 8:30. See http://dctemplelights.lds.org/.
The zoo lights are also nice. The zoo is about a 10-minute walk from the Metro. It’s pricey to park there, but free to walk in if you take Metro. The Gaylord Hotel at National Harbor really gets decked up for Christmas, but the ICE exhibit, where everything is carved from ice, is expensive.
And the Library of Congress is always beautiful. I’m not sure what they do as far as holiday decorations go. If you are near the LOC, then go to the US Botanic Garden, which is also free, and has Christmas displays and is free: https://www.usbg.gov/
Since you’re nearby, you know the weather has been unusually warm, but it will be cold this weekend and then warmer again next week.
Have fun!
Yes, I love the LOC and US Botanic Garden, tho don’t know what they do for Christmas.