I have a work conference in DC this fall. I am going to the area a few days early, mainly to adjust to the time change so i can be on my game when the whole team is there.
i’ll have about 4 days on my own. We fly in & out of Dulles.
I want to rent an STR in an interesting place, somewhere safe and nice to get out and walk…maybe restaurants or at least groceries walkable.
I won’t have a car so some where I can shuttle to & from Dulles and other places would be great.
I assume VA is optimal.
The second question is what to see. I will still be working but can flex time a bit and will have a weekend. What should I prioritize to see in DC or surrounding areas?
There is a lot to see in DC itself, but I also like taking the train to Baltimore for a day trip especially if you are interested in history/maritime history. The maritime museum in the inner harbor (including the Torsk submarine and USS Constellation) is well worth a visit, then take the water taxi from there to Fort McHenry (star spangled banner inspiration, as well as revolutionary and other war history) and stop in Fells Point on the way back.
I am a huge fan of the Renwick — it doesn’t take forever, is always interesting and easy to find (although these days its proximity to the WH may not be a good thing)
The National Building museum is also great. Obviously a trip to the Museum of African American history would be smart to include sooner rather than later, if you can get tickets.
Reston is a bit further out ( closer to Dulles) but it has Metro access to DC. Reston is pretty and very walkable ( I was in a running group there for years, trust me). Stay near Reston Town Center for restaurants, shops etc.
Is this your first time in DC? Wondering whether you have done all the museums and other “must-sees.” For instance, the National Portrait Gallery is my favorite. A lesser-known place is the Planet Word Museum, which likely would be a hit with the cc crowd!
Last time I was there I stayed near the Eastern Market, which is right by a Metro station.
Reston is an interesting choice. I worked at the Hyatt in Reston Town Center when it first opened! Pros - restaurants, groceries, shopping. If you run, the W&OD trail is right there - and you run on a trail all the way to DC (~20 miles each way, though I did do it once). Easy Access to Metro. Much closer to Dulles (10-15 min). Cons - minor, but you do have to transfer from Silver to Orange to get to DC and it takes longer (30 min? Never done it) The sights in Reston are going to be new, not historic.
Old Town Alexandria - this was my first thought. Pros - Easy access to Metros and faster to DC. Old Town is very historic with lots of restaurants. Not sure about things like groceries though. I’ve only walked around the touristy part.
Arlington - super walkable. I love it, but this is where all of the young 20 something professional live. I wouldn’t say there’s a lot of cute to look at. I love the vibe though. And it’s really quick and easy into DC, especially in the Ballston-VA Square-Courthouse-Clarendon corridor. You can also metro right back to Dulles. My kids do that sometimes, though often just uber. It’s closer to Dulles than Old Town Alexandria.
What should you see in D.C.? If it’s your first visit, I’d recommend doing the standard route between the Lincoln Memorial and the U.S. Capitol. It’s about two miles from one to the other, and along the way you’ll see the White House, the Washington Monument, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the World War II Memorial, etc. There are several Smithsonian museums along the Mall, so you can choose based on your interests. Our favorites are the American History, the Natural History, and the Air and Space Museum, although I personally prefer the Smithsonian’s Air and Space Museum at Dulles. There are also several excellent art museums and galleries, theAfrican American History and Culture (which I highly recommend, though it can be sobering), and the National Archives. Plan on spending at least two hours in each museum, and often more if you want to see everything.