<p>Unexpectedly we find ourselves with Saturday free to spend in DC - we’ve never been! What can we do in a day?</p>
<p>When? Soon? There is nothing like the cherry blossoms, but go really early since the crowds will be big. Then pick your favorite war, president or theme and hit the monument or museum. Stay in the mall area since there is so much there. If you can be there at night, the monuments at the Lincoln memorial to Washington monument are good then, too. You can’t possibly see everything you want in a day, but anything you pick up will be worth it. Note though that the distances are greater than they appear. Have good walking shoes.</p>
<p>If you like historical stuff I suggest taking a side trip to Mt. Vernon. Doing the tour and exploring a little on you own plus getting there and back would pretty much fill up one whole day.</p>
<p>It’s this Saturday! We are staying near Alexandria, VA. What is the best way to get into DC? If we take the train (or whatever it’s called here!) where is the best stop to get off to see those pretty trees?</p>
<p>“What is the best way to get into DC?”</p>
<p>You m-i-g-h-t find parking on a Saturday. But the DC Metro train is wonderful. There are at least two stops in Alexandria. Highly recommended!</p>
<p>[Metro</a> - Rail - Maps - Rail/Google Map](<a href=“http://www.wmata.com/rail/maps/map.cfm]Metro”>http://www.wmata.com/rail/maps/map.cfm)</p>
<p>Um, a bit more information … well, quite a lot actually.</p>
<p>[Cherry</a> Blossom Festival: Traveler’s guide - The Washington Post](<a href=“http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/cherry-blossom-festival-travelers-guide/2011/03/17/ABlLVHx_story.html]Cherry”>http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/cherry-blossom-festival-travelers-guide/2011/03/17/ABlLVHx_story.html)</p>
<p>I’d suggest the Mall, because there’s so much right there (all of the Smithsonian museums/art galleries, Washington monument at one end; Capitol at the other). It’ll easily fill your day and only one trip in and out of the city–the rest on foot.</p>
<p>Parking? On a Saturday during [Cherry</a> Blossom festival](<a href=“http://www.nationalcherryblossomfestival.org/]Cherry”>http://www.nationalcherryblossomfestival.org/), which opens this Saturday on March 26? Nope - not happening. Take the Metro. </p>
<p>Depending on where you are staying in Alexandria, you can catch the Metro yellow or blue line. Get off at Smithsonian, which will take you to the Mall. From there, you can walk to the museums and monuments and the Tidal Basin (picturesque concentration of cherry trees).</p>
<p>Old Town Alexandria is fun too. Lots of restaurant and nightlife.</p>
<p>DC native here. I agree with walking along the mall to see the White House, Capitol, Lincoln & Washington Monuments (the Jefferson is across the Tidal Basin, so it’s a bit of a hike - that’s where the biggest concentration of cherry trees are) and WWII & Vietnam Memorials. Go online NOW to get timed tickets for the Washington Monument. </p>
<p>Wander in/out of the various museums - Air & Space and Natural History are my favorites. The cafes in both of these are good - plan to have lunch at either. </p>
<p>Also agree that parking is nuts around cherry blossom time - if you don’t want to hassle with Metro or street parking, you could pay and park in a parking lot. I would look around the Capitol/Union Square area or NW aroutd 10th street. If you are really lucky, you might find street parking in the SE neighborhood behind the Library of Congress.</p>
<p>Cherry Blossom Festival will be beautiful if that’s going on right now. I love walking around in that area. Most of the museums that I have been to are free and you can come and go as you please.</p>
<p>Not just Cherry Blossom festival this weekend. Saturday is also the [SunTrust</a> National Marathon](<a href=“http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/national-marathon-course/2011/03/24/ABmXstRB_graphic.html]SunTrust”>http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/national-marathon-course/2011/03/24/ABmXstRB_graphic.html), which has multiple street closures. Take the Metro.</p>
<p>Good advice on this thread.
- Comfortable clothes. Good walking shoes. Lotsa walking.
- Spend the day in the mall. Download a map of the mall with buildings named, to carry around.
- Eat at the Natural History and/or Air & Space-- at unorthodox times (not noon, for example).
- Must ride the Metro.
- Carry as little as possible. Wear a fanny pack.</p>
<p>Food at the National Museum of American Indian is better (and healthier) than your average food court options: buffalo burgers & chili, coho salmon, wild rice & squash salad, etc. Go early to avoid the tourist crowd.</p>
<p>Another Washington native. Agree with so many others. With one day in DC - no questions in my mind - the Mall. And take the Metro. Car in that area = millstone around your neck.</p>
<p>The museums are all free; take your pick. The monuments are all wonderful to see. I found the Vietnam Veterans memorial (which I saw more than 20 years ago) extremely moving. I also just went last year to the “new” WWII memorial - moving in a different way.</p>
<p>I’m not sure what day(s) of the week, but there is a farmer’s market outside the Dept of Agriculture building. Very popular (with the lines sometimes to prove it) lunch items there.</p>
<p>There is tons more you could do - Mt. Vernon as coureur suggested, the Zoo, neighborhoods (Georgetown, Dupont Circle for shopping and eating), Arlington National Cemetery etc etc etc.</p>
<p>But with one day - the Mall.</p>
<p>As if there is not already enough going on this weekend, there is the annual Kite Festival, which is held near the base of the Washington Monument. You picked a fun weekend to visit DC! I hope the weather cooperates.</p>
<p>There is a list of current exhibitions here–
[Search</a> | Exhibitions | Smithsonian](<a href=“http://www.si.edu/Exhibitions/Search/Current]Search”>http://www.si.edu/Exhibitions/Search/Current)
You might look to see if there is anything of particular interest. I think Saturday is going to be the nicer day this weekend. Have fun!</p>
<p>I loved the map in the Washington Post Weekend Section today, showing the Tidal Basin area; this is the closest one I could find online:</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/gog/cherry-blossom-festival-2011/graphics/blossoms2011.pdf[/url]”>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/gog/cherry-blossom-festival-2011/graphics/blossoms2011.pdf</a></p>
<p>Note the Mall is just to the right (East) of the Washington Monument; most of the museums are along the Mall. Get off at the Smithsonian Metro stop and you can access both the Cherry Blossoms and the Museums. It will be very crowded tomorrow, so be prepared for lots of people and lots of walking.</p>
<p>I’ll put in a vote for the Holocaust Museum. It’s near the end of the mall by the Washington Monument (not on the mall but on the street that passes in front of that end of the mall). It is a fabulous museum and extremely well done. The other museum I never miss when in DC is the Museum of American History. It has a lot of Americana in it and I love seeing it again and again. Can’t miss seeing Kermit the Frog, the first ladies gowns, and the American Flag exhibit…personal favorites.</p>
<p>I’ve said it here before and I’ll say it again. 3 words, Ben’s Chili Bowl</p>
<p>What’s the best Metro stop to take to get to the Museum of American History? Son wants to go to DC specifically to see this. It was closed on our last visit. Also, does one need more than one day to see the whole Museum of American History? We spent almost two days just at the flight museum.</p>