<p>Restaurants–I second Zaytinyas. The Red Sea, though, unfortunately, has closed. The owners of Zaytinyas also own Jaleos (relatively close to the Mall, on 7th and E) which is a wonderful Spanish tapas restaurant.</p>
<p>Dumbarton Oaks is also closed, except for the gardens. Bits and pieces of its collections can be found in various other museums. On Fridays, the Washington Post has a section called Weekend which tells you what’s going on at the museums and other places of interest.</p>
<p>I second staying in a hotel just outside DC and taking the metro in. Don’t know that anyone’s mentioned the National Gallery of Art, but it’s great. I know squat about art, but did enjoy wandering around this one. Of course, a walk around the tidal basin is always nice. H and D went to the new air and space museum (not in DC, but northern VA) and couldn’t stop talking about it. Arlington cemetary, Mt. Vernon and Smithsonian are all great too.</p>
<p>As a W&M alum who now lives outside of Richmond, I highly recommend seeing at least the Governor’s Palace and gardens, the Capitol, and the Wren Building (latter is free). The Raleigh Tavern Bakery, located just behind the Raleigh Tavern near the Capitol sells great cookies and apple turnovers, pecan pie, root beer, etc. They used to bake them right there, but now they’re baked off-site. For a “colonial” meal, I highly recommend King’s Arms Tavern over the others, although Christiana Campbells has some mean fried chicken and Chownings has a nice outdoor patio. Note that seating is done by room, so a large crowd tends to gather outside as you wait for a room to empty and be re-seated. It’s worth the wait, though. Some may take reservations for dinner.</p>
<p>For lunch, I never miss the cheese shop (now right on DoG St in Merchant’s Square) for their sandwiches. The bread is baked daily and lunch meats are the real deal. Their house dressing is mayo based with a hint of mustard seed and other secret ingredients. It is really good, and I don’t really like mayo and hate mustard. We always ask for extra house dressing on the side and they’ll give you an extra little container with your sandwiches. If you call ahead (757) 220-0298 you can avoid the lines both to order and to pay as you just walk right up to the pick-up counter and pay right there - otherwise the wait can be up to 30 minutes - they are that popular. I sometimes drive to Wmsbg just for a sandwich!</p>
<p>Mt. Vernon is in the process of changing from a stuffy house-museum into a much more vibrant and interactive location. They are emphasizing more Washing ton the Man than Washington the Demi-God. Also during in September, 15 & 16 this year – they have an 18th century fair with many craftspersons and lots of period costumes. Beautiful but can be H-O-T! <a href=“http://www.mountvernon.org%5B/url%5D”>www.mountvernon.org</a></p>
<p>In addition to the Air and Space on the Mall, there’s also the fairly-new Udvar Hazy Center out by Dulles Airport. There you can see everything from Eddie Rickenbacher’s uniform to the Space Shuttle (a real one, not a model!) It’s also a great place to take in a first run movie in IMAX. Undoubtedly Harry Potter the 23rd (or whatever) will be there this summer but order tickets on-line and in advance. <a href=“http://www.nasm.si.edu/udvarhazy[/url]”>www.nasm.si.edu/udvarhazy</a></p>
<p>Re: Williamsburg. Sure, the Colonial section’s fun and the museums and shopping are great. But you gotta mention Busch Gardens Williamsburg! Just the most beautiful theme park in America (beats Disney every year) with lush landscaping, quaint buildings and, oh yeah, slamming roller coasters…including a new one this year! Love it! It’s only a ten minute drive out of the main town…well, not for me because I always get lost somehow. Maybe my new GPS will help?</p>
<p>The waterpark’s pretty good too and if you have younger kids, Great Wolf Lodge has it’s own indoor waterpark. The rates aren’t cheap but if you are visiting in a colder season, it’s a wonderful way to cut down on the whining.</p>
<p>I’m definitely printing out this thread! These ideas are wonderful. Makes me wish I were going on this trip! (Actually, I don’t think I’d like to do DC in the summer. Early spring, late fall, maybe?)</p>
<p>I’m the kind of person whose favorite time to go to Disneyland is a raining Wednesday in early December!</p>
<p>And the weather towards the end of August is usually better than July. Not always though. Sometimes it seems to get rainy, but the heat index isn’t as high. It usually takes awhile for people to get used to the humidity.</p>
<p>Better strike Ford’s theatre from the list; without any advance notice to the public, it closed today for years of renovation. (They’re saying 18th months, but nothing here that has been ever closed for renovation has re-opened according to schedule.)</p>
<p>The Torpedo Factory (open artists’ studios) is actually in Old Town, Alexandria not Arlington. It is accessible via the Metro (King Street, just requires a bit more walking) and IMHO alot more quaint than Georgetown. Thirty years ago Georgetown was delightful, but now it just like a giant mall with chain stores. Old Town is smaller, less crowded, easier to walk around, and has a more accessible waterfront area. Rent bikes in Old Town or at the Sailing Marina closer to National Airport (do they still call it that?) and bike down to Mount Vernon. August in DC can be very hot, humid, and smoggy. Old Town is a great antidote to that.</p>
<p>Actually it’s Reagan Airport now – I’m sorry they changed it, as it was appropriate to have National Airport for Our Nation’s Capital, don’t you think?</p>
<p>You might want to checkout the Embassy Suites in Chevy Chase. I don’t know how many are in your party, but they offer a 2 room suite with free breakfast. I checked out their website and it’s about $255 a night. It’s located in a lively area with shopping and restaurants and has a metro stop (Friendship heights red line) at its door. Also, it has a pool!</p>
<p>I live in the Gaithersburg area, and although the hotels might be a little cheaper, the metro ride is about an hour from there.</p>
<p>You can check out the menu online. I really liked it and thought that it was great. They have a thing called “sharezis” (sp) and they are a combo of appetizers. We really liked it and will def go back the next time we are in town.</p>
<p>I second the Ford Theater, including basement museum, and the Spy Museum which we all loved - great for all ages.</p>
<p>Two things I’d add: Capitol Steps is a comedy group that does political humor. Not nasty or partisan, just good old funny. We really have enjoyed their shows, and it’s good to have things to do in the evenings.</p>
<p>Second, you might want to do one of those hop on hop tours, but take the night tour instead, when it’s dark out. It’s fantastic to see all the monuments lit up at night. You see the town in a whole new light (if you can pardon the pun). We take the one that leaves from Union Station.</p>
<p>There are a lot of monuments to see. One that doesn’t seem to be as well known is the Roosevelt Memorial. Really, really good. Tells the story of his 4 terms in water and stone, all laid out visually for you to walk through like a park.</p>
<p>It’s Washington Reagan National Airport, the only facility in the country named after two presidents. Why can’t they just leave well enough alone…</p>
<p>…and BWI is now Thurgood Marshall. (but most of us still say National or BWI)</p>
<p>Get a bottle of wine (don’t forget something to open it with) and hang out at the Jefferson Memorial on one evening, preferably with your sweetheart. Watch the planes. Watch the traffic around the Tidal Basin. Hear the din of the city. Take a moment and read the panels with Jefferson’s writings and then imagine, if you will, how totally revolutionary his ideas were for his time – as axiomatic as they might seem to us today. It’s not so terribly romantic that you can’t have (or be) a third wheel or go with a small, intimate group. It’s just nice, quiet time.</p>