DC, Endlessly Entertaining

Overview

Changing of the Guard at the tomb of the Unknown Photo - Washington, D.C., United States

Quote:

Whether you have a week to spend or only a long weekend, there are an endless array of options of what to see and do in DC. We are artsy so our 3 day, 2 night getaway involved museums, galleries and a show.KENNEDY CENTER Located right outside zone one in Washington, the Kennedy Center is a must see. Their website offers not only the full schedule of events but the ability to purchase tickets online. www.kennedy-center.org. Be sure to stop and grab a bite at the KC café and take a walk outside for one of the best views around.CORCORAN GALLERY OF ART One of the finest collections of American 19th-century art in the...Read More

Cheer!
Flag

Hilton Washington and Towers

Hotel

Quote:

First let me tell you that I love the neighborhood that the hotel is located in. There are loads of restaurants and stores between Dupont Circle and the hotel. It is about a 5-block walk from the metro station and part of the walk is uphill. The good news is that cabs are plentiful and economical in DC.This is a huge convention hotel, and if you get a room far from the elevator (Joe did) it can be quite a walk to get to your room. We arrived at 11:30am and luckily we were able to check in. The only downside was that we had to settle for a room with two double beds, that early there were no kings available.The rooms are pretty standard and not very large. The walls are done in a...Read More

First let me tell you that I love the neighborhood that the hotel is located in. There are loads of restaurants and stores between Dupont Circle and the hotel. It is about a 5-block walk from the metro station and part of the walk is uphill. The good news is that cabs are plentiful and economical in DC.

This is a huge convention hotel, and if you get a room far from the elevator (Joe did) it can be quite a walk to get to your room. We arrived at 11:30am and luckily we were able to check in. The only downside was that we had to settle for a room with two double beds, that early there were no kings available.

The rooms are pretty standard and not very large. The walls are done in a textured gold stripe wall paper and the floor is blue carpet, the bed cover is blue and gold. We had the two beds, a desk and chair, an armoire with the TV (which had cable with HBO), and the armoire has four drawers for storing your cloths. There is an arm chair and a small table in the corner. The closet has an extra pillow and blanket. There is no ceiling lighting but the arm chair and desk both have a light. There is a nightstand between the beds with one light on it, not the best for reading in bed.

The bed was very comfortable. It has a pillow top and four feather pillows on the bed. There is a feather bed for your cover and everything but the spread is white. I love all the white bedding and we slept very well.

The bathroom is small and basic. There is a blow dryer in a bag on the back of the door. The amenities from Crabtree and Evelyn are nice and plentiful amd there are plenty of towels.

The hotel has five dining options. Everything from a deli on the concourse level to a very fine dining option the 1919. We ate at the deli, the buffet for breakfast and at McClellens the lounge. Prices are high, big city high. Lunch at the deli cost us $26 for two.

Pros: location, location, location and price. We purchased the hotel from Hotwire for $87 a night. Staff was also invariably friendly at every level. It began at check in and never wavered. There is an outdoor pool which was closed for work. There is a health center on the terrace level. There is a coffee maker and we had two bottles of Poland Springs water provided free.

Cons: No free Wi-Fi. It is available for $9.95 a day and even the business center charges to use the computer. I had to use dial-up which cost me $1 for up to an hour, slow but inexpensive. No indoor pool. Not the best room lighting.
Read Less

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on June 24, 2006

Hilton Washington and Towers
1919 Connecticut Avenue NW
Washington, D.C., United States 20009
(202) 483-3000

Cheer!
Flag

Hillwood Cafe

Restaurant | "Cafe at Hillwood"

Quote:

What could be a better finale to a wonderful afternoon of visiting this marvelous museum and gardens than having a traditional afternoon tea. We made reservations as soon as we arrived to guarantee our place. Tea is served from 2:30 to 4:30pm. After 2:30 lunch is no longer served.The Café is in the grounds at Hillwood in a separate building. The decor is quite upscale, with artificially formed wooden chairs and sparkling white table cloths. We were expected and we were offered the option of eating outside or in where a table was reserved for us. We chose inside just because there was still a bit of a chill in the air. We had planned this tea from the moment we got our reservations to v...Read More

What could be a better finale to a wonderful afternoon of visiting this marvelous museum and gardens than having a traditional afternoon tea. We made reservations as soon as we arrived to guarantee our place. Tea is served from 2:30 to 4:30pm. After 2:30 lunch is no longer served.

The Café is in the grounds at Hillwood in a separate building. The decor is quite upscale, with artificially formed wooden chairs and sparkling white table cloths. We were expected and we were offered the option of eating outside or in where a table was reserved for us. We chose inside just because there was still a bit of a chill in the air.

We had planned this tea from the moment we got our reservations to visit Hillwood and I wish I could honestly say that it lived up to our expectations but I am afraid I have to say it was a bit of a let down. Tea is served at a set price for a set menu. Little tea sandwiches which were alright but nothing special, a scone which was quite good and I can’t believe I am even saying this, two cookies from a box as the sweet. What are they thinking? The sandwiches included a shrimp salad which was quite acceptable and a chicken salad. What saved the whole meal from total mediocrity was the piece of brie and the smoked salmon that was included. The scone was also served with clotted cream which we love.

For our $12 a head we also each had a pot of tea of our choice, we all chose English Breakfast. I just have never had a tea served all on one plate and frankly I am not impressed with that format. At the very least I always get a three tiered tray.

Service was efficient but not friendly and having done it once I would not do it again. I can’t really comment on the quality of the food served at lunch because I neither saw it or ate it. Hillwood is out of the way and if you are coming to view the property there is no other option for lunch or a snack on the premise. I hope perhaps that having read this the staff will make an effort to improve the quality of the offerings.

Read Less

Member Rating 3 out of 5 on June 24, 2006

Hillwood Cafe
4155 Linnean Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C., United States 20008
(877) 445-9663

Cheer!
Flag

Cosi

Restaurant

Quote:

Cosi really is one of my favorite chains and even though at home the only one I know is about 25 miles away I manage to eat their quite often. It is a standard every time we visit Philly so imagine my joy when I found out that there was not one but two within walking distance of our hotel. We visited the one at 20th. It was a short three-blocks downhill from the Hilton. With a bowl of cereal running $6 at the hotel we decided that we would get breakfast on the road. I have never had breakfast at Cosi before but I know they have all the continental choices. There are muffins, croissants, danish, and thank goodness bagels. I have to admit seeing square bagels is a bit offsetting, but what t...Read More

Cosi really is one of my favorite chains and even though at home the only one I know is about 25 miles away I manage to eat their quite often. It is a standard every time we visit Philly so imagine my joy when I found out that there was not one but two within walking distance of our hotel. We visited the one at 20th. It was a short three-blocks downhill from the Hilton.

With a bowl of cereal running $6 at the hotel we decided that we would get breakfast on the road. I have never had breakfast at Cosi before but I know they have all the continental choices. There are muffins, croissants, danish, and thank goodness bagels. I have to admit seeing square bagels is a bit offsetting, but what the heck when they offer orange cranberry you have to give them a try. There are several cream cheese choices and you can also have eggs on a bagel. This again is a little off putting, there are piles of square precooked omelets, I didn’t have it but Al did and he was totally satisfied so I guess it’s okay the bagel itself was very good. I had cinnamon raisin with plain cream cheese. Add a grande coffee and it was $3.49. A very good price indeed.

What I love about Cosi is the comfortable atmosphere. This one has fewer choices of seating but there are still the comfortable couches along the wall. There is also plenty of outdoor seating. We came back for dinner and had a great seat outside at a double table.

I had an appetizer, the brie and fruit. You get two pieces of brie, eight pieces of Cosi bread (which I want to warn you is addictive), four strawberries, and a bunch of grapes. It is served on a wooden board. I topped it off with a mocha martini. The brie is $6.50 and the martini was $6, which is the cheapest martini I have ever had anywhere.

Al ordered their meatlovers pizza (there’s a real surprise). They have brick wood fired ovens and the crust is thin and plenty chewy. It was actually very good, with a fresh tomato taste and plenty of meat. It is 11" and was enough for him to share and still bring two pieces back to the hotel for breakfast. Yes, cold pizza is the real breakfast of champions.

Service was good, not excellent. We were seated quickly but had to wait quite a while to place our orders. After that it improved we got our meals in good time and she checked back in with us. One thing though she never did ask if we wanted coffee or dessert and the coffee here is great with latte and cappuccino choices as well a Chai tea. Our bill for three was $46. Read Less

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on June 24, 2006

Cosi
1350 Connecticut Ave.
Washington, D.C., United States 20036
(202) 296-9341

Cheer!
Flag

McClellans

Restaurant

Quote:

It's all about sports at McClellen’s Lounge. Located on the lobby level of the Washington Hilton, this was our choice for dinner our first night in Washington. With 15 TVs, all of which appeared to be on a different sports channel, you will never have to worry about missing a game while you eat. Too bad I’m not a big sports fan, but I did appreciate the hunting prints that were on the wall facing us.One warning, the lounge is entirely smoking. Come back next year and it will be all smoke free but for now that could be an issue. We asked the waiter if he knew an area in the bar where there weren’t a lot of smokers. He led us to the right and there were a lot of empty tables around us, so ev...Read More

It's all about sports at McClellen’s Lounge. Located on the lobby level of the Washington Hilton, this was our choice for dinner our first night in Washington. With 15 TVs, all of which appeared to be on a different sports channel, you will never have to worry about missing a game while you eat. Too bad I’m not a big sports fan, but I did appreciate the hunting prints that were on the wall facing us.

One warning, the lounge is entirely smoking. Come back next year and it will be all smoke free but for now that could be an issue. We asked the waiter if he knew an area in the bar where there weren’t a lot of smokers. He led us to the right and there were a lot of empty tables around us, so even though I could see some people smoking in a distance the smoke us a non issue.

There is a menu on the table with a list of beers both domestic and imported and a list of martinis. I couldn’t find a martini that appealed to me so I ordered a boring seltzer and lime. Al had a 16-ounce Miller Light for $5. I asked if the bartender could make a Bellini Martini and was told yes, but I would have to buy the bottle of wine and then pay for the peachtree, I don't think so!

The menu is heavy on appetizers and light on meals, but there is a good variety of choices. We decided to try the buffalo calamari and the brie en croute. I have to admit that the calamari really surprised me. It was fried calamari with buffalo sauce, blue cheese, arugula, and pears. I was expecting the main items to be separate and the sauce for dipping, but it was all in a large bowl more like a salad. Anyway it was hot and spicy and sweet from the pear, a very good blending of flavors and a generous portion. The brie was fabulous, it was served on a large flat plate with cranberry relish on the corners with a choice of crackers or crostini (which were the real weak link in an other wise stellar dish). The baby brie was inside a flaky crust with cranberry relish baked on top of the brie inside the crust. The relish has a real fire to it that reminded me strongly of chutney.

The menu had some interesting choices that we didn’t go for including quesidilla with duck confit and pulled pork, which I have to admit sound interesting. There was a steak on the menu for $26. Our meal with tip was $32, not a bargain, but in a very expensive city, a good deal.
Read Less

Member Rating 3 out of 5 on June 24, 2006

McClellans
Hilton Washington & Towers
Washington, D.C., United States 20009
(202) 483-3000 (

Cheer!
Flag

Corcoran Gallery of Art

Attraction

Quote:

I intended to start our day with a visit to the American Red Cross Museum, imagine my chagrin when I found out that it was closed for renovation. I don’t want to imply that the Corcoran was a second choice, I fully intended to go there but suddenly I had an extra hour or more to kill. That’s where our visit to the Renwick Gallery comes in but for now lets deal with the Corcoran.This is not one of the free Washington Museums. There is an $8 entrance fee for adults. Before you go, make sure if you intend on taking notes that you have a pencil, pens are not allowed. Photography, however, is in all the permanent galleries. I was a little disappointed to be told at the desk that a lot of the...Read More

I intended to start our day with a visit to the American Red Cross Museum, imagine my chagrin when I found out that it was closed for renovation. I don’t want to imply that the Corcoran was a second choice, I fully intended to go there but suddenly I had an extra hour or more to kill. That’s where our visit to the Renwick Gallery comes in but for now lets deal with the Corcoran.

This is not one of the free Washington Museums. There is an $8 entrance fee for adults. Before you go, make sure if you intend on taking notes that you have a pencil, pens are not allowed. Photography, however, is in all the permanent galleries. I was a little disappointed to be told at the desk that a lot of their collection is on the road, yes my luck was obviously still bad.

The good news was there were some very interesting traveling exhibits, one of which the photos of David Seymour was quite amazing. I won’t bother describing it since it will be moving on soon but sufficed to say it was worth the price of admission.

What had made us want to visit the Corcoran was the Viger LeBrun portrait of Madam DuBarry. It was on exhibit and it is a very lovely rendition of this mistress of Louis XV. The soft pastel colors give her an innocence I doubt she possessed in life.

Also in the same room are two Gainsborough portraits of Lord and Lady Dunstanville. Flanking the fireplace are a Corot and a Latour. Not a shabby room by any means. It looks more like the room in a house than a gallery in a museum. There is another section that looks as if it is a chapel with stained glass windows, and the stairway to the next floor looks positively Gothic.

The Clark Gallery is stunning. It has very high ceilings and an amazing glass chandelier. The walls are covered with French Impressionist paintings, dark wood paneling, and 14th century Loire Tapestries. A varied but gorgeous collection.

As you climb the stairs you are greeted by a monumental painting of George Washington. It comes as rather a surprise after the Impressionists and the tapestries. Also at the top of the stairs is a sculpture by Hiram Powers called the Greek Slave, it is lovely.

There is a very nice gift shop with a large selection of books and other items. I, personally, was tempted to buy a pair of amber earrings. Allow at least an hour to tour the museum.

As you walk out the front door look across the street at the park. This is where the presidential helicopter lands. If you look closely you can see the spot.

Read Less

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on June 24, 2006

Corcoran Gallery of Art
500 17th St Northwest
Washington, DC 20006
(202) 639-1700

Cheer!
Flag

Hillwood Museum and Garden

Attraction

Quote:

What you need to do to visit Hillwood?Call ahead and make a reservation. There are a limited number of visitors allowed each day. We called several months ahead. Access to the grounds is controlled, you will be asked if you have reservations. A note here: there are no children under 6 allowed in the house. When you see how it is set up you will understand why. You cannot carry your purse, a water bottle, or in my case I had to take off my leather blazer.How to get there?You can take the Metro to the Van Ness stop and walk but it is a good hike and the road is not flat. We took a cab but be sure your driver knows where Hillwood is. Have the address with you ...Read More

What you need to do to visit Hillwood?

Call ahead and make a reservation. There are a limited number of visitors allowed each day. We called several months ahead. Access to the grounds is controlled, you will be asked if you have reservations. A note here: there are no children under 6 allowed in the house. When you see how it is set up you will understand why. You cannot carry your purse, a water bottle, or in my case I had to take off my leather blazer.

How to get there?
You can take the Metro to the Van Ness stop and walk but it is a good hike and the road is not flat. We took a cab but be sure your driver knows where Hillwood is. Have the address with you and make sure the driver can find it, even taking all precautions it is not an easy place to find. When you leave there is a courtesy phone to a cab company who will come and pick you up, they know where it is.

Allow at least 3 or 4 hours for your visit. There is a 12-minute video that is worth viewing before you tour the house. The audio tour for the house takes 90 minutes, and there is another tour of the gardens. While you are there you may want to have lunch or tea at the café, and there is a wonderful gift store.

Why visit Hillwood?
In order to understand Hillwood you need to know who Marjorie Merriweather Post is. She is the heiress to the Postum Cereal Fortune. Her father invented Post Grapenuts, and that alone made her a very wealthy woman. Beyond that she was an extraordinary collector, with an excellent eye that was further trained by the curator she hired. She developed a lifelong love of all things Russian while living there in the 1930s with her third husband who was the US Ambassador. You will see a fabulous collection of Russian art, Faberge, and icons. For the Faberge alone you should visit. The Iusupov music box is beyond stunning, it is beyond description, and there are two imperial Easter eggs as well.

Limiting the description to just that does the house a disservice, but the collection is so vast and varied that you really need to see it yourself. We were befriended by one of the docents, Rebecca Perl, and she seemed to be in every room that we visited, giving lots of extra details and information. She loves this house and it shows. On the second floor you will visit the private rooms and get a more personal look at Marjorie Merriweather Post.

Gardens: When you have finished touring the house, be sure to visit the gardens and greenhouses. The 3,000 orchids in the green houses are gorgeous and so exotic. The audio tour is 60 minutes.
Read Less

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on June 24, 2006

Hillwood Museum and Garden
4155 Linnean Avenue NW
Washington, D.C., United States 20008
(202) 686-5807

Cheer!
Flag

Phillips Collection

Attraction

Quote:

Just a short walk from Dupont Circle this small but very fine collection of art is well worth an hour of your time. Admission is $12 for adults, and this includes any special exhibits that may be going on.While we were there was an exhibit of Degas, Sickert and Toulouse Lautrec: London and Paris 1870-1910. It had paintings from many different museums. One from the Philadelphia Museum of Art I recognized not from Philadelphia but from an exhibit we had visited in New Orleans about 5 years ago. Called "The Rape," it is a very disturbing picture on many levels. The was also a general feeling of celebration in the Museum over the return of their monumental Renoir after four years....Read More

Just a short walk from Dupont Circle this small but very fine collection of art is well worth an hour of your time. Admission is $12 for adults, and this includes any special exhibits that may be going on.

While we were there was an exhibit of Degas, Sickert and Toulouse Lautrec: London and Paris 1870-1910. It had paintings from many different museums. One from the Philadelphia Museum of Art I recognized not from Philadelphia but from an exhibit we had visited in New Orleans about 5 years ago. Called "The Rape," it is a very disturbing picture on many levels.

The was also a general feeling of celebration in the Museum over the return of their monumental Renoir after four years. It is a beautiful boating scene and certainly was the focus of most of the visitors. When we entered the room the 11am gallery tour entered at the same time so we had the opportunity to hear a great deal about all the paintings in the room. My favorites I have to say were not the Renoir or the Monet but rather the Van Gogh and the Sisley. A very fine room of paintings.

These were all in the modern addition we then walk through the original house that was donated by the Phillips. It is rather strange to see these almost Gothicly dark Victorian rooms with very modern pictures in them. The El Greco however looked well placed at the bottom of the stairs against the dark wood paneling.

The original museum was founded from a family collection in 1921. It is housed in a Georgian Revival house that was the home of the owner of the collection Duncan Phillips and it has been expanded with two wings. His wife was the artist Marjorie Acker and she was very influential in helping him form his collection. The collection consists of about 2,500 pieces of American and European Impressionist and modern works of art. It is really an amazing collection and is much a reflection of the taste of the collector as the times in which he lived. He was on the cutting edge of collection and in the case of many artist he collected their works before they were generally collected. He bought what he liked and by doing so helped some unknown artist to continue to paint.

There is a café and a very fine gift shop. Photography is not allowed in the museum, and if you are taking notes it must be with pencil, no pens allowed.
Read Less

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on June 24, 2006

Phillips Collection
1600 21st Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20009
(202) 387-2151

Cheer!
Flag

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts

Attraction | "The Kennedy Center"

Quote:

The reason we came to Washington at this particular time was to attend a show at the Kennedy Center. In January we attend a performance of the Canterbury Tales in Stratford England. It was part one. We could not get tickets to part two. Imagine our excitement when we found out the entire production was going to be at the Kennedy center in April. I got tickets for part 2 as soon as they went on sale and then we planned our trip accordingly.I have never been to the Kennedy Center before. It is really an amazing experience. The hall of flags is dazzling. We took a cab to get there. Be aware that it is outside zone one so it is a two zone charge but the closest metro station I could see was F...Read More

The reason we came to Washington at this particular time was to attend a show at the Kennedy Center. In January we attend a performance of the Canterbury Tales in Stratford England. It was part one. We could not get tickets to part two. Imagine our excitement when we found out the entire production was going to be at the Kennedy center in April. I got tickets for part 2 as soon as they went on sale and then we planned our trip accordingly.

I have never been to the Kennedy Center before. It is really an amazing experience. The hall of flags is dazzling. We took a cab to get there. Be aware that it is outside zone one so it is a two zone charge but the closest metro station I could see was Foggy Bottom and it was on a different line than where we were at the Renwick. The cab ride was $10.30 for the two of us, but there is a lot to be said for door to door service.

I had arranged for ticket pickup and it was fast and easy. We had a few minutes before our performance in the Eisenhower Theater, so we went to the Terrace level and looked for a quick meal. There is a Terrace restaurant which was closed for a private affair, but the KC Café was open and is a very nice place to grab a bite.

There is a small salad bar that offers very upscale choices, baby corn, marinated mushrooms, baby carrots, artichoke hearts, and fancy salami just to name a few. There are also sandwiches pre-made, on croissants, wraps, and grainy bread. If you have the urge for a sweet there is a coffee bar with great desserts, bread pudding, cheesecake, strawberry shortcake, and fruit tarts with chocolate shell.

You can also get burgers or pizzas and hot soup or pasta choices. When we went back for a post theater snack they were offering a prime rib dinner for $21. It looked delicious and was served quite rare.

Beyond the good food the attraction here is the view. It is glass all around and depending where you sit you will see planes taking off at Regan airport, the Lincoln memorial, and the Watergate apartments. After you finish take the time to walk around on the terrace outside. We enjoyed watching the scullers on the Potomac.

What surprised me was the size of the Eisenhower Theater. I expected it to be huge so I was a little concerned that we would lose the intimacy that had made the Stratford production so enjoyable. I needn’t have worried, this is not an overwhelmingly large venue. We were in row F center and it was the third row. Obviously I can’t speak for all productions but this one was amazing and the whole experience was wonderful Read Less

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on June 24, 2006

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
2700 F Street, NW
Washington, District of Columbia 20566
(202) 467-4600

Cheer!
Flag

Renwick Gallery National Museum of American Art

Attraction | "The Renwick Gallery"

Quote:

I wasn’t sure exactly what to expect here, I had no expected to visit so I had done no research. Imagine my surprise when I walked into the Caitlin Gallery. Here is where you will put a face on the fearsome native American warriors but also on their wives and children, their homes and their way of life.The collection fills one large room with images five rows high. It is overwhelming. Each of the walls has a map with the pictures all numbered. You will see the face of the Osage and the Sioux. I felt like such a neophyte. Somehow I never realized that there were so many different faces in the Native American Tribes. There is a majesty here, a respect for a formidable enemy and a great sadne...Read More

I wasn’t sure exactly what to expect here, I had no expected to visit so I had done no research. Imagine my surprise when I walked into the Caitlin Gallery. Here is where you will put a face on the fearsome native American warriors but also on their wives and children, their homes and their way of life.

The collection fills one large room with images five rows high. It is overwhelming. Each of the walls has a map with the pictures all numbered. You will see the face of the Osage and the Sioux. I felt like such a neophyte. Somehow I never realized that there were so many different faces in the Native American Tribes. There is a majesty here, a respect for a formidable enemy and a great sadness as well for the passing of their way of life.

Some of the paintings portray the great buffalo and the massive herds that once roamed the United States. Some of them also show the senseless slaughter.

One picture that we found of particular interest was of a Nez Pez Indian mother and her baby. It showed how they flattened their heads. It looked might painful to me but I guess no pain is too great in the name of fashion.

As we toured some of the other galleries we began a conversation with one of the docents. This turned out to be a very lucky chance. She pointed out the best pieces in each room and also told us stories about them. The "Ghost Clock" is of particular interest. It is carved of wood and looks as if it has a shroud over it, the shroud however is also carved out of wood. It is an amazing piece from every side and angle. We mus have spent ten minutes just looking at it and trying to figure out how he could have done this sculpture.

Much of the art in these galleries is by artist I am not familiar with but I found their work of great interest. In the upper hallway there are two John Singer Sargent portraits that are worth noting.

While we were there, there was a special exhibit. The artist was not one of my favorites, and just as we came down the stairs to visit the exhibit a bus lead of students descended on it--enough said. We headed for the gift shop and were out the door and on our way to the Kennedy Center.
Read Less

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on June 24, 2006

Renwick Gallery National Museum of American Art
Pennsylvania Avenue at 17th Street NW
Washington, District of Columbia

Cheer!
Flag

Arlington National Cemetery

Story/Tip

Memorial to Columbia Crew Photo - Washington, D.C., United States

Quote:

Getting to Arlington couldn’t be easier. We actually went in a cab on the way there and then bought a day pass on the metro and took the metro back to Dupont Circle. It involved one change at metro Center from the Blue line to the Red line. The Metro station is just a short walk from the visitor center. However you arrive make the visitor center your first stop. If you are already on the Tourmobile tour you will just have to change over to the Cemetery tour, if not for $6 you can hop on and off the tourmobile at any of their three stops. One benefit of the tourmobile is that they narrate as they go along and point out things that you might miss on your own. We picked up a map of the cemete...Read More

Getting to Arlington couldn’t be easier. We actually went in a cab on the way there and then bought a day pass on the metro and took the metro back to Dupont Circle. It involved one change at metro Center from the Blue line to the Red line. The Metro station is just a short walk from the visitor center.

However you arrive make the visitor center your first stop. If you are already on the Tourmobile tour you will just have to change over to the Cemetery tour, if not for $6 you can hop on and off the tourmobile at any of their three stops. One benefit of the tourmobile is that they narrate as they go along and point out things that you might miss on your own. We picked up a map of the cemetery at the visitor center so that we would be familiar with some of the more famous graves.

The first stop on the tour is the Kennedy graves. It is very poignant for anyone of my generation. We can all tell you exactly what we were doing when we were told that the president had been shot. We all felt as if we knew the First family and the whole country went into mourning. I had been here before in 1967 when I came on a school trip and then again when my children were young but this was the first time I came since Jackie had joined her husband. Even if you aren’t a Kennedy fan the view from his grave is enough to make it worth a visit. You get a clear shot to the Lincoln memorial in one direction and the Custis-Lee mansion in the other.

The second stop on the tour is the tomb of the unknown. There are three unknowns buried here, one from World War I; World War II and the Korean War. There was an unknown from the Vietnam War but with DNA testing his remains were identified and his family requested that his remains be returned to his hometown , which they were. At 1:30 we watched the changing of the guard ceremony. It is very touching and done with a great deal of reverence. The tomb is guarded 24 hours a day. While here you can look for Audie Murphy’s grave, the memorial to the Challenger and Columbia crews, and the men who died attempting to free the Iranian hostages. You can also see the mast of the Maine, which was sunk at the beginning of the Spanish American War. One new addition is the grave of the captain of the flight that was flown into the Pentagon on 9/11.

The third and final stop is the Custis Lee Mansion. This is a self guided tour of the former home of Robert E. Lee. It came to him through his wife Marianna who was the daughter of George Washington Payne Custis the adopted grandson of George Washington. The federal government sold the house for back taxes during the Civil War and Brigadier General Montgomery Meigs recommended that the Lee property be used for a National Cemetery. They then buried the first bodies as close to the house as possible to keep the family from ever returning. They never did. Robert E. lee made his home in Lexington Va where he taught at Washington-Lee University.

Beyond the stops there are many places that are of further interest in the cemetery. If you have a family member buried here, there is a special desk at the visitor center that will help you to locate their grave.

This is a solemn place to visit as well as a very historic one. For the most part there was complete silence during the changing of the guard even though there were hundreds of people watching and the same was true at the Kennedy graves.

Read Less

Cheer!
Flag

IgoUgo

Washington, D.C. Journals

DC, Endlessly Entertaining