Washington DC Master Thread

[aberose]

What about breakfast / lunch options?

[gubevo18]

What about breakfast / lunch options?

only breakfast option in DC is Krispy Creme donuts (cholov stam). Can go out to silver spring for more. For lunch it's just those places

[egzactly]

Currently in the DC area for the next few days. Anyone know if any hotel in the area has a hot tub - I’ve called many hotels and none of them have one.

[yungermanchik]

Currently in the DC area for the next few days. Anyone know if any hotel in the area has a hot tub - I’ve called many hotels and none of them have one.

https://www.excellent-romantic-vacations.com/washington-dc-hot-tub-suites.html

[DeerFeet]

Considering a Friday-Monday trip to DC with kids. Was thinking to eat at The Shul on Leroy Pl. Has anyone had Shabbos meals there? Any recommendations for good hotels nearby? Using Chase points, so I'm pretty flexible. Any other recommendations/updates re: hotels, Shabbos, restaurants, activities since last posts?
Thanks.

Did you end up going? Got a TR to share? Considering going this weekend.

[jose34]

Mini TR:
Went on Chol HaMoed Pesach to general Washington D.C. Area:

Harpers Ferry National Park- ok, if your looking for rafting, biking, historical or nice area to hang out - great area, but has $20 entrance fee, other places to go for that amount of money.

Stayed at:
Residence Inn Bethesda Downtown
7335 Wisconsin Avenue, Bethesda, Maryland USA, 20814
- Building under construction but has we got a suite ( which might be standard) had a two queen and in a sperate room a sofa bed, plus a full kitchen. Rooftop Pool and exercise room ( possibly) Closed.
Parking is $30 but around the corner ( 7401 Waverly St, Bethesda, MD 20814) is free overnight parking (use the ParkMobile app to price it out).

Davened at Woodside Synagogue Ahavas Torah
9001 Georgia Ave, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA
10 -15 minutes away.

The next day we drove to the Washington D.C. Zoo - around 15 minutes  away.
Great free Zoo, on a hill.

Parking in their lots cost $30.
Around the Zoo are two hour parking spots that cost money to park in.
Found this place for $10:
It around a mile or an easy 5 minute jog from the Park. Around the same distance as the Cleveland Park Metro Station.
Directions to parking spot are not so easy to follow, find the address and type it in to the program yourself ( essentially off the main street a left and right down an alley way).

https://spothero.com/search?kind=destination&id=1647&view=dl&starts=2024-05-07T10%3A00&ends=2024-05-08T17%3A30&spot-id=23220]https://spothero.com/search?kind=destination&id=1647&view=dl&starts=2024-05-07T10%3A00&ends=2024-05-08T17%3A30&spot-id=23220">


https://www.reddit.com/r/washingtondc/comments/171mh9c/zoo_parking/
https://www.spotangels.com/ - very helpful for showing free and paid spots around the area.


Our original destination was NOT Harpers Ferry but was on the way and closer:


Sky Meadows State Park
11012 Edmonds Ln., Delaplane, VA 20144;

Check out: https://www.funinfairfaxva.com/best-nature-trails-northern-virginia/
or here.
https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/

Other Areas we did not do:
Washington Monument
Air and Space Museum

We almost stayed at:
TownePlace Suites by Marriott College Park but once we found the Residence Inn suite we elected to go there.

[Luvtotravel]

is dc an option as a day trip from nyc? wont cover all obviously but thinking of taking amtrak at like 8 going and 8 back. is it doable just to get off bucket list and see the main sites   ?

[tzifanya54]

is dc an option as a day trip from nyc? wont cover all obviously but thinking of taking amtrak at like 8 going and 8 back. is it doable just to get off bucket list and see the main sites   ?

Not really enough time. Also need to account for traffic near main sights.

[SSLPhD]

is dc an option as a day trip from nyc? wont cover all obviously but thinking of taking amtrak at like 8 going and 8 back. is it doable just to get off bucket list and see the main sites   ?

If by "main sites" you mean everything near the National Mall, for sure doable.  Once you get there, it's all walking, no traffic.  Unclear exactly how many hours you plan to be there, 4 hours? 12 hours?  Four hours is not really enough time, but Capitol (view), Washington Monument, White House (view), Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, Jefferson Memorial, maybe one museum, can probably fit, if you don't do a tour of the Capitol.  That's easily over an hour.  You may or may not be able to get same day tickets.  Lines are probably crazy in the summer.  Book Washington Monument the day before when tickets become available.  You can probably be in and out in under an hour, but worth it to see everything.  If you also want to do Holocaust Museum, National Archives (Declaration of Independence, Constitution, Bill of Rights, maybe Magna Carta), Ford's Theatre, etc. you'll likely need more time.  Depending on what day you go, some of the Smithsonian museums may be closed.  Last I heard, Air & Space required timed entry.  Make sure to check nps.gov for updated info on all of these sites.

[yungermanchik]

Unclear exactly how many hours you plan to be there, 4 hours? 12 hours?

thinking of taking amtrak at like 8 going and 8 back.

Seems like 8-9 hours

[Luvtotravel]

tx all. i applied for the white house tour. how long does that take? would like to go to bureau of engraving and lincoln memorial. whats in washington memorial? what else is must see?

[Moshe Green]

tx all. i applied for the white house tour. how long does that take? would like to go to bureau of engraving and lincoln memorial. whats in washington memorial? what else is must see?

are you a cohen?

[Luvtotravel]

are you a cohen?

nope

[Luvtotravel]

where does everyone put their bags when they go on the white house tour? not even a purse is allowed in. i searched and all i found were questions, no answers

[Spoon]

where does everyone put their bags when they go on the white house tour? not even a purse is allowed in. i searched and all i found were questions, no answers

They don't have anywhere to store bags. Iirc DW left her bag in the hotel. Only what's in your pockets is allowed and no food or drink.