Essentials
Giant Food
2501 9th Rd SFree parking for an hour in the garage
CVS
1521-1523 N Quaker LnGeneral drug store
United States Postal Service
1908 Mt Vernon AveClose post office with reasonable parking
Drinks & Nightlife
Arlington Cinema and Drafthouse
2903 Columbia PikeMovies, drinks, live comedy
The Celtic House Irish Pub & Restaurant
2500 Columbia PikeLive music, great Irish pub
Marble and Rye
2501 Columbia PikeLive music
Food Scene
William Jeffrey's Tavern
2301 Columbia PikeGood local pub
Bangkok 54 Restaurant
2919 Columbia PikeExcellent Thai
Thai Square
3217 Columbia PikeExcellent Thai
Bob & Edith's Diner
2310 Columbia PikeLocal diner, 24 hours
Atilla's Restaurant
2705 Columbia PikeTurkish and delicious
Texas Jacks Barbecue
2761 Washington BlvdTexas BBQ
Ledo Pizza
1035 S Edgewood StGood pizza, I would do takeout though, not much seating
Cantina Mexicana
922 S Walter Reed DrGood Mexican food
Sugar Shack Donuts & Coffee
1014 S Glebe RdHomemade donuts, very tasty
Getting Around
Pentagon City Station
1250 S Hayes StGarage parking available
Ballston-MU Station
4230 Fairfax DrGarage parking available
This is the closest Metro stop -- no parking, but (long) walkable or bikeable on a nice day
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Clarendon Station
3100 Wilson BlvdThis is the closest Metro stop -- no parking, but (long) walkable or bikeable on a nice day
Arts & Culture
Rockets, airplanes, always a favorite
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NASM - Nationales Luft- und Raumfahrtmuseum
600 Independence Ave SWRockets, airplanes, always a favorite
The gems exhibit is always a favorite, first ladies' dresses, the American flag that inspired our national anthem
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National Museum of American History
1300 Constitution Ave. NWThe gems exhibit is always a favorite, first ladies' dresses, the American flag that inspired our national anthem
Very large, plan ahead what you want to see
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National Gallery of Art - East Building
4th Street NorthwestVery large, plan ahead what you want to see
Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
10th St. & Constitution Ave. NWAnimals and oceans
International Spy Museum
700 L'Enfant Plaza SWAlways fun, but this one is not free
National Building Museum
401 F St NWArchitectural museum, not free, but great exhibits
National Archives Research Center
700 Pennsylvania Avenue NWGo see the Declaration of Independence!
Sightseeing
Closed for renovations, but still fun to see from the outside
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Washington Monument
2 15th St NWClosed for renovations, but still fun to see from the outside
Lincoln-Denkmal
2 Lincoln Memorial Cir NWClimb all the stairs, read the inscriptions ...
Site of the cherry trees during cherry tree season; in warm weather, you can also rent a boat to paddle the Tidal Basin
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Thomas Jefferson Memorial Bookstore
16 E Basin Dr SWSite of the cherry trees during cherry tree season; in warm weather, you can also rent a boat to paddle the Tidal Basin
You need to get tickets in advance through your Congress person
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The White House South Lawn
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NWYou need to get tickets in advance through your Congress person
Besucherzentrum des US-Kapitols
First Street SoutheastYou will want to Metro, no parking
Parks & Nature
Good zoo; admission is free, you pay to park. Fairly hilly, so be prepared to walk.
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Smithsonian National Zoological Park
3001 Connecticut Ave NWGood zoo; admission is free, you pay to park. Fairly hilly, so be prepared to walk.
Not as well visited, and you will drive through some parts of DC that are not great (safe to drive through). But the arboretum itself is cool.
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United States National Arboretum
3501 New York Ave NENot as well visited, and you will drive through some parts of DC that are not great (safe to drive through). But the arboretum itself is cool.
Really neat indoor place to see various plants -- organized by sections -- rain forest, desert, etc.
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Botanischer Garten der Vereinigten Staaten
100 Maryland Ave SWReally neat indoor place to see various plants -- organized by sections -- rain forest, desert, etc.
Penrose Park
2200 6th St SThis is the neighborhood park -- no bathrooms
Fun place for a quick hike -- more locals than tourists here
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Theodore Roosevelt Island
Fun place for a quick hike -- more locals than tourists here