Washington, DC - Trip Advice

My parents are going to DC in a few days, and I wrote them this huge email offering them advice about what to do and see. Then I realized that the email made for a perfect travel blog entry! So, here it is, hopefully useful for anybody else planning on a similar trip.

1) Food on the national mall is generally lousy (because it's museum food) except for the National Museum of the American Indian (a Smithsonian institution, located 3rd and Jefferson, or the SE corner of the Natl. Mall). The NMAI has an awesome cafeteria, featuring Mexican, South American, and Native American-inspired cuisine. Definitely the best museum food I've had. Long lines move quickly here.... :)

2) For a good view of the city and everything in it, head to the Old Post Office on 11th and Pennsylvania. There's an elevator to the top and a good view of everything. Nothing is taller than this view except for the Washington Monument, which is difficult to get tix for. Moreover, you won't be able to see it if you're inside it! So, I highly recommend getting to the Old Post Office for an excellent 360-degree view!

3) The National Gallery of Art's Sculpture garden (to the south of the Natl. Archives) is an excellent place to take a break and sit in the shade. They have food, a huge pool/fountain, and had a big jazz band playing when we were there at about 6pm on a Saturday. Plus, the sculptures are really good, too!

4) Please do not miss out on the National Portrait Gallery (on F and 8th, across the street from the International Spy Museum). The portrait gallery was easily the best museum I saw, and it has an interesting courtyard and cafe. It's actually two museums (the museum of American Art shares the space) but if you see only a little bit, please head up to the Presidential Portraits wing in the Portrait Gallery. I went twice and was blown away both times... You will not be disappointed.

5) If you only get to see one monument at night, I would recommend the FDR memorial. Take a cab, if you need to (they're pretty cheap in DC) but you won't regret it. It's a chronological walk through his 4 terms in office, so make sure to start at the correct end. Some light reading helped me with interpretation (check http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franklin_Delano_Roosevelt_Memorial) but even without that, the monument will be powerful at night. As a bonus, the stunning Jefferson Memorial (right on the water across from the Washington Monument) is just steps away from FDR! Few people make it to either at night (most go to the Lincoln Memorial at night, also excellent, and Justine's recommendation), so you might even have them nearly to yourselves! Don't forget: every monument on the Natl. Mall is open 24-365, while museums are only open during the day...

6) Beware that sometimes around the mall, finding food is difficult. On the weekends, most of the restaurants downtown will be closed. A relatively safe bet is to head via taxi or pedicab (we paid 15 bucks plus a 5-dollar tip to get from the US Capitol to the Portrait Gallery, about 8 blocks away) into Chinatown (6th&7th Streets, between about E and I Sts.). Chinatown has TONS more food than just Asian, and tends to have open restaurants all the time (whereas museum food always closes when the museums close at 6 or 7pm).