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Planning for DC

Chipmunk415Chipmunk415 member
1000 Comments 500 Love Its Second Anniversary Name Dropper
in Chit Chat

FI and I have compiled a list of our "absolutely must dos," "really really want to dos," "want but ok if we miss it" and "do not want" for our trip to DC after the wedding. With that in mind, I've gotten us booked for a tour of the Capitol building, a timed entry into the national archives, tickets to the dc improv show, and groupons for a dinner cruise- I just need to call and figure out which evening works for us. I'm planning on taking him to the Supreme Court, Arlington (he is a vet), the Air and Space Museum, the Natural History Museum, the American History Museum, and the Smithsonian Zoo during our week there, along with monuments. (I'm trying to spread some of this out so we can spend a lot of time in the museums- he loved the Chicago Natural History Museum and the Planetarium when we went in May around my brother's wedding).

FI last night asked if there are segway tours in March. Yes ladies, my FI wants to ride a segway around for 2 hours in DC. In March. The first company does them only April through September. He got pouty, till I found one that has a 1 pm tour available the day after we arrive. Our Capitol building tour is at 9 that Monday, and I'll probably take him to the Jefferson building of the Library of Congress afterwards to kill time until we take this tour. While he wasn't thrilled at the idea of having to wear a helmet, I told him if he wanted the tour that badly, he'd wear it and shut it.

I'm finalizing the details of our planned activities (I've been there more recently than FI, and as he puts it, I have a knack for planning things out really well, so he's letting me take full reign), ordered smarttrip passes, and will order the 7 day pass once the cards arrive. Now I just have to fit in when we will go to PF Changs (his favorite restaurant, closest one to us is 2.5 hrs west) and pei wei (his second favorite- closest to us is 5 hrs southeast), both of which are in DC.

So ladies, as you enjoy your morning coffee this tuesday, please enjoy this mental image: I am a Florida girl, anything under 75 is too cold, there's more snowpacalypses on the way, and my FI wants me to ride around on a segway for 2 hrs in March in DC.

I will have him take photos of me bundled up with the helmet on to post upon our return. Provided I don't break the camera when I smack him for laughing at me in the cold.

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Re: Planning for DC

  • ei34ei34 member
    Knottie Warrior 5000 Comments 500 Love Its 5 Answers

    Hubby and I used to go to DC every spring for the Cherry Blossom festival- (mid-March to mid-April).  Some years it was chilly and others is was warm...I'll keep my fingers crossed that you have nice weather.  I was always too afraid to get on a Segway because the sidewalks were crowded with lots of people...you're brave and a very food FI! Good luck!

    Oh and if you have a free night, there are some fantastic non-chain restaurants and fun bars along the Chinatown strip :)

     

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  • SwazzleSwazzle member
    10000 Comments Seventh Anniversary 500 Love Its First Answer
    That sounds like an amazing trip! Did you look into doing a White House tour? I actually just did this for the first time with a few Knottie friends last month and it was really cool!

    H and I did a segway tour in Berlin (it was in the low-mid 50s) and it was one of the funnest things we've ever done! I wore a coat and a scarf along with the helmet and they gave us gloves (thank god because your hands will get COLD) and I was comfortable for the most part. Hopefully it warms up a bit between now and then!



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  • Chipmunk415Chipmunk415 member
    1000 Comments 500 Love Its Second Anniversary Name Dropper
    edited February 2014

    @swazzle, unfortunately, between gov't shutdowns, budget cuts, and a bunch of politicians acting like children on a playground, all white house tours have been shut down since spring of last year. Plus, when they had them, you had to request bookings through your rep or senator at least 6 months in advance so secret service could check you out.

    I think that's why I had to book the Capitol tour- after we booked our trip, FI sent a very irritated email to our congressmen telling them as a tax paying citizen how pissed he was he couldn't tour the white house and they needed to get their shit together. His attempts to book a Capitol tour through any of their offices were ignored- I finally booked a general tour- exact same tour, but without state specific details.

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  • NYCMercedesNYCMercedes member
    Sixth Anniversary 2500 Comments 500 Love Its 5 Answers
    Don't forget to leave yourself some recovery time. My BIL brought home a t shirt he got there that says, "I walked my feet off in Washington DC".
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  • SwazzleSwazzle member
    10000 Comments Seventh Anniversary 500 Love Its First Answer
    @Chipmunk415 - Maybe it's not as long as it once was but I just did a White House tour last month. I contacted my congressman the 2nd week of December, provided all the necessary information for everyone who would be with me (there were 5 of us), and we were approved at the end of the month for our tour on January 11th. 

    It was self-guided (although there were very knowledgeable Secret Service men and women around, explaining different rooms and things) and it took us about an hour to walk through. 



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  • Chipmunk415Chipmunk415 member
    1000 Comments 500 Love Its Second Anniversary Name Dropper
    @Swazzle- omg you are my hero! They DO HAVE TOURS AGAIN! I'm writing an email to my congressman right now to try and get in. Thank you!
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  • SwazzleSwazzle member
    10000 Comments Seventh Anniversary 500 Love Its First Answer
    @Chipmunk415 - YAY! I hope it works out for you! It was a really cool experience :)



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  • Chipmunk415Chipmunk415 member
    1000 Comments 500 Love Its Second Anniversary Name Dropper
    Just got off the phone with the gal in charge of requesting tours. Got her email of specific info they'll need, just need FI's ssn. They've also offered to give us a capitol building tour, smaller group, with house floor access (congress is in recess that day) woo hooo!
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  • emmyg65emmyg65 member
    1000 Comments 500 Love Its 5 Answers First Anniversary
    image
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  • mrsbizzzmrsbizzz member
    Fourth Anniversary 100 Comments 25 Love Its Name Dropper
    @Chipmunk415 - just be prepared to be denied a White House tour. As a former congressional aide and tour coordinator, the likelihood of you being granted a White House tour in March that was only requested a month out is insanely low. I'm not saying it won't happen, but as I used to tell constituents, do not count on it and you can only be surprised!

    I also vote for visiting non-chain restaurants. Food options here in DC are incredible and are spread throughout the city...it really is a foodies paradise. PM me for my favorites.

    I also recommend a visit to the Holocaust Museum and the Newseum.
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  • jenna8984jenna8984 member
    5000 Comments Fifth Anniversary 500 Love Its First Answer

    Great job planning!! I'm the same way for our trips- my mom has been a travel agent my whole life so I've been to 36 US states, 25 countries, and 5 continents. When I met FI he had been to Myrtle Beach and Vermont LOL. So when we go anywhere he lets me do the whole itinerary and book all the things needed in advance like tours and he just goes along for the ride. It's pretty funny because I turn into his little tour guide telling him facts about the places because I tell him to research on his own beforehand and he refuses lol.

    The segway thing cracks me up- we make fun of all the people who do them (no offense hehe). Is this your honeymoon? oooo you're so close to the wedding, I'm jealous :)

                                                                     

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  • Chipmunk415Chipmunk415 member
    1000 Comments 500 Love Its Second Anniversary Name Dropper

    We will be trying non chain places, but PFs and Pei Wei are FI's absolute favorites, and its very rare for him to have any of it, due to the distance.

    We are prepared for the possibility of no white house tour, but we are excited that they are back on. We are already in for the Capitol and the National Archives, so WH would be icing on the cake.

    @jenna- no offense taken! I actually have an album from the last time I was in DC where I took photos of the segway "herds." FI just really wants a segway tour, and since it's honeymoon time, how can I refuse?

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