Go to see the Lincoln Memorial, it won't take much time. It's probably the closest place we have in the U.S. to a national shrine. Sort of like our temple to Apollo, but more secular and about national identity.
Air and Space was great. I hear the Museum of American History is also great, but it was closed both times I was in D.C. The National Art Museum was kinda meh to me -- I'm a bit spoiled to have the Norton Simon and Huntington be a day trip away, and their collections are better. The National Museum of the American Indian is okay but it's not even the main branch (which is in New York), and I've seen much better collections in Denver and Cody, Wyoming.
I don't really have suggestions about Virginia. I was in DC on student lobbying trips, so I spent most of my time around the Mall. Incidentally, you can go into the congressional offices, and try to speak to your representative -- or at least a staffer. They should be in session. Not sure if you care about such things, but if you take the time to bring up an issue with them there, it carries a bit more weight than at home because heck, you're giving up some of your vacation to do so. If you're well-dressed, security is definitely less invasive than at the airport, lol.
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Air and Space was great. I hear the Museum of American History is also great, but it was closed both times I was in D.C. The National Art Museum was kinda meh to me -- I'm a bit spoiled to have the Norton Simon and Huntington be a day trip away, and their collections are better. The National Museum of the American Indian is okay but it's not even the main branch (which is in New York), and I've seen much better collections in Denver and Cody, Wyoming.
I don't really have suggestions about Virginia. I was in DC on student lobbying trips, so I spent most of my time around the Mall. Incidentally, you can go into the congressional offices, and try to speak to your representative -- or at least a staffer. They should be in session. Not sure if you care about such things, but if you take the time to bring up an issue with them there, it carries a bit more weight than at home because heck, you're giving up some of your vacation to do so. If you're well-dressed, security is definitely less invasive than at the airport, lol.
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