Hello everyone and thanks in advance!! I will be coming to DC the last weekend of July. This will be a trip with girlfriend and need some advice on what to do. She used to work in DC as intern about 15 years ago, but I have only been up there once. We are staying at Hotel Monaco, near the White House and will probably be doing the normal sights. However if there are any 'must see' sights please let me know. I have read about a Segway tour online. Is that any good? Also, I need some info on places to dine. Looking for something for Friday or Sat night. Not too dressy or fancy, but nice place. Probably Italian or Continental fare. (crab cakes are the most seafood she does) If anyone has recommendations please let me know. Also if they need reservations please let me know that also. One more thing. We are planning on seeing Shear Madness, but want recommendations on that also. Thanks again for your assistance.
Washington, D.C. - 2 Answers
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1 :
Our podcast (below) has a lot of information on sights and things to do in Washington DC - it's essentially an audio guide to the city. It will give you lots of ideas. The Segway tour is a lot of fun. We took it last September, and there is a podcast on it on our site. You can hear what happened to us, and see pictures. We used City Segway, which is near Gallery Place, and not far from your. Dinner options are many in this wonderful eating city. Gallileo is a great Italian Place, as is I Ricchi, but I'd actually suggest you check some of our other fare. Plus these are a bit dressy. You can get noveau American at Vidalia or Bistro Bis (the latter a touch more continental) which is fantastic, but these are also a tad dressy. On the more casual side, my favorites Zaytinya (Mediterranean Mezze type restaurant), Jaleo and La Tasca (both Tapas restaurants, Jaleo fancier and more upscale, La Tasca more traditional) are also wonderful. Nora, in the Adams Morgan Area is American, organic food, and excellent. Consider something exotic, Ethiopian at a place like Meskerem on 18th Street. Casual Italian best has to be Piola, in Rosslyn. Shear Madness is a lot of fun.
2 :
The segway tour is a lot of fun - there are a couple companies to choose from. I know that "Segs in the City" is one (the only one I've experienced first-hand), but there are definitely others and they're all good, from what I've heard. For dining options, Poste, which is the restaurant in the Hotel Monaco is actually really great for light french-inspired fare. For Italian, I suggest either Filomena or Restaurant Piccolo. Both are nice, but not overly dressy or fancy, with delicious Italian food! Filomena is very authentic with Italian grandmothers making dough on display as you head into the restaurant. Piccolo is smaller, cozier, more romantic with a fireplace in the dining room. Both are in Georgetown, so they would be a good option for a pre-theater meal is you decide to go to Shear Madness, as the Georgetown dining scene isn't too far from the Kennedy Center. Shear Madness is a lot of fun, especially if you've never seen it before. As for sightseeing, there are so many options and I'm sure you'll hit the big stuff. I would specifically recommend the National Portrait Gallery, which is just across the street from Hotel Monaco, and is really great. It's part of the Smithsonian, so it's free of charge, and the courtyard in the center of it is a really lovely place to cool off and sit and have a drink. It's also open later than any of the other Smithsonian museums - until 7pm. Hope you have a great trip!
