I loved Ford's theatre.

 

Ford's theatre is actually closed right now, as is the American History museum renovation. There is a whole lot to do and everything is cheap. The metro only cost 6.50 for an all day pass. The only place the metro isn't real close to is Lincoln, Vietnam, Korean, FDR, Jefferson, and WW2 memorial, its a good walk. It is quite a walk. Old Town Alexandria is great city to visit, good food, and a lot of neat things going on. If your a Civil War buff there are same battlefields pretty close, Bull Run, Antietam, and Gettysburg are not all that far away. There are plenty of places to shop, Pentagon City, Union Station and Potomic Mills is a little ways down the road from DC are good places to shop and eat. Arlington National Cemetery is must, its the reason I go to DC a few times a year, my father is buried there.

Just got back from D.C. myself. I didn't get to do much day sightseeing, as I was there for a conference. However, I did make time for Arlington National Cemetary. It is a must-see. The Tomb of the Unknowns and the Changing of the Guards are quite a sight. I checked out D.C. at night: Lincoln Memorial, the Mall and Washington Monument, and the White House. The night shots made for great pictures. I missed seeing the Holocaust Museum, The Archives, Ford's Theater, and the Smithosonian Institutes. I've seen it all before, but never as an adult. I'm sure I'd appreciate it all much more now that I'm older.

 

I agree with everyone else that the subway is the way to go. $6.50 a day is a bargain and it will take you nearly anywhere you want to go.

20/20 just reminded me of something. If you drive down George Washington Hwy at night, the Potomac is beautiful, especially when you get in sight of some of the Memorials that reflect off the river.

Duck!

You'll be near one of the best cities in the world to simply wing it. Get a some sort of literature in regards to sightseeing, and let it take you wherever your mind may wander in the short time that you'll be there. Not only will you be satisfied with what you've seen, you'll be left wanting to go back for more in the future. The District is a tremendous place, and I always find my feelings very surreal to be in such a powerful place.

Since after 5pm is what you are looking for I would say go to Baltimore's Inner Harbor area. Hard Rock Cafe and The 1st ESPN Sportzone are located in a building called the Power Plant which still has the smoke stacks inside the building. I worked on third floor above the Hard Rock for several months, awesome place to be at night.

 

The National Aquarium, and alots and lots of entertaining places all within a 2 block area. One thing the Inner Harbor doesn't have is alot of parking but after 5pm street parking is available.

Ford's theatre is actually closed right now, as is the American History museum renovation. There is a whole lot to do and everything is cheap. The metro only cost 6.50 for an all day pass. The only place the metro isn't real close to is Lincoln, Vietnam, Korean, FDR, Jefferson, and WW2 memorial, its a good walk. It is quite a walk. Old Town Alexandria is great city to visit, good food, and a lot of neat things going on. If your a Civil War buff there are same battlefields pretty close, Bull Run, Antietam, and Gettysburg are not all that far away. There are plenty of places to shop, Pentagon City, Union Station and Potomic Mills is a little ways down the road from DC are good places to shop and eat. Arlington National Cemetery is must, its the reason I go to DC a few times a year, my father is buried there.

 

Does Alexandria still have the evening ghost tours? Those were pretty entertaining.

Does Alexandria still have the evening ghost tours? Those were pretty entertaining.

Yep. The only problem with Old Town is there is no parking. And driving King Street anytime of the day is a pain. But like LC99 said, there's usually something going on in Old Town at night.

Well my company to show there appreciation is going to let me fly in on saturday and out the next sunday so it gives me 2 weekend days to tour the city on there dime, I'm pumped bout this

There is way to much stuff to see. It's impossible to see everything.

Definately, no matter what you do, get someone who knows their way around. I had family when I went and it made it 10 times easier.