Pam, It can help me plan if you copy this list into an e-mail to work with. Based on your feedback, it will help me give further advice on how much you can fit in, how to get to the most efficiently, and how to group places to cut transportation time. There's no way to do it all, but this can help make sure we make right decisions and "let go" of coverage if your preference is depth.
Farg:
My style in museums and touring is to...-- check all that apply (or DELETE any that don't describe you)
___ a) go really slowly and deeply on each display; I can't stand rushing or feeling rushed
___ b) choose a few noteworthy gems to conquer with the rest being gravy (a recommended outlook for a first 7-day "surveying" trip to DC.
___ c) I want to OWN the museum before I leave it. I'll take hours and hours with my perusal and am okay with fewer overall destinations for the week
___ d) I LOVE the learning and want to learn the details even if it's all new to me.
___ e) I can't stand to tire out with all the walking; build in lots of downtime/rest/respite/refreshment
___ f) I must break up museums with other tidbits
___ g) I really can't handle the heat
___ h) I really can't handle too much walking. I'm concerned about getting worn out and probably prefer not to walk too much, even if the scenery is pretty.
___ i) I'm willing to pay for a tour guide to get the most out of a destination
___ j) I am not into getting a tour guide but think I can read the detail I need on my own using the web site, brochure, etc.
___ k) for certain museums, spending 4 hours is okay. (Which ones?)
___l) I'll go for it! It would enhance my time to rent bikes, use Capital Bikeshare or Sedgeways to zip around
___ m) I'll have the Uber app to help me get around
___ n) I'm comfortable and happy to make use of the Metro instead of taxis. (The metro is super safe, clean, simple to master.)
___ o) I LOVE the exercise I'll get by walking in such a pretty city. It's FINE.
___ p) I am into downloading apps to listen to a recorded tour, so mention those!
Destinations/Types of Experiences
So many possibilities, but so little time... so it's important to prioritize and "let go" of not seeing it all. Yet, we don't want you going home disappointed that your favorite destinations somehow got missed. In this section, you will help me understand your top desires, plus other highlights we might be able to squeeze in along the way.
In the section below, give each a 0-10 rating, ten being your most desired, even if you haven't read up on them much yet (though lots of links are provided at the messy PLANNING page. ) Definitely give zeros and low scores to weed out what you won't care if you miss.
Insert your "score" on the beginning of the line (before the "space.") Go ahead and make comments, too, if you like.
After you've scored each of them, please go back and change 4-6 to say "TOP" because they are your HIGHEST desire. We'll work your plans around making SURE we don't miss your TOP desires.
___ Seeing the "must see" monuments lit up at night-- a drive around the mall.
___ Touring Seats of Governmental Power
___ Musical events/locales
___ Art
___ Art - Impressionists
___ Art - Modern - Picasso up through abstracts
___ Art - Sculpture
___ Art - European 1500's onward
___ Art - portraits
___ Art - American
Optional-- further specify below if you happen to have them targeted already...
___ National Portrait Gallery - PORTRAITS of US Presidents
___ National Gallery - East Wing (connected underground to...)
___ National Gallery - West Wing (includes Rodin sculptures and presently an exhibit of portraits by Cezanne among MUCH MORE... World Art)
___ Hirshhorn Gallery - MODERN Art with its sculpture garden
___ Renwick - Modern installation sculpture... some 20th C painting
___ Philips Collection - tix over $20 but a fine collection in a more intimate setting
___ Private galleries
___ Architecture
___ Beautiful Interiors
___ Incredible Exteriors
___ Science:
___ Museum of Natural History
___ Air and Space Museum
___ National Zoo
___ Building Museum (closed in Summer 2018 for renovation, I'm pretty sure)
___ Historical Museums
___ Newseum
___ New and Really Great: National Museum of African American History and Culture
___ Holocaust Museum
___ American History Museum
___ Spy Museum
___ Native American Museum
___ National Archives
___ Dumbarton Oaks Research Museum (impressive smallish collections of pre-Columbian and Byzantine art/jewelry and additionally Gardens. Museum is free. Gardens are $10 but more worth it when blooming in spring or colorful in fall.
___ Hillwood Estate Museum and Gardens
___ Pentagon (one MIGHT be able to get a tour... but we can AT LEAST drive by it)
___ Arlington National Cemetery
___ 30-40 minutes Out of town: Mt. Vernon
___ 90 minutes Out of town: Annapolis
___ 2 hours Out of town: Charlottesville and Monticello
___ 5 hours Out of town: Blacksburg
___ Noteworthy Buildings:
___ Dumbarton Oaks Research Museum and Gardens
___ Hillwood Estate Museum and Gardens
___ Obama's and Kushners' houses
___ Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts
___ The Watergate Hotel
___ Pentagon
___ Ford's Theater (where Lincoln was assassinated)
___ National Cathedral
___ Library of Congress
___ Senate and House Office Buildings
___ Gardens, including Sculpture Gardens
___ Commemorative Statues outdoors and understanding what they commemorate
___ Churches
___ African American neighborhood of Shaw (incl.Howard U, Ben's Chili Bowl, theatres... )
___ African American experience of DC (close to...)
___ Chinatown - it's small - recommend for weekend Dim Sum; ask about video on history
___ Waterfronts (there are 3: DC WaterFront aka the Old Wharf just south of the Tidal Basin, Georgetown and the National Harbor (new and garish where they've built a casino). An hour+ away is Annapolis or Alexandria, VA's Old Town)
___ Watertaxi
___ Water sports - rowing and kayaking out of Georgetown, or paddleboats in Tidal Basin.
___ Colonial/Very Early US Presidencies History
___ Sports: Capitals (hockey) Nationals (Baseball)
___ Theatre
___ Comedy Clubs
___ Free Cultural Performances
___ Free book talks/ lectures
___ Bookstores of note: Politics and Prose, Busboys and Poets, Kramerbooks and Afterwards
___ Georgetown: pretty federalist style neighborhoods, waterfront, Georgetown's campus
___ College Campuses - Howard U, American U, Georgetown U, George Washington U, American U; also Sidwell Friends School, National Cathedral School
___ Farmers Markets (Saturday: EASTERN MARKET (best Sat/Sunday), or Sunday: Dupont Circle - smaller, organic and shi-shi)
___ Celebrity Stalking: Fancy Colorosa neighborhood where Obamas and Jared & Ivanka Kushner live... we can try to learn where Hillary had her home in Georgetown
___ Monuments/Landmarks... You can specify the ones you most care about:
___ Lincoln Memorial
___ Jefferson Memorial
___ Washington Monument
___ WWII Memorial
___ FDR
___ Martin Luther King, Jr.
___ Iwo Jima (the soldiers raising the flag)
___ Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
___ JFK's grave
___ the Capitol
___ White House
___ Library of Congress
___ Supreme Court
___ Dumbarton Oaks (a NEW 2018 addition!)
___ Botanic Gardens-- go indoors and see exotic plants)
Food Questions
Please list dietary needs: vegetarian? Vegan? Avoid Seafood? Avoid Gluten? Any food allergies?
Which type of cuisines do you enjoy most trying? (You can rank them... or if you don't have strong feelings, just delete any you don't like)
Middle Eastern
Chinese
Sushi
Ethiopian
Vegetarian
Italian
Greek
Farm-to-Table
Mexican
Indian
French
Cafe / Bakery
American
Craft Brewery
Wine Bar
Sports Bar / American
Steak / Grill
Food trucks! (they're awesome in DC!)
How important is the dining experience to your stay? ie., should I work really hard on this part?
Margaret is likely to steer you toward cheaper and convenient eateries ($ or $$) so tell me...
True or False: It's a PRIORITY and am willing to spend money to eat dinner at the most talked about restaurants even if the cost is $45-100 for a meal/drinks for one.
True or False: I'm fine to eat on the fly.
True or False: A proper midday meal is really important to me... where I'd eat great food and be willing to spend 2 hours midday working it into the schedule, even knowing it cuts down on touring time.