Washington DC (trip this summer)

[TsPoet]

air and space museum
spy museum (not part of the Smithsonian, but neat anyway)
Washington nat'l cathedral (I love gargoyles, there is even a Darth Vader one)
i love the bike tour idea.

[Koronin]

spy museum? That sounds pretty neat.

[TsPoet]

spy museum? That sounds pretty neat.

http://www.spymuseum.org/about
(warning, it is rather directed at kids, but I loved it)

[Koronin]

Thank you.

Apparently I made a mistake telling my mom that we are planning on using the metro while we're in DC instead of driving. She is sure we'll get attacked, beaten up, robbed and possibly killed just because we are going to take public transportation. UGH!! I know I cannot in anyway tell her we'll be alright. My plan is use to the metro for a couple of reasons, the main one being we do NOT know DC at all. The last time I was there was about 15 years ago when I was in high school. My husband has never been in DC. So it will be a lot simpler to use the metro to get where we're going. Then there's the whole saving money thing. Between not knowing where we're going, the cost of gas and the cost of parking I would think taking the metro would be cheaper. (It may not be, but it will definitely be easier.)

[Possegal]

Oh most definitely metro it!! And honestly, as public transportation goes, it is really quite safe compared to most other cities.

[Koronin]

Thank you for comfirming what I was thinking.

[Selkie]

Agree that the Metro is relatively safe.

If you get a chance, check out Eastern Market.

When you are down by the cemetery, visit the USMC memorial, too. The 9/11 memorial at the Pentagon is another good place to visit. One of my favorite things to do is walk the Tidal Basin in the early morning---check out the FDR memorial, which is along the path.