In need of suggestions for your next vacation? The women in our Washington, D.C. offices share their favorite spots to visit and sight-see while in the nation's capital and Baltimore.
1. I really like the International Spy Museum, the National Zoo and the Newseum.
2. For some outdoor activity, I suggest a bike ride on the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal towpath. It is a 184-mile towpath beside the canal running from Georgetown to Cumberland, Maryland. You will see Great Falls, the rapids on the Potomac. If you don't want to ride, there is a boat that floats down the canal in Georgetown. A great afternoon would be lunch in Georgetown and a bike ride.
3. My family always really enjoyed the Albert Einstein Memorial. It's a family friendly statue of the great man sitting and reading a book, tucked away not too far from the Lincoln and Vietnam Memorials. You won't find him unless you go looking, but there are usually kids climbing all over it. The statue is located on the grounds of the National Academy of Sciences buildings at 2101 Constitution Avenue, NW.
4. I also recommend visiting Chinatown for some dim sum, upstairs at Tony Cheng's, located at 619 H. St., NW. Dim sum is served from 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. every day but they only have the carts with the dim sum on weekends and holidays.
Leslie Goldsmith, Shareholder
5. If you are bringing children, go across the Potomac River into Virginia, and visit my neighborhood, Old Town Alexandria, a historic 18th century port city. In the morning, head down the George Washington Parkway and visit our first president's home, Mt. Vernon, which is about 12 miles south of Old Town. Then, come back to Old Town and enjoy the many shops and restaurants on King Street. At the other end of King Street from the Potomac River sits the George Washington Masonic temple, which is open to visitors. While in Old Town, you can tour President Washington's church, Christ Church on Washington Street. The docents for this 250-plus-year-old Episcopalian Church are there almost every day. Enjoy lunch or dinner at Gadsby's Tavern, where President Washington went to dine and drink. Servers in 18th century period dress will welcome you. Finally, you can also sign up for twilight Ghost Tours of Old Town at the Visitor's Center on King Street.
6. If you fly in or out of Dulles, visit the Udvar Hazy Center at the National Air and Space Museum annex where the large exhibits are and where children of all ages can "fly" a space shuttle via a simulator.
Jan Powell, Senior Advisor
7. If you can, try to go to the new National Museum of African American History and Culture. It is spectacular!
8. I recommend lunch in the Kogod Courtyard at the National Portrait Gallery, and tour the exhibit on the presidency.
Sheila Burke, Strategic Advisor
9. Visit the Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian American Art Museum and the National Archives Building (home of the Constitution). The Library of Congress and the National Building Museum are great too. For food, try POV (with a view of the White House). And the obvious – Georgetown for shopping!
10. The National Air and Space Museum is a "must" for kids!
11. While somber, the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum is extremely moving and very well done.
Kelly Preteroti, Shareholder
12. I always love the National Museum of American History and the First Ladies' dresses.
13. The United States Botanic Garden near the Capitol is somewhat overlooked, but very fun to visit if you have a short amount of time.