DuckSouth.com

I'm trying to plan a trip with my wife by train and wondering what is the must do when you get there.

Contact your congressmen and see if they can get you on a White House tour. Visit all the monuments, of course.
Visit Georgetown. Visit Arlington National Cemetery and be sure to go when you can see a changing of the gaurd at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers. See if you can get up to the house at Monticello.

Take the time to remember that you are walking in the footprints of a lot of great men and women who spent a lifetime making our great government one that can stand all that comes against it. Ponder the idea that it can only be destroyed by the unbridled freedom which it gaurantees.

crow

Go to the Smithsonian. Pick your wing, flight, natural history any of them are a full day deal.

I have been to several and would go back just to spend a week going through them all.

Tupe

All of the above, but definetely do not forget the FBI; that was by far the most interesting building to me. Also the US Treasury is not too bad.

probably enjoyed the tour of Mt. Vernon more than anything....Smithstonian was neat to a degree....the Wall...all the monuments.......not enough time to see half of everything in a month, and that was 15 years ago, can't imagine what it be like now

Spoonallard,

You say you going by train? Amtrak I suppose? I've checked that out as well. Best I can figure, plane is cheaper and definitely faster. Route from Memphis to D.C. is through Chicago and around 27 hours worth. $160.00 round trip. Can fly Southwest for same money.

We're going week of Thanksgiving and will take the high-speed train from D.C. to NYC for a couple of days.

Beware of the Black Muslims. There is plenty to see and do. I was prolly 12 years old when I went, for some reason Mt. Vernon, the Smithsonian and touring The White House were my favorites at the time. We did the train ride thing on the way back. After that, I have never wanted to ride a train since. I would advise flying.

Stick with your train plans! I took my dad and son on that trip a few years ago, we had a ball! The train trip was great. Good food, good scenery. all welded tracks for a smooth ride....no more clackity clack!

Spoonallard wrote: what is the must do when you get there.

Load your gun.

Load your gun.

good idea, like everybody else said all the stuff you've heard of, plus alot of Civil War battlefields are definitely within driving distance. Arlington is a must see as well..... get in touch with ole mottlet, he's up that way, might can tell you some other info....

Thanks for the Ideas most all of those are on my list. You know people travel all over the world with out seeing what the USA has to offer first and I love History. I'm sticking with the train. I spent three days on the train when I was twenty. Rode from Jackson to Pheonix. Loved it. Just got my travel plans Leave Greenwood and spend the night on the train arrive in Chicago spend a day and a night. Then to DC for three days and nights then back to Chicago for a day and then back to Greenwood. Can't wait. I have never been up north or on a vaction with just the wife. Wonder if I should leave her at home.
Spoon

I spend every summer in DC, so while I would not call myself a local, I do have some insider info.

First, you'll never see it all. If you try, you will NOT have a good time. You'll spend all of your time running around like a chicken with its head cut off and when you're done, you won't have really SEEN anything. Figure out what you want to visit, and take the time to really see what that locale has to offer.

Some of my favorites. (In no particular order)
--The Korean War Memorial
This memorial gets overlooked a lot and that's a shame. But the Korean War gets overlooked alot by Americans in general. While the Vietnam Memorial is moving, I think that the Korean Memorial has it beat by a mile. The statues and the faces on the wall WILL speak to you if you let them. Try to go at night (it's plenty safe). The lighting of the Memorial at night is such that you can almost see the statues moving, as if they really are on some sort of eternal patrol. Always kind of reminded me of Johnny Cash's "Ghostriders in the Sky" and is fitting since American servicemen and women will apparently always be on patrol in Korea.

--The Air and Space Museum
One of the highlight of the Smithsonian. That the Wright brothers flew for the first time in 1903 and by 1969 men had landed on the moon is nothing short of amazing. Lots of stuff to see in this museum. The Smithsonian opened another Air and Space museum in Virginia to house even more incredible artifacts (like the Enola Gay--with the possible exceptions of the Wright plane and the Apollo 11 capsule, this is the most historically significant airship the world has seen to date).

--The Natural History Museum
Always a favorite of the kids. Lots of mounted specimens to look at. The elephant in this museum is the only display that I make sure I see every summer. I just think it's really cool.

--The National Gallery of Art
Probaby won't be a favorite of the kids, but I still think it's a must see. Yes, there will be plenty of stuff in there that you won't care for. But you'd be suprised how much this good ole boy from Mississippi found that interested him in this gallery. If you go, be sure to see Winslow Homer's "Left and Right" or "Right and Left"...I can't ever remember. Anyway, it's my favorite piece of sporting art and you sure aren't gonna see it at the local DU or NWTF banquet.

--The FDR Memorial
He might not have been your favorite president, but his historical achievements are undeniable. Like any man, he was not a saint, as some historians would have you believe. But he overcame a crippling disease to lead this country out of the Great Depression and the led the world through the greatest conflict it had ever seen.

--The Jefferson Memorial
I just think he was a really neat guy and think that this is a really neat monument.

--The Lincoln Monument
Yes, he defeated the South. But his words that are inscribed on the walls will speak to any AMERICAN who reads them. It's not enough to have read the Gettysburg Address, you have read the words inscribed in the marble there.

--The Holocaust Museum
Words will never suffice.

--The Spy Museum
Always a favorite with the kids. Lots of interactive stuff.

There is, of course, lots of other stuff. Someone mentioned contacting your Congressman about White House tours. I've never toured the White House, but I imagine it's got to be pretty cool. At least go by the House and Senate office buildings and sign the guestbook. Maybe they'll be around and will see you. When Ronnie Shows was in office, I just bebopped into his office one day because I wanted to visit all of the Mississippi Congressional offices. Next thing I know, I'm in Congressman Shows's office having a frank discussion with a member of the U.S. Congress. Just a tip, Bennie Thompson's office wasn't that friendly, but maybe that's changed. Who knows, maybe ol' Bennie will be willing to listen to a different voice. I haven't visited the Capitol since 9/11 so I don't know how big a hassle that is. But, it's worth doing if you can.

Hope you have a good trip and be safe.

mottlet

Thanks Mottlet
Looks like your in the know. What about the theatre where Linclon was shot? I have a month to plan so I'm going to do good research. From the info I've found since 9-11 you can not tour the White House except for a Laura Bush Virtual tour.
Spoon


P.S. Do you think they will let me in D C wearing an MSDucks redneck road trip T-shirt? Maybe have a WhiteHouse mudbug boil.

Your wife will definately like Georgetown, lot's of shopping and great restaurants. See if you can squeeze in a performance at the Kennedy center one night, like most evrything in DC its free. Go to the restaurant at the top and have a drink, at night it's the best view of the city.

Gumbo wrote:Your wife will definately like Georgetown, lot's of shopping and great restaurants. See if you can squeeze in a performance at the Kennedy center one night, like most evrything in DC its free. Go to the restaurant at the top and have a drink, at night it's the best view of the city.

Sounds good. thats what Im looking for. What to do when we are not touring the sites.