OK, If it's DC, and you're looking to do things related to miitary, and things that are just plan cool, allow me to make a few suggestions:
- Start at the Pentagon (but after 0800, as the crowds getting into the place before hand for work ARE HUUUUGE). They have tours, and the memorabilia and portraits just "hanging on the walls" are AMAZING! A warning: It's a HUGE confusing maze, but the tour guides (enlisted military who walk BACKWARDS while explaining everything you see) give a great tour). Tour takes about two hours, and you can soveinger (-5 sp?) shop in the Pentagon Mall concurse afterwards. See the Hall of Heroes (ceremonial room, with listings on the wall of every CMOH winner from every conflict), and thememorial Chapel (on the spot the plane hit during 9/11, very moving).
- Go to Arlington National Ceremony to walk the grounds (two metro stops from the Pentagon). See the Tomb of the Unknown for the changing of the guard, and walk the rest of the grounds for an hour to just soak in the place (you'll always be amazed by the tombstones and memorials you'll just stumble across). Another word of caution: the place has been busy for the past few years with ceremonies for casualties from Iraq and Afghanistan (Sadly
), their being interned near the front by the Pentagon side. if you happen to com across a funeral, SHOW YOUR RESPECTS AND BE QUIET. Honor them in a dignified manner, they earned it. Two to three hours at arlington should cover it.
- Hop on the metro to the mall (lets you off by the Washington Monument). Grab a quick lunch from a street vendor (Ummmh, soft pretzels!) and start walking from the Washinton to the Lincoln Memorials. Like Luigi said, if it's Cherry Blossom time, it's a beautiful walk (I used to run PT on the mall every other day while I was at the Pentagon because it was just so nice!). See the WWII memorial (pretty new, very impressive), go down the north side to the Korean Memorial (somber and moving), go to the Lincoln then go to the Vietnam Memorial (even more somber and moving). This should take you all the way to late afternoon. Take a break to go back to your hotel or dinner somewhere near the mall.
- I would do the Smithsonianon and the Capitol on day two. You literaly can spend HOURS in each museum, and the Capitol tour is a half day as well. Do the Capitol in the morning (stop by your MOC's office first if you arranged a tour with them), grab lunch,then walk to the Air and Space museum. Plan on at least 2 - 3 hours there, then cross the Mall to the Natural History to spend a few more hours there. Go to the Hall of Documents afterwards to see the Declaration and Constitution.
As you can see, there is SOOO much to do in the Capitol, and you'll try to get in everything in a few days, but quite honestly it's impossible. Just highlight what you all want to see as a group and stick to th eplan, or you'll all just end up exhausted.
Feel free to PM either myself or Pima for other tips if you want. Best of Luck!