Alexandria/Washington DC Travel Tips Appreciated!

We're going to Alexandria/DC next week to visit B-I-L and his wife. We're gunna have 3 days to ourselves, since they will be working. Neither of us have been there before.

For those of you that have been there, what do you recommend doing?!

AVOID THE BELTWAY on weekdays between 3 and 7 if possible!

Check out the monuments....tons of museums if you are into that kind of stuff. Great Restaurants in Bars in Shirlington VA (Carlyle Grand), U Street DC, Georgetown or even Old Town Alexandria......O'Connells is a great bar/restaurant on King Street Alexandria....Marvin's is Fantastic restaurant in DC......Georgetown is shopping and restaurants......Great City lots to do!

But the traffic is horrible doesn't matter day or time...

If you are going anywhere go after 10 and home after 7, go to DC. There is a tour bus http://www.tourmobile.com/ which is awesome. You can ride the metro into Union Station and get on the tourmobile there. I would get the 2 day pass since there is tons to do and see!

the zoo is great if you're into that. i can't resist a zoo that has pandas =) also the arboretum is a really beautiful and nice place if you want somewhere to go and relax, go for a walk, have a picnic, etc. its not filled with tourists either, which is kinda nice. my fav museum is the american history museum. and i really enjoyed the holocaust museum, but it is a little emotionally draining! there is so much to do in dc. it really just depends on what kind of stuff you like. i go visit my sis who lives there often and i never run out of stuff to do! if you like greek food i highly highly recommend cava! it is so yummy and has such a fun atmosphere for dinner. and their strawberry mojitos are to die for!! 

ditto MrsAnderson - museums/monuments, the National mall, U street (good Etheopian food, and a bar with a retractable roof and awesome view that I'm forgetting the name of), Chinatown, Georgetown, Arlington Nat'l cemetary (if you're in a somber mood), Adams Morgan has fun bars/nightclubs (and JUMBO slice pizza, I'm talking the biggest slice of pizza you've ever seen) - ahh, how I love/miss DC.

Check out the new National Harbor.  They've got some good restaurants there, along with some great outdoor entertainment.  Plus you can take a romantic walk with your sweetie down by the water.  You can also hop on the water taxi that takes you from Old Town (Alexandria) straight to the Harbor on the Maryland side!  While you're there, check out Cake Love, they have great cupcakes!!

http://www.nationalharbor.com/consumer/consumer.htm

Mmmmmmmmm Cake Love, how I miss you.......

Go to a nationals game if they have one- and eat bens chilli bowl! Or you can go to bens chilli bowl. I would go to Arlington and eat elevation burger- best burgers ever!
My fav resturant in dc is jeallo - Spanish tapas- so good- and their sangria is amazing!
See if there Are any fesitvals- they r always fun!

ALL of these suggestions are great... you can try Pentagon City or Tysons Corner if your into shopping... There is a Melting Pot in Arlington that has GREAT food... Georgetown has tons of shops as well and a bunch of cute places to eat. Also as someone previously mentioned the Zoo is a great day time activity and you can walk to Adams Morgan for drinks and dinner after... One more thing I would mention, is downtown DC... TONS of sights and places to visit!!!