OK... I'll follow in Stefanie's path.

Seeing Sheri is VERY high on the list.

I've contacted our congress person for a tour of the Capitol, White House and Mint.

Going to the top of the Washington Monument and seeing some of the other monuments.

The air and space museum.

Mt Vernon. Really want to do that.

The military bands play at the Capitol and other places every evening… that is on my must see.
http://godc.about.com/od/arts/a/freeconcerts.htm
(I’m bummed that I won’t be there in August for the 1812 overture with REAL cannons. )

My family is very fond of paddle boats. Doing a paddle boat in the Tidal Basin would be cool.

I need to get more info from Sheri… she did say that she went to Ford’s Theater and is was sort of a waste of a Metro Ticket.

Any other must sees from the Tourists point of view? Your favorite museums? Restaurants?

Any movies to see before going? Eastwood's Letters from Iwa Jima? Mr. Smith goes to Washington?

http://www.dcvisit.com/site_map.htm

Obviously, I am VERY excited about this trip.

I feel so well-traveled all of a sudden...

The National Gallery of Art is someplace I could spend days because the works of art are just...well, if you're weirdly emotional like I am, you may tear up at some pictures, laugh at others, and stare in amazement at nearly everything.

I found the National Archives *very* moving. It looks like until Jan 2008, the special exhibition is "School House to White House: The Education of the Presidents." While we were there, it was something about speeches that changed history. "Mr Gorbachev, tear down this wall!" written down in Reagan's handwriting was unbelieveable, as was seeing a copy of the Emancipation Proclamation. I'm tearing up thinking about it.

The boyfriend LOVED LOVED LOVED the Air & Space Museum. I liked it pretty well.

The Korean War monument...surprised me. It felt alive.

And Arlington Cemetary is...magical. And I mean that with the utmost respect. It feels filled with life, not with death. That's another place I could have wandered all day, wondering about everyone who was there, both the living and the dead. I would guess whether you take a child of any age there depends completely and totally on the child. It's a wondrous, amazing place. If you write, compose, or draw, take something with you to do that on, because I promise you'll feel inspired. There was a ceremony for a young man the day we were there, and...well, if the Emancipation Proclamation hadn't brought me to the edge of tears, I might have been okay, but yeah, I'm crying now.

Wear comfy shoes.

Watching "National Treasure" before you go could be fun. And "Enemy of the State", maybe? Linky!

Denise,

When are you going? And can I hide out in your suitcase? I have a lifelong dream of going to DC! I have family that lives there, as well as a friend from high school that moved there last summer (her hubby's stationed at the Pentagon) so I can ask them if there are any special events that are a must see while you're there. Also, I know that one of our friends goes annually for a business conference and he never tires of the Smithsonian and the Holocaust museum. He goes just about every time he is in DC. He really enjoys it and each time is able to spend more time in a new section exploring more deeply.