Tourist Traps in Washington, DC 

Local here. I recommend: 1) giant Einstein sculpture across from Vietnam Wall 2) Iwo Jima Memorial (not on the Mall) for great picture with the statue and Washington Memorial in the background 3) during Cherry Blossoms time, view them from the southwest side at FDR Memorial (touch the dog's bronze nose). The blossoms hang over you. 4) Botanical Gardens inside in the windowed atriums 5) consider riding the VRE train in on a weekday (limited hours; more direct than blue or orange line, is neat double decker) 6) National Gallery of Art East to see Calder mobiles, art by Rothko, Pollock and Mondrian. The giant 14' tall blue rooster on the outside balcony!! 7) the stunning moving sidewalk with thousands of stars overhead (connects the NGA East and West underground) 8) Monet at NGA West 9) Hope Diamond at Natural History Museum 10) original flag at American History Museum (and Prince's guitar) 11) pack a picnic, eat at Gravelly Point near Potomac and watch airplanes land and takeoff (they're REALLY close). Food trucks on weekend. 12) latte and cupcake at Georgetown's Baked & Wired (or stand in line at Georgetown Cupcake) 13) moon rock placed in a window of National Cathedral (far from direct view, though); Darth Vader grotesque 14) WWII Memorial, talk to any veterans there and THANK THEM! Research Normandy Beach and D-Day beforehand

One of the lesser know attractions is the Pentagon tour. You have to get FREE tickets about 30 days in advance and complete a security form. On the tour you can't have your phone on, take pictures and can speak ONLY English on the tour. There is no parking on property and it's a hike from paid parking on the other side of Interstate 395.

Number 1 rule in DC is don’t drive. Stay at a hotel in Virginia and take the Metro. Number 2 rule is to carry water. And it’s very expensive to eat on the mall. Also,make one trip near sunset to see Washington at night.Mall at night is fantastic. Stay away from union station . Not a great area anymore.

I’m a volunteer at one of the big museums on the Mall. A “trap” I see people fall into is thinking everyone has go to the same museum, even though some people would rather go to a different one. I tell people to split up. Cell phones make it easy to reconnect on the Mall once the groups are done with their museums.

Local here. I've started to notice more unofficial metro "helpers" who hang out in and around the metro passing out maps to confused looking tourists and offering directions. Pretty harmless and tame by certain standards, but this tactic is often used as a segue to ask for some money or spare change.

I loved food trucks by the national mall , you can just grab some tacos and sit on grass and have a small picnic

Yup! You better get some delicious Ethiopian food when you visit DC. It's a must, and there are plenty of options.

As someone who lives here, and has worked in tourism adjacent roles, please, please, PLEASE stick with public transport, bike share, or walking when on the Mall and in Downtown, if not everywhere where the metro can take you. Traffic is a headache (and you never know when a motorcade is going to come by), parking is stupid expensive, and there are few freeways in DC itself. Trust me, the metro isn't scary, just stay on the right if you aren't walking up the escalators (and yes, we do take that seriously, especially during rush hour times). Also, take a second to know which metro you are getting on. It's not fun to realize you got on the wrong side of the line, and your metro us just leaving. >.< One other thing no one told me about when I moved here, DC is divided into 4 quadrants, with the Capitol being the 0,0 point. Having the NW, SW, SE, and NE in your address is important, or you may end up going to the wrong location (most of the National Mall and the more touristy areas are in NW, but don't be afraid to explore other areas as well). DC also attempts to be a grid system, with the numbered streets increasing the further East or West you get from the Capitol, and the lettered streets are in alphabetical order from the Capitol going North or South. Especially in Downtown, it is an easy way to orientate yourself if you are trying to get to a specific place. There are other streets that don't follow this system, but this does help figure out which way you may need to go. I also love point to Fords Theater as a place to see a show in a building of historic importance (the ticket prices are also reasonable) and the Old Post Office Tower if you like going up to high places and want to include the Washington Monument in your view!

If you're fit get the day pass for Lime. Seeing a city as beautiful as DC on a bicycle is the best choice I made on my trip there. My expectations of DC were exceeded by its beauty.

We last visited over a decade ago and it's still one of the best weekends we've ever spent in a city, including internationally.

So glad you mentioned #4. That's huge. I went before the dark times. The line was INSANE. Even early in the morning. Some kind soul let me know there was no line on the opposite side. Bit of a hike, but totally worth it.

We just got back from 4 days in D. C. Loved it! Took the Metro but still did a LOT of walking 😀

No bathrooms is a huge NEGATIVE

Great video Mark and Rob!

Great video Mark and Rob! I appreciate your work and I hope I can finally travel to USA and take all your advice in my trip. :) Take care. Greetings from Wroclaw PL!

Definitely check out Old Ebbitt Grill on 15th by the Whitehouse! Great food and neat building.

I missed this collab until now!👂🏾 Great video

Please just walk on the left and stand on the right on the metro escalators. If you stand on the left, you will likely be shoved out of the way.

DC's great. I do enjoy living here, though I am ready to move on personally. Make sure you catch a live show somewhere in DC, the Anthem is the best venue in town!

Great video Mark 👊

LIFE HACK!! Don't see the Monuments during the day - go at night!! The Lincoln Memorial at 12 noon is nowhere near as interesting as at 12am midnight. It's also more romantic and intimate at night to walk the mall. And if you dare visit during the summer - the Hummidity during the day is unbearable down there.

Old Ebbit Grill, Hamilton’s & Jose Andres’ Jaleo are just two blocks up from Constitution Ave. Anywhere you eat in DC is $$$$ vs other cities; you might as well get a good meal

Excellent video!!!!!

I visited Georgetown last winter and absolutely loved it. Even though I didn't see any monuments or museums it was still worth it

Great video Mark and Rob

I was working in Bethesda and had an extra day off so I took the train into the city it was super easy inexpensive and I was able to see a few cool things.

this collab is crazy big ups

Awesome video

Teasim is a great little restaurant on 8th street near the navy memorial at Archives. Lots of choices.

I was born in Arlington VA gone downtown(DC)to see the monuments and the various museums several times among other places. So fortunate to live so close to DC.

I don’t know how you pulled off that shot of three pretty food trucks lined up… I’m near there daily. Those trucks are seldom clean. To see three clean food trucks lined up is remarkable!

DC was a lot of fun; I was able to stay for a week. I highly recommend a tour guide! It made life easier.

Does both of you saying that there are "no good restaurants" on or near the National Mall, mean that all of the museum restaurants either have not reopened or were permanently closed and gutted? There used to be a few really good ones, such as at the American Indian Museum, Natural History Museum, and National Gallery of Art. And the Willard Hotel on 14th Street, and Old Ebbett Grill on 15th Street, are just a couple blocks off the Mall, but great options for a really nice sit-down meal.

Mt Vernon is definitely worth the day trip

Bens chili bowl will always be a good eat

Fairfax was my hometown, D.C. is a trap. I would park in Springfield or Huntington station and take the subway to D.C.

We didn’t do everything, but we did as much as we could. Half marathon one day. Steps counter was 13 miles.

The food truck experience, although not cheap, is a DC experience. Growing up there were only bad burgers and Polish dogs. Since those days, food trucks have gone gourmet and offer variety of international foods.

good advise. I think. LOL. I record bands/music in DC...only one doing it. MARTY SENDER YOU TUBE. nice to have you visit.

The food truck scene around the National Mall is hella dope though! (At least that’s been my experience…)

If you're planning a trip call your Congressperson's office or your Senators. They can often help constituents get tickets for tours of the Capitol and various museums. Especially once things open up post COVID.

We're going next weekend!

Don't forget the Old EbbItt Grill.

Metro during rush hours can also be a "trap".

DC is MUCH MORE than the National Mall. I challenge visitors to really explore the real DC. It’s rich in history and culture that’s slowly being stripped away.

I did not find the spy museum worth it. the time we visited , it was so so busy it made it feel like a cattle run. I didn't really enjoy it. we just returned 4 days ago . so sad to see the homeless / tent cities in our nations capitol. a great city to walk ~ be safe. ~ JDS/CT

The founding fathers restaurant is amazing.

Don't know much about D.C., I've never been there.

Years ago the cafeteria in the Senate Dirkson building was open to the public...

Here's a trap I have fallen into in dc...its an emotional one There is a lot of mood whiplash right on top of each other Government/political nerdery (BEP, capitol, white house etc) doesn't jive with the emotional investment needed for the holocaust museum or the war memorials or the police memorial nor does the lighthearted Americana of American history mueseum spy museum and air and space or the high culture of the Smithsonian art museums But a mistake I see due to proximity is go to the Vietnam wall then American history lunch at American Indian and then go to the HOLOCAUST museum...or worse hop the metro to the TOMB OF THE UNKNOWNS This is gonna tire you mentally more than physically or you'll be that guy...THAT GUY who talks about Westmoreland while people are copying the name of lost loved ones...or brings up the grassy knoll in front of JFKs grave...DONT BE THAT GUY! you need 3 days A day for politics (govt buildings white house mint BEP library 9f congress capitol...heck seek out a protest and explain to your tween how this shapes our country and the importance of free speech then after dinner Lincoln memorial then turn to the reflecting pool and teach i have a dream) for those more adventurous FBI crime museum or spy museum fit here. If you're hard-core call the party of choice and get gallery tickets to house or senate and take in a half hour of debate...what is irreverent really its the process A day to celebrate America: the fun stuff...American history museum...air and space...an art gallery or natural history...eat off the food truck parade for lunch...then cap the evening off with a Nats game the national pastime A day to remember and reflect: light a candle at national cathedral...visit the Vietnam Korean and WWII memorials holocaust museum and visit Arlington or the Police memorial...educate but stay respectful...explain this is the price for freedom and remembering those lost helps us protect the future...then end somewhere fun cuz this is an exhausting trip

Museum of the American Indian Cafe and the capitol hill side food trucks are quality food for lunch agree dinner stay away from the mall

One tourist trap in Washington DC is beware of the traffic jams

Are the crowds bad when it's colder? Like in November or December?

Don't bash the food trucks. Some are amazing!

Former local....I worked in DC for five years and I left in 1994. Parking is very expensive. The locals are nasty drivers who will NOT let you merge in front of them. Put on your turn signal to merge and you WILL get cut off. Stay in Virginia, take the Metro in and use a tour. Traffic does not let up on the weekends. Seeing the changing of the guard in Arlington National Cemetery, especially at the end of the day, is a must see. I want to go to see the EU embassies, specifically Poland, in a couple of weeks. It's different for me because I know my way around, but if you are not familiar with DC, try not to drive there. If you want lunch and want to sit down, you will not find much of anything other than those food trucks. DC restaurants are nothing special. A lot of visiting DC depends on what direction you come from. If you are from the Northeast, I recommend taking the Penn Line to Union Station and take the Metro to the sights. If you come from the South or the West, stay in Virginia. I come from Western Pennsylvania. I get off of I-70 at Frederick and take 15 to Leesburg and find a hotel in that area. Leesburg doesn't have the Metro but you aren't far from it.

I'll be honest. Did a day trip from NY and. Thought it was enough. Nice day out walking around. Didn't actually go in any museums - put off a bit after not being that impressed by the NY Natural History museum. USS Intrepid was also a bit disappointing in that none of the engineering spaces were open to the public. Still worth a visit though. DC does have a good metro though and is one of the prettier US cities. Were I to have the opportunity to go back, I'd probably just go back to NY instead, or give Boston or Philadelphia a try.

I wonder why rob is single😂😂

I can't believe suckers line up and pay $399 for this guy's tour.

I haven't even watched the video yet, but I'm placing my bets that Ben's Chili Bowl is somewhere on this list

tip #1: stay away from the murder mcdonalds

Also DO NOT put your feet or wade in the WW2 memorial water insanely disrepectful and against park rules

A cautionary note, the homeless population has exploded in Washington DC since the pandemic. There are tents all over with people living in the tents. Always be aware of your surroundings, and also be careful on the Metro. Tourists are very easy to spot ... We were born and raised in DC so we feel very comfortable making these statements.

Watch out crowed space lots of pickpockets guard your wallet with might

CHICLAYO

Allow 2x the amount of time you think you need for the Smithsonian..take your time and you won't be sorry. P.s. take good for you snacks to eat get a drink and snack in the cafeteria.

You wait until I've moved to another country to do my city??????? Smh

Don't walk at night, take the bus or subway in the city. Anywhere in the city. Violent crime way up. Police numbers down. Former DC tour guide.

A lot of people who work in government there. You're probably going to get scammed.

hjjk

Went to bens chili bowl there two weeks ago ,overpriced and overrated.the metro and the metro bus there are area to avoid for sure!!!

terorist center

Please stop saying free. Our taxes pay for it. NOTHING IS FREE!