Doesn't Tony from last season's 5-Takes live in DC? I couldn't imagine a better tour guide than Tony, and someone who truly knows a TJs needs!

If you guys want to go to the beach, you can go 2 or 3 hours east to ocean city, Maryland. That is a great city with a huge board walk.on the board walk there are great fries. Also, go south of there to assateague national seashore to see wild horses roaming along the beach. It is agreat sight.It is 2/3 in maryland and 1/3 in virgina.I think you guys would enjoy that.

Zach, when are you guys planning on being in DC? I'm actually in one of the local bands from DC, and I have a lot of friends who are in bands as well. I could suggest some good shows to see when you get here.

You can also check out our band (I apologize beforehand for the shameless plug, hehehe): http://www.myspace.com/telograph.

later,
Gary aka Mild7s

While in DC, you should help out at the many soup kitchens. I have personally helped at Martha's Table on 14th St. I think that it's good for the TJs from other countries to see poverty in the U.S.
Also, I want to give a shameless plug for Luray Caverns. I live in Luray, and I worked at the caverns when I was in high school. I could work my magic and get some of the TJs in for free. Luray is 2 hours away from DC and I would love to show you my little town. Also a lot of people have suggested Skyline Drive, which is my basically my backyard. If you like to hike, you will love the drive. A member of my family has a season pass, if you want to borrow that. I don't know if you guys are allowed to get into places free.

By the way Tim, I have visited Australia and I loved it.

Ozzie, Ozzie, Ozzie
Oy, Oy, Oy

I hope I spelled oy right

If any of you guys like art, there is a lot of art galleries in D.C. Also, mabey people have said this, but go to the observation deck of the washington momument.If you notice that the first 152 feet looks different than the top, that's because they ran out of funds in 1854. Then, 2 decades later, they built the rest.

It is too bad that they can't come during the spring to D.C. because in spring, all of the beautiful cherry trees blossom and they hold the cherry tree festival.

Well the Smithsonian is obviously a must see. I suggest the American History Museum, especially the pop culture section. It's a great way to learn about America.
I'm not sure how much the war memorials will mean to the new TJs, but they are cool. Of course, the Lincoln and Jefferson monuments are great too.
The Holocaust Museum is good if you're into all that stuff. However, it's extremely graphic. My friends and I went to see it. One friend threw up when after seeing the exibits, and I cried for a good long while after we left. It'll change you.
Other than that, just walking around is great. It's a nice city on the whole.
Oh, and definatly see a baseball game, and maybe a football game at some point. Those two sports are very, very American.

quote:

Originally posted by alonza0:
Well the Smithsonian is obviously a must see. I suggest the American History Museum, especially the pop culture section. It's a great way to learn about America.
I'm not sure how much the war memorials will mean to the new TJs, but they are cool. Of course, the Lincoln and Jefferson monuments are great too.
The Holocaust Museum is good if you're into all that stuff. However, it's extremely graphic. My friends and I went to see it. One friend threw up when after seeing the exibits, and I cried for a good long while after we left. It'll change you.

i believe that the holocaust museum is a must if you have the time-it took me, the first time i went through it, four hours.....extremely moving.

and wanted to say again that the american history museum is closed for two years...but i highly recommend all other smithsonian museums esp cause they are free.

If you really want to go to an american football game, just for the experience, there are many universities that have football teams and there may even be a way to get a discount with an ISIC card-or i do know a few students from all different universities in the area i could see if anything can be done for a cheap ticket. University of Maryland is right down the road from me.........

National Museum of the American Indian is a must too...i am looking up nation-wide pow-wows for you and right now in nov. there is a pow wow near memphis.........i will keep you posted as i have worked for a tribe in michigan and i Love pow wows!!!

pow wow listing



i am sure there are more pow wow's and when i have time i will check to see if any of these are close to the cities you are going to....also helps to know what dates you will be where......pow wow's are usually free or $5 if a small one and usually no more than $13 but soooooo worth it...have an Indian taco a buffalo burger....just amazing food, music, dance, and drum circles......

any questions please let me know....the one near memphis is NOV. 17-19...ther eis one in fairfax, Virginia which is right outside DC NOV 9. the one in Fairfax is free and the bigger one near Memphis is $5...I sincerely hope you can make it to one!!!

I got to visit DC with my 8th grade class in 2000! It would so cool some of the places I liked the most:

Smithsonian National Air and Space museum

Washington Monument

Arlington National Cemetary (This reminds us of the cost of war. I had the priviledge of laying a wreath on the Tomb of the Unknown. It was one of the most powerful memories I have of the whole trip)

Lincoln memorial (really cool at night)


Also, if you can hit Gettysburg and Williamsburg, I highly reccommend. Really powerful parts of American history.

hey TJ's!

i live in the Northern VA area. i'm assuming you will fly into Dulles, which is about 2 miles from my house!

anyways, depending on the day(s), i'd be willing to meet up with you guys to give you a little tour of D.C.

i haven't really been around and found all the "hidden secrets", but i can definitely manage my way around the tourist traps-and the city!

if that doesn't work out, then go to Union Station (the train station in downtown) and there's a sushi place there. (Panda, i think). THE best sushi i have ever had in my entire life! also, the postal museum is right across the street, which i think would be a fun visit for the five of you! it'll probably take you an hour and a half at most. also, they have a place where you can customize a postcard and send it to a loved one!

so, like i said, depending on the day(s), i'd be willing to catch up with you guys!

thanks, and i give you all my support!

quote:

Originally posted by tj_zach:
Did someone say Chili?!? I am SO there! If there's something worth spending on, it's good Chili! Thanks for the tips!

Hahaha baby! i knew that would catch your eye zach LOVES chili, or anything spicy actually i hope they serve their chili extra hot!

p.s. this is zach's fiancee

Speaking of Chili, my aunt and uncle who were kind enough to take care of me for the extended layover took me to Mel's Drive-in, a classic American diner (you can see it in George Lucas' American Graffiti) and guess what I ordered? A Chiliburger, of course! With a good smattering of Tabasco. Yum. Best of all? It was FREE! Thanks to my Tito and Tita (aunt and uncle in Filipino). I'm gonna get as many FREE meals as I can get.

I second the Gettysburg idea. I may sound boring riding around looking at, basically, fields but it's actually kind of interesting if you take a tour bus or if you have a set of the tapes. I would also suggest a ghost tour in gettysburg, i think they're like 8 bucks or something, even if it's not scary the history is interesting

Also Pennsylvania is like the manufacturing capital or something, basically we've got lots of factories and many of them give tours for free, like Harley Davidson in York.

As far as DC goes I loved all of the Smithsonian (sp?) museums except for the air and space one, but that's probably just me. The history one was my favorite, getting to see Dorothy's shoe from the Wizard of OZ.

i forgot to add that many of the museums have free admission. a few are:

The Natural History Museum (i'd definitely suggest a look!)
The Native American History Museum
The National Postal Museum
The National Archives (also worth a look!)

and the memorials:
Vietnam Veterans Memorial
Lincoln Memorial
Jefferson Memorial
Washington Monument (though if you want to climb to the top, you must order tickets, which can be pricy, so i'd doubt that you guys will be able to do this)
World War II Memorial (recently opened a year and a half ago)
U.S. Capitol (you can get free tickets to get in. go to this link for more info: http://www.aoc.gov/cc/visit/index.cfm)
Washington National Cathedral (just incredible. you should be able to take a taxi here, but rates may be high)

things out of D.C. worth checking out:

Shennandoah Valley (you will need a rental car for this. it'll definitely be a day trip if you decide to do this. also, since it's a national park, i think you have to pay to get in.)
Old Town Alexandria (if you have time left over)
Great Falls Park (you need to pay, unless you have a National Park Servick Pass, which costs $50 and gets you into ANY national park in the entire country, so it may be useful if you decide to go to another park in another state! you can even use it if you decide to go to Shennandoah Valley!)
Mount Vernon (the home of George Washington, our first president. you need to pay $13.00 to get in. the maps here come in nine languages, if you don't feel like reading English.)

and about Gettysburg...
there are many battlefields that are closer. Antietam in Maryland and Manassas in Virginia.

that's about all i have. and like i said, it will probably be in your best interest to buy the $50 National Park Pass, which you may use anywhere in the country.

hope this helps! happy travels!