Always a treat to watch thousands of motor-cycles cross the Memorial Bridge and down Constitution Avenue. Believe its Sunday morning.
I am headed to the DC area for a work related visit. My schedule is somewhat free on May 24-26 and I was hoping to get into DC for a little sightseeing. Given that is part of Memorial Day weekend, is it going to be harder or easier to get around town, park and visit sites? Would one day be better than the other given that the 25th is Memorial Day?
Any hints or suggestions would be appreciated.
Always a treat to watch thousands of motor-cycles cross the Memorial Bridge and down Constitution Avenue. Believe its Sunday morning.
I sent you a p
Sunday is good because parking is free on Sunday but you have to go in pretty early to land a space near the mall and museums. If you're on Metro, it will be busier than usual but nothing too crazy (like 7/4). Busy times will be during the rehearsal for the Memorial Day Concert on the Mall, which I think is Saturday, usually around 5 or 6, and then the concert on the mall on Sunday at 8.
There will be vets on motorbikes ALL weekend (and it is awesome).
I imagine it would be hard to bring your car to Arlington Cemetery so if you're going there Memorial Day maybe take Metro...or one of those double decker tour buses (which are fun).
You are going to have so much fun and usually the weather is nice! And so much of it is free to do. PM me if you need museum or sightseeing ideas. I've lived here for years and years and I still feel like a tourist and still not have seen it all but I def have faves.
Memorial Day weekend is when the 3 biggest & most popular Smithsonian Museums on the Mall (Air & Space, Natural History & American History) begin their Summer extended hours. Thus on Sunday & Monday they will all stay open until 7:30 vice the usual 5:30, though on Tuesday only American History will be open later.
Also, on weekends and Federal Holidays, parking at all metro stations with parking facilities is free all day. Several of the farther out stations have rather large parking garages (Huntington, Franconia/Springfield, Vienna & Dunn Loring in VA, New Carrolton & Shady Grove in MD (there may be others in MD, look at the WMATA website, under the Rail drop-down menu is a parking tab).
Also, like Sunday, parking downtown is also free on Federal Holidays.
And yes the National Symphony Orchestra free concert is Sunday at 8:00 on the West Lawn of the Capitol.
Have fun!