headed to sterling, va this saturday

PaengBonafe · 07-15-2008, 08:23 PM

Hi guys,

i know there are a lot of NoVa pentaxians in this forum. so i am headed to sterling on thursday and head back to Nor Cal on sunday. i may only have saturday as my free time.
any ideas what i can squeeze in for a day? this is my first time in VA so i was thinking of the smithsonian and capitol hill. but would definitely be open for suggestions. thanks!

cheers!
raphael

*mel* · 07-16-2008, 05:25 AM

If you have only one day and have never been to this area, I would definitely hit the mall (Capitol Mall not shopping mall). You'll have everything that is DC-ish there: Monuments, museums, government buildings nearby, a wide range of interesting people. I'd start at one end then work my way down to the other. You'll be exhausted by the time you get there, especially if you hit the museums along the way. Then if you parked a car, lucky you will get to walk all the way back.

Have fun!

MRRiley · 07-16-2008, 04:47 PM

Mel hit the important points on the head. One thing I would suggest though is to take the Metro (subway) into town. Park at the Vienna Metro Station and take the Orange Line in to the Smithsonian Station. This is about halfway between the Lincoln Memorial on the west end and the Capitol building on the east end. When you are done, just jump back on the Metro and take the Orange line back to Vienna (dont take the blue line... it goes southwest). Either way you do it (car or Metro) you will be doing a LOT of walking...

One sight to see if you want to walk a little farther (or even take the Metro there) is Union Station. Very picturesque.

*cardinal43* · 07-16-2008, 05:00 PM

You must have made someone mad if you have to go to Sterling, Va.

Just kidding. Mel & Mike have given you some very good places to visit. About the only thing I can add is to wear very comfortable shoes, and don't buy any of those crappy 3 for $10 T-shirts.

MRRiley · 07-17-2008, 12:08 PM

Oh... Arlington National Cemetary is a moving place to visit with many photographic possibilities among them the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers. Convenient metro stop on the Blue line (one stop south of Rosslyn).

Also the National Air and Space Museum's Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center is out at Dulles. It has the Enterprise (Space Shuttle Prototype) and an SR-71 among other cool aircraft. This would be a good destination if you have a couple of hours free in the evening.

PaengBonafe · 07-17-2008, 04:34 PM

thanks mel & mike!

too bad i only have a day of free time to do some shooting..