Hi I want to go on a trip to Washington, any ideas?

Plz don't tell me white house and all that, suggest something local. An itenarary of a trip would be ideal. Thank-you

All right so in reponse to julie travel caster: I like the idea of the spy museum and the portrait museum. Im also a sports fan so anything that has to do with that would be great. Also, is it possible to get a tour of the white house?hope this helps.:)

Suggest you check out our podcast, or post some of your interests. We've been doing a podcast of local tours for two years - know a lot - but we need to know your interests. I'll watch this question and edit this answer when you've given it.

In the meantime.

The Smithsonian - it's hard to argue with world class museums on every topic. If you want to get away from the big ones - then I suggest some of the little known Smithsonian Museums. The National Portrait Gallery and National Museum of American Art. The Renwick Gallery, with American Arts and Crafts. The Postal Museum (surprisingly interesting - though geared a bit toward kids), the Freer and Sackler Gallery (Asian Art), the Museum of African Art, and my favorite, the Anacostia Museum, a tiny museum (you can easily visit the whole thing in two hours) in Anacostia that talks about the culture and history of this historic neighborhood.

While in Anacostia also visit the Victorian Era Frederick Douglas Historical Site. This great American was born a slave, escaped, became an Abolitionist, and eventually advisor to 5 presidents and Ambassador to Haiti. He's really a fascinating self-taught Renaissance Man. Anacostia really defines local.

In non-Smithsonian Museums (there are many) some of the ones that are best include the National Holocaust Memorial Museum and the Spy Museum (the latter is not free).

I also have to recommend the National Cathedral, and Hillwood Museum and Gardens (especially in the spring and fall) Marjorie Merriweather Post owned this house, one of three she owned, and it has become a museum highlighting her collection of French and Russian Art. The Gardens are particularly beautiful in the Spring and Fall, because that was when she lived in Washington.

If you want to get even more local, in DC visit a neighborhood. You can do a walking tour of Georgetown (there is one on our site in two parts) and see where the Kennedy's lived, both before and after JFK's presidency, as well as the oldest house in Washington, many colonial and Victorian area landmarks, and the history of this little town. You finish up at Georgetown University and the Stairs made famous in the film, "The Exorcist."

Another great neighborhood is the U-Street Shaw neighborhood. Here you can walk in the footsteps of Duke Ellington, back when this was Black Broadway, see where the riots broke out when Martin Luther King was shot, and remember the black soldiers in the Civil War at their own memorial.

Visit Adams Morgan and Chinatown, also (we have walking tours of all these neighborhoods on our site) as well as the Southwest waterfront area for some local color.

In Virginia there are a couple of cities/towns close in with a lot to offer. Falls Church (no walking tour on our site, but we are planning one soon), Vienna, and the City of Fairfax have much to offer, as well as Arlington (no tour) and Alexandria (two tours, one of the history, one a pub crawl). In addition you can visit the incredible beauty of Great Falls Park, or the history of Mt. Vernon (George Washington's home) or the less known Gunston Hall (home of George Mason, the Rodney Dangerfield of the Founding fathers. Listen to our podcast to see why I say that!).

On the Maryland side, visiting the Goddard space flight center gives a little bit of the working side of NASA, but it is somewhat geared for kids. It's worth the visit just to see the photos of space. Also the C and O Canal regional park, sister to Great Falls on the Maryland side.

That's a start. There is more once you tell me what you are interested in. THEN I can give you a real itinerary.

I will send itinerary later this week -- I have too many plans today. Report It

I really enjoyed the library of congress I also enjoyed exploring useing the Metro - wherever 2 lines crossed - we would get off and go up and we always found some great eats and fun shops.

If you want to go to any of the Museums and don't want to spend forever you can ask at the desk for a map for a short tour. That way you can go straight to the Monet's if you want to. Or just hit the higlights. I found most all of the bigger locations had something for those tourists just having and hour or 2 to fill.