Anyone else doing the ride in DC this year? This will be my first time so I was looking for some suggestions on things to do or not to do? Is it better to get there extremely early or not? Any info you can provide would be great!

 

Friday night is the candlelight vigil at the Wall. There are six (?) or more Smithsonian's to see. If you are into aircraft the BIG Air and space museum out near Dulles is something to see. Port Washington HD has an event on Saturday also.

 

We ride out every year rain or shine. Watch the parade and show our support.
I spend as litle time in DC as possible!

 

I'll agree with the first poster who mentioned the candlelight vigil held on friday night at the wall. Couple of years ago they had a bagpiper playing "Amazing Grace' and then a bugler playing "Taps" Both were off in a treeline and you could not hear either, just thos haunting sounds. Thunder alley for the vendors is very near the wall. Ft. Washington and Patriot HD as well as most of the dealerships close by have weekend events and escorted rides to the Pentagon.

Museums, monuments, people watching and Arlington cemetary, if you haven't been, you need to go. Adviec - take the tourmobile at Arlington, it's quicker, you get good info on the cemetary and the cemetary is built on a big hill. changing of the guard you must see. The marine Corp Memorial (Iwo Jima Statue), Fords theater. Get tickets for the White House tour. Holocaust Museum bummed me out, Most of the stuff in DC is free but some times you need a ticket just for times. The national cathedral and national Zoo are close together and neat.

We like to get our picture sitting in the Einstein statue lap near the wall at the Academy of Science. You're pretty safe in the downtown mall area but watch yourself otherwise. Watch where you park, the cops have gotten very free about giving out tickets for illegal parking.

Finally, if you are going to ride the parade on Sunday, either join an escorted ride or go to the Pentagon early, like 8 or so. Take snacks and water and find a shady spot on the grass to lay down. First bike rolls at 12, sometimes the last bike rolls around 3 or 4. Enjoy the ride and remember to thank a vet.

 

If you have never been, do so, it is a memorable experience. I am a member of RT, and this is our big protest…not a parade. We are protesting the way our government is treating our vets, and we want ALL POW/MIA personnel home.
The Pentagon parking lot fills up quickly, so if you want to get out early, arrive early. As I mentioned, I am with Rolling Thunder and we arrive around 06:00 so we are sure to get out somewhat early. Private groups leave after all RT, Nam Vets, PG and so on. Depending on where you are staying like what Red N Gold mentioned, the dealers in the area (2) have groups riding in. I believe they are escorted. My buddy in MD joins a group of around 5 thousand bikes, and they are escorted all the way. It is quite the experience. Word has it; we almost had a million bikes last year.
Be Safe!

 

Thanks for all the suggestions guys, really looking forward to it. We will be staying in Virginia. Hope to get to see as much as possible.

 

I will be in Quantico for a meeting on Saturday. My friend lives and works there and went last year and said it was quite a sight to see all the bikes. As advised get there early bring water and snacks and be prepared to wait a while. Those parking lots turn into an oven when the sun comes out. Enjoy your ride.

 

Unless you really, really want to show your support to the Vietnam vets, I would recommend not going.
It's a friggin zoo.
Go to DC on any other day and see everything, not just the back end of the bike in front of you or the parking lot where you'll be trapped for hours and hours waiting for traffic to clear enough so you can make a mad dash to sanity.
No matter when you go though, STAY OUTTA SOUTHEAST DC!!!!
If you find yourself on Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., RUN LIKE THE WIND!
Oh yeah, the 4th of July is a pretty good weekend to stay away too. For obvious reasons.
Trust me, I've lived around here for 46 years and have been paying attention for at least half that.

 

Is it "REALLY" that bad? I figured it would be crowded and stuff but thought I'd just like to do it once.

 

No, it's not that bad. You need to go. As you said, it will be an experience of a lifetime even if you never go back. The worst part of it is sitting in the Pentagon parking lot for 5-6 hours, but lot's of cool bikes to see, especially the tribute bikes. Bring a hat, sunscreen, food, camera, and water.

Enjoy.