Woodbridge, VA/ Washington 2023
Register here to let us know you are coming: Liberty Call Woodbridge Sign Up
Liberty calls are informal gatherings where we meet up at other Navy ports and interesting locations. There are no formal events or tours scheduled, usually. For this liberty call because of the size and scope of the things to see in DC, we did look into charter tours, but the price was prohibitive.
We recommend either driving into each area to tour the sights or taking the train. There is a station not far from the hotel and we are gathering the information for that service and will provide it to you before you arrive. We also have a possible small, veteran-owned transport service that may be available to provide drop-off and pick-up service for those who don't have vehicles. If you can room in your vehicle, please let us know. Last libery call in Oceanside/San Diego, we had so many people with vehicles that everyone ride-shared. We will send out a questionnaire in advance of the liberty call to determine who is flying, driving, has transport, and needs rides.
Hotel Information
Hilton Garden Inn Woodbridge
2500 Neabsco Common Place, Woodbridge, VA 22191
The group hotel rate code has been released by the host hotel and you can reserve your room now! It's an awesome $98/night per diem rate and it is going to sell out so make your reservations now. It requires a credit card hold and you can cancel up until the day before arrival if something comes up.
The group code is RTC. Go on to www.hilton.com and enter Woodbridge, VA and the exact dates of JUNE 25-30, 2023. Enter RTC under group code then search. We have two reserved hotels on the same property. The Hilton Garden Inn Woodbridge & the Homewood Suite Woodbridge. Reserve now. There's only 30 holds per property.
Nearest Airport & Transfers
The closest airport to our hotel in Woodbridge, VA is DCA- Ronald Reagan Washington Nationa.l. There are many options for airport transfers. Here is one- make sure you let them know you are with the RTC Navy Reunion: Airport Transfer Quote
June 25-30, 2023
Sightseeing Schedule
Day 1
Monument Walking Tour in the morning
Attractions: 8
Duration: about 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.2 Miles for all 8 attractions
Sight(s) Featured:
Washington Monument
World War II Memorial
Vietnam Veterans Memorial
Lincoln Memorial
Additional Memorials that you might like to see
(these are further to walk to) are:
Korean War Veterans Memorial
Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial
Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial
Thomas Jefferson Memorial
Ford’s Theater is located 511 10th St NW and the Petersen House, 516 10th St NW
Approximately 2 – 3 hours
Advance Tickets Recommended
Get Tickets at Ford’s Theatre
Admission is $3.50 pp
Tickets to visit Ford’s Theatre and Museum through May 31, 2023, are now on sale. Their visitation schedule varies from week to week; be sure to check their calendar when planning your visit.
They have timed-entry every half hour. The Theatre is not included in every ticket. Certain entries only include visits to the Petersen House and Aftermath Exhibits.
(An Acoustiguide is an additional $5/guide. This pre-recorded audio tour provides additional content and historical background. Youth and adult versions available)
The Navy Memorial is located at 701 Pennsylvania Ave.
The Visitor Center tells the story of the American Sailor -- past, present, and future -- and honors, recognizes, and celebrates the men and women of the Sea Services. Through engaging and interactive exhibits, multimedia experiences, and over 740,000 stories of service the Visitor Center inspires and informs thousands of visitors each year of the rich history and heritage of the United States Navy.
Outside they have the Lone Sailor statue, the first one in the country.
The White House is located 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW.
For tour tickets you will need to get in contact with your Congressperson and request them. Start 3 months early to 21 days before arriving. Tours are from 8- 12:30pm, Monday thru Friday. (McPherson Square stop is close to the White House.)
U.S. Capitol Building is located at 1st Street SE
We must be a group of 15 or more to book the U.S. Capital Building tour, we need to pick a time and I can get up to 66 tickets for our group. For an additional $12 you can add lunch in the cafeteria. Must be pre-paid.
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Other points of interest:
Washington National Cathedral is located 3101 Wisconsin Avenue NW
Admission Tickets
Adults (18+): $15
Youth (5-17): $10
Kids under 5: Free
$10 for seniors, students, active military and veterans (*ID required)
Worship services and private prayer are free of charge. Learn more about our worship services.
Library of Congress is located 101 Independence Avenue SE
Every Library of Congress visitor must reserve timed-entry passes in order to maintain safe capacity levels in the Thomas Jefferson Building.
Day 2
Smithsonian Institute Museums
Admission: FREE
In between the Washington Monument and the U.S. Capital Building is where you will find all the museums for the Smithsonian Institute. Pick and choose the museums you would, like to see. There is over 150 million artifacts on display.
•African American Museum
•African Art Museum
•Air and Space Museum
•Air and Space Museum Udvar-Hazy Center
•American Art Museum
•American History Museum
•American Indian Museum
•American Indian Museum New York
•Archives of American Art
•Freer Gallery of Art
•Hirshhorn
•National Zoo
•Natural History Museum
•Portrait Gallery
•Postal Museum
•Renwick Gallery
•Sackler Gallery
The Smithsonian has its own Metro stop on the Orange and Blue lines
Maps, location and hours are in the links below
https://www.si.edu/visit/hours
Hungry???? There are many food trucks located around the museums!!!
Food trucks can be located on the National Mall usually lined up on 14th Street near the Washington Monument and 7th Street near the museums. The best thing about eating at food trucks is that there's usually a pretty good variety. So, everybody in your family or group can usually find something that makes them happy.
Day 3
Military women’s Memorial and Arlington national cemetery
Military Women’s Memorial is located Memorial Avenue, Schley Drive, Arlington National Cemetery entrance. Established in 1997, this neoclassical memorial honors women who have served in the US military.
The Military Women’s Memorial is accessible via Metrorail Blue Line. There is no access via Metrobus.
Parking is available at the Arlington National Cemetery Visitor Center parking facility located on Memorial Avenue.
Limited handicap-accessible parking is available on Memorial Avenue in front of the Memorial. While such parking is not guaranteed, requests may be made by emailing memorial@womensmemorial.org at least 48 hours in advance of your visit.
Security Screening
Visitors of the Military Women’s Memorial must go through Arlington National Cemetery security screening. Security screening provisions are as follows:
All visitors 16 years and older (pedestrians, drivers and passengers) must present a valid photo identification.
Visitors 18 years of age and older must present a valid U.S. state or federal government-issued photo identification for entry.
Visitors 16 & 17 years old who do not have a U.S. state or federal government-issued photo identification may present an official school-issued photo identification for entry.
Persons who are not U.S. citizens must present a valid passport or U.S. State Department-issued photo identification for entry
Arlington national cemetery
Admission is free to walk the grounds.
ANC is open daily from 8am-5pm. | Phone: 877-907-8585
Approximately 2-3 hours
Arlington tours pricing (non walking tour)
https://www.arlingtontours.com
General Admission Tickets
Adults: $19.50
Children (Ages 4-12): $10.75
Seniors (Ages 65+): $15.00
Military & Veterans*
in Uniform Free
Adults: $8.75
(with Valid Military ID)
Children (Ages 4-12): $5.25
*Pricing for Active Military applies to each family member - limit of four. Pricing for active Veterans applies to each guest - limit one. Children under 4 are FREE.
Group Tours
Adults: $15.50
Children (Ages 4-12): $9.00
https://www.arlingtoncemetery.mil/Visit/Map-of-ANC
Hop on hop off is $20 at the cemetery.
On this hop-on hop-off trolley, visit the most notable graves and memorials, and learn about the cemetery’s history from an onboard guide. Board the hop-on hop-off trolley at any of the designated sites (see below for a list of stops). Hop off to explore sites by foot and pay homage to America’s fallen heroes. Visit the Eternal Flame, where President John F. Kennedy is laid to rest beside his wife, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis.
Your hop-on hop-off pass is valid for one full loop, letting you take in the poignancy of Arlington National Cemetery at a relaxed pace. Trolleys depart regularly throughout the day or you can stay on for the whole loop. You may board the trolley at any of the following stops:
• US Marine Corps War Memorial
• President John F. Kennedy Gravesite
• US Coast Guard Memorial
• General John J. Pershing Gravesite
• Memorial Amphitheater
• Robert E. Lee Memorial
Other notable memorials
• Audie Murphy
•Space Shuttle Challenger and Columbia Memorials
• Grave of ‘Gunny’ R. Lee Ermey
Arlington National Cemetery Tour
4 Stops with 6 Points of Interest
Operating Schedule: Open daily from 9:00am - 4:00pm
Duration of Tour: 30 minutes
Last tour departs at 4:00pm
Memorial Amphitheater, inside the Arlington House and Iwo Jima remain closed to the public.
1- Arlington National Cemetery Welcome Center
2- President John F. Kennedy Gravesite
3- The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and Memorial Amphitheater are currently closed for renovations
4- Arlington House, The Robert E. Lee Memorial
The Arlington House is currently closed, but the grounds are open
Points of interest passed by on this route: Arlington National Cemetery, Military Women's Memorial, U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial, Arlington House - The Robert E. Lee Memorial, & John F. Kennedy Gravesite
Day 4
Close to Woodbridge, VA
Mount Vernon
3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Hwy, Mt, Vernon, VA 22121
General George Washington’s home is 11 miles from Woodbridge VA. Military members can get a discount from ID.me. The cost is $26 to get on the grounds and there is additional charges for other tours you have to make a reservation. For more info
Manassas National Battlefield Park
Virginia
Admission is FREE
(Civil War Battlefield Bull Run)
6511 Sudley Road
Manassas, VA 20109
is 23 miles from the hotel
Begin your visit to the Park at the Henry Hill Visitor Center. Here, you can pick up a park brochure, trail guide, or learn about the daily schedule of interpretive programs. A museum features artifacts related to the First and Second Battles of Manassas as well as a 6-minute electronic map showing the troop movements during the first battle.
Walking tours of the fighting on Henry Hill during the First Battle of Manassas begin here daily at 11:00am and 2:00pm.
National Zoo
You must reserve passes prior to visiting
3001 Connecticut Avenue NW
To get there, take the red line
U Street is the birthplace of celebrated DC hero, jazz musician Duke Ellington. P Today, this section of the city is as vibrant as ever, anchored by the lively 14th Street corridor to the west and the refurbished Howard Theatre bordering the Shaw neighborhood to the east, where a towering sculpture in reverence to Ellington stands.
Food is eclectic and exciting. One of the best ways to experience the food in the neighborhood is on a Forks Food Tour. From soul food to Italian to the world-famous Ben’s Chili Bowl and its signature half-smoke sausage.