lovelee

Hello all!

I've read many forum threads on advice for Washington D.C and I know that all the wonderful fodorites will be very helpful!
This will be my family's first visit and we're going over spring break/ the cherry blossom festival. We have a 14 yr old boy and 10 yr old girl. We will be there for 10 days.
This is my personal dream vacation (yes, some of you may laugh) but we've been waiting for our kids to be old enought to truly appreciate it. I just want to see everything and soak in all the museums and history (yes, you may laugh again! I'd be very bummed to come back and hear that we missed something grand or obvious or important.

So far, i've booked the Residence Inn Capitol for the first 5 days hoping to see many of the main attractions convienently, and then the Omni Shoreham for the next 5 days hoping to do side trips to Arlington/Alexandria and even Baltimore.

I've tried to get White house tickets, but cannot actually speak to the person in charge at my congressmans office - I get her voicemail all the time. Any suggestions?

I know I definitely want to do the tourmobile's twilight tour, but would I ALSO want to do the tour during the day, right off the bat, to get to see everything quickly?

Most importantly, am I squeezing too much in with the side trips and are my hotel choices alright?

Thanks much everyone!

kath0469

I have some general suggestions, but sure that others will post with more specific ideas. First, I don't think you are trying to squeeze in too much. But I guess that depends on how much you want to see and how much time you spend at each place. As for the kids, I have a 10 year old. She loves DC, but I don't know that she could handle 10 days of history and museums. It depends on your kids, but you might want to look for something fun/kid friendly to do during the middle of the trip to break things up for them.

I'd get "The Unofficial Guide to Washington, D.C." It's available on Amazon. I've used the "unofficial" guides for travel before and found them EXTREMELY helpful.

bethsmall1

We took our kids to DC in December. It took about 6 months to get cleared for the White House and Capital. If you can't get thru to your Congressman try your Senator. The White House tour was not a big deal, it lasted about 20 minutes. The Capital tour was very cool. make sure you get gallery passes. we were able to see a senate hearing. Once you buy tour mobile tickets, you can go on anytime. When we were there they stopped running at 4:30, maybe it was a different tour service. we were there for 5 days, and saw pretty much everything. We stayed at Embassy Suites in Dupont Circle, we were pleased with the hotel and location. I loved the Washington trip. My family wasn't happy with my vacation choice. I hope your family enjoys it.

beanweb24

DC is a great city, and 10 days is plenty of time to do the things that you have mentioned.

I would recommend some more kid-friendly activities, as the museums may start to wear on them. Some suggestions: Washington Nationals baseball game, panda viewing at the zoo, Spy Museum, gargoyle hunting at the National Cathedral, ghost tour in Old Town Alexandria (not really scary, and the people who lead them dress in "period" clothing)... Visit this website for other suggestions:

www.gocitykids.com

For example, they mention that when visiting the Philips Collection you should: "Request a Family Fun Pack to enhance your family's visit to the museum. The pack features gallery activity sheets that provide families with fun, interactive looking and drawing activities for adults and children to do together. It also includes background information for adults and creative ideas for post-visit art projects, games, and puzzles for children ages six to 12."

The Washingtonian is also a great resource:

http://www.washingtonian.com/tourist_page.html

dsquared

Like Kath, I think it might be a good idea to have a kid-specific day in mind in case yours get "history'd out." If that happens, try the National Zoo, the aquarium in Baltimore or there are a couple of theme parks in northern Virginia, although they may be closed until late March/early April.

Tourmobile is great for hop-on, hop-off, but don't be afraid to use the subway, which is clean, modern, and efficient.

The National Archives often has excellent exhibits in addition to viewing the Declaration of Independence.

Julie304

One additional suggestion--try to time your visit to the tidal basin for a weekday morning (mid-week is probably best). Saturdays and Sundays during cherry blossom season can be *ridiculously* crowded, particularly if the weather is nice. For me, the corwds really take away from the experience.

Don't forget about attractions that lay outside the city proper. Mount Vernon is a terrific place to visit and your kids would probably enjoy the new Udvar-Hazy air and space wing out at Dulles airport, which is where they display the space shuttle and the concorde.

Anonymous

I like the Omni Shoreham a lot, and it's within walking distance to the zoo. On the way, you'll pass the grounds of the Marriott Wardman Park, which has wonderful displays of spring-flowering bulbs and later-blooming cherries.

I don't think you're undertaking too much, as long as you pace yourselves. Even though you have lots of time, you could still burn out if you push yourselves. When taking kids on this sort of trip, it helps to remember that there are just so many hours in a day, and ust so much that anyone can absorb. We enjoy our vacations more when we have a very flexible itinerary, and don't feel rushed; there's always the possibility that we'll find ourselves in a place that we underestimated, and decide we want to spend the rest of the day there! Be open to the possibility that one of your kids will want to spend a whole afternoon in a single exhibit. Depth is good!

Also, it's OK for the family to split up so one or two of you can go to an art museum while the others go to the Spy Museum, or whatever.

Learn all you can about what's available, and choose your own priorities. There's such a wealth of possibilities, it would be possible to spend your whole ten days on a specific theme -- presidential history, gardens, architecture, civil war . . .

Washington itself is very small in square miles, especially since almost everything of interest to tourists is in the NW section. The area is well-served by the Metro system, so Arlington and Alexandria are just subway stops, not exactly "side trips."

DownSouth

Lovelee,

You have gotten some wonderful advice especially for traveling with kids.

I was determined to take our children to Washington especially before our daughter graduated from high school. With Fodorites's help, we scheduled a trip for our then 14 year old daughter and 8 year old son last spring break.

I didn't think about how crowded DC is during spring break and the pre-Cherry Festival folks. This will slow you down so be prepared along with the security checks for each building. I would suggest buying and/or scheduling timed tickets ahead of time. I know you can do that for the Holocaust Museum which you should look into. Only my daughter and I went (splitting up is a wonderful idea; cell phones also come in very handy)and spent almost 4 hours there-we could have stayed longer.

We flew into National and stayed at the Embassy Suites in Crystal City which we liked. We met families from all over the country and the children really loved swimming in the indoor pool and playing at the pool table. The adults enjoyed the Manager's reception every afternoon after busy days and the exchange of ideas from the day of being a tourist! We picked up lots of great tips. I would highly recommend a hotel with an indoor pool area..your children will enjoy this.

A rental car company had a fabulous weekend special so we picked up a car when we landed at National. This allowed us to travel to Maryland to see friends and to Mount Vernon. We turned the car in on Tuesday morning and took a taxi to our congressman's office for the Capitol tour. I would suggest calling the local office of your representative to see if they can help put a little pressure on the DC office. It should help.

We visited many musuems and monuments that I hope the children will never forget. They were not very excited about going to Washington but upon leaving, they didn't want to go home. That made my trip. I love Washington, having grown up with parents who took me many times and I wanted them to have this same opportunity.

Keep in mind that you will not be able to see everything and plan your days with maybe 2 or 3 things that you want to do. Your children will be tired. DC city blocks are very large blocks. There is nothing wrong with sleeping in one morning and relaxing. I would try to have an indoor pool for the children, something to look forward to at the end of the day. Go to Georgetown one afternoon just to kick around - I'm sure your daughter would love the shopping.

You all will enjoy this and with a little planning, you will be creating a lasting memory for the entire family.

Anonymous

Some families and kids are really "into" having a pool; I know this becuase it often comes up on these boards in people's lists of hotel requirements.

But in all the times we've been to DC and stayed in Embassy Suites and other hotels with pools, I think my kids used one pool, once. They were always really tired at the end of the day and since we don't have cable TV at home, just vegging in front of a movie and gong to sleep early seemed just right. Something for everyone!

donco

Hi lovelee, I'm 60 so what I like might not apply but I LOVED going up the Washington Monument-great views! Start early! There used to be a pretty cool tour of the Mint and the Smithsonians are so vast, you're bound to find stuff of interest. The newest Indian one has good food I hear. If you are interested in Art, there's a Cezanne exhibit at National Gallery (a perfect time to split with the group!)-also food places there.
Agree with other posters about the Washington zoo and Baltimore's Aquarium-great fun and interesting. Try to get an advance viewing of the new Panda though. The Spy Museum is really interesting.
Enjoy and please send a report!

repete

There's plenty of good advice here.

It's pretty easy to break up the museum trek -- with or without a car.

You can boat or bus to Mount Vernon, which has lovely grounds and plenty of room to wander, including an 18th century farming area.

Both Roosevelt memorials are excellent and underrated. The FDR is a personal favorite, but the Teddy is on an isloand easily accesed from the Roslyn Metro stop. There's a bridge over a channel of the Potomac and it's a nice stroll.

It's very easy to zip out to National for a one-day car rental -- and unlike renting in the city, you're close to major highways if you want to head out of town. A nice trip is the C&O Canal and lockhouse on the Md. side. It has a small museum and trail walk to an overlook of the Great Falls of the Potomac.

Anonymous

Zip out to National for your car rental if you want, but you can also rent a car at Union Station (most of the companies have offices on the Amtrak-gates levels and cars on the garage roof) or at various offices around town.

You can often find on-street parking around the Omni if you go a block or two into the neighborhood. Most meters in DC aren't in effect on weekends.

QC

My free advice for DC:

Pack Light

Almost ALL of the top attractions in Washington now include passing through a security checkpoint. I can't tell you how many times I have seen people bring huge, bulky backpacks, etc. and try to bring them into places like the National Archives.

Bring your wallet, keys, a camera. That's it. Please.

Plan Your Days

The days of hopping from museum to museum are long gone. You need to pass through security for each one. Pick a morning attraction and an afternnon attraction. You will thank me later.

Local tip #1

Everyone needs their own Farecard on the Metro. No sharing.

Local tip #2

On Metro escalators, STAND ON THE RIGHT, WALK AND PASS ON THE LEFT. Local Washingtonians know exactly what I am talking about.

Metro

Don't ride from 8AM-9AM and from 3-5PM. It's packed like sardine cans at those times, empty the rest of the time.

Sometimes it's better outside

The Washington Monument is not worth the lines to go inside. DC's 2nd tallest structure, the Old Post Office Tower, has MUCH shorter lines, a view that's just as nice, and a food court downstairs. It's at Pennslyvania and 12th, NW.

National Archives

Go FIRST THING IN THE MORNING, when they open. It's a great visit, but it gets super crowded very quickly.

Air & Space Museum

The most visited museum in the world. 99% of the super-famous stuff is in the entrance lobby (Apollo 11, Wright Flyer, Spirit of St. Louis, etc.). Enter and look up.

Things that are always so crowded you want to slit your wrists

Air & Space Museum
Natural History Museum
National Archives
Washington Monument
Old Town Alexandria at night

Things that are awesome but never as crowded as you think

The part of American History Museum that ISN'T 1st Ladies Gowns.
Jefferson Memorial
Vietnam Veterans Memorial
Post Office Tower
Library of Congress (INCREDIBLE architecture and murals)
You home state Senator's office
Arlington Cemetery- get a 'famous graves' map.

ChristieP

I used to go to Washington when I was a kid to visit my grandparents. The things I liked the most were:
Pandas at the National Zoo
Dinosaurs at the Natural History Smithsonian
Air & Space Smithsonian


*IF* your kids would enjoy it, get tickets to the Evening Parade at the Marine Barracks. It is VERY much "pomp and circumstance" and I thought it was SO cool when my granddad took me! The Marines in their dress uniforms, the cannons, the marching band, and the bulldog!! Neat!

rb_travelerxATyahoo

Some great views other than the Washington Monument are

1- free clock tower tour at the Postal Paviion Building on Penn Ave & across street from Federal Triangle Metro stop (Blue/Orange)

2- National Cathedral (see earlier Gargoyle hunting suggestion

3- from Tomb of Unknown Soldier and Arlington House; both in Arlington Cemetary (see Arlington House, Robt E Lee's home prior to Civil War

4- Iwo Jima Monument .. from Rosslyn station which itself you kids might marvel at how high the escalator is. Only one higher than it on Metro system.

I like the National Building Museum, which almost always has a kids exhibit, often interactive

Smithsonian Postal Museum & Union Station next door.

I love DC and I love history, but I think 10 days might be too much Monuments & Museums for kids. If you start to feel the same, consider a side trip to Williamsburg or Annapolis.

In Baltimore there is also the B&O Train Museum.

enjoy!

rb_travelerxATyahoo

QC has given some great info, and I want to expand on the Metro.

You might want to get the 7 day short-trip pass for the bulk of your trip. During peak travel times (already suggested by QC that you avoid) you mus pay any fare above whatever the card limit currently is ($3.30??) but unlikely any trip would be that much.

Or you can get a 1 day pass for unlimited travel, but it's not valid before 9:30 weekdays.

But most of all, do NOT buy farecards for each trip you make. You'll spend all your time at the ticket vending machines. If you choose to "pay by the trip" instead of using unlimited trip passes, then purchase cards for each of you with $10 worth of credit on them, and add more when the balance gets low.

If you go onto eBay, Metrocheks are frequently sold for 1/2 of face value. Consider those. I like the smarttrip card, which is like a personal "EZ Pass" allowing me to go thru the turnstiles without having to insert a farecard in the slot. It cost me $5 for this convenience, but I visit DC for long weekends several times a year. Might be worthwhile if you can eBay one.

wsoxrebel

If you are not from an urban area, let the kids plan your Metro stops. It will empower them and be a great adventure.

KathrynT

Dear lovelee,

I think you and your family will have a wonderful trip. We took our 16 and 13 year old kids last summer and they loved DC even in the heat. I think spring break will be a great time to go.

Can you email your congressman through their website? Also, you can get tickets through either of your Senators or your House rep. Be sure to book a Capitol tour as well as trying for a White House tour.

The Omni Shoreham looks like it has lovely grounds and I'm sure your kids will enjoy relaxing there. I don't know anything about the Residence Inn but you can check out the reviews at tripadvisor.com.

We didn't have as much time as you will but I think my kids' favorite sights were: the monuments (be sure to book ahead to go up the Washington Monument), Ford's Theatre, the Capitol, the National Archives, the Library of Congress, the Smithsonian American History (unamimous museum favorite), the Natural History and Air & Space Museums. (We were unable to get a White House tour as it was closed to tourists the day we had requested - something to return for!)

I would say my kids were less thrilled with: the Supreme Court, the Spy Museum, the American Indian Museum, the Hirschorn and the National Gallery of Art (well, my daughter liked it but my son didn't.)

After leaving Washington, we drove to and visited Mt. Vernon which we enjoyed. On a different trip, my brother and his family took a boat trip to Mt. Vernon from DC which they really liked. I believe it took most of the day but it was one of their highlights.

We didn't take the tourmobile tour but, in retrospect, wish we had done the night tour of the monuments (we tried it on foot.) However, I have heard that during busy times of the day there can be quite a long wait for the daytime tourmobile so I might skip that since you'll have plenty of time in DC. The Metro was very easy to use, quick and convenient. I was also tempted to try the "Bike the Sights" night tour but we ended up not opting for it.

Also, be sure to rent the movie "National Treasure" before you leave. Your kids will enjoy the National Archives more having seen the movie. I think you might have to get tickets in advance to see the pandas at the zoo which I bet your kids would like.

There is so much to do in DC that it I think it is impossible to do it all. We ended up picking out our priorities and then adding other sights in as we could fit them in. We'll just have to go back again sometime to try and see more.

Hope this helps. Have a great trip!

KathrynT

Oops, forgot to mention Arlington Cemetery was also a hit.

You might want to consider just staying at the Omni so you won't have to spend a good portion of one day packing up, moving, and unpacking. (They might even give you a discount for such a long stay.) Just a thought...

allison04

In case you don't already have it, www.wmata.com is the Metro (subway) website, and it has a helpful map you can click on.

I live on the edge of Old Town Alexandria and love it. If you go, plan a trip to the Torpedo Factory Art Center, which is kid- and adult-friendly, and it's right on the Potomac River.

The monuments I always tell people to see, because I think they're the most powerful, are the Lincoln and the Vietnam. Also, your idea of visiting at least some of them at night is a good one because of how crowded they might be during the day during Cherry Blossom time. (Plus, they're beautiful, and entirely different, at night.)

If I were you, I probably wouldn't want to do side trips to all 3 places you mentioned. Alexandria and Arlington are a lot quicker to get to than Baltimore. But if that doesn't bother you, Annapolis is a great little historic town on the water (I personally think it has more charm/character than Baltimore).

Have fun!