bomnana

Last minute spring trip to DC. Boys want to see Spy Museum, newseum,Smithsonian.
Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

Purpletulip

We just booked our hotel on priceline.com for Renaissance Washington DC. From the tripadvisor review, it is a very convenient location within walking distance to everything. We got a good deal, $90 per night.

nytraveler

The problem is Priceline guarantees only one bed for 2 people - so you would have to reserve 3 rooms for 6 people - unless you think 3 of you can share one double bed (some DC hotel rooms do have that). I would look at travelzoo.com and kayak to see what they have. Alsoo check out biddingfortravel.com to see the chances of getting a room for more than 2 people in different areas of DC.

LaurenKahn1

The weekend you want is Cherry Blossom Festival. Good luck.

bomnana

Thanks for replies, have found several places, State Plaza or Residence Inn have rooms for families. The boys are athletic and mom is a runner so they can take some walking. Any family friendly eating suggestions?

LaurenKahn1

There are 3 food courts in DC: Union Station (red line Metro: Union Station Metro Station), Old Post Office Pavillion (blue or orange line Metro), and Ronald Reagan Trade Center (blue or orange line Metro: Federal Triangle Station). Both the Old Post Office Pavillion and Ronald Reagan Building are at 12th and Pennsylvania Ave., NW. The Ronald Reagan Building has a better selection of food but the Old Post Office Pavillion has a tower tour. Basically, the tour is free. You go up to the top (generally NO line--unlike the Washington Monument) and you get a wonderful view. The no waiting, no line and FREE is what I like best. I am a licensed guide and will take my kid groups to the Post Office Pavillion over the Reagan Building due to the tour. These places have the usual selection of food court food.

Dinner: Dupont Circle (Red line Metro: Dupont Circle stop (exit north side) and the 7th Street, NW, corridor up from the Archives (Metro stop: Archives) have a nice selection of restaurants. You will not starve!

Glad you found a hotel room because it is Cherry Blossom Festival and that is always crunch time on rooms. Be prepared for 100's of school groups in town everywhere.

The main mall museums (Air & Space, American History and Natural History) are extending their hours to 7:30pm, but double check before you count on it.

If there is a line at the Archives, return just before they close. There is generally NO line then.

bomnana

Thanks again! Would weekend be better than weekdays to avoid school groups, maybe come up Friday eve and leave Monday morning?

tchoiniere

Just my opinion that weekends would be busier due to weekend traffic, in that you have lots of families etc in place of the school groups. With it also being Cherry Bloom season, you may not find rooms anyways

bardo1

Weekdays are definately better than weekends. Which Residence Inn location? There are a number of them. The one in Dupont is an especially nice location - not only close to Metro but especially for nearby family friendly eating options. I will wait to offer specific dining suggestions until you have a hotel booked and a rough itinerary.

bomnana

Finally found two rooms at State Plaza Hotel in Foggy Bottom, they fit our meager Budget and late start. Will arrive Sunday and leave Monday. Boys want to do Spy Museum, Zoo and and Natural History Museum. Thinking Spy Museum on Monday AM and Natural History mon. afternoon. Zoo on Tuesday AM. Or is it better to do Zoo Monday and Spy Tuesday. Thinking Monday won't have many kids.

bomnana

Sorry, I meant we would arrive Sunday at noon and leave late Tuesday.

artsbabe

Re your day to visit our zoo, I would go by the weather. There will always be lots of kids.

bardo1

The State Plaza Hotel's IMMEDIATE surrounding area is very sparse for dining options BUT there are a ton of places about 6 blocks away. It doesn't sound like a walk like should be a problem for your family.

One MUST is Breadline it's on Penn. Ave between 17th and 18th. Note it is only open weekdays and is open for for breakfast and lunch only. You might combine it with a visit to the White House/Lafayette Square.

http://thebreadlinedc.blogspot.com/

Another good family option is Luigi's. In fact all of 19th St. NW between L St. and N St. has many, many choices.

http://www.famousluigis.com/

bomnana

Can you walk to Mall from State Plaza Hotel? Any other things near spy museum that we can see after our visit Mon AM. Is the newseum worth the time for young teens?

bardo1

Wher exactly are you going? The Mall is quite big - it's about 2 miles from the Capitol Bldg. to the Lincoln Memorial.

If you are heading to the Lincoln Memorial or the WWII Memorial, I would just walk from your hotel.

If you going to the Capitol or the Smithsonain Museums, then I would walk to the the Foggy Bottom Metro station and get off at the Metro at either the Smithsonian stop (for the Museums) or Capitol South (for the Capitol Bldg).

Here are some helpful maps of the areas surrounding the Foggy Bottom Metro Station, The Smithsonian Station and the Capitol South Station.

http://www.stationmasters.com/System.../foggybot.html (Stata Plaza Hotel is at bottom of map)

http://www.stationmasters.com/System.../smithson.html

http://www.stationmasters.com/System.../capitols.html

vjpblovesitaly

www.hopstop.com is a great source for walking directions.

bardo1

Nest to the Spy Museum is the Museum of American Art and the NAtional Portrait Gallery. See map below.

Also, If you taking a Blue or Orange train from Foggy Bottom, I would just get out at Metro Center (11th Street Exit) and walk the 2 blocks to the Spy Museum instead of wasting time transferring trains.

http://www.stationmasters.com/System.../gallrypl.html

Also, I would check out this place for picnic supplies or just a snack (just 1/2 block from Spy Museum. It's at 919 F Street - look for the big "Liquor" sign (leftover from a liquor store that hasn't been there for a LONG time):

http://www.cowgirlcreamery.com/

sf7307

Just a "check" - from the Lincoln Memorial to the WWII Memorial is less than a mile -- it is, however, slightly over 2 miles from the Lincoln Memorial to the Capitol Bldg.

LaurenKahn1

During the student tour season, weekends are actually better than weekends.

I generally get one student tour group per week. On weekends I am likely to do day tours of the monuments for my regular tour company (On Board Tours) during the spring student tour season.

Definitely less kids on weekend.

Once the cherry blossoms bloom, everyone wants to come--and everyone does.

erinannie

The zoo will be busy all week due to Cherry Blossoms, so the day you go won't matter.

For teenage boys I would also recommend the Newseum.

You can also call your congressional office or senator's office and ask for a guided tour of the Capitol building.