DC, nothing but history???

While the museums do have a lot of history - there is also a lot of stuff that is just fun to look at.

But I would definitely recommend taking them to the International Spy Museum. It isn't cheap but my kids LOVED it. Actually, DH and I loved it too.

Mt Vernon is quite nice and while there is a lot of "history" in the tour of the house, the grounds are really nice to walk around.

You could spend days in the Smithsonian & the many diffreing types of items should keep even your 16 year old interested. Annapolis is also a cool little city.

What about the Zoo, Nationals game? There is a ton to do besides museums.

You could go to Union Station and catch a 1 hr Marc commuter train (Camden line) to Baltimore. At Baltimore, the Inner Harbor is fun for shopping and food and outdoor performers, and the National Aquarium right at the harbor is wonderful. IMO, the Aquarium would be a great break for all of you. Check it out online.

http://www.mtamaryland.com/index.cfm

http://www.aqua.org/

Take your kids to the Holocaust Museum. There is a way to tour from a child's perspective. It's an important part of history and should be able to convey the import of knowing about "history".

BTW~your post made me smile. Two friends each took their teens to Paris and Mexico. The comments went (In Paris)" why do we have to just walk around?" In Mexico: "there is nothing to eat here but Mexican food!"

Is there a commuter train into Annapolis, as well?

No. You have to drive to Annapolis. A fun thing there we did when our kids were younger was take the boat tour from the main dock. I think the tour of the Kennedy Center might be fun, but of course I'm all about the arts!

There used to be a book (probably still exists) about things to do in DC with kids. Maybe you could get it from Amazon...?

I don't think there is commuter rail to Annapolis, but others will correct me if I'm wrong.

How about renting bikes and biking the Mount Vernon Trail, stopping along the way to watch planes take off and land at National Airport? The C&O Canal Path barge rides (seasonal schedule) and IMAX movie theaters at the Air & Space and Natural History also come to mind.

When we see a performance at the Kennedy Center, we make a point to go to the roof terrace for the view, weather permitting, and it never fails to delight. The guided tour is fine--a little bit of JFK and Center history, plus a peek into the theaters.

Are they boys?? girls??

I always recommend the Smithsonian's Udvar-Hazy out next to Dulles Airport - it offers a lot planes, space shuttles and things kids would like. Makes for a great afternoon.

There is also a Six Flags park in Largo Md very convenient to the Metro and a great place for kids for the day.

Another idea would be to take the cruise down the Potomac to Mount Vernon - real special for kids (and grownups).

Then if you have perhaps two days - rent a car - head east on route 50 thru Maryland and in about 4 hours you'll be in Ocean City where a great beach is located with boardwalk.

If you decide not to go that far - stop at Annapolis about an hour outside of DC and enjoy the Naval Academy and all the great tourism and restaurants there. Sorry - there's no subway to Annapolis.

The Washington Zoo on Connecticut Ave (right off the Metro) is one of the best zoos in the country IMHO - very enjoyable to adults and kids.

Then if I still had time - I would head to Union Station and take the Marc up to Baltimore and see the National Aquarium cause it's usually spectacular.

Some people include the FBI tour, Bureau of Engraving tour (printing money) the Holocaust. I don't generally recommend these for children. The interest level seems to wane on the first too and, sorry if I offend some, the Holocaust can be rough on youngsters - I prefer to take adults. Just my opinion folks.

Some people include the FBI tour, Bureau of Engraving tour (printing money) the Holocaust. I don't generally recommend these for children.

FWIW (obviously, every kid is different), it seems to me kids like the Bureau of Engraving more than adults do, and my kids loved the FBI tour (do they still give tours?). The main part of the Holocaust Museum is not appropriate for the 6-year old, but there is a special children's exhibit. My kids also enjoyed Mount Vernon (house, ok, but grounds especially).

Oh, what about Ford's Theatre?

sf7307-no six year old. It's six days in DC, ages are 10 and 16.

I think your kids would really enjoy the Smithsonian. Take time to look at information on what each museum offers and let them choose what they would like to see. These ages are old enough to take an active role in planning the trip. The Air and Space Museum is a hit with almost everyone. And the Natural History Museum has something for everyone, from the dinosaurs to the Hope Diamond. The National Zoo is good. The monuments will probably interest them more than you think. The scale of these sights makes them more impressive in person.

The main attractions are fairly close together but there will still be lots of walking involved in seeing DC. Be sure you all wear comfortable shoes. I hope they each have a camera or video camera. They are more likely to be engaged if they are recording their trip to share with friends back home. Have a great trip!

If they are boys they would love the NRA museum.

Do they like soccer? Take them to a DC United game. If the weather is nice, they might enjoy a ride on the DC ducks.

http://www.dcducks.com/

Museums do not equal history. How about Air and Space? Natural history? the zoo? A Nationals game? Or Orioles if the former is too depressing. I think there are also boat rides on the Potomac.

BTW, there haven't been tours of the FBI for years.

We just got back from 4 days of monuments and museums in DC with an 11 and a 13 year old and as we were driving away from the hotel they were planning what they wanted to see on their next trip - including the 11 year old who claims not to like museums! Each kid is different, but don't assume your kids will be bored by the museums - DC is a fabulous place to visit with this age kids! I second the vote for Spy Museum - that was one of their favorites. We spent over 3 hours there. Museum of American History is also great and has lots of exhibits reflecting popular culture. There are great IMAX films at Air and Space. You could take a bus to Georgetown for shopping, restaurants or to walk around campus. The National Archives has many interactive exhibits (not what you'd expect - it's not only about seeing the Declaration of Independence, although that is pretty fantastic!). If they (or you) have any interest in art the National Sculpture Garden is terrific and a beautiful outdoor setting. There's also a great little quirky art museum across from the White House - unfortunately the name escapes me but it's a craft museum and the name starts with an "R". We loved it and we are not particularly art-y people. Most of the museums are free (but not Spy Museum) so you can go in, see what you like, leave when you've had enough. My #1 recommendation is to take your bikes - it is hands down the best way to get around the Mall and is fun for the kids (and you!). And don't miss going to the monuments at night. It's beautiful and a very different feel. Have fun!

I should also add that my 13 year old was in DC recently with her school, and many of the museums that she said were "boring" on her school trip she loved when we went as a family. With the school, most of her friends raced through the exhibits and never read anything or really understood what they were looking at, then rushed on to the gift shop (so, of course, since her friends were doing that, she did the same - she's 13, right?). With our family, when we took the time to really read and learn about what we saw, she loved it.

I will recommend one of the parades described here:
http://www.mbw.usmc.mil/

Visit Arlington Cemetery, with the eternal flame, changing of the guard at the tombe of the unknowns.

The Spy Museum is a great idea.

I think that a tour of the KC would be boring.

Not too far from DC is Great Falls of the Potomac. It is a National park service facility with hiking trails along the C&O canal. Some locks etc., a place where the kids could get some energy run off and if it has been wet, the falls are fantastic.

There are buses to Annapolis. I know people who commute to the District from there. Naval Academy and nice waterfront.

CGS said above -----'There's also a great little quirky art museum across from the White House - unfortunately the name escapes me but it's a craft museum and the name starts with an "R".'


That would be the Smithsonian's Renwick, a branch of the American Art Musuem and one of the city's lesser-known gems.
http://americanart.si.edu/renwick/
It has a beautiful collection of crafts (glass, basketry, textile, wood) in a fabulous late-19th century mansion.

Get them high!

Go to the top of the Washington Monument

OR

the bell tower of the Old Post Office Building

for some fantastic views of the city.

FYI, if you are going up the Washington Monuments, tickets are almost sold out for the month (based on my try yesterday, 1 out of the 6 days we are going to be there had availability)so get your tickets ahead of time.

Meant to add that I agree with the suggestion of a trip to the Inner Harbor in Baltimore. The Aquarium is great, Camden Yards is a great park. These would balance out the trip between history and just plain fun. The Maritime Museum (while another museum) has a submarine, Coast Guard Cutter and an old sailship that you could tour.

Take the metro (subway) - you can even pop across the river to Arlington Cemetary - and easily spend half a day there. The metro has many stops in DC proper, and heads out to the suburbs too. It is quite an interesting adventure and the transportation is fast, and inexpensive.

Another thought is that the national park service runs a tourbus on the mall which you can hop on and off of as much as you like during that day. The bus does a giant loop around the mall, pointing out interesting and lesser known things that you might miss on your own. They also run a bus to Arlington Cemetary, where you transfer to another bus within the cemetary that points out landmarks and points of interest.

I agree with those who wrote visit the Old Post Office tower - great views of DC, and there is a food court at the lower floor for quick refreshments.

Do the holicost museum - it is a sobering reminder of man's inhumanity to man - but we need to see history in this tangible way. The kids perspective is very interesting. You may have to buy advanced tickets.

ESPNZone restaurant. Took my son last summer when he was 14, and he absolutely loved it. Three floors with the bottom floor being all gaming. The food was quite good, not outrageously priced, and there is a coupon in one of the tourist booklets that gives you a $5 game card for free with the purchase of the hamburger platter.

Lots of good information is available on the web, google kids and Washington DC for tons of sites. This one looked good:
http://www.thedistrict.com/takethekids.html

My 12 year old loved the Spy Museum and going to the top of the Washington Monument.

I did take her to the holocaust museum and while she did not appreciate it as much as I did - I am glad I took her. The more brutal video footage and photos are done in a way that you have to lean over the watch them - so if you did not feel it appropriate for your children you could move forward and not have them see it. I feel like PamSF does though - it is important.

The double decker buses are great. The last time i was there they offered a 2 day pass for around $30.00. The bus had stops in Georgetown, adjacent to the Zoo, Union station, the Smithsonian, Arlington. and all of the mall monuments. We rode on the upper deck in Janurary and had a blast.