voyager61

RE-posting with D.C. in headline:

We're leaving in about a month for Washington, D.C., and want to order as many tickets as we can ahead of time on-line. We are hoping to go to Mount Vernon, the National Museum of the American Indian, Holocaust Museum, Spy Museum and FBI tour, probably others. Which of these is it best/possible to order ahead of time? Other tips very welcome.

Also we are staying at the Embassy Suites on 22nd; restaurant recommendations nearby?

Thanks for all your help!

beentheretwice

Of the places you have listed, I know you definitely want to get tickets for the Holocaust Museum. They aren't necessary for Mt. Vernon. I can't speak to the Spy or FBI sites.

If you intend to go to the Monument, you will want to get tickets for that, too.

LLindaC

My children especially loved the Old Town trolley tour at night. Great way to see the sites...plus extremely entertaining.

tchoiniere

Definitely need them for the Spy Museum as well. Do they still do tours of the FBI building? Thought they had stopped them.

Anonymous

The FBI hasn't given tours in years.

American Indian, like all the Smithsonians, doesn't require tickets.

Even if it's possible to get tix to Mt. Vernon in advance, I'd wait and see how the weather works out, and choose to go on a day that's as cool and dry as possible.

denice7

I believe they are all sold through Ticketmaster.com so just go to that site and plug in dc and it will show you what tourist attractions are available on line. I know there used to be the Washington Monument and the SPy Museum. Don't know about the rest.

Momof3boys

Believe Washington Monument timed tickets actually sold through the nat'l park service. Maybe wait until 10 days out and ck weather and order tickets then. I think you will have plenty of time. I've been to the Holocaust 4-5 times and have always walked in w/o a wait - not crowded as yrs ago. However, you do not want to be shut out of your favorites so recommend you follow your advice and reserve tickets for maybe 1 activity/day and fill in rest of day w/ other sights.

longhorn55

Mount Vernon--Tickets are not sold online. Must be purchased at Mount Vernon.

National Museum of the American Indian--No ticket needed.

Holocaust Museum--NO PASSES are necessary for entering the Museum building, special exhibitions, the interactive Wexner Learning Center, and other Museum resources. Even if you cannot get Permanent Exhibition passes for the day you want to come, we invite you to visit and take advantage of the Museum's many other learning opportunities. Find out what's inside.
FREE TIMED PASSES are necessary for visiting the Permanent Exhibition — The Holocaust — and can be obtained at the Museum on the day of your visit or in advance by calling tickets.com at (800) 400–9373. Each day, the Museum distributes on a first–come first–served basis a large but limited number of timed entry passes for use that same day.

International Spy Museum--Admission is by timed ticket. If you will be here several days, you can stop by the museum to buy a ticket a day or so in advance. However, if your time here is limited, I would order the tickets online because they can sell out entire days, especially during holidays and summer days. Check their website for more info.

FBI--No tours any longer.

All of the websites for these attractions have good information on acquiring tickets, ticket prices, opening hours, etc.

jent103

I'd definitely book ahead for the Holocaust museum if you can. I was there a couple of months ago and waited too long to book online. We managed to get tickets for the Permanent Exhibition at 3:45 on a Friday, but only made it through half before the museum closed. I went back the next Wednesday and they had no tickets left. Granted, I was there during spring break season when DC was flooded with school groups, but I do wish I'd been able to see all of the exhibition. (However, the rest of the museum is excellent, even if you can't get the timed passes.)

voyager61

Thank you, thank you for all the good advice. This is very helpful. I will be posting a prosed itinerary for the trip in a day or two.

deladeb

Allow at least 3 hours for Mount Vernon, very nice new visitor center. Get there early and tour house first. Double check to make sure FBI is open...was closed for remodeling a year ago. Get Holocaust tickets in advance. Don't need advance tickets for Smithsonian (including American Indian Museum-good variety of food at this museum) Definitely walk 15 minutes from Amer Indian Museum (uphill and behind Capital Bldg) to visit the Library of Congress....it is beautiful!!! Have a great time!