I see and have ridden in minivan taxis in DC which will accommodate your group. I've called for one for myself & others to be picked up at a hotel. I think your issue will be getting a large enough car when you all are on the run touring the city. More likely you'll need two cabs then or be willing to wait.

My hotel group uses a couple of limo services which have town cars which might fit you all. They tend to work on a flat rate basis for trips in the city and can be available on call.

Also, metro is your friend. Where are you staying?

Thank you for your reply. We are staying at the Madison Hotel, I do not seem to find a Metro close to it which obviously is a minus. It is located at 1177 15 th street, I was hoping of the possibility of a bus to go back and forth to the Mall.

Your metro stops are Farragut North (red line) and McPherson Square (blue/orange), both a very short (3 blocks or so) walk from your hotel, which is just off Thomas Circle. Or, if you walk straight down 15th Street for about a mile, you will basically run into the Washington Monument.

We just returned from DC yesterday. One thing is for sure: I would not walk a mile to start out a day of touring. Your 5-year-old will be tired before he even sees anything.

Another thing: In the morning, we would get out of a metro station and spend a few minutes orienting ourselves and our phone navigation before getting going to the destination. It was hot by 9:30 AM.

Does your hotel have a shuttle by any chance? Otherwise, maybe hotel would have better luck getting you a larger cab to drop you off to your destination. To go home, really study up which sites you will be at versus the proximity of the different Metro stations. Also ask about a bus that runs near you. The one bus we did take from Georgetown was really nice and had A/C.

Otherwise, you either need to get a cab for a parent and the little ones and the rest take the Metro OR you take two cabs. The only cab we ever took was clear out to Woodley Park and it was $15 in rush hour. You are far, far closer to the central core so even with two cabs you will hardly match that. And the Metro could be $1.50 or close to $2 per person.

Note that the Smithsonian allows water bottles into the museums. A couple of small daypacks--even just the ones with the two strings for straps, will be nice for the water bottle. At the end of the day an IMAX at Air and Space is a nice way for the older ones to enjoy while relaxing.

Graziella5b, The Madison is a very nice hotel, hope you enjoy it. McPherson Square and Farragut North metro's are less than a 10 minute walk. Even on a hot day that should be pretty doable for your group. I agree with 5alive that a pair of cabs might be as cost effective for your group, especially in the afternoon when feet are tired.

But if you are interested in buses, the S2 and S4 metro buses run up and down 16th St and turn around at 10th and Constitution Ave which is in front of the National Gallery of Art. The fare would be under $2. You can catch it a block from your hotel at 16th and M. That might be an option if your group splits up. (maps here: http://www.wmata.com/bus/timetables/dc/s1-2-4.pdf)

I agree again with 5alive that studying the maps can shorten your trip. If the National Mall is your primary destination, Federal Triangle and National Archives metro stations are a shorter walk to the National Gallery of Art buildings and the Smithsonian American and Natural History than the Smithsonian station. L'Enfant Plaza is slightly closer to the Air & Space Museum.

Hope you have a great trip and hope you get some good weather.

Hello, thank you both Salive and obxgirl. Great inf, I think we should strat the day hoping that the hotel gets us a large cab, from there on we might as well take two cabs, distances are reasonable.
If you find time for the Zoo of ciourse we shall take the Metro.
Being 6 as we are savings regarding public transportation versus cabs will be not be a lot anyway.. However it is good to have bus information as a back up in case we fail to get a taxi .
I am thrilled that The Madison has consistent good reviews . I feel that a nice hotel plays a very important roll in any trip. We got a decent rate through luxury hotels=magallean travels , a Canadian travel agency. I am hopeful they will be able to give us connecting rooms which is important to us.
For the first day I am planing to leave as early as possible in a cab or two to the Space Museum
and have breakfast inside the Museum, I recall there is a McDonald and it will be ideal for the kds.
I am also delighted to find out that weather temperature will be around 85, down from a 100 degrees.
Friends advised us to book in a hotel with a pool due to prevailing high temperatures but I thought location and a nice quality hotel was a better choice ........I guess we are going to be lucky if indeed temperature goes down. thanks again.

I should clarify that you certainly can take the Metro home if it's near what you are doing that day. Check a decent map.

I don't remember a McDonalds inside the Air and Space Museum, although I didn't look for one.

If you have a small fridge in your room, I'd get a half gallon of milk and/or juice, bagels and cream cheese or a box of cereal and a package of disposable bowls/spoons. Just a thought. i want to say there's a Whole Foods kinda near you because I saw the list of locations when looking for my own. Maybe a DC local can tell you if it's practical for Mom or Dad to run over there in the evening. (I love Google Maps but the realities of how big the blocks are may not always be clear from these maps.)

Thank you 5alive, the Whole food information if awfully valuable because that is our favorite food store.
Not that we go out often to have fast food, but traveling with the whole family has taught me to
expedite things and I liked s the idea of having breakfast inside the Air Space Museum to get in earlier avoiding the heat of the outside line.
To clarify matters I am going to Washington with one of our daughters and her four children her
husband will join us there later.. Thanks again, speaking of restaurants first day we are planning to go to Old Ebbs Grill, Atlantic Cafe is in the list. I plan to have lunch at the Cascade Cafeteria of the National Gallery of Art, any suggestion as a must ? I am proud to say that these particular
grandchildren, I hve others, are amazing in an much as they like all kinds of food.

The WF is a very near by walk up 15th Street (the street the Madison is on) to P Street. You'll turn right as you exit the hotel. That block also hosts a Mexican place (Tortilla Coast - ok IMO), a pair of pub/burger places (both good, Logan Tavern and The Commissary) and an Ethiopian restaurant (Lalibela which I like, very unassuming and inexpensive).

There is a 24 hour CVS Pharmacy on Vermont Ave about a block from your hotel towards 14th St. They have a short range of many grocery staples.

I like the Cascades cafeteria and it meets the needs of families with varying food tastes. It's a pleasant place to sit and people watch as well as eat. Near by the National Gallery of Art toward Penn Quarter is Paul, the wonderful French bakery/cafe chain.

Hope you have a super trip, Graziella.
Atlantic Cafe is Cafe Atlantico? It's also in the Penn Qtr neighborhood and any of Jose Andres restaurants in that area are well worth a visit. Definitely book ahead for them. There is a farmers market in the neighborhood on Thursdays, 3-7, which usually includes a food demo from one of the area's many lovely restaurants.

Penn Quarter is also home to the National Portrait Gallery & the American Museum of Art, buildings which are separated by a three story enclosed courtyard that is one of the most underrated spots in the city to sip a coffee or glass of wine and take respite from touring. Both the gallery & museum are easy on the eyes for younger people. There is presently an exhibition of Video Game Art (hands on stuff included) as well as a permanent show in the 3rd floor mezzanines of the Portrait Gallery of athletes and film/TV actors.

<<<separated by a three story enclosed courtyard that is one of the most underrated spots in the city to sip a coffee or glass of wine and take respite from touring>>>

I too rate it very highly

We really ended up grabbing a meal as close as possible to where we happened to be at. The suggestion to use Yelp is a good one. There is a local chain called Potbellies that makes really good sandwiches. There is one right near the National Archives and Newseum around 7th; I found that by checking Yelp for cheap restaurants near me.

Another place we found near the White House was the Old Corner Bakery, and it had great breakfast items as well as panini etc. This was a hit with everyone.

We also ended up eating in the Capitol Cafeteria and the salad was quite fresh but the burger I got was pretty overdone. My son really liked his clam chowder and some of the other items might have been a wiser choice. Still, I would eat there again out of sheer convenience.

Cafe Atlantico is closed. Jose Andres has another restaurant in that space now, America Eats.

Yet another fan of the Portrait Gallery itself and the Courtyard. Great place to relax after enjoying these 2 great museums.

Didn't realize that there were Corner Bakeries in DC (hadn't looked either). Going to probably go to 1 in DC as we had 1 near our hotel in Chicago 4 years ago (already? wow) and really enjoyed it.

>>Cafe Atlantico is closed. Jose Andres has another restaurant in that space now, America Eats.<<

That's the same block as the Fresh Farm Market? I wondered about that -- isn't America Eats a temporary restaurant? Either way, you can't pry me out of Jaleo around the corner!