The space shuttle Discovery will be arriving at Dulles tomorrow to be included in the new wing of the Air & Space Museum in Chantilly.
Personally, I would find a cheaper hotel outside the "District" close to the Metro and commute into the city by rail.
There is not much sense driving a rental car into the city and paying for parking if you can find it.

thanks Tomfuller...thats a great suggestion re: the Discovery...we'll have to be sure to see it!

Any suggestions for a "cheaper" hotel outside the district? I think you're right especially since we are arriving after midnight on Wed.

The Marriott Key Bridge is very close to a metro station.
http://www.marriott.com/hotels/maps/travel/waskb-key-bridge-marriott/
You could also rent your car from Regan National which has its own Metro stop. There is also a small memorial on the outside of the Pentagon where the plane crashed into it on 9/11.

Ask your congressperson's office for tickets to a tour of the Capital. Check out ALL of the monuments - on the mall and otherwise. Lincoln IMHO is the most moving - not only for what he did - but for everything else that has happend there realted to the civil rights movement happened there since WW II. Check out the Smithsonian - you can't do all of the museums but can do parts of 2 or 3 favorites. (I prefer Air/Space and American History).

Thanks! I did write to my congressman...hope he comes through with tickets! We're hoping to make it to the Smithsonian...

The Marriott Key Bridge is sold out of 2 double bed rooms (we're traveling with our son). Any other suggestions?

Here's the list of Arlington hotels: http://www.expedia.com/Hotel-Search?action=hotelPackageWizard@searchHotelOnly&packageType=HOTEL_ONLY&hotelPackageWizard_hotelPackageWizardControl_inpPackageType=HOTEL_ONLY&hotelPackageWizard_hotelPackageWizardControl_hotelWidgetControl_hotelSearchRegionControl_hotelRegionTypeControl_inpRegionType=CITY&hotelPackageWizard_hotelPackageWizardControl_hotelWidgetControl_hotelSearchRegionControl_cityControl_inpCity=Arlington+VA&hotelPackageWizard_hotelPackageWizardControl_hotelWidgetControl_hotelSearchRegionControl_cityControl_inpCityRegionId=6236&hotelPackageWizard_hotelPackageWizardControl_hotelWidgetControl_roomInputWidget_hotelRoomCountInput=1&hotelPackageWizard_hotelPackageWizardControl_hotelWidgetControl_roomInputWidget_adultCountInput=2&hotelPackageWizard_hotelPackageWizardControl_hotelWidgetControl_roomInputWidget_childCountInput=0&isAdditionOptionExist=0&eapid=13172&semcid=13172-1&kword=Arlington%20Virginia%20hotels!m.ZzZz.1430854908.0.20331300716.+arlington%20+hotels.105arlington_105hotels

Check Faifax City hotels to see if they have a shuttle to the Vienna metro station. Staying in FF City will put you closer to Middleburg, Chantilly, and IAD.