swtraveller

We will be spending 2 days in Washington DC after our Niagara trip. Please let me know the most important things to see in 2 days. Is there is special tours for Capitol and White House separately? what is the easy way of getting around in Washington DC. We will have rental car but I am concerned about availability of parking. Is National Zoo is a must visit place?

sparkchaser

Easiest way to get around is to walk so be prepared to do a lot of walking. Parking is a major PITA. When we'd go to D.C., we'd park at an outerlimit Metro Station and take the metro into town.

The National Zoo is great.

My two votes for places to see:

The Smithsonian Natural history Museum because kids love dinosaurs and taxidermied animals.

The International Spy Museum (private museum so there is an entrance fee) is very accommodating to kids and they will love climbing through the duct work pretending to be a spy.

tchoiniere

There are tours of the Capitol but none of the White House

teachandtravel

Do not plan to drive at all. Plan to walk and take the metro system. It is very reliable and safe. The zoo is the best one I have ever seen. The Natural History Museum and Air and Space Museum are unbelievable also. I wouldn't take the time for the White House or Capitol unless your kids are older and really into history. It can take forever to stand in lines for some places. The line to the Holocaust Museum is well worth it though. You can usually get tickets online in advance. It's appropriate for older children and adults.

teachandtravel

Be sure to leave time to walk down to the Lincoln Memorial, Vietnam War Wall, Korean Memorial, and WW memorials. They are all close together. Just take a metro marked Lincoln Memorial exit.

sparkchaser

The Korean memorial snuck up on us when we were walking back to the metro one evening. Spooky. And very well done.

tchoiniere

I disagree about the comment for the Capitol only being for those interested in history. That should be a must-see for anybody going to DC even for kids in Elementary School. You can get tickets in advance and will not have much lines beyond security.

With 2 days, it is tough to see a lot.

Really depends on what time you get there but I would propose to do it this way and what days (No Capitol tours on Sundays)

Go to a Smithsonian when you get there (Air & Space or American History). Could maybe do 2 of them that day

Around dusk, cab it to the FDR Memorial and walk the Monuments from there in a clockwise pattern. (There is no Metro Station directly at the Monuments - not quite sure what the poster above me is referencing with "a metro marked Lincoln Memorial exit unless its the Arlington Cemetery Metro Stop" which is probably the closest to Lincoln but still a longish walk to get there.

Day 2
Arlington Cemetery - first thing in the morning and use the tram tour

Then head to the Capitol for your tour (I would look for tickets around 1 pm or so)

This would leave you time to go to the White House (just to walk around the outside) or if you fit that in on Day 1, you could go to another museum (Natural History, Portrait Gallery etc)

I like the zoo but with only 2 days, its too far outside of the city and takes a lot of time. I almost feel the same for Arlington Cemetery too.

obxgirl

I think tchoiniere has given you very good advice. With only two days I'd focus on the sites in and around the National Mall: Capitol, White House, monuments and many of the Smithsonian museums. There is far more there than you can accomplish in 2 days. Interesting to both adults and kids (who aren't 6 or under)

Capitol - Definitely book your tour passes ahead. There is no cost and it will save you time in line the day of and the possibility that there will be no tickets. http://tours.visitthecapitol.gov

White House - I think WH tours are suspended besides which they require long advance planning. The WH VIsitors Center is still closed for rehab I think. You can do a walk by of the WH on the pedestrian plaza and get that iconic view. It's especially pretty at night. So are the monuments which are open and staffed until well into the evening.

Smithsonians - Check their website http://www.si.edu to see what interests you most but you really can't go wrong with the American History, Air & Space and Natural History. There are extended summer hours in these three (until 7:30 pm).

Zoo - It's a great zoo and part of the Smithsonian group but it's a zoo. With only two days I'd spend time on things that are unique to the Nation's Capital. If you do go, go first thing in the morning when the open, maybe 8 am. There is a metro stop (Zoo/Woodley park)

International Spy Museum - Along with the Newseum these are two great but unlike the Smithsonians, they are paid admission. You'd want to go early to either one, as in opening time) to make the most of your time there. They (along with the Holocaust Museum) require a lot of close up viewing & reading and the "fun factor" diminishes when the crowds are the largest.

As already noted by nearly everyone, no car will be required and it will be a burden and an expense to park. If it makes financial sense, turn in your rental in DC and rent again when you leave. Some hotels (not downtown) offer free parking. Where are you planning to stay?

ElendilPickle

I like tchioniere's itinerary if you only have two days.

We did an evening walking tour of the monuments with DC by Foot, a tip-based tour company, and thought it was really well done. http://www.freetoursbyfoot.com/washington-dc-tours/

Another thought, if your kids can ride adult-sized bikes and you're tired of walking, is to rent bikes for a few hours from Capital Bikeshare. My husband did this one evening and had a good time; he rode to some of the monuments that weren't on our tour. http://www.capitalbikeshare.com/

Lee Ann