Go Back  Fodor's Travel Talk Forums > Destinations > United States
Reload this Page >

Washington DC with kids - when to go, where to stay?

Washington DC with kids - when to go, where to stay?

Old Mar 10th, 1998, 10:26 AM
  #1  
Mari
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Washington DC with kids - when to go, where to stay?

Planning a trip to DC with our two boys (8 and 6). When is the best time to go - April/May or summer?
Where to stay that is very convenient to walk everywhere and would be fun for kids. Last time we were there we stayed at the Ritz Carlton, but don't necessarily want to spend that much on this trip.
Also, what is not to be missed for kids this age?
Thanks.
 
Old Mar 10th, 1998, 10:42 AM
  #2  
anna m
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Avoid spring break and summer. Any other time ok. The air and space museum, the FBI tour, White House, and washington Monument. The zoo is good if your kids like zoos, which ours don't. Our kids got the biggest thrill off just riding the Metro trains, buying farecards out of the machines, putting them in the slots, and watching them pop out again. Cheap entertainment. Go figure.
Late April/early may should be good. Take 'em out of school. they'll learn more in DC
 
Old Mar 10th, 1998, 01:09 PM
  #3  
ekitay
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
I am taking my child to dc in march; have done it in past.
Recommend L'oewes enfant plaza hotel-big rooms & nice rooftop yr round pool. JW Marriot is also supposed to be ok-has a pool.
Short ride/walk to the mall from there;
if you go to engraving, go really early, long lines; kids love its but its a bore.
Try Hirschorn sculpture garden & the carousel.
Leave a whole day for aerospace.
In the old post office complex is amall with a juggling store my kid adored.
Smithsonian has a good live insect exhibit thats fun for most kids.
 
Old Mar 14th, 1998, 04:36 PM
  #4  
wendy
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
We have gone to all of the above places with my children and they have been enjoyed. My eight
year old loved our tour of the White House. If
you call your congressman ahead of time, they can
send you a pass for a certain tour and you don't have to wait on the aweful lines. Also my kids
LOVE the National Childrens Museum. My only word
of warning is that it is not in the greatest neighborhood so I would drive rather than take the
metro. But it is close enough to Union Station to
walk if you are of the mind to do so.
 
Old Mar 20th, 1998, 12:47 PM
  #5  
Christina
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Well, I live there and I would definitely recommend
April/May over the summer-- solely because of the
heat and humidity. Summer can be truly horrid in
DC--a few years ago, we had 90+ degree weather for
30 continuous days around July and the humidity
makes it like Bangkok. Seriously, if it gets very
hot (it can easily be 100+ in July/Aug), it is even
dangerous to go outside, espec for the children and
elderly--this often happens. Anyway, that's my
opinion about July/Aug. June is often better, but
you never know--we can get very hot weather in June.
In addition to that, it is very crowded in the summer
due to so many tourists. I don't know about hotels--
I think the Capitol Hill Holiday Inn (at C St. SW
right near the Air & Space Museum is a pretty good
bet from what I've heard; it's very convenient to
the museums; be careful because there's another
Holiday Inn on Capitol Hill somewhere that I don't
think is as good). I personally hate the L'Enfant Plaza
area and wouldn't recommend anyone stay there, but
I've heard some who like it--it's a rather dangerous
area at night and very unappealing during the day.
Any hotel around Metro Center would be pretty
convenient, so would plenty others but you can't
really walk to everything; it depends what you want
to do.
 
Old Mar 29th, 1998, 06:54 PM
  #6  
marcia
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
We visited D.C. in May of '97 and stayed at the Embassy Suites near Dupont Circle. It was perfect for our family of 4 (indoor pool, free breakfast daily, near metro, nice neighborhood). Plenty of room in hotel to spread out, and that's important if you're visiting for a week. Good service also.
 
Old Mar 29th, 1998, 07:10 PM
  #7  
matt
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
We went to DC last year and stayed at Loew's L'enfant and it was great. We are a family of 5 and we stayed in one room, a little tight but we had a port a crib. We made it a total kid weekend and the kids loved it. The Smithosian air and space had great paper air plane contests, the childrens musuem was very educational and the kids loved seeing the Jefferson memorial at night. The treasury tour was too long for them (once you go in you can't come out till it's done, 45 mins. long). The Washington Monument was great for them and they saw the White House from the gate. We walked alot and enjoyed the sights (early May). Suggestion, Don't eat in the hotels they will cost you a fortune. There are plenty of places to grab a bite in the underground subway area. The kids loved "Planet Hollywood" and Hard Rock Cafe. We also went to Ford's Theatre. We all can't wait to go back! If you stay ay L'enfant plaza find out if the bubble is off or on the pool!
Enjoy it's a great trip
 

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are On


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -