I see lots of people inquiring about one to three days in D.C., but we really want to see it all. We will be there from 8-14 to 9-1. There are 5 of us (2 adults, kids aged 17, 16, 11) and we are staying at the Embassy Square Summerfield Suites. I need help with an itinerary. I've studied the guides, but don't know how long things will take. We have written our representatives, but haven't heard yet about tours. I want one day for Charlottsville. We will be in Williamsburg for 3 days before coming to D.C. Help!

10 days seems perfect to me, I spent 5 days there in April and felt like I needed another month!
If there are baseball fans in your family, go to Camden Yards, what a great ballpark.
The museum of American History took me hours, and so did the museum of Natural History. You can do both of those in one day.
I also spent an entire day in both the National Portrait Gallery and museum of American Art. Then spent an afternoon walking from monument to monument, avoiding the crowds.
If you don't get a special tour of the White House from your congressperson, DO NOT waste your time waiting for tickets. I went on a tour with the DC youth hostel, we were in and out in 15 minutes. I would have been really peeved had I waiting for tickets for that.
I guess it really depends on what you and your family like, and how much museum-ing you can take!
Oh, and do yourself a favor and wear comfy shoes!

10 days seems perfect to me, I spent 5 days there in April and felt like I needed another month!
If there are baseball fans in your family, go to Camden Yards, what a great ballpark.
The museum of American History took me hours, and so did the museum of Natural History. You can do both of those in one day.
I also spent an entire day in both the National Portrait Gallery and museum of American Art. Then spent an afternoon walking from monument to monument, avoiding the crowds.
If you don't get a special tour of the White House from your congressperson, DO NOT waste your time waiting for tickets. I went on a tour with the DC youth hostel, we were in and out in 15 minutes. I would have been really peeved had I waiting for tickets for that.
I guess it really depends on what you and your family like, and how much museum-ing you can take!
Oh, and do yourself a favor and wear comfy shoes!

Just to let you know, Camden Yards is located in Baltimore. While it is close to DC, it is not IN DC (about 1/2 hr away, without traffic), and it is a great baseball park. And, I don't know a lot about this, but I think you can get tickets for the white house in the morning and you are assigned a time for your tour later in the day. While Wendy is right, you can't see everything, it is neat. I'd put the Holocaust Museum on your list too, since your kids are older. It is powerful and so interesting. Also, my friend told me that they give tours of the FBI building. She thought that was the best, to see how the US "solves" its greatest crimes. My dad LOVES the air and Space museum; I really enjoyed the Star Trek exhibit when it was there. I hope this helps! Have a great time!
Sincerely,
Bridget

We try to spend several days in DC most summers, and how long things will take probably depends on your interests. We usually spend one full day at the American History Museum and another full day at the National Gallery of Art(there are wonderful free lectures, slide shows and concerts). Air and Space takes us a few hours. We are not big fans of the Natural History Museum, but most people seem to like it. It seems to be getting better, but much of the museum was still very dated as of the last time we were there. The zoo is a wonderful way to spend a day for adults as well as kids. It's one of the best I've ever been to. For dinner, the Adams Morgan area (I think that's what it's called) has wonderful inexpensive ethnic restaurants. Just about every nationality you can imagine. If you are interested in theater, there is a place where you can buy reduced price tickets in the afternoon for that evenings shows. I believe that it is at Post Office Square. If Ilisa reads this, she can probably give you the exact details. There is also (or at least there used to be) a wonderful miniature golf course at one of the parks in DC. It's a great thing to do at night once it cools off a bit, it's the hardest mini golf course I've ever seen, definitely not just for children, my husband even had a great time. Unfortunately, I don't remember the name of the park, but again maybe Ilisa, (or someone else) can help. I believe it's the park that has the wonderful statue of Zeus rising. Which is also worth seeing, by the way.

Hi Greta. Forgive me in advance if the followinginformation seems fragmented, but I am trying to feed a very hungry and fussy 6 week old at the same time. Regarding White House tickets, you can pick them up at the White House Visitors Center at 15th and E Sts., NW (intersection of Pennsylvania) beginning at 7:30am. You can get 4 per person, and will receive a time to take your White House tour that day. While the tour is quick, and is not guided, I definitely recommend going there. Plan your trips to the Smithsonian carefully. I say that because each museum can easily eat up a whole day. Natural History was just renovated and modernized, because just as Cheryl mentioned, it was very dated. The National Gallery of Art just opened its new sculpture garden. I am a docent at Air and Space, so feel free to email me about that museum. I agree with Cheryl about the zoo, it is wonderful. Hsing-Hsing, the giant panda, is very ill, so there is no guarantee that he will be alive when you visit (so sad!). Don't be afraid to follow up with your Congressman's office about the tickets for the White House. Some offices are really good at getting back to you, some are not. You can also try either of your Senators. If you haven't done so, see if anyone from your Congressman (or Senators) offices can give your family a guided tour of the Capitol. Theater is always a possibility for the evenings. Discount tickets can be purchased at the Old Post Office Pavilion on Pennsylvania for shows around town. There are also free performances at the Kennedy Center each night around 6 or 6:30pm. Les Mis is currently in town and Cabaret is coming. I don't know how long they will be around. Shear Madness at the Kennedy Center is always worth seeing. You may want to check out Washingtonian Magazine on line for some ideas about where to eat. I have a lot more ideas, but it is getting difficult to concentrate now. Please email me if you want more information.

Greta, ten days in Washington D.C. presents a wonderful opportunity to immerse yourself and your family in the nation's capital. While the breadth of ages in your family may inevitably lead to someone being bored, it should be a memorable treat.
I don't know how culturally inclined you and your family are, but the various Smithsonian museums, coupled with the National Gallery of Art, represent one of the world's three or four best and most comprehensive compendia of mankind's creative achievements. To go and not take advantage would be a shame.

Here's a list of places and the amount of time I'd give to each:

On the Mall:
The National Gallery of Art. Just a "wow" of an art museum. The permanent collection is housed in the west wing, temporary exhibits are in the east wing; a subterranean passage connects the two. While you're in Washington, so will be Mary Cassatt. I saw the exhibition in Boston; it is terrific. Give it a minimum of four hours, possibly over two days to prevent eye fatigue.
Freer Gallery. To the untutored eye, a lot of Asian art looks alike; the Freer does it's best to tutor the tourist. Here, also is Whistler's "Peacock Room," an object lesson in what happens when you leave an artistic genius in your house for a few weeks, and then refuse to pay him. An hour, at least.
National Archives. The Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, and other things to give you goose bumps on a hot August day. An hour.
National Air and Space Museum. I've heard this is now the most-visited museum on the face of the earth, and for good reason. More than just a collection of airplanes, rockets, and spacecraft, it is an intelligent guide to the evolution of technology in the 20th century. A minimum of four hours.
The Holocaust Memorial and Museum. I have never been in a more powerful and moving institution. This summer, there is also a special exhibition tracing the history of the St. Louis, the refugee ship that tried unsuccessfully attempted to land in, among other places, the US. It takes three hours to absorb it, and an hour or two afterward to decompress.
National Museum of American History. America's attic, and it is very, very full. Before you go, spend some time either with a copy of Smithsonian magazine or on the Smithsonian web site (www.si.edu) and see what special exhibitions are going to be ongoing in August. Depending upon your level of interest, this can take anywhere from a few hours to a full day.
Sackler Gallery. You can live a very long life and never see art from the Near East. It is exotic and the Sackler usually has a special exhibition of some kind that lets you dip your toe in the water. Give it an hour to expand your mind.
Museum of Natural History. Worth two hours just for the gem hall. See the other exhibits according to how interested you are in mastadons, birds of Antarctica, etc. I like this museum best after a long day of doing something else.
Lincoln Memorial, Jefferson Memorial, Vietnam Memorial. These are places of contemplation, best seen early in the morning or at dusk. There's no "right" amount of time to spend; it might be 15 minutes per monument, it might be an hour or more.

In Washington, but not on the Mall:
The National Portrait Gallery/Museum of American Art. Housed in the same building eight blocks north of the Mall (and hard by the MCI Center), these gems are two of the most innovative museums in Washington. The special shows are what make NPG/NMAA worth visiting. For example, the NG currently has a show on "The Circle of Ben Franklin." You get paintings of people with whom Franklin corresponded (principally scientists, or what would be called scientists once the word was coined) , the correspondence, and the things for which those people were famous. Among the unexpected finds is an exquisite 1804 map of New York together with the man who conducted the survey. Allow at least 90 minutes.
The National Zoo. When you're tired of looking at art or government, hop Metro's red line and go see the panda at the National Zoo. Worth two hours.
The Capitol. Worth the wait, the lines, and the heat. Gorgeous inside. Congress, of course, will be back where it's cool. The tour is 90 minutes; the wait can be longer. Best that you have arranged for a tour in advance, which is what it sounds like you've done.
The White House. Ditto.
The Cochoran Gallery and The Philips Collection. Maybe by the time you've seen the National Gallery etc., you'll be so tired of art you'll never want to see another painting as long as you live. But if it whetted your appetite for more, these are Washington's two premier "private"museums, meaning you have to pay to get in. The Cochoran has "Sita and Sarita," Cecelia Beaux's masterpiece portrait; the Philips has Renoir's "Luncheon of the Boating Party," which is probably one of the best known paintings in the world. An hour to ninety minutes each.
The National Geographic Society Explorers' Hall. The National Geographic come to life. Four to six room-sized exhibitions drawn from current issues. Well worth an hour.
The Library of Congress. Like no library you've ever seen. Stunning to look at inside, but it's those little exhibits that the staff keeps creating that keep the place so interesting. Worth an hour (it's just east of the Capitol and is best seen at the same time).
Georgetown. Like Old Town Alexandria (see below), go late in the afternoon, explore it on foot for a few hours, then have dinner at one of the 600 restaurants on M Street (well, maybe not 600, but an awful lot).

In nearby northern Virginia:
Manassas National Battlefield. An hour out of Washington, it will probably take three hours to see, unless the heat gets to you.
Arlington National Cemetery and Arlington House/ Robert E. Lee home. An hour each for the cemetery and home.
Mount Vernon. I know people who have spent all day there because it is so fascinating. The line for the house ebbs and flows; wait for a time when the line is shortest. The house and gardens are worth at least four hours.
Old Town Alexandria. My favorite town. Go late in the afternoon, explore for a few hours, then have dinner on King Street or Washington Avenue.

In nearby Maryland:
Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Somebody very intelligent said a few years ago that only three things of importance had happened in baseball since 1945: Jackie Robinson, free agency, and Camden Yards. With the Orioles no threat to anyone but themselves this year, there are actually tickets available to see baseball in what is generally viewed as the best new baseball stadium in the world.

That's a highly subjective list, and I fear it adds up to more that ten days worth of things to do. Advance planning will help, such as seeing Alexandria and Mt. Vernon on the same day; or ordering timed tickets for the Holocaust Memorial in advance rather than waiting with the crowds for same-day entry.

Enjoy the visit!

Greta: I've lived in DC for over 30 years, and we're still seeing new things weekly. Buy an Access guide (organized by section) and choose what seems of interest. Start with the Mall: plan on at least 3 days to work the mall, seeing all the museums and attractions up and down both side, plus Capitol and Arlington Cemetery, and the buildings on Constitution Avenue and Independence Avenue. That's about 60 percent of the main things to see here. Don't waste time standing in line, e.g., to see the House or Senate in session. Catch that on C-Span. Avoid buying tickets on the Mall bus - you'll waste time standing in line. Instead walk, and use the taxis (cheap and plentiful). Alternate between outside and inside - when you get hot, head inside for the free A/C. Avoid the ususal tourist traps for food - Planet Hollywood, Post Office. Instead, go where the Md. Univ. students go - the food court at Union Station. Use the Metro as much as possible. Above all else, do not believe you have to see everything in DC. You asked about times to see things - don't do it that way. Instead, select what interests you, prioritize, and then go with the flow. For example, a site such as the Vietnam Memorial could be looked at in 15 minutes, but in reality you might end up staying in that area 2-3 hours (there's just so much there, and you do want time to take in the atmosphere of this special place). So, avoid a timetable. Select your top 1-15 interests, and see those. Along the way, you'll also see the unexpected, so leave time for that as well. Another way is to organize things in an area, e.g., Vietnam, Linclon, Korean and FDR - all are worth seeing, and all are close together and can be seen in 3 hours, more or less. And try not to spend more than 7 hours a day touring if it's hot. Don't get tired out. Use one guidebook, and select the main attractiosn, and stick to those. Enjoy, and come back again.

The National Air and Space Museum is indeed the most visited museum in the world. We get between 8-10 million visitors each year!!

There was 1 time when I spent about 8 consecutive days around the DC area. Now it is just a few days at a time. But that during the longer time. besides all the majors, I had time to take in a tour at the FBI building, that was interesting, but don't know if that is still going on. Also worth taking a quick look into the Supreme Court building & its spiral staircase. Also the Library of Congress is worth a look, it is really something to see inside, even if you are not looking for books. I consider this next 1 a major site, don't miss the National Archives, where the Bill of Rights & Declaration of Independance are on display. One of my favorite places to go is Arlington Cemetary & Arlington House. Another posibility, if you can get there is walking around Teddy Roosevelt Island. The Tourmobile is a good way to get around to a majority of sites in & around the mall area. If you use the Tourmobiles, be aware that you could get stuck at the Jefferson Memorial while 3 or 4 full tourmobiles go by. If you go there 1st thing in the morning, you should be able to get back on a tourmobile without such a wait, because most of the crowds have not reached that point yet.

Everyone has mentioned the Smithsonian and other museums, so I'll skip them. The Park Service operates a canal boat ride, which is very interesting. There is a statue called "The Awakening", which is near the water somewhere--but it is arms, legs & head placed so it looks like it is coming out of the ground. Annapolis is a short drive away & very interesting with the Naval Academy & good seafood. Ford's Theater, Kennedy Center, etc., have excellent plays & symphony. Walk around Embassey Row & "step into another country" because you technically are on their soil. There are so many different things to do. Check out washingtonpost.com for the newspaper's information on activities. If you want to see Congress, look in on the floors, but the action is in the committee hearings--listed in the paper. You can watch the Supreme Court in action if they are sitting--one line moves through about every 5-10 minutes and another lets you stay a little longer. That cafeteria did have the reputation for being one of the better places to eat on Capitol Hill. Have fun. DC is great!

The Awakening was the statue that I was trying to think of. Quite interesting. I think the mini golf was in that area. Thanks, Linda.

I'd recommend the Phillips Collection (even though it's not free) as a "bite-sized" alternative to the National Gallery of Art. You can see it in about an hour, which may keep everyone in your group happy. And the art they have is stunning. It's rarely crowded, and the small size of the rooms makes it very intimate (just the opposite of the NGA).

The Awakening is at Hains Point.

To the above lists I would like to add two places that I did not see mentioned (I might well have skimmed over them!!)
1. Dumbarton Oaks Estate
2. the National Cathedral

Dumbarton Oaks has a library and small museum and gardens. The Cathedral is a beautiful example of Gothic architecture in the USA. There are tours.

Dumbarton Oaks is in the Georgetown vicinity; the Cathedral is just off Wisconsin Avenue close to where Wisconsin and Massachusetts Avenues intersect. Also as a boy I recall going through the FBI offices.

I'm starting a new web site about travel. The first two segments are a travelogue about our Washington, D.C., trip and the itinerary. IF you can get it, you may find some information. Our favorite spot was the Newseum in Arlington, VA, and we got there by bus.
If you have time, I'd be interested in knowing if our web site came through on your computer. You'll have a great time in Washington!

www.geocities.com/thetropics/lagoon/8578

Arlington Cemetery and Robert E. Lee's house there are interesting. You can take the mall bus over there and wander around and catch a later one back. The changing of the guard at the Unknown Soldiers tomb is impressive-especially for the children.
t

Thanks to all of you who took the time out of your busy lives to help me. Illisa, you went above and beyond the call of duty. I remember those days of fussy six-week-old babies! Neal, you are always tremendously helpful. I have printed out your guide to Old Town Alexandria. Wendy, Bridget, Cheryl, Joseph, Bill, Linda & KB: many thanks to you all! I truly appreciate your help.
Greta

In my honest opinion the FBI touyr is a major disappointment. We waited forever and then they herd you through like cattle and you really see nothing of any real consequence (mostly through glass observation windows). Totally boring. Don't miss Ford theatre museum. It is very interesting es[ecially if you are a Lincoln finatic like me. Have fun.

Bring a good camera and lots of film. Take a walk early in the morning when it is peaceful and quiet. plan your inside touring during midday when it is the hottest outside. Drink lots of water! Have fun!