Hi everyone,

I have booked a trip with my husband and two kids ages 12 and 14 to washington D.C. for 4 nights the beginning of April. I haven't had much time to research the sights on the internet yet and was wondering if anyone could help me out by recommending what sights I need to buy tickets for in advance. I don't want to miss anything great because I didn't buy tickets. I am going the week of the cherry blossom festival and expect everything to be very crowded.
Also, does anyone know where they rent bikes for 2? We rented these in vancouver and had a wonderful day. ( My kids are not great bike riders so it is very hard for them to have their own bikes)

Thanks for your help........

I have researched this just this week bc i am leaving tomorrow for DC. should get reserved tickets ahead of time for holocaust museum (small price of a few dollars service fee to buy ahead of time online - go to holocaust museum site and they direct you to the ticket agency) . same also for spy museum - but the tickets for this museum actually cost about 16.00, whereas holocaust museum itself is free. you can try to get washington monument tickets at www.recreation.gov but they seem to be sold out through END of april. if you want to go up in the elevator in the washington monument, then you have to get in line THAT day at 730am, and get "timed" tickets for later in the day. other activity that you have to go early in day to get timed tickets is bureau of engraving - cool tour, see them make lots of money. as for seeing capitol building and supreme court, contact your state rep or senator's office to get tickets. you should do that at least a month in advance, so it may be too late, but worth a shot. the only other things that might be busy (bc it is cherry blossom time) are IMAX films at air and space and natural history - but there are enough showtimes every day that you can get same-day tickets if you go to the box office in the am when you get to the museum. the only other thing i tried to do was rent segways to tour the mall area, but in DC, you must be 16 and weigh at least 100 lbs, so that eliminated that activity for my 13yo son. he would probably be much better than I would be on a segway, but we will save the segway tour for a few years.

Also, you can reserve a time for a tour of the National Archives (mainly this is a self-guided tour of the room where the Constitution, Bill of Rights, etc. are- there are guided tours but you are too late for that). This means you do not stand in line with the rest of the people who did not reserve; instead you walk right in the side entrance and go directly into the room when you get inside. Go to the website to reserve. It might be too late already for your trip, but try.

Thanks everyone for your help. I know I sound a little discouraged but it seems we are a little late for everything and getting my husband out the hotel to get timed tickets at 7:00am on vacation is not an easy task. I have tried and failed to get any tickets mentionned in advance. Only the spy museum, from the activities recommended is available. If I book the spy museum can anyone recommend another activity for the same day that works well logistically?

I am forever grateful for any advice.....

The National Portrait Gallery is a short walk away. It recently reopened and is very well done - the portraits are grouped by periods in history and have good explanations of each person and his or her significance.

BTW, the Spy Museum was voted "boring and expensive" by my son's 16 year old friend, so we didn't go.

It might be too late but I contacted my congressman's office to get passes for certain things, got me into the Holocaust Museum which was a hot ticket at the time and the VIP tour of the Capitol which I really enjoyed plus I got my picture taken with my Congressman on the steps of the Capitol. It was way too late for the White House which needs special security clearance plus a larger group...

You might check with your hotel concierge. We were able to secure both holocaust and monument tickets. Of course, he received a nice tip for his services!!!