First trip to DC - 2nd week of April.
(2) adults and (2) 16 yo boys.

Staying at Red Roof Inn on 5th and H.

Plan on parking car at hotel and not using it during stay.

Decided against DC ducks/trolley city tours based on cost and reviews on web.
Trolley seems reasonable for Arlington ($6)

Worried about crowds! So I set up reserved entry times....

Washington Monument tours already sold out from NPS web site. (Does that mean there will be no availability on site?)
To late to reserve White House Tour.

Sam


Tue:

Arrive at Noon by auto to Arlington Cemetery - Trolley Tour

2pm - Drive to/check into Hotel

3PM - National History Museum

Evening- White House - Tour Monuments


Wed:

10:45am National Archives (reserved entry time)

1pm Space Museum (need to reserve entry?)

3:05 Magnificent Desolation: Walking on the Moon (3D) (IMAX) (reserved)

5:30 National Portrait Gallery

Evening - Union Station


Thur:

8AM Walking tour of Capitol Bldgs- Supreme Court - Library of Congress

10AM Capitol Tour (arranged with congressman)

12PM Holocaust museum - (reserved entry time)

Late aft/Eve - OPEN

Spy Museum if boys are interested.

"3PM - National History Museum"

The Smithsonian American History Museum is closed for renovations. Did you mean the Natural History Museum? They close at 5:30 PM.

"5:30 National Portrait Gallery"

The Gallery closes at 7 PM, are you sure you're allowing enough time?

Why are you driving to Arlington first (are you coming up from the South/up 395?); don't want to take the Metro there from DC?

There are not reserved entries for the Air and Space Museum - just line up and go through security! I have not seen that particular IMAX movie, but I have always enjoyed the movies there!

Besides Union Station (I am assuming you are eating there), you don't mention if y'all have dinner plans. If finanaces allow it (many of the activities you will be doing during the day are free!), let yourselves eat out at least once. DC has some interesting restaurants that might be fun for all of you!

Tue:
Looks fine. There is easy, plentiful parking at Arlington Cemetary (especially a weekday). Drive to hotel will also be a piece of cake that time of day. There are many restaurants close to your hotel after the Building Museum - especially along 7th St. I would take the Red Line Metro to the Farragut North stop (K st. exit) and walk to the White House (16th & H) before continuing on to the monuments.


Wed:
The Air & Space Museum does not need or have reserved entry times.

Union Station is OK (just OK, IMO) if you want a meal, movie, or shopping but you have better meals, movies, or shopping close to your hotel (again along 7th). Union Station is worth a quick look just for the architecture, though.

Thur:
You might want to have your congressional aide tour guide take you to one of the congressional cafeterias (pick one close to the Capitol South Metro stop) for a quick, early lunch before your appt. at the US Holocaust Memorial Museum tour. Metro to Smithsonian Metro Stop (Independence Ave. exit).

Thursday late afternoon/evening might be a good time to explore a different neighborhood such as Adams Morgan ($8 taxi), U St. (U St. Metreo stop), or Dupont (Dupont Metro stop), or Georgetown ($8 taxi).

You might want to check out Metro's Circulator bus for some of your transport. It has 3 routes and one has a stop very close to your hotel. That route runs between Union Station and Georgetown on Mass Ave & K St. Another loops the Convention Center to the Potomac waterfront and goes by/close to the Portrait Gallery. The third loops the Mall between 4th & 7th sts. The fare is a simple $1. I haven't ridden them but see them everyday and they're new, seemingly clean buses. Here's the website for info: www.dccirculator.com. Enjoy this beautiful city!

The Old Post Office Tower could substitute for the Wash. Monument. It has great views and is free! "http://www.nps.gov/opot"

The Spy Museum is very interesting for all ages - not just "the boys" (who will love it). Not sure if they reserve entry times but worth seeing.