D.C. Itinerary question
 

I'll be in D.C. on Oct. 4th for about 5 days, travelling with 2 children. I had planned to hit the museums on the weekdays, utilizing the circulator bus. I see from their website however that they only operate on weekends. My question is, are the weekend crowds on the mall at that time of year much greater than weekday? Or should I stick to the weekday plan and figure out another way to get between museums (I should say that my older daughter is autistic, and while able to walk, will not be happy with a long distance hike).

If your daughter is autistic, how much stimulation at museums is she going to be able to tolerate generally if you are planning a museum marathon? My suggestion would focus on a couple of museums each day or just pick one or two you definitely want to see. That means the Circultor bus is inconsequential.

The museums will probably be less busy during the week. The reason the Circulator doesn't travel during the week is because the Mall area is so congested during the day that the Circultor gets bogged down in traffic.

Thanks. She will love the museums I think, it is the walking to them that has me worried.

I was thinking of doing the Air and Space, and some of the monuments on sunday to take advantage of the bus, and doing the Natural History on a weekday. Do you think the Air and Space will be considerably more crowded on a sunday vs. monday?

The Air and Space is the best.

Most kids are too sophisticated now for the Natural History Museum.

Don't forget the zoo. There is a bus to the zoo, but I do not think the circulator goes there. The zoo would captivate some time and you can do lunch there too.

Just take taxis instead of the Circulator bus, if it doesn't suit your schedule. IMHO, nobody should try to do more than 2 museums in one day.

The L1 and L4 buses stop at the Zoo, and their routes take them right through downtown, near many hotels. Do you know where you'll be staying?

The L2 bus also stops at the Zoo entrance.

You should research the various museums (and their locations relative to one another) while planning your itinerary; for instance, the Air & Space is between two others that might interest you. Although Air & Space is the most popular of the Smithsonian museums, my daughter and I found it completely tedious.

Bob_KY:

I would definitely go to the Air and Space Museum on a Monday. It gets very crowded on the weekends. Even on Mondays, I advise an early arrival. Ther are several films that are very interesting. You can buy tickets when you get there. Also, the Hirschorn Museum of Art is very close to the Air and Space Museum. The museum has wonderful contemporary sculpture and paintings. My children always enjoyed this museum.

The Zoo sounds like a good idea. You can get there by Metro Redline (Woodly Park- Zoo) but it is about a three or four block walk from Metro which may be too far for her.

Thanks. I'll be in Arlington with a relative. I grew up in D.C. so I am pretty familiar with where everything is, I just haven't made a trip with my daughter before.

Sounds like I will need to do the Air and Space on monday. On a sunday evening / night, would there be any parking near any of the memorials? (Lincoln, Jefferson, or WW@2)

If you go to the zoo on the Metro, then get off at the Cleveland Park stop; it's about the same distance as the official Woodley Park stop, but it's a downhill walk to the zoo; then when you leave the zoo, turn left and walk downhill to the Woodley Park station. The Woodley Park station involves taking two escalators, one of which is extraordinarily long (204 feet); parents with strollers are strongly advised to seek out the stations elevator.

But for anybody who wants to avoid extra walking, take the L1, L2, or L4 but, or a taxi. Metro fare for 3 or 4 people is not much less than taxi fare.