ElendilPickle: I just read your DC report a few nights ago in preparing for our trip in September and booked the Americana! Thank you so much for a great, detailed report!

Oh how I have been waiting for this opportunity! Woodley Park Guest house!!! http://www.dcinns.com/woodley.html It might be slightly above your range - BUT:
They have twin beds, close to metro, you get breakfast and it looks so lovely. There are several nice restaurants nearby and the metro is literally right down the street.

Have never stayed at the Americana and have only stayed in Crystal City twice, versus pretty routinely (1-3 times/year) returning to Rosslyn/Arlington area -- so that's my bias, I suppose.

Depends, of course, on your priorities, but I liked being able to walk from the Rosslyn hotel (was the Holiday Inn) to Iwo Jima Memorial with a great view across the river, and then (on a nice day) walk across Key Bridge to Georgetown, which is one of the areas least accessible by Metro.

Also Crystal City isn't -- shall we say -- a very 'aesthetic' (?pretty?) place to stay, sort of like living in a high-rise/mall/food court. That, of course, might not bother you, esp. if the price differential is substantial.

But whichever way you decide to go, have a great time with your son!

I like Crystal City because, staying at one of the Marriotts, I can reach the metro (and restaurants if I choose) without going outside. I use the hotel just for sleeping.

So we booked the Americana. Price difference is substantial and we are trying to eek out another vacation later in July. Driving, no train, because the times don't work with the football practice that is governing our lives right now.

Since you all are SO awesome, does anyone have a suggestion on tours? I'm pretty sure he's going to revolt after too many monuments/memorials, so I thought if we booked a tour he'll be forced to hang for the duration. I saw some NINE HOUR day tours, some 2-3 hour night tours, duck tours, etc, etc. Does anyone have a suggestion/preference?

I'm planning to take the Gray Line evening tour. I've done it before, but this time I'll have my British sister with me on her first US trip. It gets you to all the major monuments without a lot of walking, it should be a bit cooler, and the city is pretty all lit up.

I don't think a long day tour on a bus, especially one that lasts 9 hours, is going to appeal to a 16-year-old. Instead, I would opt to go to one of the "pay" museums. If he has an interest in crime and/or CSI and enjoys hands-on activities (like a shooting range simulator and a police car driving simulator), I'd choose the Crime and Punishment Museum. If he has an interest in current events, photography, or journalism, then I would choose the Newseum. I would allow about 3 - 4 hours to see the C&P Museum and around 4 - 6 hours to see the Newseum. (My 16-yer-old did not particularly enjoy the Spy Museum since it was so crowded and involved a LOT of reading. It also only takes 2 hours or less to see it. But that's also an option.)

Look for discounted tickets to these museums on Groupon, Living Social or Goldstar.

Also, since you have a car, you could do a visit to the Smithsonian's Udvar Hazy Air and Space Museum (free, but parking is $15.) They've got cool flight simulators (for a fee). There's also the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Quantico if he enjoys military things. It's VERY cool and free.

There's a hop-on-hop-off trolley that can serve either to get you around the monuments or as a way to see parts of the city from the bus.

Think there's a Duck tour, but have never taken it. Some cities' Duck Tours are better than others.

The Udvar Hazy is really worth the detour if he's at all interested in aviation or space.

Seeing the monuments at night is a sort-of must if you can manage -- they are so impressive then.

It's been many years, but the Hop-on Hop-Off bus/tour works really well to help you navigate the city and gives you a great overview of the layout. I think they have a 24 hour ticket (not positive though). Even though most everything you'll want to see is "on the mall," the mall is extremely long and distances can be deceiving.

The metro is easy to use/navigate - don't be intimidated by it.

Sooooo, now that reservations have been made, my son is now interested in making decisions. We have now moved the trip to two weeks later when he doesn't have football and we can extend the trip to visit some friends afterwards in Virginia Beach.

I'd like to throw in a night on the Chesapeake Bay maybe?? Never been to this part of the country before. We would be leaving Arlington and will end up on Virginia Beach, not scared of a drive, would love something quiet, cheap, and on the beach. Any suggestions??

I don't think that is possible as July and August are the peak months at Virginia Beach and it is pretty hectic, with lots of crowds and entertainment during the week on Atlantic ave and the boardwalk, with loud outdoor music you can hear for blocks, such as from live bands. At least avoid the area with all that and the party crowds, which is probably between 7th and 24th. Maybe look at the higher numbered streets.

Maybe an overnight in Chincoteague? It will extend your drive to Va Beach by a couple of hours but it's a pretty (and quieter) part of Virginia. And keep you off of I95. VB will be about two hours drive the next day and will include the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel en route. Traveling on a summer weekend isn't ideal.

Your VB friends will be able to recommend the best places in VB for you to visit.

We are staying with my friends in VB, looking for an overnighter on the way, so Chincoteague might be the one. It'll be mid-week (Wednesday night) so I'm hoping the traffic and crowds won't be as bad.

It just so happens that the day we would be in Chincoteague is the day of the pony swim from one island to another. Not sure if this is good or bad.

The pony swim is very popular. Not only will it be crowded but will bump up the price of lodging.

Oops. Janet is right. Definitely an issue with crowds. It's a fun and a relatively unique thing to see. For that reason I think it would be worth it -- but hotels may already be booked. It's a small place.

Your VB friends may have some suggestions for quiet beach, sound or bay outings closer to them. You could go west from DC and do an overnight in Charlottesville and see Jefferson's Monticello. Or you could do an overnight in Williamsburg which is directly on the way to VB and pick from a number of things -- Colonial Wmbg, Jamestown, Busch Gardens. Three rivers. None of those are particularly quiet but again, they are unique to the area if you are looking for something to round out your trip.

Take a look at these free tours in DC:

http://www.freetoursbyfoot.com/washi...assassination/

I did the Lincoln assassination tour with two teens last year and they loved it. We also hired a cab at an hourly rate and did our own monuments in the dark tour.

Marija - but were you there in July?

Lynni, I'm glad I could help.

Lorrieishere, we did an evening walking tour with DC by Foot http://www.freetoursbyfoot.com/washington-dc-tours/ It's tip-based, so you pay what you think the tour is worth. Our guide was great, and we really enjoyed the tour.

Lee Ann

Tours may be your best bet. As mentioned above many places do have timed tours that you can register for online now at little or no cost. I am not one to read every plaque and sign so the tours really helped me to enjoy most places like the National Archives. There is just so much to see and the tour directs you to the highlights.

Now that your son is interested, perhaps have him select some of the sites that he wants to see. If they pick it usually they will be more likely to enjoy it.

Depending on the heat, maybe a walk through Dupont Circle or Penn Quarter can breakup the museum haze.