MoonGirl

You might consider a one-way or round-trip boat trip between Alexandria and Georgetown: http://www.potomacriverboatco.com/tourmap.php
This is not free, of course, but the prices are not unreasonable, and they apparently have group rates (though not listed) for groups of 20 or more people.

JJ5

Actually on the top floor The Torpedo Factory has an Archeological Society large office display/museum type set of rooms with docent. They will show you all the things that the diggers have found in the old Alexandria privies. Since you are right there- they might enjoy that.

The Spy Museum was our least favorite and also costs $16 each to get in- it is not a free Smithsonian- is a private venue. It's a maze and would be problematic with 19 h.s. kids, IMHO.
Many like this venue, but we thought it had MUCH misinformation and was very tech related, so those who don't know what eyes or bugs are and how they work, might be really bored. And it is not near to the others either.

I think the poster who said they might want downtown is absolutely right.

But have a ball and do hit the Archives if you absolutely can. Because I really do know my young people always want to see the real deal paper etc.

JJ5

That's supposed to be - might want DOWN TIME, not downtown. Teens like the down time immensely.

lauren25

Oh my gosh! Your suggestions are all so fantastic! I know that the only way I can keep these guys in line is to give them some free time of their own, or run them until they are asleep on their feet! I think that will be our first day (flight leaves Denver at 1 am and gets in to DC at 8:45 am)! Hopefully they will be ready to go!
I did an EF tour for my first trip to Europe and it was a constant run.
We are going to the International Spy Museum as part of the tour. Most are excited for that.
I hadn't thought of getting them together to watch National Treasure. That is a great suggestion and we may have to do that at our last meeting next week.
The free time thing was one of my first thoughts, especially with 14 of the students being girls. I know there will be a lot of request for shopping and more shopping!
I had planned on the Post Office for lunch one day but haven't been there in a few years. We may have to try lunch elsewhere and try to just go for the views. I wanted to try lunch at the Union on the day we have the Capitol tour and then figure something out for the rest of the week. All of our students are low SES, so the lunches are the only aspect of the trip we expect them to cover and we told them $10/day.
Thank you all so much for your all your help! This is making my life a little easier!

repete

As someone who grew up in a small, rural area far from the bright lights -- I'm guessing some of the kids also might like the ESPN Zone.

You don't go there for the food but the atmosphere but the combination of games, screen and kid-centric chow.

The place drives me nuts but when my son gets a decent report card he gets to pick a place for dinner -- and this was a choice once and it was full of teens having good times.

jgindc

Best place for lunch anywhere on or even vaguely near the National Mall is the American Indian Museum. Hopefully your tour will be stopping there as well. The food is extraordinary. Not the least expensive around, but there is a huge variety of strange/interesting stuff found no where else in the US all in one place, I would suggest. Coming from the west, some of it might even be familiar to you all...

lauren25

I have been wanting to try the food at the American Indian Museum. It had just opened when I went out a few years ago and I ran out of time to go. I had a great opportunity to meet the architect who designed the building while finishing my degree at the University of Wyoming. An extraordinary man with an amazing vision and heart.

MoonGirl

Hi lauren: the food at the Indian museum cafeteria is indeed really great, but be sure to check their on-line menu first, as I am not sure how far your students' $10 will go there. Unfortunately, eating on the Mall is not very cheap. With that budget, one of your best bets is (alas) the McDonald's at the Air and Space Museum. Another place to consider for burgers/fries type lunch is called Ollie's Trolley, located at 12th and E Streets NW, in the bottom of the Hotel Harrington.

lauren25

Thanks so much for all the lunch suggestions! It is going to be hard getting the $10 per day for lunch to last but each chaperone is hanging onto the $50/student so hopefully it will be a little easier.
We have options regarding our university tours since no one will respond to my emails or phone calls. I have been looking at George Washington, American Univeristy and Georgetown. We will be going on the afternoon of Wednesday April 4. We will be at the National Zoo all morning, so will be relying on the metro to get us from there to the campus and then down to the mall to meet the tour bus at the Holocaust Museum. Any thoughts on a better campus and better college. Georgetown was not my first choice because it is so well known. Have kind of been leaning more towards American University because it is only about four Metro stops away from the zoo (I think).
Thanks all for your fantastic suggestions and help!!

Greatsights

Hi

You're from Wyoming and VP Cheney is also from Wyoming. You could try calling his Wyoming offidce (Casper??) or DC office (or try the White House web site) and see if he'd like to host a group of high school kids for lunch. It can't hurt - kids would get a great memory from it and Cheney would get great press!!

Catholic University is also in DC and might take a little time to show your group around. Seems that the press office in any of the schools should be helpful.

For me, I love to take a picnic lunch (or even some subs, chips, and cold sodas down around the Jefferson Memorial, eat lunch, and watch those cherry blossom trees - it's a wonderful timne and so many Washington workers do it in early April.

Have a wonderful trip!!

TrvlMaven

As a "professional chaperone" (over 22 trips with teens) here's my best tip: when you "cut them lose" to meet up later, synchronize watches (cell phones nowdays) and agree on a meeting time/place. If one pair (no one should be alone) is late, the whole group will lose 10 minutes the next time they are cut loose. Works like a charm!

roothy123

If you happen to be near the Spy Museum at lunch time, I'd recommend walking down one more block to Soho, at the corner of 9th and D NW. You can get a full lunch for $7, which is not unreasonable for downtown DC. They have a stack your plate/pay by the pound food bar in the back or traditional sandwiches up front. Free water if you're really cheap, like I am! It's not special, and nothing to go out of your way for, but if you're in the area, it's a good choice.

Ann41

GW's campus is in the heart of the city, which would probably appeal a lot to your students. I'm an alum, so I'm biased, but I'm also from a small town (600 pop.) and I fell in love with the idea of living four blocks from the White House.

For good, cheap lunches in Arlington, try Hard Times Cafe (right at the Clarendon Metro stop) or Little Viet Garden (about one block away).

In Old Town Alexandria, there's the Perfect Pita a couple of blocks down King Street from the metro (it's take out), and Hard Times Cafe a few blocks more. Union Street is at the end of King Street, and take a right on Union. A little more expensive, but good food and atmosphere. It's very near the Torpedo Factory. Ecco is good, too, but I can't remember the address. Your kids might like Bilbo Baggins. I think it's on Queen Street, not far from the Potomac. The food's great.

At GW, Bon Apetit (we called it the Bone) at the corner of 21st and Pennsylvania has great take out food. Although I have no idea if it's still there. It was a few years ago.

rabidstoat

I know it's too late for you (oops), but in case someone searches this later, a few things to add.

1. There's a big mall that's on the metro: Pentagon City Mall. If they're from a small town they might like to just go off and see a big mall (as opposed to a big Mall) for a night.

2. If you're down in Alexandria, and looking for food, a good place is the Hard Times' Cafe. It's chili, with vegetarian and meat options, primarily. There's another one in Arlington (also near the metro).

Oh, and Five Guys is a good burger joint, if one's around.

lauren25

We took our kids to Pentagon City Mall and I thought the girls (and our 5 guys) were going to have a heart attack! One of the girls even said she would move to D.C. because their mall was so big. She was even more amazed when we told her that they had way more than one!
We stayed in Springfield and had a Five Guys right next door. And it was a god send for one of our chaperones who had to stay behind with a sick kid one day.
Thank you all so much for all of your fantastic suggestions. I don't think we could have squeezed much more into our packed schedule without not sleeping! We were up early and home late every night.
Again, thank you all for your great suggestions!