Thank you all for your suggestions! We will plan on seeing the memorials and monuments at night, which sounds like a lovely time.

@obxgirl, I was thinking we would want a break after the Holocaust Museum as well, so thanks for reminding me to keep a light schedule afterwards.

@deladeb, thank you for your detailed info. I'll try to follow some of your itinerary.

I will report back with what we were able to see, keeping in mind that the weather will be incredibly cold!

Other ideas in DC that might be especially of interest to teens are the Spy Museum and the Newseum. Both charge admission (unlike all the free Smithsonians) but they are very interactive and may draw teens in more than art museums. (Depending on the teens' interest, of course!)

I hope you had a good visit despite the freezing temperature, let us know what you ended up choosing to do.

Wanted to come back and give a brief synopsis of our trip. Weather was very cold so it really determined what we could do, but despite that we had a wonderful time and plan to return in the spring.

We took cabs or uber unless destinations were super close together; that's how cold it was! Taxis or uber never more than $9 and usually around $6.

The highlight for both my husband and me was the Holocaust Museum. I thought it was very well done and could have spent more time there. The kids were getting antsy though so I think we were there for about 2 1/2 hours. Very memorable and thought-provoking.

Arrived Saturday afternoon, lunch at Bread & Cocoa (ok) then toured the Capitol Building, checked out steps of Supreme Court (lawyer in group), White House (outside only), National Tree, Washington Monument, WWII Memorial, returned to hotel. Dinner at Founding Farmers (excellent).

Sunday: Had breakfast in Georgetown at Le Pain Quotidienne, then Holocaust Museum, National Museum of American History, walked around Georgetown and stopped at Baked and Wired for cupcakes and coffee. Returned to hotel and had New Years Eve dinner at La Perla (good).

Monday morning we decided to drive around in our own car on our way out of town so we drove to Georgetown Univ (college-age teen was interested), Lincoln Memorial, frozen reflecting pool, Korean War Memorial.

Yes it was a quick visit but still worth it to us. We're all looking forward to going back when we can spend more time walking or biking outside.

Thanks for getting back -- you saw alot. Too bad the weather was so frigid. DC is at its best in the spring and fall when generally temps are moderate. Not familiar with La Perla so nice ot have a review of it.

Nice to hear the update on your visit. Despite the v. cold weather sounds like you made fair headway into your list of interests.

La Perla is in our neighborhood -- pricier than we seek out for your average weekday dinner but I've taken colleagues there for lunch from time to time. White table cloths, traditional Italian menu.

Sounds like you made good use of what little time you had! DC is one of those cities I don't think I'll ever tire of seeing.

Sounds like a great trip -- thanks for letting us know!

Glad to see you had a good weekend! In the Spring have a ranger led talk in Fords Theater and check out the Library of Congress.