Please provide feedback on our planned itinerary for Washington DC. We will be there from May 30 to June 5, which gives us five full days. We are staying at the Doubletree Suites in Foggy Bottom. I already have weekly passes for unlimited use of the Metro and don't plan on using the car. We are Dad, Mom, Son 14 and Daughter 11. I tried to minimize walking between attractions and unnecessary metro trips.

Sunday: Arrive late afternoon. Free National Symphony Orchestra concert on Mall at 8:00 pm.

Monday (Memorial Day): Smithsonian Castle, Air and Space Museum, National Gallery of Art

Tuesday: Tourmobile tour of Arlington Cemetery and all major Monuments/Memorials.

Wednesday: White House Tour, Capital Tour, Supreme Court, Library of Congress

Thursday: American History Museum, National History Museum, Old Post Office Tower

Friday: National Archives, Spy Museum, Union Station

Also plan on using our car for a night tour of the Lincoln, Jefferson and FDR Memorials.

Questions: Is the Eastern Market worth a stop on Wednesday? Tips for best viewing of NSO concert? Which Sculpture Garden is better - NGA or Hirshorn? What are we missing? What will be most crowded on Memorial Day? THANKS

Your itinerary sounds very well planned; you won't be doing much backtracking. Be warned, though, that presently there is a lot of construction going on around the Capitol, making entering the building more difficult than it was; so allow extra time.

Note that you can no longer park very near the Lincoln Memorial and Jefferson Memorial because of security concerns.

Don't miss the new WWII memorial and seeing the almost-completed Smithsonian Native American Museum. The architectural design is wonderful.

One recommendation, if it's not too late to make a reservation: the highlight of our trips was seeing the diplomatic reception rooms at the Department of State. The rooms are used for receptions, swearings-in of ambassadors, and other such events. The rooms contain magnificent furnishings, including Thomas Jefferson's writing desk and the famous portrait of Benjamin Franklin. Ask your senator's office about getting in to see the rooms, if ours are still being given.

You'll get to see the new WWII memorial; we could only drive by and peek, but it's stunning.

Not sure about Memorial Day specifically, but Air & Space is the most popular Smithsonian, and the Castle is really just for orientation.

Not sure how you plan to spend your evenings, but you've arranged your days so some days have more than one thing planned that's available in the evening (e.g., Friday) whereas all your Wednesday places will probably be closed by 5:30. You might want to check schedules and maps, and rearrange things a little bit, perhaps go to Union Station on Wed. eve for dinner. Various Smithsonians have different summer evening hours (e.g., American History closes at 6:30, Natural History at 7:30 etc.)

Wow, rich - it's an ambitious plan, and I got tired just reading it! But I understand the desire to squeeze it all in, and would probably do the same...

Personally I would rearrange your Friday and hit the Spy Museum when they first open - unless you've already arranged for timed entry tickets you might be in for quite a wait. When you've spent a few hours there you can hit Union Station and find a late lunch in their downstairs food court- lots of options - and then go to the Archives.

I would've recommended the Holocaust Museum but I forget what the age cutoff is - your daughter may be too young to get in. And allow me to register my disagreement with Underhill re: the WWII memorial - it is a bland, banal, Soviet-looking travesty that neither alludes to why the war was fought nor emphasizes the tremendous sacrifices made - a monumental failure that doesn't even attempt to capture the power of the Vietnam memorial or the intimacy and immediacy of the Korean one... Just my $0.02!

Basically looks good to me. I'd encourage you to be flexible about the museums, because admission is free and they're quite near each other and it's hard to predict which ones will tempt you to stay all day and which will leave you cold. Obviously, if Air and Space is too crowded on Monday (and it may well be, but then the Mall will be crowded on such a major holiday), push it off to Thursday; btw, it's the Museum of Natural History, not National History (and it's excellent). I also concur that the Castle doesn't house many exhibits, so you'll save some time there; if the weather is good, check out the Hirschorn's Sculpture Garden (I wasn't even aware the NGA had one!)On Thursday, consider scheduling lunch at the Old Post Ofc. Pav., as it has a decent food court and some restaurants. On Friday, keep in mind that Union Station is just a train station, albeit a very pretty one. Unless you're planning to dine or shop, it's not much of an attraction. You could head for Georgetown and explore the neighborhood on your last day...personally, I think it would be nice to leave some time open on Friday, so you can pick up anything you missed or want to revisit from earlier in the week. Enjoy your trip!

Alohaaaa,
One of the nicest things we've done in DC (we do it every trip) is sitting on the East steps of the Lincoln and watching a sunset back over The Mall.

The Old Post Office Tower is an awesome sight too. Got some good DC pics from there.

Can't wait to go back and see the WWII memorial.
The Korean War monument was very wll done, especially when visited at night.
Kal

I would definitely plan to have dinner at the Georgetown waterfront (Sequoia is good). The weekends are a zoo...not too family friendly. Skip Eastern Market and pass on the sculpture garden.

Rich:

To be honest switch your Monday schedule to Tuesday and do the memorial/monument stuff on Memorial Day. It would be great if you can visit The Wall on Memorial Day and if possible the brand new WWII Memorial. I'm sure it will be a meaning visit for a meaningful day. There is also a ceremony every year at The Wall at about 12N - I watch it on C-Span every year.

Generally, your itinerary looks great.

Eastern Market is worth the stop on Wed. Walk along East Capitol or one of the "lettered" streets instead of Penn Ave. to get a better sense of the neighborhood. If you're there at lunchtime, go to Market Lunch in the market bldg. (very inexpensive), Montemarte (moderate to expensive) or one of the other restaurants in the area. There's also a Ben & Jerry's.
http://www.montmartre.us/
http://www.easternmarket.net/

VERY IMPORTANT - Arrive by 5:30pm to find any seating at the outdoor concert (not exaggerated). Bring a blanket and a picnic. Maybe cards, book, radio, etc.

Go to BOTH sculpture gardens, they take less than 5 minutes each to thoroughly explore and are a one minute walk from each other. The cafe at the NGA sculpture garden is a very nice break spot for esspresso, cookie, wine, etc. any time of day. But if you're having lunch there, then get there before noon to grab a table.

Consider switching your Monday itinerary with a different weekday. Memorial Day is one of the most crowded days on the Mall. If you must go on Monday, at least plan to do Air&Space FIRST and arrive promptly when they open. The Castle and NGA do not get nearly as crowded and can be visited anytime of day.

Can you squeeze in an NPS tour at Ford's Theater (the kids will like this).

I also think the WWII memorial is being commemorated Memorial Day weekend, so DC is going to be packed.

Indeed, the official dedication of the WWII Memorial is on Saturday, May 29. I'd expect ALL the monuments to be especially crowded that weekend.

Thanks for your help. I basically swapped Monday's and Thursday's schedules and deleted Union Station in favor of Ford's Theater on Friday. 13 days and counting!

Ford Theater is less than 2 blocks from the spy museum, so putting those on the same day makes sense.

I do not recommend combining the Tourmobile on The Mall with the Tourmobile at Arlington Cemetery. There is quite a bit to see at Arlington including the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknowns and the Custis-Lee Mansion.

Arlington actually belonged to Robert E. Lee. During the Civil War the Federal Government took his property and put a graveyard in his backyard, insuring that he and his family could not live there again. Do not miss touring the mansion.

Some of your days look way too busy. Please remember you are on vacation. Do leave some time to relax. If you don't you will get grouchy and not have a good time. Your kids will want to spend some time just relaxing by the hotel pool.

DC will be packed Memorial Day weekend. Not only is the new WW II memorial being dedicated, but we also have Operation Rolling Thunder (lots of people on motorcycles commemorating WW II vets).

I agree with others who have recommended deleting the Eastern Market--fun but not a big deal.

I know you have a limited time in DC, but I think with 2 kids it would be a shame not to consider the National Zoo. It is free, accessible by metro, and has the pandas! It is a beautiful park, too.

I went to see the WWII memorial last week with my uncle who served, and he was very moved by it. I found it to be quite amazing sitting in between the Washington and Lincoln memorials also.

Karen

Definitely arrive early for the concert, and bring water, sunscreen, etc. with you. I lived in DC for 15 years, and one of the fondest memories I have is sitting on the Mall on a beautiful night listening to the NSO play the Star Spangled Banner while watching fireworks set against the Washington Monument. And plan to walk back to your hotel. You'll get there faster than trying to get on the Metro, which will be packed.

Also, as none of the restaurants on the G'town waterfront have very good food and charge an arm and a leg for these mediocre meals, avoid avoid avoid. They rely on their location rather than their food, including Sequoia. Sequoia once was an exception to that rule, but has not been for several years.

I'm not a big fan of the White House tour. You only get to see a few rooms, and I was surprised to see things like peeling wallpaper. When I was a kid, they used to do a great WH tour, but it's so limited now. The Capitol tour is great, and your kids will love the Spy Museum (especially crawling through the air duct and taking on their new persona).

Don't forget to visit the Albert Einstein statue for a few minutes.

Eastern Market is worth a stop. I've only had breakfast there on the weekends, but if they're serving on weekday mornings, definitely have breakfast there. I NEVER wait in lines, and I waited about 45 minutes there, and was not disappointed.

I would be more ambitious with your driving night tour. Here is an itinerary that will give you some spectacular views.

Facing the street from your hotel, go left on PA Ave and it merges into M Street. Drive through Georgetown and make a left onto Key Bridge to Rosslyn.

Go basically straight, crossing over US Route 50, and you will get to the Marine Corps War Memorial (Iwo Jima Mem). Drive the circle around the memorial. Drive back to US 50 and head east across the river to D.C. and drive down Constitution Avenue (still route 50).

After you pass the White House (on your left) you will want to make a right to cross over the Mall and then left on Independecnce Ave. You can make the right on 14th St and then *I think* you can make the left onto Independence. When I take people on a driving tour, I usually go farther down Constitution to cross the Mall in front of the Capitol (i.e. the back side, west side, of the Captiol).

On Independence Avenue, you will go past the Capitol on your left and then make the left onto 1st Street. See Capitol, Supreme Court, Library of Congress?.

You are heading north on 1st St. and will see Union Station ahead. Go ahead and drive around in front of the station.

This is where I usually get lost and my directions break down some because it is difficult to see street signs with my eyes at night. Your goal, after the station drive by, is to get on I395 south towards Richmond. That means you will head west and south from Union Station. As you leave the station, it should be on the right side of your car, or directly behind you. Facing the station, the left side of the station is (generally) west.

If the cross streets are number streets "NW" and the numbers are increasing, then you are heading west. If you miss the I395 South signs, that's ok, just also be looking for US Route 1 South. If you go west from Union Station eventually you will get to 14th Street where you turn left onto 14th St heading south. 14th Street turns into Route 1 South (actually coming south on 14th St would be more scenic than finding I395S).

As you drive across 14th St Bridge into Virginia you will get some nice views. Get over into the right lane on the bridge and take the first exit to the right onto George Washington Memorial Parkway (north). The Potomac River and D.C. will be on your right.

After you get on GW Parkway, start looking for the turn-off, on the right side of the road, into the park and take it. Here you will get a great view of the river, bridges, and the lighted memorials. Also, planes landing at National Airport.

Continue upriver on GW Parkway. Get in the left lane and look for the signs for Memorial Bridge (the road splits with left lane going to the Bridge).

The road enters a circle and you can stay right and just get on Memorial Bridge and go into D.C. Or, you can get in the circle and go around to the road up to Arlington Cemetery. If you do that, then just make a U turn and head back to the circle and cross Memorial Bridge.

At the D.C. end of the bridge, you will circle to the left, around Lincoln Mem, and make the left onto 23rd St. That will get you to Washington Circle and you go most of the way around the circle to Pennsylvania Avenue (that would be the second turnoff from the circle to PA Ave). There's the Doubletree on your left!

well, you're probably already in DC and have figured this out by now, but I'll jump in here anyway.

I work downtown. The traffic going down 9th street in the direction of the mall today at lunch time was awful. There are a LOT of veterans and other tourists in town this weekend. Be patient - and try not to squish too many cicadas. They're everywhere!

Not there yet, but on our way. We arrive Sunday. Hopefully most of the throng with be gone by then.