Okay, I'm not really scared, but worried. Husband and I have booked a trip to D.C. (our first trip) July 29 - August 2. Those dates worked best with our work schedule and it's over our anniversary. We were aware that it would be hot and humid when we booked the trip, and we're originally from the Midwest so we've dealt with humidity before, of course. But now we live in Colorado so we're not as used to it! My boss was just giving me a hard time about going in July/August and telling we are going to fry and sweat and wait in lines and hate it. Any advice on dealing with the heat?! Has anyone had a successful trip in August?! Thanks for listening.

The whole world vacations in August. Ignore your boss and stop worrying. We have air conditioning here in DC and you can even get cold water.

Depends on what you want to do while you are here. The museums are cool inside. (Someone who frequents them more than I do, please tell if you have ever seen exterior lines to enter them in the summer. I have not.) The monuments/memorials are outdoors and accessible during the sundown hours. That is when I take my visiting friends to places like the FDR Memorial, Korean War Memorial, Viet Nam War Memorial, etc during the dog days of summer...temps are tolerable then. Seeing the monuments at night is a unique experience in itself.

The problem I have during that time is getting from one site to another. Though I grew up in the deep south, I am still overcome when the heat index gets to a certain point. The Tourmobile will help but you will have waits to access it. There is some shade on the Mall that will also help. And Metro (our subway) is cool.

But...then again, you might get lucky and be here during one of the brief respites we get from extreme temps/humidity. We left Phoenix one 4th of July when temp was 112 degrees; next day at our home in northern DC burbs temp was 72 degrees and no humidity...lasted several days. Who can tell?

Every year millions of people fly, drive, train, or boat to a vacation destination in August. I'm sure a few of them have had a nice trip.

Relax. Have fun. Drink Water. Wear Sunscreen.

It can be very hot and humid in DC in the summer, but there's nothing special about your particular dates that makes it a worse time than you could have picked the rest of July-August. I would not choose to come here in July/Aug if I had a choice, but you never know. It's possible the couple days you're here it will be moderate. No one can predict the exact temps on those couple of days and it is certainly not a fact that every single day in July/Aug of every single year is very hot.

There are a lot of tourists here in the summer due to kids being out of school, nothing you can do about that. As for tips for the heat? What do you want, it's the heat like any other place where it's hot. If it's too hot, go inside to air conditioning. Don't wear too heavy clothes, etc.

I live just outside of D.C. and have taken out of town houseguests around D.C. that time of yr. (and am doing it again 7/28 and 29 this yr).

Make reservations for the self-guided tours or guided tours now online, eg. The National Archives (where reservations must be made 6 wks in advance), because if you do not then you will be standing in line outside waiting to get in (yes, there are lines outside at some museums if you just walk up and try to get in- not all but some). Spy Museum lines extend outside- get tickets ahead of time. Ford's Theater lines go outside also. Treasury lines are outside in early a.m. to line up to get tickets for touring later in day.

Some museums that have been closed for years for renovations (like Natl. Portrait Gallery and one other one- can't think of it now) are just reopening July 1 and will be crowded- I don't know if lines will extend outside there or not.

AS previous poster said, challenge is all the walking from one place to another. Even w/Tripmobile dropping you off from one sight to another, there is still walking involved. Take it SLOW, don't try to pack so much in in one day that you get heat stroke. And lots of water and hat. And personally I'd try to stay somewhere where I could retreat in mid-afternoon to a pool or a cool hotel room and put feet up if you get too hot- somewhere close to the NAtl. Mall if you are going to be doing the traditional tourist sights there.

Have a plan for what you will be doing and when you will attempt to do it, w/whatever tour reservations you can get set ahead of time. I would not want to "wing it" in D.C. in August.

Yes, you cannot predict the weather. I've experienced very hot/ humid weather in that timeframe, and comfortably warm weather in DC. FYI, I'm a used to dry weather native Californian.

My family has always travelled in August since my mom was a teacher. I have continued the tradition since I also teach. There are always crowds, but you can easily figure out ways around them. Just go at your own pace! DC is a great place to visit in the heat because the museums are air conditioned and you can see the monuments at night when it cools off. Just try to carry water with you and take breaks.
DON'T FORGET THE SUNSCREEN!!

Well, I am going to Costa Rica for three weeks in August. It is supposed to rain a lot. But I am visiting my daughter, so who cares? I guess if I were just "doing" a vacation I would choose another venue at another climatological timel

We even went to Washington in August about 4 years ago. We lucked out a hit a cooler than normal week, but in the evening our son was even able to get in a run along the Potomac a few times.

First, lines are a lot shorter in August - many politicians and their staff leave and tourists are scared off by heat. You can get no-line tickets to several places by contacting your US Rep in advance. We even got a private guided tour of Capitol by an intern in out Reps office.

People live there and they do not die. True, you are less used to humidity, but some even have to do outside work. Follow normal heat precautions and bring some extra clothing as you will likely want to change your clothes for the evening if you fell hot and sweaty.

The hop on-hop off tour options limit walking to Metro stops when going from site to site.

Everything is air conditioned - in fact, bring a light sweater because sometimes I froze inside restaurants.

Tell your boss if s/he is so concerned about your vacation - which you mentioned is scheduled this way partly to accomodate work - s/he can give you an additional week in the winter and you promise to go someplace nice and warm.

D.C. is drained swampland on the Potomac it will be miserable so wear breathable fabric like silk and linen and you'll be fine - leave any non-breathing fabric behind because you are going to fry. Bring plenty of water with you as the vendors around the tourist spots will charge a major dollar for it. However, you will have fun, I lived in the area and while looking for permanent housing stayed at Catholic Univ dorms and had a blast all summer playing tourist.

People even manage to successfully live in places like DC in August.

I live and work here, and while I do it successfully in August, I usually go away two weeks of that month, like many people do. Living here and being a tourist are two different things. I go outside to water my garden, but not to trudge around from tourist site to tourist site on the Mall and in other areas. It can be done successfully, but I do think that you need to give yourself breaks and not expect that you can buzz all day without stopping, drinking, resting, etc.

It will be hot and humid. Expect it. Prepare for it. And, then forget it and have a great trip!

I went to Vegas in August once. It was 106 degrees...I kidd you not. But I had a great time! I just remembered to drink a lot of water and I rested when I felt tired.

You will have a great time! Just stay hydrated and sunscreened and try not to focus on the weather.

We were in Las Vegas last year when temps reached 120 degrees and higher in some spots. We also were in DC i 2004 during late July. We were lucky that week that it was cloudy (due to Hurricane Bonnie approaching). So you might just get lucky. Anyway, we had reservations in advance from our congressman's office which made tours a breeze (no lines). Call now if you havent already. You can reserve tickets for the Washington Monument online. So plan your trips close together as possible. Also, take lots of bottled water and perhaps fruit snacks. Keep fruit snacks in your bag as well. The museums are cool and a great reward for the walking. We are from the South, but still not used to being out in the heat all day. We had a fun trip and you will too with careful planning. Also, we bartered with a cab driver to take us back to the Metro station when we got extra tired one day. We were short on money and he was a very nice driver. Have fun!

I take a folding fan with me to sports games for a bit of relief. I also carry those re-freezing ice packs with our water and if it's really hot, I use the packs to cool off my face and neck. Of course, as others have said what you wear is the most important element.