Given how many excellent museums there are in DC and it appears you haven't seen any, I would not promote the Newseum given your itinerary. First, I can't believe you intend to visit 3 museums on day 2, in addition to the other things? If that's a suggestion of ones you might visit you still ahve plenty to choose from. You could move one of those to Friday, I also highly recommend the Archives which you don't list. I think it is very important historically.

The problem with the Newseum, even though well done, is that it is a lot of reading stuff (the Archives, also, but it is free and doesn't take as long), and it is extremely expensive, even with a AAA 10 pct discount. It's regular fee is $23 for adults and $14 for teens. I don't even know when you plan to put in the Newseum into your schedule. YOu don't even have hardly any time on Friday free, anyway.

Agree that Georgetown is nothing special to see. If you just want to walk around, you could easily do that elsewhere, like Adams Morgan.

Day 2 contains too much of a muchness, not allowing you to spend much time at any of the museums.

You can just walk past the Smithsonian Castle; there's not much to see inside, compared with the actual museums.

We found the Newseum overwhelming, even with 3/4 of a day to visit.

Arlington Cemetery is definitely a must see. Doesn't take a lot of effort being across the river and it's worth the three hours or so that it will take you. Do the tram tour but walk away from the stops too. Do some homework and know what sights (Space Shuttle Memorials, USS Maine, etc) and where they are. It's hallowed ground and needs to be seen.

Thank you all for all the helpful advice. I'm still trying to fine tune the schedule.

We got into the White House tour! The only problem is that our White House tour is scheduled for 8:30 in the morning and we have a Capitol tour scheduled for us starting at 9:50. Is that even feasible?

You're missing a couple of great cities between NYC and WAS.
Philadelphia has some history the boys should be exposed to.
Baltimore has the Inner Harbor, Camden Yards and the National Aquarium.
Is it possible to swap the Capitol tour tickets with someone else for a later tour or are your names on them?

Unless the White House is really important to you, I would skip that tour. You will spend more time going through security than you will actually in the White House. 8:30 is not the first tour time so you may be delayed.

Also, remember you can't bring anything into the White House, no purses or backpacks for sure - I'm not sure whether cell phones are permitted. So you'll have to leave everything at the hotel or leave someone outside with all your stuff.

Ugh! I think we would rather do the White House tour instead of Capitol if we had to choose. Just because it's harder to get that tour than the Capitol. I sent our representative an email about the two conflicting tours they booked for me. Hoping the can find us another time for the Capitol tour. One of my boys really want to see the Capitol as well... As and extracurricular project, he recreated the Capitol building in a cad program and his science teacher 3D printed it. So it would be cool if he got to experience it.

Yep...no purses etc. just basically phone and ID. That's kind of a pain to have to go back to the hotel to get our necessities.

Also, what is the best way to get from the White House to the Capitol in the mid morning? Über or public transportation?

I wish we had more time with this trip to do the cities between NYC and DC. We have to get back to the West Coast for a wedding.

Also, what is the best way to get from the White House to the Capitol in the mid morning? Über or public transportation?

I'd go with Uber or a cab. Metro would take about the same transit time but you'll have a short walk to McPherson Square as well as the possibility of having to wait for a train.

I hope you can get the Capitol tour moved. Both WH and Capitol are memorable tours of iconic buildings. Your son's project sounds impressive!

One of these days, I'm going to remember to schedule a White House tour in advance of a trip! (We have been on the Capitol Tour and it's great).

On my trip to DC two years ago we did the White House tour and the Capitol tour through our representative. We all agreed the White House tour was lack luster. Basically walked through a few room. Guards would answer questions, no tour guide. However, we had a private tour of the Capitol with our reps intern. Road the underground tram between the Rayburn House of Rep Building and the Capitol. Visited a private committee room and ate at the Capitol cafeteria. Way more cool than the White House. We also took the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. Really enjoyed it. Library of Congress is just OK. We happened to hit that on our second trip. We stumbled onto a day where the "library" was closed but the building was having an open house. So we got to go back into the archives. If pressed for time, skip it.

Georgetown took effort to get to by public transportation. I was underwhelmed.

Don't know if you will be there on a Friday night, but if so, check out the Marine Corp Barracks Parade.
http://www.barracks.marines.mil/Para...ingParade.aspx

Wow, we LOVED the Library of Congress!

I would choose the Capitol over the White House tour any day, even without a staffer as a guide. The WH tour is self-guided (although there are guards standing around to answer questions) and covers only a very few rooms. It's worth doing once, but I wouldn't prioritize it, personally, especially given the hassle factor.

IMO, the free docent-led tour of the Library of Congress is necessary to appreciate what you're seeing. We loved it! Ditto the Supreme Court.

Georgetown, underwhelming? Well, depends what you did there. The shopping is mostly chains and stuff you can easily find online, but the historic neighborhood, the Exorcist steps, Dumbarton Oaks, Tudor Place are all well worth seeing if time permits.

Meant to add, I am always ambivalent about recommending the Newseum to tourists with limited time. It's a great museum. But you can't zip through it, and you wouldn't want to given that you've paid admission and given that the whole point of the place is to take time to read, and read a lot.

OTOH, I wholeheartedly recommend at least walking past it, because they put up one front page from each state every day, and it's fun to browse and see what's news around the country.

A couple suggestions that might break up all your museums on day 2 --
FDR Memorial which is outdoors and one of my favorite memorials in DC.
https://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/presid..._memorial.html
Also outside and the newest memorial (for now) is the MLK. https://www.nps.gov/mlkm/index.htm

I love the Newseum, but you have to be into the news. And as mentioned above there is alot of reading.
Did you mention how old your teenagers are? They Spy museum is fun and interactive and they might like that. There are a couple of fun "experiences" one can do. Check it out. http://www.spymuseum.org

What would you be looking for in Georgetown? As mentioned above its pretty much chain stores. Hard to imagine teenage boys enjoying Dumbarton Oaks or the Tudor Place.

Also not sure what Dupont Circle has to offer to take time to visit on such a short stay in DC. Pizza Paradiso has great Pizza & sandwiches. Otello has good food, not great but very good. Lots of people like Kramers on Conn Ave -- its a bookstore that's been around forever with a moderately priced restaurant in the back. Fun if you're a book lover and decent food. There's a wonderful Sunday market there-nice place for breakfast or a snack.

If the reason you have picked Dupont & Georgetown is becuase they are well known, much of the center of nightlife has moved well east. If you want to see where "all the action is" you might go over to 14th St which is packed with people and some great restaurants. Also the area around the Verizon Center is hopping all the time. Again many restaurant choices.

This article while a couple years old is till pretty accurate
https://www.thrillist.com/eat/washin...-washington-dc

Enjoy DC!

Newseum is fantastic. We have been three times and still love it each time. Great for families with kids of all ages. They do an amazing job presenting the news in a very interactive, poignant and fun ways. Great views and decent cafeteria too if you find you cannot fit in lunch.

Keep the White House tour. We have been on the regular one and the VIP and both are well worth it.

Goergetown is not a must but is nice if you can fit it in. If you have a few hours to stroll, stop and shop and eat, then add it in. If not, do not feel bad.

The museums you have are must do stops IMO and I would keep them.

I would break the monuments up into two days to see them all. How much time you spend at each one is totally up to you. Some are better at night than others.

Check out DC Ducks. A fun and exciting way to spend an hour and a half if you have the time.

Have fun.

Wow!!! Thanks for all this helpful advice. Lots to research and ponder over. I love hearing all your experiences and recommendations.