help with our Washington, D.C. trip?
 

My husband, 13 year old son and I are travelling to Washington D.C. next month, staying at the Hilton Washington. We've been there once before, and don't want to repeat the same things we did last time. We'd like to see some of the more off the beaten track things - any suggestions? We definitely want to do the Spy Museum, the American Indian Museum and are scheduled for a capitol tour. Are there any boat tours on the Potomac that are worthwhile or is the Eastern Market something to see? Things that can be done in the evening are good too, since my husband will be in meetings (his is a business trip) all day and will only have evenings to play. There is so much we loved when we were there last, but want to see more! Thanks so much!

Did you go to the National Zoo? Great place and reachable by metro. You might be able to get a boat ride down the Potomac that allows you to visit Mt. Vernon, but if that exists, it will probably kill a whole day. The Postal Museum near Union Station has always interested my younger visitors. Do the monuments at night with your husband if you didn't do that before. Ford's Theatre is neat. Enjoy yourselves.

there is a medical oddity museum at Walter Reed Hospital. Kids usually like it. You will need to do a search for times, etc. It is up 16th street - not metro accessable.

A trip to Mount Vernon is a good idea. You could take a boat from either Washington or Alexandria. Details are on the Mount Vernon website.
http://www.mountvernon.org/visit/plan/index.cfm/pid/29/

We like the National Cathedral, there are lots of free things going on and the tower is fun to go up. Eat lunch at 2 Amys across Wisconsin if you go there.

Walk around the monuments in the evening.

Check out the canal in Georgetown. You can take a ride on a canal boat pulled by a mule.

Explore Old Town Alexandria one evening and have dinner. It is a nice walk down King St. to the Potomac from the King St. metro station. Lots of shops, restaurants and activity. There is a free shuttle down King on weekends from the metro, and during the week the Dash is .25 with your metro ticket.

There are lots of small museums and great walking places. What are your interests?

If you're here on a Thursday, the Phillips Collection, a private art museum, is open until 8:30 on Thursdays (though evidently not tonight or June 23). They call the program "Artful Evenings" and have lectures, but you can also just go to visit the museum. It's a nice small museum with a number of famous impressionist paintings and changing exhibitions, and it's a short walk from your hotel. Since it's private, though, it's not free like most museums in Washington.

Here's a link to the website:
http://www.phillipscollection.org