Long weekend in DC?
 

I'm planning a trip to DC with my husband and 4 teenaged children. Our choices are to visit over memorial day weekend, or wait a couple of weeks and go in early June after school is out.

I know either time will be crowded at the museums, etc., but could anyone tell me which time period is likely to be less crowded?

Hmmm...kind of a toss-up, I'd say. Many of us (DC residents) go away over Memorial Day weekend, but we're also not likely to crowd museums, etc.... If I had to select, I would say come over Memorial Day, but really, it is not going to make that much difference.

On the other hand, during Memorial Day we get a lot of visitors here in D.C. plus all of the motorcyclists for Rolling Thunder. I agree that it's a toss-up as to when you come.

Rolling Thunder can be highly disruptive if you're on the mall and want to get across Constitution or Independence Avenues. If you can miss it, that would be better.

I was in Washington last year during the Memorial Day weekend. I had no problems with Rolling Thunder, but I planned ahead so that I was inside museums on the Mall when it was taking place.

You can find their schedule of events here: http://tinyurl.com/4fl4z2

Oh, yeah. Rolling Thunder. I forgot about that. But I bet your teenagers would find it cool--or whatever the correct term is these days! It is a very impressive sight.