elsiemoo

We took our GD to the Aquarium in Baltimore a couple of years ago, and she totally enjoyed it. She is thinking of becoming a marine biologist so we usually visit aquariums wherever we go with her, though we won't on this trip. Thanks for the suggestion though. A hotel pool would be nice but wouldn't be a must, as we will have done a lot of beach/pool before Washington. Any further thoughts will be appreciated!

LaurenKahn1

There are no Smithsonian Museums at Dupont Circle, but there is the Phillips Collection. That museum, privately owned, has an extraordinary collection including impressionists. The most notable painting there is Renoir's "Afternoon of the Boating Party".

However, you do not need to stay near the Smithsonian. So long as you are near a Metro stop, it really doesn't matter where you stay. You will do a lot of walking wherever you stay to see everything you want to see.

Dupont Circle has a huge choice of restaurants at night which is why people (including me) love it. There is a Hilton at Florida Avenue and Connecticut Avenue, NW, just a couple of blocks up from the Dupont Circle NORTH exit to the Metro. I put "North" in capital letters so that you understand that you get off on that side of the Dupont Circle Metro stop to minimize walking.

Have a great time in DC wherever you stay!

yestravel

LaurenKahn1-thanks for verifying there is no Smithsonian at Dupont Circle. I was really puzzled. I also wondered if someone thought the Phillips was part of the Smithsonian. I agree that the Phillips is a wonderful. They do charge an admission fee on weekends.

DancingBearMD

"There is a Hilton at Florida Avenue and Connecticut Avenue, NW, just a couple of blocks up from the Dupont Circle NORTH exit to the Metro."

That would be the Hilton where Reagan was shot.

rm_mn

Please check the location of the National Zoo. I believe it is near the Dupont Circle area and it too is part of the Smithsonian.

DancingBearMD

The Zoo is several blocks up Connecticut from Dupont Circle (one Metro stop up on the Red Line).

yestravel

Yes, the National Zoo is part of the Smithsonian and is on Conn Ave NW. It's probably about a 1.5 - 2 miles or so up Connecticut Ave to Dupont Circle. The zoo is closer to Woodley Park/Zoo/Adams Morgan Metro -- about 1/2 a mile away.

djkbooks

Those Smithsonian buildings on the mall are a lot farther apart (the buildings are enormous) than you would presume from viewing a map. And, August weather can be brutally hot, humid, sunny.

I prefer to stay in more of a residential area than a business district, where there's great dining at moderate prices within walking distance and the streets aren't deserted at night.

I found a terrific rate on Hotwire last year for the Omni Shoreham. The metro station was RIGHT around the corner along with two blocks of wonderful restaurants of every type of cuisine imaginable with moderate prices.

Highly recommend the National Zoo, though sometimes in hot weather nearly all the animals are in their caves, hidden behind trees, bushes. Last time we went in summer, there was a sign that the Polar Bears were in Chicago due to the hot weather.

If you do go to the zoo, get off the Metro at Cleveland Park (rather than the "official" stop Woodley Park. That way, you walk downhill (about the same distance) to the zoo entrance. (The zoo is VERY hilly...) When you leave, turn left and walk to the Woodley Park station - downhill.

elsiemoo

Thanks for ALL recommendations. We won't do the Zoo because we have a wonderful one right here in NC, which we visit every year. This is really just about the Smithsonian museums for a day and a half. With an 11 year old, *great* restaurants are not that important ... You've all been very helpful.

DebitNM

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