Hi everyone,
We had a great week in Washington DC. Thank you all for your great tips! I felt very prepared thanks to this board and almost like I had been there before because I was familiar with the metro stops, restaurant names and buildings.

We stayed at the Holiday Inn Rosslyn. It was a block away from the metro, hot breakfast buffet included for all four of us (after joining their Priority Club before booking the room at no extra cost), and a nice big pool that my kids used almost every night since the week was so hot! It was also a great value at $120/night and free parking.

Sunday we visited the National Shrine of the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception. We took the metro to the Brookland/CUA stop and then were waiting for the #80 bus but found out we just missed it and took another bus because the bus driver said we could get there on his bus. Wrong! I guess he thought we meant the Franciscan Monastery because that is where we ended up. That was a beautiful place but we were trying to make the 12:00 mass so we ended up taking a cab for $10.00 to insure we were on time. The church was massive and very ornate and we were thrilled that we were able to get there. The rest of us were not hungry at this time but my husband did eat in the cafeteria and was not too impressed. We then walked back to the metro and took the red line to the zoo. What a beautiful zoo! We thought that we would just look at the pandas and go but the kids loved it so much that we stayed about three hours. We then took the metro to Dupont Circle to fine a good place to eat. We had just found out that our 12 year old daughter had been diagnosed with celiac disease and had to avoid gluten, which is barley, rye, oats and wheat. That meant that a lot of dining choices were available to us but we ended up having an excellent meal at Biddy Mulligans at Jurys Hotel. It was a casual pub type place and both the service and food were great.

Monday, we took the metro to the Arlington Nat'l Cemetary and did the tourmobile tour. I would recommend doing this and save on walking. We then took the tourmobile tour out to the mall and tried to see all the monuments. It was a very hot day and we were only able to see Lincoln (awesome!), FDR (gorgeous and better than I expected), Vietnam (very moving) and the Washington Monument which we had timed tickets for at 3:00. Thanks to advice from this board. They were sold out of tickets and we wouldn't have been able to go otherwise. We got there at 3:20 and were not given a hard time for being late. The view wasn't terribly clear from those little windows but our 12 year old is still talking about how tall it is and how quick the elevator ride was. We ate hot dogs at the Lincoln Memorial for lunch, Hebrew Nat'l hot dogs are gluten-free and very good. We ate dinner at Ruby Tuesdays near our hotel.

Tuesday we went to the American History Museum and the Natural History Museum. We like them both very much. We ate the Am. History Museum cafeteria, which was very expensive and nothing special. We saw an IMAX film, Into the Deep, at the Natural History museum. We all thought it was kind of boring and wished we had seen the dinosaur one. I had purchased tickets tickets online but there were plenty still available. We then went to the Nat'l Archives at about 6PM. We waited in line about 20 minutes outside and then about an hour inside. It was worth it. The building was beautiful and the documents amazing. People in the line had commented that the lines are so much longer earlier in the day so it was a good time to go there. We had a late dinner in the Rosslyn area at Tom Saris' Orleans House. The decor is kind of tacky but they have a really great salad bar and wonderful cuts of meat. We all had prime rib and dessert and the bill was $96.00.

Wednesday everyone was tired so we got a late start and took the metro to the Capitol for a tour arranged by our congressman. I was carrying sun block in my purse and was not allowed to bring it in. It was an excellent tour. He were able to sit in the gallery and hear a bill being discussed and then ate in the restaurant where the congressman eat. The room was very beautiful and exciting to eat there but the food was only fair. We then went on to the Library of Congress and toured that building. It was getting late and we had to chose between it and the Supreme Court and I think we made a good choice. We saw Thomas Jefferson's book and enjoyed the Bob Hope exhibit. We then went on to Union Station. He visited the Postal Musuem for about a half an hour which was enough, not too impressive, and then went to Union Station, where we poked around at the stores and saw a movie.

Thursday, I got up and out of the hotel at 7AM and made my way over to the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. I got there about 7:30 and got tickets for the 9:45 tour by about 8:15. The line was long when I got in it but when I looked back when the box office opened at 8AM, the line was just as long behind me. My family met me at the metro stop and we on the tour together. We all really enjoyed it! I have heard mixed reviews on this board but here's four thumbs up for the BEP. We then grabbed a cab and asked the driver to take us to Breadline and the White House area. He talked us out of it saying he would take us to a better place and we ended up at the Post Office Pavilion. The tower was really cool and the building interesting as well. The food was awful. The kind of place where you walk around picking out the least greasy food. The kids got burgers, my husband and I had the lasagna which wasn't too bad. We then walked to the White House which was a good walk and then around to the other side. We then went to the Air and Space Musuem and saw another IMAX film about astronauts which we were not too excited about but then saw Infinity Express, the Planatarium show that was excellent. Definately, take in Infinity Express and you won't be disappointed. We then made our way back to Rosslyn and the Orleans House restaurant for another good meal.

Friday, our last day, my husband and kids were tired so I ventured out alone. I took the bus to Georgetown and looked around there. Then I grabbed the bus again and rode to Dupont Circle and then switched over to the metro and headed to the Nat'l Gallery of Art. I really enjoyed that very much and loved being on my own as well. I then make my was back to the American History Museum, my favorite for another look around. We had tickets to the Spy Museum for 2:30 so we met up at the musuem, ate a hot dog from the street vendor (not as good as the ones at Lincoln), and went to the musuem. We spent about three hours there. My husband and I thought it was very well done but the kids overall were disappointed with it. They give you new idenities at the beginning, which the kids loved, but then they really don't follow through with it. We then made our way to the Hard Rock Cafe for a quick dinner of hamburgers, walked past the Ford's Theater and Peterson House (kids were not interested in visiting) and caught the metro to Union Station to buy tickets for the Twilight tour of the Monuments. We all loved that tour very much. We were able to see the monuments we missed as well as see the others in a different light. The narrator was very informative and the bus driver had a great sense of humor. We had an added bonus of seeing fireflies or lightning bugs in the grasses near the Lincoln Monument. Coming from the Boston area, we had never seen these bugs but had heard about them and the kids actually caught some and then let them go.

Saturday, we packed up for the long drive home. We wanted to stop at the Eastern Market before we left but as it was, we didn't make it home until 11PM! I guess we'll have to go next time!

Sorry this report is so long. Just to summarize, the metro was wonderful. Whether I was alone, or with my family at late at night, I never felt frightened and even the kids learned the system immediately. The lines were not as long as I expected. Most places manage the crowds quite well. The only tickets that I needed to purchase ahead were the Washington Monument ones, the IMAX, Planaterium, and Spy Musuem were still selling tickets for the shows we wanted. The tourmobile saved us some walking. The night time tour is definately worth it and was the highlight of our trip. We had a great time and truly appreciated all of your help!

Just a P.S. on my trip report - -
I tried to edit some things but there must be a time limit and I was pretty long winded. Thanks to Richbutnot for the Nat'l Archives tip to go later in the day. Thanks to MommyBryant for urging me to get Washington Monument tickets. Thanks to Bardo for the good metro advice on getting metro tickets for all four of us and also the good restaurant advice. Even though we didn't make it to most of the restaurants, I saw them in my travels and it was comforting to feel so familiar with a new place. I know there are more names I should mention but please know that we appreciated your help!

Bargains, Gald to hear you had a great trip. DC is a fabulous city. Our oldest son is almost 8 and starting to get very interested in history, so we're thinking of planning a trip there in the not-so-distant future.

I have one comment on your trip report that actually has nothing to do with DC! I'm surprised you never saw fireflies in the Boston area. They were plentiful on the Cape when I was a kid, 20 years ago. I've actually seen more on the Cape this summer than I've seen in a long time, but now that I think of it, I guess I haven't ever noticed them where I live now, on the south shore. But I just figured it was because I'm not hanging around outside at night as much because of all the darn mosquitoes! I'm going to have to specifically start to watch for them! Glad your kids got to experience them. They're such a fun childhood memory for me!

bargains,

Thanks for the report and the kind words.

I can't believe that taxi driver recomended that you go to the Old Post Office pavllion to eat - it's known by all DC residents as the worst food in town and a complete tourist trap (except for maybe the views from the tower). The Breadline, by contrast, gets raves by all DC foodies and area food critics. It is also always listed as one of the best bargains in DC. I suspect the reason is the DC taxi zone system - he was able to dump you at the closer Post Office Pavillion for the same zone 1 fare that it would have cost if had had taken you to the Breadline a little further away. Shame on him.

Thank you for the great trip report.

Did you take the clock tower tour at the Old Postal Pavilion? I too thought everyone had seen "lightning bugs", but I guess not! I also like Rosslyn as a good compromise on hotel value & proximity to DC.

Hi Klw25,
We actually live in Norwood, MA now but my husband grew up in Hull, MA and I grew up in Boston and neither of us had ever seen the lighning bugs. We both are in our 40's and have been to the Cape most summers, too. I guess we just weren't in the right place at the right time!

Bardo, we caught the cab from the BEP and there was a lot of blocked off streets around the White House so I'm not sure if that is commonplace or a new thing. We did take the tour of the Clock Tower and liked the views just as much as from the Washington Monument. I had the Old Post Office Pavillion on my list of places to see but I had heard so much about Breadline and it was close to lunchtime so I thought we could save our feet from too much walking. I guess I should have been more assertive and insisted on stopping at Breadline but I figured we hadn't fit in the Old Post Office yet so why not listen to his advice.

Thanks for the great trip report. We leave Sat. for D.C. and appreciate all the tips. One question - how cold is it inside the museums and Capital? We plan to dress cooly for the heat, but wonder if the buildings are cold inside? My daughter is always cold, and I was thinking she might should take a light sweater. Would appreciate any advice. We are also staying in Rosslyn and glad to hear that worked out well.

Hi blh,
The buildings and museums were all air conditioned but not overly cool. They really felt good to step inside them because the week we were there it was in the 90's. We, too, have a very skinny 12 year old daughter who is always in need of a sweatshirt when the a/c is up too high in restaurants but she did not complain at all.

You will love Rosslyn. We felt very safe walking back to our hotel late at night and the metro station is only six stops at the most to most attractions. Check out Tom Saris' Orleans House if you like steaks or prime rib. It is right on Wilson Blvd and we felt it was a good value.

Be sure and wear comfortable shoes and be prepared to walk a lot and not see everything in as much detail as you would like. Also restaurants close in the Rosslyn area at about 10PM. There was a lot of pizza delivery in our hotel, though, but it was not an option for us since my daughter cannot eat it.

Hope you have a wonderful trip!

bargains - thanks for the information - we can use all the info we can get! We're excited about the trip - just hoping the heat is not unbearable. You all really saw a lot - hoping we can do the same. I'll try to report after we return. It does help to be somewhat familiar with places before arriving. I am trying to re-read all the research this week, hoping that some of it sticks in my mind!

Great report, I was there the same time as you were. I remember how HOT it was on that Friday, I thouhgt I was going to melt! I was there on the 4th of July, saw some pretty good fireworks, LOL.

I also visited the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception and the Fransciscan Monastery, both off the beaten path gems, in my opinion. Glad you enjoyed those spots.