I am planning a trip to the Washington DC area on July 1-6. Here is our itinerary:

-2 or 3 days in the DC area-need suggestions for activities appropriate for a 5 year-old

-At least a day and a half in Baltimore-IKEA for me, Orioles game for hubby and children's museum for son

-At least a day at Paramount's Kings Dominion park (we have season's passes for another Paramount park so it will be free admission there)

My questions:
-What am I missing that would interest a five year-old and his twentysomething parents?
-Where should we stay? I want something along the lines of a Courtyard by Marriott or something and nothing downtown. What areas of town would be good for this itinerary?

Personally, I think you should stay downtown--you can walk everywhere you want to go and there's a great selection of dining choices. That aside, if you want to stay outside, be sure to pick someplace either in walking distance of the Metro or with a shuttle service to take you to the Metro. There's a Courtyard in Greenbelt Maryland that may have shuttle service to the Metro and there are a number of hotels in the Bethesda area. Another option is Rosslyn, right across the river which also has a Metro stop. Old Town Alexandria is nice, but too far to walk to the Metro, so consider how you'd get into town. As for 5 year old activities, the National Zoo is fabulous, even without the pandas.

The DC area during the summer is usually very hot and humid. Be prepared. In DC, as a child, I always loved the Museum of Natural History, although a five year old may be too young to really appreciate it. The Air and Space Museum, (planes and space ships) would also be a good choice. Both are on the mall. I would recommend a downtown hotel to avoid driving and parking problems.

In Baltimore, there's a children's museum called Port Discovery (I think). You should get Oriole's tickets in advance. Games are often sold out. If you stay at one of the Inner Harbor Hotels, you'll be within walking distance to both of these venues. Just be careful walking at night - in both DC and Baltimore

Jennifer, I just came back from 4 days in DC - here are a few suggestions:
- Stay downtown if at all possible. Getting into the city can be a real hassle. We stayed at the Wyndham City Center, which was in a very upscale, safe area, about 2 1/2 blocks from the Foggy Bottom metro. No pool for the kids however. There are several other hotels in this area, which is on New Hampshire ave, near Foggy Bottom. Very good area! The metro is the only way to get around quickly, cheaply, and safely.
- There is so much to see in DC it can be overwhelming! For a 5 year old, the Natural History museum is a must - lots of dinosaurs and other neat things. The American history museum will be of interest also, there is a hands on science room just for kids. If he's into airplanes, the Air and Space museum is also a must. Watch out for museum burn out! For a nice break, walk over to the Old Post office building, a few blocks from the mall. It has a great food court, some intersting shops, and a free elevator up to the top of the Post Office tower, which has a great view of the city. Warning: DC will be mobbed for the 4th of July celebrations, and it will probably be very hot!

I also suggest that you stay downtown. Within walking distance of the White House is a Marrriott Courtyard, J.W. Marriott, Wyndham (not the one mentioned above) and the Capitol Hilton. On Capitol Hill in walking distance of Union Station and the Capitol are a Hyatt and Holiday Inn. Your son will enjoy the newly renovated Museum of Natural History, as well as the Air and Space Museum where I am a docent (the How Things Fly gallery is very popular with kids). You also can't go wrong with the Zoo. You will be in town in time for the Smithsonian Folklife Festival on the Mall - an absolute must! Also, on 4th of July the Washington, DC fireworks are some of the best ever. Getting to all these attractions is a piece of cake with the metro. Please let me know if I can answer more questions about DC. Also, Fodors has a guide on Washington, DC with children. One other thing - it will be so freaking hot here, I promise you that!

Check out the Baltimore Aquarium. It has a rainforest at the very top, a large shark tank on the bottom floor, and all kinds of cool stuff in between!

It's right on the Harbor, and there are other neat things in that area also.

Be aware - it will be EXTREMELY HOT - carry water with you at all times so you don't get dehydrated!

Thanks so much for the help! We are going to stay downtown on July 1-3. I ended up going through Priceline and got each night for $40.

Here's my next dilemna: I would like to stay within the vicinity of Potomac Mills (we are going to go to the IKEA there instead of Baltimore). I cannot go through Priceline if I stay in Woodbridge, near IKEA. What suburb of DC would be the closest to Potomac Mills?

Also, we want to spend at least one night in the vicinity of Kings Dominion. Where should I look? I want to keep it inexpensive. Should I look in Richmond?

We have season passes to King's dominion, my little one is 6, so your kid will enjoy it. There is a motel right next to the park - I think it is a Comfort Inn. Also there is a campground right next to the park. The park is right off Interstate 95, there are several motels just the next exit up or down. Parking at KD is $6, unless you have parking pass added on your season pass, but guests at the motel don't have to pay for parking. The park has a water park area, so be sure to bring your sun block, towels, & bathing suits. What way are you driving? There is MAJOR construction on I-95 in downtown richmond during EVERY NIGHT from 7 PM to 6 AM for the next few months, take I-295 around the city if at all possible!!

You will regret going to Potomac Mills. Accessing this area (and I know I traveled it for 3 years back and forth from Maryland suburbs), is a nightmare!! There is road construction in I-95 in the area, and along I-66.

Leave Virginia alone and visit Baltimore. There is more to see and to do, and you will spend less time and money.

Before you travel to DC, contact your state Congressman and obtain a VIP pass to the White House. Also, don't miss the Viet Nam Memorial.

The restaurants are not that good. The ones in Baltimore are superior. While in Baltimore, go to Little Italy and eat at Germano's on High Street and Ceasar's Den down the street.

Visit Camden Yards and the Aquarium. There are shuttles from the hotels to both areas.

Jennifer, you'll find a clutch of motels surrounding Potomac Mills, including a Days Inn, Sleep Inn, and Fairfield Inn. If you use a service such as Yahoo Travel and use "22193" as the zip code locator, it will give you prices for those motels plus half a dozen others within a few miles of Potomac Mills.

Elliana's warning about construction on I-95 is well taken (the road has been under construction since 1811, it seems), but that shouldn't dissuade you from going to Potomac Mills. Whereas the Ikea near Baltimore is a free-standing store, the one at Potomac Mills is part of a massive discount mall.

You didn't say where you're staying in Washington DC for $40 a night, but the price sounds suspiciously low... either hotels are desperate to fill beds that week, or else Priceline has dumped you in one of the rat holes out on New York Avenue. Dare I ask what hotel they selected for you?

I am staying at the Wyndham Bristol in downtown DC. Hopefully it is okay?

$40 for the Wyndham Bristol? We should be getting travel advice from you.
In other words, yes, it's fine.

Since all of you have been so kind to help me with my dilemna I will let you in on my secret as to how I got the Wyndham Bristol for $40. per night.

I actually went through Priceline. I have gotten great rates through them in the past but the whole secret is that I have found a "cheat sheet". If you go to www.ezboard.com and enter in "Priceline and Expedia Bidding" there you find a great resource in bidding via Priceline or Expedia. This board will tell you what others have bid so you know what to bid yourself. I can't really take the credit for this great deal in downtown DC because I read another person's bid that was accepted and I just duplicated what they bid. The other thing is that right now they have a "bonus money" link. When you use the bonus money it works like this: I bid 40. on the room but used 15.00 in bonus money...Priceline then presented my bid as 55. dollars a night instead of 40. It works really well. Try it and tell me what you think!

First of all, you should understand that there is an ongoing good natured feud between Virginians and Marylanders--just so you know, Virginia is far superior! Except for the Potomac Mills/Woodbridge area. What a nightmare. You might as well go hang out in the hell I like to call Rockville, Md., as go to Potomac Mills. The prices really are not worth the torture of the traffic, parking, waiting in endless lines to check out. But that's just me.

There are plenty of great restaurants in Virginia and D.C. If you prefer a quiet, more blue collar town with not a lot for tourists, than Baltimore fits the bill. D.C., however, is much more tourist friendly, and a much prettier, more accessible city.

For activities for your 5-year-old, get on www.washingtonpost.com today at 2 p.m. for the travel chat with the Post's travel editors/writers.