MomDDTravel

I took my daughter when she was 11 almost 12 and one of her favorite things was the Spy Museum. I felt as though the Holocaust Museum was a must and the museum is very good at having the more graphic images where you make a choice if you want to have your child see them.

DancingBearMD

Don't fret about missing out on Washington Monument tickets. If you must have a view, try the Old Post Office as suggested above, the roof of the Kennedy Center (perhaps after one of their free 6 p.m. performances)or the National Cathedral.

Places you can prebook online include:
Spy Museum
Holocaust Museum
National Archives
IMAX at Natural History
IMAX or planetarium at Air and Space
Capitol tour
Ford's Theater
Washington Monument (you know about this one, but just to be thorough)

Will you have a car?

tenthumbs

Washington, DC, is one of the most overwhelming cities I've ever visited because there is SO much to see and do!!

My personal list of must sees:
Arlington and changing of the guard
National Museum of American History
Air and Space Museum
National Archives

My daughter's faves:
The monuments
Natural History Museum
Museum of Crime and Punishment (weird, I know.....)
The Duck Tour
Union Station

If you can't get in for the White House tour, the White House visitors' center is interesting.

The Holocaust Museum is not enjoyable, but I believe it's something EVERYONE must see.

If time permits, see the monuments at night AND during the day; in the afternoon, the Capitol building and the Washington Monument can be seen reflected on the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial wall. The Korean War Memorial is eerie and night, the WWII Memorial is magnificent both day and night, and the Lincoln Memorial is humbling.

One often overlooked memorial is the National Peace Officers' Memorial (I believe Judicial Center Metro stop is closest); as the daughter and former wife of California Highway Patrol officers, this one hits home.

nytraveler

The White House doesn;t require ticket s- it requires that you get reservations in advance to be part of a group tour through your conressperson or senator. You may have a better chance of doing this (but it may be too late) through the local office rather than the one in Washington.

Deb15July

I generally recommend hop on and off buses, but I never used it in DC. The Metro there is fabulous. Here are some musings from my trips there.

For the age of your son I would skip the Holocaust Museum unless he is really into history. It is a must see, but at his age the significance may be lost.

Definitely the Air & Space and Natural History Museums. I also highly recommend the Spy Museum which was new on our last visit but we all really enjoyed it.

I've never been inside the Washington Monument, but I'm sure it would be awesome. I don't think it is necessary to spend the time to wait in line to get inside. I would try to at least see Lincoln & Washington Memorials and the new WWII monument is good during the day since they have many pools to soak your tired feet!

I absolutely loved the changing of the guard at Arlington Cemetary, but I didn't go there until about my 5th or 6th trip to DC.

tahl

As you plan out your days, be aware that the National Mall (along which most of the Smithsonian museums are arrayed) is a lot longer and wider than you might think. Every day in the summer I see dehydrated families straggling along. So, I suggest planning to do things clustered on one side of the Mall, & one area of one side, rather than expecting to crisscross it.

The Spy Museum is fun, and also (a) has an unusual & excellent gift shop, and (b) is near several family-friendly places to eat (burgers at the District Chophouse on 7th between F and E; Tex-Mex at South Austin Grill on E between 7th and 8th). Also, one Metro stop away on the Red line is Union Station. It has a food court in the basement, and the upstairs hall is very impressive in a restored-train-station kind of way.

tenthumbs

We had a great meal at Georgia Brown's on 15th St NW (between I & K Streets)......the pot roast was fabulous!

Deb15July

I second the motion for Union Station. It has a lot of options for dining, from fast food type to full service, and it is in a great old building. And as was mentioned above, it is right on the Metro. The DC Metro is one of the cleanest and efficient trains I've encountered.

DancingBearMD

Second to Tahl's observation on distances. The Mall from the Capitol to the Lincoln Memorial is 2 miles long. It's almost .4 miles from the door of the Air and Space Museum to the door of the Natural History Museum, to pick one common route (almost .6 miles from Air and Space to American History). The Mall buildings are on such a large scale it really doesn't look as far as it really is.

One reason for buying IMAat Natural History or Air and Space)or planetarium (Air and Space)in advance on-line is so that you know you've got a cool place to sit down for a while. (The downside is you have to make sure to be there at the appointed time.)

maitaitom

Have an Aphrodite’s Pear Martini at Zaytinya, located across from the National Portrait Museum. Tasty, and I believe it counts as one of you 5 A Day!

Jandevere

If your family really likes the Air and Space Museum you might consider visiting its companion the Udvar-Hazy Center located in a hangar near Dulles airport. Low-cost buses are available from the Air and Space museum on the Mall. It houses larger aircraft such as the Enola Gay that dropped the A-bombs in 1945. Our family really enjoyed it. Also highly recommend the Spy Museum - fascinating!!

Be warned that Wash DC is VERY HOT and HUMID. Take sunscreen and water. The weather plus the crowds (millions of screaming kids) can be exhausting so don't plan too many activities per day. But it is a great place to visit and you will have a fine time.

tejana

Don't forget to keep some time free to explore Alexandria itself - you are staying about a mile from the most classic section of Old Town, but I think they still run the little commuter/visitor bus up and down King Street. I've lived in DC for 20 years, but I still remember how impressive the 300 year old cobblestone streets of Old Town were when I first visited DC on a school trip.

When my nieces visited me when they were 13, all they really wanted to do was go shopping (probably not as big of a problem with a boy), so we balanced the museums with visits to Pentagon City mall and to Old Town for the cute shops and great restaurants.

I agree that the monuments at night are the way to go - we always do a driving tour after dark with visitors, and there is something magical about climbing the steps of the Lincoln at 11 pm or so. BTW, kids love to climb on the Einstein statue, which is across the street from the Vietnam memorial, both of which are also very cool at night.

The best thing about DC is that the Smithsonian museums are free, so you don't feel like you must see everything in one visit because you paid $20 admission, like you do with so many other great museums (a big plus with younger children if they aren't really "feeling it" that day). Pick your highlights and do a quick in-and-out if that is what works for you, and don't feel guilty about it. I would recommend visits to Air & Space, Natural History and American History and the absolute musts, and expand your list from there. Some kids don't do well in art galleries, but my nieces really loved the Impressionists wing of the National Gallery. National Archives is great if the line isn't too long. Regarding the Washington Monument, don't worry too much if you can't do it. I managed to get tickets for one relative's visit, and was a little disappointed. Half of the viewing windows are now occupied by cameras, so the actual viewing space is REALLY limited, and it didn't seem like it was worth the effort anymore.

My personal favorite monument is the FDR, which is on the north side of the Tidal Basin, but I don't know if a 12 year old would appreciate it (it is quite cool at night though, and you can walk from it along the Tidal Basin to the Jefferson, which is also very nice at night). I agree with others that Mt Vernon is great if you have the time, and I know that they run the boat tours down to Mt Vernon from Alexandria, but I've never done it that way (it would make a very nice morning, though).

I also agree with everyone that the weather will be miserable. We are already having a hotter than normal summer, and it is just June.

DancingBearMD

FYI, the bus service from Air and Space on the Mall to Udvar-Hazy was discontinued. It is still possible to get there via public transport, but it's not easy:

http://www.nasm.si.edu/visit/transportation/public.cfm

If you have a car you can drive there, but although the museum is free, they charge $15 for parking.

SharonG

Tejana, my favorite monument is the FDR Memorial too. It is so beautiful and really gives you the feeling of what he meant to the Nation. They way they use stone and water to convey what was happening in the country during his terms is amazing.