Wash D.C. at Easter - are we crazy
 

We have a 10 year old daughter and we are thinking of finally taking her to Washington D.C. this Easter vacation. My husband hates <BR>crowds and I am wondering if we are crazy to even consider it? As an alternative, we are considering Charleston and Savannah and Hilton Head? Any thoughts from folks.

DC is just like any major tourist destination, it has its busy times and its slow ones. DC in the springtime is very popular. The biggest reason for this is that DC spring weather is absolutely magnificent! The cherry blossoms are blooming and the whole city seems alive. In my opinion as a former resident of the city for 7 years is to absolutely go in the spring. <BR>As for easter, I'm pretty sure that you aren't going to notice a drastic increase in crowds. There are select times that I wouldn't recommend going because of the crowds (memorial day weekend, fourth of July), but easter doesn't strike me as being such a popular DC time.

I agree that spring is a great time to visit DC, but it always seems to me that we have a lot more visitors during the 2 weeks around Easter than other times during the spring.

I live in DC and the tourist crowds are horrendous around the Cherry Blossom Festival, I will not even go downtown during that time. So, if that Festival coincides with Easter, it will be crowded, but it doesn't this year (Easter is April 15 and the cherry blossom thing is a couple weeks earlier, end of March to April 8th or so as I recall). I haven't noticed that Easter per se is as bad as Cherry Blossom, but of course it will be crowded if kids are out of school, more than other times. However, those other places are all resorts, also, so I suppose they will also be crowded, won't they? Anyway, I wouldn't rule it out if it's your first choice, I don't think it will be completely terrible, and probably no worse than a lot of the summer for crowds--it is much better than summer for weather.

March and April are very busy - I think every high school class in America comes to DC then (and have lunch in my office building - the Reagan Building!) It's especially crowded the week the Cherry Blossoms are out. But as someone before said - DC in the spring is beautiful - and you don't have the summer heat. I think the museums are only open till 5 but you can certainly do the monuments in the evening. I wouldn't stand in line at the Washington monument - I think you get a better view from the old post office bell tower.

Oh---COME IN APRIL. Charleston and Savannah are even more crowded and you probably won't be able to get a place to stay at this point! And 10 year old will have much more fun and much more to see and do in DC than in either of those places! <BR> <BR>I have lived in DC and now live just outside the city (and have for over 10 years) My first visit as an adult was in April. I fell in love. I haven't changed my mind. The crowds are manageable (although those of us who live here enjoy the sight more easily when they are gone). One of my annual activities is picnic breakfast around the Tidal Basin during the cherry blossoms! So what if it is crowded...it is like being in a crowded fairy tale! <BR> <BR>Like I said...go for it!