MomDDTravel

I am staying at the Westin Grand Washington DC for 4 nights with my eleven year old dd.

I will not have a car and am arriving via train.

1. What sort of transportion is there to get from the train station (Union Station) to the hotel? It is located 2350 M Street N.W. -

2. How long would you plan at the Washington Monument? I have 2:30 pm tour time on Sat the 18. Is there anything special that I should know in advance?

3. I am thinking of going to the Holocaust museum on Sunday, the 19th - any tips regarding that as well?

4. Libary of Congress - I am thinking of going Monday. I am waiting to hear back from our Congress person regarding whitehouse tours so that is all subject to change based on what she indicates. She called me for my security clearance but this was prior to the bailout and I am not sure how their office is functioning etc right now.

Anything you can recommend about the Libary of Congress?

Do you feel the Bureau of Engraving and Printing is worth a trip?

We have arrive by train on Sat at 10:30 am and plan to drop our bags and hit the ground running.

We have 4 days total. (we leave on Wed the 22 around 10:30 am or so).

I would love good resturant recommendations that might not need reservations - we are not foodies and will want to just pop in someplace on our touring time - but do enjoy good food that is not in a chain resturant.

Thanks in advance - you have all been amazing about NYC and our other trips!



Dawn

vjpblovesitaly

“1. What sort of transportion is there to get from the train station (Union Station) to the hotel? It is located 2350 M Street N.W.”

Taxi (out front) or Metrorail redline to Dupont Circle station and walk from there. You can check www.wmata.com and put the addresses into the trip planner (just put union station for the first one) and see if you want to take the train or a cab.

Here is a taxi fare estimator.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv...ves/taxifares/

“3. I am thinking of going to the Holocaust museum on Sunday, the 19th - any tips regarding that as well?”

It is very sad. You might want to check the website. There is a special exhibit geared toward kids but I don’t know the age range they gear it towards.

“I would love good resturant recommendations that might not need reservations...but do enjoy good food that is not in a chain resturant.”

If you are interested in trying different cuisines, DC is known for Ethiopian food due to a large Ethiopian population.

MomDDTravel

Great information! Thank you so much.

Yes, I know that the museum is sad. I think my eleven year old should be okay. My 15 year old was there at 14 and she felt her sister would be okay based on the amount of studying we have done. She has read about Anne Frank, we have watched the made for TV movie Anne Frank, Paper Clips, The Hiding Place ... but thank you - I will be sure to monitor her reactions and remember to give time afterwards to decompress/talk.

MomDDTravel

Does this seem correct?


RAIL : Departs from
BOARD
ARRIVE


UNION STATION METRO STATION
at 11:01am
Take RED LINE Rail towards SHADY GROVE
» DUPONT CIRCLE METRO STATION
at 11:09am



BUS : Departs from
BOARD
ARRIVE


NW CONNECTICUT AV & Q ST NW
at 11:16am
Take D2 BUS towards GLOVER PARK/DUPONT CIRCLE
» NW P ST & NW 22ND ST
at 11:19am

kayd

Yes, eight minutes from Union Station to Dupont on Metro, and three minutes to ride the four blocks from 19th and Q to 22nd and P. BUT, buses rarely keep to schedule because of the city's unpredictable traffic jams, luggage could be a challenge on the bus if it is crowded (it is easy on Metro), and when you get off the bus there you'd still need to walk the five blocks to 24th and M.

Choose the taxi, or walk all the way from Dupont Metro to the hotel.

Or another route via Metro, Union Station to Metro Center and transfer there to Blue or Orange for Foggy Bottom.

MomDDTravel

Kayd - thank you - I will choose the taxi due to the luggage.

thereyet

The Holocaust museum is very sobering and moving. It is likely too much for an eleven year old. Go back again after she has studied this in school. You would find yourself having to explain some very tough times in history. Well worth it when she is better able to understand it. It is hard enough for an adult to understand.

thereyet

padams421

Our sons ages 10 and 12 thought that the Bureau of Engraving and Printing was one of the best places we toured on our trip to Washington this past summer. You can see the money (LOTS of it- $$$$$) being printed.

MomDDTravel

Thereyet - dd and I studied the holocaust over the 12 weeks very seriously that she was bed-ridden.

MomDDTravel

padams421 - very good to know! Thank you!

seasweetie

During our day in DC this spring, my 11-year old DD really enjoyed visiting the Archives (it was actually her idea) - we spent hours there. And she has a fascination with Lincoln, so the house where he died across from Ford's Theatre was a highlight for her -took about 5 minutes to walk through. We walked everywhere, and wished we had more time. On a previous trip, we'd done most of the monuments, but I did want her to see the Korean War memorial - amazing. Next time!

MomDDTravel

I got an email this morning from my congressman's office and we are set with:
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS
WHITE HOUSE TOUR
PERSONAL CAPITOL TOUR
THE KENNEDY CENTER

I am thrilled!

mapngo

I hope your WH tour works out. Ours got cancelled a few days prior because the Iraqi Prime Minister was coming to visit. I have regrets now that we didn't do the Bureau of E&P. We did do the Holocaust Museum close by. They are super serious about no photography inside. We witnessed a guy getting chewed out by the guide and was told to delete his pictures on his digital camera. The guide made him go backwards and forward through his pictures to verify they were deleted.
We settled for the Old Post Office view instead the Washington Monument.
I know you guys will have so much fun. I saw a bracelet today that had a charm that read "My favorite memories all begin with my Mom and I."

MomDDTravel

mapngo - very cool

I am very excited about our trip. I too hope that the whitehouse tour works out.

I am 40 and have never been to DC!

DancingBearMD

Keep in mind that if you go to the Holocaust Museum, the Archives, the Spy Museum, or the IMAX movies in the Air and Space or Natural History Museums, you can/should buy/reserve your timed tickets in advance on-line.

My kids are younger now but I'd think the Newseum would be great for an 11-year old. But it's $20/each.

Check ou the DC Circulator bus as a possible way to get to your hotel from Union Station (it comes within a couple of blocks of your hotel):

http://www.dccirculator.com/routemap.html

You could also take the Red Line from Union Station to Dupont Circle and pick up the Georgetown Metro Connection bus:

http://www.georgetowndc.com/getting-here/shuttle

The Washington Monument is worth the trip, but you won't need to spend a whole lot of time at the top, which actually is a bit cramped, and the windows aren't large. If they still let you do so, ride up the elevator but walk down, as then you can see the many memorial stones that were donated by states and such. Combine this visit with something nearby, like the WWII Memorial (and then on to the Lincoln Memorial, if you are up for it), or the Bureau of Engraving and Printing.

As for places to eat: The area north of the Archives (around the Spy Museum, and above the Gallery Place Metro station on the Red Line) is known as Penn Quarter and is teeming with restaurants. For lunch along the Mall, I'd recommend the small cafe located in the National Gallery's Sculpture Museum (on the Mall between the National Gallery and Natural History, across from the Archives), or any of the eateries in the National Gallery (including those in the underground walkway between the National Gallery and the East Wing). You'll have plenty of places to eat within walking distance of your hotel, particularly around Dupont Circle or in Georgetown.

MomDDTravel

good information - thank you.

I have looked online for the tickets to the Holocaust museum and it appears due to the time of year we are going to be there - they do not do advance reservations? It seems odd but that is what I have been able to gather. I think I will phone to see if I am missing something.

themishmans

I want to add my voice to those advising against taking an 11 yo to the Holocaust museum. I am over 40 and came out as a shivering mass of jelly in hysterics. It took me several hours to get myself together.

There is a children's exhibit in the lobby which they say is appropriate for children under 12. I would focus on that. The entire museum is just too much for a child.

tmcamil

My husband and I went to DC for our 25th anniversary a few years ago and we had a wonderful time. There are many museums as well as all the historical places to go. We especially loved going to the Library of Congress as it is an architecturally beautiful building. Seeing the Declaration of Independence, as well as going through the White House was great. We took the subway and it was very clean and on time and we also did a lot of walking. You will have a wonderful time with your daughter.

swisshiker

Hello Mom

I've been pretty detached from here lately, so this was a surprise to see you planning a DC trip instead of Italy. Sorry that one didn't work out for you.

I will add that, to this day, 12 years after our visit to DC, our kids (now in their mid 20s) still talk about the Bureau of Printing and Engraving as a highlight for them. Seeing the dollar bills being printed so rapidly and, yes, even purchasing an "uncut" sheet of bills (which they still have) was something else.

And we also visited the Holocaust Museum. I don't remember it being too much for them to handle. They were prepared, and your DD sounds like she is as well.

We were also able to have a tour of the FBI building. Do they not have tours any longer? That was pretty cool also, as I recall.

Happy travels!

Pyewackett

Regarding restaurants, DC is becoming a food destination. There are all types and price ranges. If you are on the Mall, note there are very limited dining choices. One that is not well known is the cafe in the lower level of the American Indian museum (which is worth a visit as well just to see the architecture--great building). The food is self serve so it is quick, but actually quite good (all American regional cuisine). If you walk west on M street from your hotel, it is a short walk to Georgetown, which has many dining choices. M street has many restaurants, just walk down and read the menus/prices and see which have available seating. The weather is cooling and the leaves are just beginning to turn, so its one of best times of year to visit DC.

Enjoy!