Well, if you're caught for something to do to waste some time, here's something kids may or may not like.

According to escalator repair person I spoke to at Rosslyn Station, the WHEATON escalator is the longest in the FREE WORLD. My nephews were quite fascinated by the ones at Rosslyn (but come from a small town w/ NO excalators) Weight it out for yourself. Wheaton is the next to last stop on the Red Line going to Glenmont. (no x in my eddress)

Hi anon and everybody

No, we're not there yet...we're going in June.

We also plan to do the food court at Union Station but the Post Office Pavilion seemed like a good place for our first evening in town. Quick easy food court food and then the view from the tower. I realize it isn't gourmet dining but that's not what I'm looking for on this particular night. I am gathering tips from another thread I have going to make a list of restaurant possiblities.

Ok folks, if your not tired of my ramblings yet, here is my revised list of sights. Keep in mind that many of the monuments will be seen in a 2 hour after dark tour so that will eliminate quite a bit of it. The others are all things we would like to see but may not get to them all, time will tell. Here it is:
The Mall
ć Arlington National Cemetery
ć Bureau Of Printing and Engraving
ć Jefferson Memorial
ć Lincoln Memorial
ć National Air and Space Museum
ć National Museum of American History
ć National Museum of Natural History
ć Old Post Office Tower and Pavilion
ć Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial
ć Vietnam Veterans Memorial
ć Washington Monument

Capitol Hill
ć National Postal Museum
ć Union Station
ć U S Capitol

Downtown
ć Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
ƒá Ford¡¦s Theatre/Petersen House

Upper Northwest
ć National Zoological Park
ć Washington National Cathedral?

Virginia Suburbs
ć Mount Vernon

Sorry about the weird symbols, I did a cut and paste from an outline in Microsoft Word and that is how it showed up.

anon once again...

r-travels is not nuts. I frequently stop in Rosslyn to show visitors the impressive escalator.

ALSO ALSO, OOH OOH JUST REMEMBERED:

go to the park at the end of the runway of National Airport. the planes are like, 30 feet over your head.

how could I forget? this is MY FAVORITE PARK. Your kids will love this. TRUST ME. I used to go there 3-4 times a week just to sit and watch the planes land. sometimes I would take a book. (you want to make sure they are landing, takeoffs in that direction are not as much fun plus it hurts your ears.)

it is a beautiful stroll right along the waterfront too.

best way is to take a taxi I think - it really isn't far at all - maybe one mile (you will see them in a landing pattern as you cross the Memorial Bridge) and I am here to tell you - this is the most thrilling thing.

best way to do it is to take a blanket and lie down on the little hill near the fence. you can hear the rumble rumble rumble as they get closer... then WHOOOOSH over your head.

trust me, I am not making this up. This would be number one on my list.

Now this Airport thing sounds too cool. My 5 year old grandson will go nuts. Airplanes are like his most favorite thing.
Tell me exactly where to go. What airport...what park?

anon, to just me:

first off, make sure they are LANDING in the correct direction. you want to watch them land. they need to be coming in from the north - if you are on the memorial bridge and they are landing (heading south) overhead, then RUN don't walk to the airport (you can see the airport from the bridge)

takeoffs in that direction - not fun. way too loud, and not nearly as impressive - they get too high too quickly. if they are heading north over your head, wait until the wind changes.

the LANDINGS are where it's at. they breeze right in, right overhead! you swear you can touch them.

it's called Gravelly Point. You will see TONS of cars parked there. It's maybe a mile or so from the Memorial Bridge. You could walk it, but with a 5 year old, take a cab. It's on the George Washington Parkway. (I bike it so I rarely pay attention to actual miles - it goes fast on a bicycle - so I think one mile is correct)

as the GW Parkway is one way traffic in either direction (can't cross over the median) you might have to drive to the airport from DC, swing back around & follow signs for the parkway north - it's RIGHT there. (or coming from Old Town, just slow down as you reach the airport so you don't miss the sign for Gravelly Point).

it is RIGHT at the end of the runway, so you can miss it if you are not paying attention.

honestly, even if you are renting a car, maybe take a cab that day as it potentially could be confusing as it appears you are going TO the airport, to make the swing around back to head the other direction. it is soooo worth it. I spent 2 hours there Sunday.

I am telling you, THIS is what fodors forum is all about - I bet you don't see this in any guide book.

let me know if you do this!!

anon again

ps. if your 5 year old grandson leaves this experience and DOESN'T decide then and there to become a pilot, then I don't know what to say.

I am a girl by the way.

Now this Airport thing sounds too cool. My 5 year old grandson will go nuts. Airplanes are like his most favorite thing.
Tell me exactly where to go. What airport...what park?

Hi anon,
He already wants to be a pilot! He can name the different kinds of planes as they fly over and can name the parts on a plane. He has flown several times and is hooked already! He will just go ape here!!

Hi anon,
He already wants to be a pilot! He can name the different kinds of planes as they fly over and can name the parts on a plane. He has flown several times and is hooked already! He will just go ape here!!

"just me" - email me should you need help.

"anon no longer."

I hope your grandson enjoys his visit here!

heading off to the beach,

Beth

To get to the best area where you park and see the planes land: you MUST FIRST drive to National and then take the GW Parkway back toward DC. A few hundred yards after National, turn right, into the parking area. Watch carefully. It really doesn't matter whether the planes are going south or north - it's a thrill either way, and great fun. If you're doing it in the early evening, take a picnic and blanket, and stay an hour or so. By the way. get a Zagats for DC - it's useful for kids too, despite the earlier comment. I live here, and use Zagats to help feed my kids. So, it does help.

just me:

if you are town long enough, and only plan to go to the airport park once, be sure to make it when the planes are landing rather than taking off. much more exciting, visually.

the wind will be favorable to you on your trip, unless it's an overnighter trip or something - give it time, it'll come around.

if it's gonna be your only time there, you want to maximize the thrills for your grandson.

enjoy.

Hi anon,
He already wants to be a pilot! He can name the different kinds of planes as they fly over and can name the parts on a plane. He has flown several times and is hooked already! He will just go ape here!!

The view from the post office pavilion tower is the BEST around for viewing the city, so I would definitely keep that on the list, but avoid eating there -- awful, and not at all fun for anyone. there's nothing there anymore. And if you do that you don't need to wait on the interminable line for the washington monument. you can just walk over there and look around on your way to the reflecting pool, vietnam memorial, etc. I've lived here for 23 years w/o need to climb up!

The bureau of engraving and printing was one of the more enjoyable tours i've taken.

Biking along the path on the GW parkway is beautiful and fun and then you can stop to watch the planes.

most IMAX movies are wonderful, to fly included unless someone suffers from motion sickness

Your kids would probably really like the Silent Parade. At the Iwo Jima Memorial in Arlington (Rosslyn), Virginia, every Tuesday between Memorial Day and Labor Day, the Marine Corps Silent Drill Team (throwing rifles around, marching and such) and marching band perform for free. You sit on the grass and we usually take food. I think it starts at 6:30 or 7 p.m. You can walk from the Rosslyn metro stop. It's really one of my favorite things to do in DC, but I always forget about it. The kids I see at the performances seem to love it.

Hi anon,
He already wants to be a pilot! He can name the different kinds of planes as they fly over and can name the parts on a plane. He has flown several times and is hooked already! He will just go ape here!!

Your decision to go to Mt. Vernon is a worthy one.

The distance from DC and peacefulness of the riverside setting will be a respite for you. It is also a very interesting and historic tour.

On the way back, if you drove, you will be on the correct side to stop and watch the airplanes.

After having lived in the flight path near Georgetown and having played soccer in the field in that park I can't say that its something I would recommend, but other people do seem to enjoy it.

The plane-watching park is Gravelly Point, and the entrance is just past National Airport (next exit after national going northbound on the GW parkway). The planes look as if they are about 50 feet above your head.