We are travelling by car to Washington DC April 13, arriving late afternoon and plan to stay until late afternoon on Easter Sunday, April 16. Our kids, ages 20, 18 and 16 have never been before. The oldest is very interested in this trip, and as it may be his last with us before he graduates from college, we've decided to go and take our 18 year old who is not excited but not protesting and our 16 year old who is definitely protesting. She's not a museum/ sightseeing kind of girl and wants to be at the beach. I've done some research but am getting a little overwhelmed. Any suggestions on what to do/see besides the usual monuments, museums etc.? Which museums are the most interesting? We're staying at the Embassy Suites downtown. Restaurants that are good but won't break the bank? Anyone else done this trip with kids these ages?

While it is a "chain" restaurant, one of the things that helped when we took our teenage daughter was taking her to the Hard Rock Cafe downtown and also to Planet Hollywood (don't know if that is still there). There are also a couple of great malls in the area if you had time to go maybe one evening, maybe that appease the youngest? We also did a monument tour by night with a tour company that picked us up at our hotel and took us and made stops at all of the major monuments. You wouldn't have time to go into the Washington Monument, but did get into others. It was really great seeing them all lit up at night and not worrying about having to do the driving. Teenage daughter also enjoyed this. Just a couple of examples of what we did, don't know if they will help, but was a good compromise with our teenager.

My teenage daughter loved DC so much, she decided to go to college there.

Destinations for non-museumgoers include the Spy Museum, the Building Museum (best gift shop in town), and if possible a production by the Capitol Steps (a musical satire current events revue).

The Folger Library's Elizabethan Theatre is a very special venue, and while you're there, they are featuring a French romantic farce, much more appropriate for teens than Romeo and Juliet, IMHO.

Take them to Georgetown, which has a lot of college-student energy. They might enjoy the old stone house or the house and gardens at Tudor House, for some insights into early DC life. The garage at Tudor House has a special treat for the guys.

Agree that Georgetown is a must. In addition to have a college "scene", your 16 year old just might have some interest in visiting the campus of a well-renowned Univerisity, if he/she is academically oreiented.

If the kids are outdoorsy, a great way to break up the trip might be to spend a day cruising to Shenanoah Nat'l Park. 2 hour drive and great hiking and views. However, if a Nat'l Park would be viewed as "lame" it would a bad idea obviously.

Definitely go to the Spy Museum. It was great! Allow yourselves plenty of time in case the kids really get into it. We only had 2 hours and were rushing through. Lots of cool stuff and a fun gift shop.

I'd just make sure not to program them to death, and plan an educational, semi-educational, and fun activity each day. Plus some cool places to eat.

Some possibilities:

educational -- holocaust museum
semi-educational -- Segway tour of DC (these are great, I've lived here forever and it was still fun)
fun -- have dinner in the MCI area (Matchbox is fun) and see a movie at the new stadium seeting theater there

educational -- Capitol/LoC tours
semi-educational -- Spy Museum
fun -- concert or show

educational -- National Gallery of Art and/or American History Museum
semi-educational -- nightime tour of monuments
fun -- shopping in Georgetown

Also, if you can get to DC earlier on the 13th there's a 1:05 Nationals home game against the Mets that day!

Kathy - What do the 16 and 18 year olds like to do? There are some good suggestions here and I'm sure people could come up with more if we knew your teens' particular interests!

I'm a little less than 10 years shy of being a teen and I can tell you what I enjoyed the most when I went as a teenager. I've also spent several weeks there a year for work, so I've hit most of the tourist attractions several times.

I liked the American History museum because of all the pop culture memorabilia (I also liked the diamond exhibit at the National History museum). The teenage guys I was with liked the Air and Space and all the airplanes. I LOVED and do love the nighttime tour of the monuments. It's beautiful and the best way to see them (especially the Roosevelt). Georgetown is a must. Lots of fun shopping and just a great atmosphere overall. We actually had a blast on the paddle boats in the Basin too.

I'm sure you'll be able to find things that all your kids enjoy doing. DC is a great city. Enjoy your trip!

Our kids were a bit younger, but I think kids of all ages would enjoy the tour of Ford Theater and seeing all the money at the Bureau of Printing and Engraving. We prearranged our tour so didn't have to stand in line for long. Here's the url:
http://www.moneyfactory.gov/locations/index.cfm/3
You might check to see if that little Panda cub is on view yet at the zoo. Seeing it would be a treat!
It's also pretty neat to visit your Congressperson and have them show you around. There's usually some interesting demonstration going on in front of the capitol, too, which spices up the visit.

There's also a very nice contemporary art museum with an outdoor sculpture garden. The name escapes me at the moment but I'm sure someone else here knows it.

The Ford Theater is an interesting tour, and if you do that, go across the street. There's a tour of the house where Lincoln was brought to after being shot. When we went there wasn't a soul there except the guide. The guide was delighted to chat with us. He told us tidbits of history from that event that we had never heard before. It was fascinating.

My kids aren't 'museum' kids either, and I get the moans and groans at first, but once they are actually there, the attitude improves. My kids and myself, are much better with the smaller museums, or focusing on spcific exhibits of interest in the larger ones instead of trying to see absolutely everything.

I just looked up the name of the art museum, it's called the Hirschhorm Museum and sculpture garden. It contains modern and contemporary art.

Mine liked the FBI tour, riding the Metro and the Air and Space and American History Museum.

Thanks for all of the great ideas! Anyone with info on shows or concerts or other type of entertainment going on Easter weekend? Any opinions on Mt. Vernon? Or recreational opportunities? I think we'll definitely do the night time tour of the monuments and Georgetown, and most likely will see the Spy Museum and the American History museum. Any restaurant suggestions? We tend to stay with American or Italian, nothing too ethnic.

The Smithsonian American History Museum was a big winner with our family. We also enjoyed Mt. Vernon but I don't know if you would have time to fit this in.

Be sure to contact your Senator or Congressperson for tickets to the White House and a Capitol tour. My 16 year old perked up considerably when she saw the handsome young intern who was our guide through the Capitol building and the tour was a big highlight of our trip. Try to go when the Senate is in session so you can watch the action on the floor.

One thing I considered (but we didn't do) was a "Bike the Sights" tour which is a bike ride to the various monuments at night. There is also a Segway tour which looked like a lot of fun.

This probably won't heighten your 16 year old's enthusiasm, but my daughter said history is much more interesting this year after being in DC last summer.

One last thing, you might hand your kids a guidebook and have them each pick an activity or two to "invest" them in the trip.

Have a great time!

Our hometown newspaper, The Washington Post, has a great onlinelisting of all kinds of things to do and see and play. Check out washingtonpost.com. You'll be too late for the cherry blossoms at the Tidal Basin, but this old town will be just gorgeous with early springtime. Enjoy! Give you kids a list of 10 possibilties and tell each one to pick five, and then do the few things that show up on everyone's list. You might also get lunch from a deli and have a picnic sitting on the grass on the National Mall -- it's YOUR mall, you know!

FYI, it's too late, sadly, to get WH tickets, and I know the Bureau of Engraving and Printing is totally booked for advance tickets in March, so probably is into April as well (you can still stand in line for tickets at 8 a.m.). The FBI isn't doing tours these days. The Senate will NOT be in session while you're here.

Have fun!

I'm not sure about Mount Vernon and your kids. It's very beautiful that time of year, but you are touring historic buildings. They could find the history fascinating or they could be very bored. I've been twice in my 20's and took my teenage brother and we really enjoyed it, but we both like history.

Recreational activities? Honestly, you walk so much in DC that if you aren't used to walking a lot, you probably won't have a lot of energy left over. The Mall is great for people-watching when you get tired, though!

If the Newseum has re-opened in its new location, I'd recommend that. Our kids loved it. Georgetown definitely--shopping. Clyde's in Georgetown is a great, classic place for a really good burger (they have other food), and you might see somebody famous. The Smithsonian is a must. Good cafeteria for lunch.

Great Falls Natl Park in Virginia has awesome views of the falls. Spring is the best time to see them because the water level should be high. If you can get hold of some bicycles, the park is alongside the C&O Canal bike path that you can ride for miles along the river.

I doubt if you can ever run out of things to do and see in Washington. Your teen may find that just being at the center of so much history, fame and power is a pretty moving experience.

The Newseum has not been reopened. I pass the construction site twice a day, and it looks like it will be amazing but it's nowhere near ready.

There's not just one Smithsonian, but the restaurants that get the best reviews are generally Air & Space (realy just a food court) and the new Native American museum (cool regional foods). There are some lovely spots in the art museums, but they usually have pretty limited menus. If you want to try a classic Hill "dive" (if you're in the area already, NOT worth a special trip) go to the Hawk & Dove or Tune Inn. Clyde's in Georgetown is an institution, although your kids might like the Tombs better -- food's not as great, but it's closer to campus and right out of "St. Elmos Fire." Another "essential" DC restaurant is the Old Ebbitt Grill, downtown, and all are part of the "Clyde's Restaurant Group." Both touristy and full of locals, food generally ok.