My 16 year old son is going to a conference in Washington DC this summer, so I am going to fly there with him a couple of days early to have some mom-and-son time. We are probably going to stay at the Churchill Hotel-Got a great rate on the internet and location looks good. What do you recommend to see/do that would appeal to a teenager? He is pretty studious and likes museums. He has been to Washington twice before, once when he was six and 2 years ago on a school trip, so has seen most of the monuments, Capitol building, Mount Vernon, Smithsonian. He definitely wants to go to the Smithsonian History museum again and I saw where a new spy museum has opened that sounds interesting. Also read about a medical museum at Walter Reed that looks very good (I am a doctor and my son is interested in medicine). Also possibly the National Geographic Society. What are your recommendations? Also would like recommendations of good but not too formal restaurants-I don't think he wants to have to wear a suit. Thanks

If your son hasn't already been, the FOrd Theater, and across the street is the house Lincoln was brought to after he was shot which is open for touring. When we went, no one was at the house but the tour guide who was loaded with knowledge and information that we have never know before. Well worth the stop. We also really enjoyed the FDR memorial. It's a but out of the way but well worth a visit.

The International Spy Museum is getting all kinds of raves these days. Sounds like something a 16 year old boy might go for.

There are plenty of great non suit food options in the DC area. Which cuisine are you interested in? I always recommend people check out the washingtonian.com restaurant section. You can find places by cuisine, neighborhood and price range. Their restaurant reviews are very reliable.

I'm not sure a 16 year old boy would like the spy museum.

I've been there and it is mostly vintage stuff...WWII,etc..

The museum doesn't have any of the high tech stuff that was used more recntly ( yes I know, they can't show us the really good stuff that spyus use today)

If you're going to the Spy Museum, I would recommend getting there as early as possible as it is quite popular and long lines are common.

When we were in DC we took one whole day to do the outdoor monuments. We started at the train station, did the Capitol Building then hit the mall. The Korean War Memorial was especially moving for me - even more than the Vietnam one. One of the greatest presidential monuments is the FDR one. In this time of war it would be a good one to take a teen to. It is a walk -through experience and demonstrates increasing chaos of world events during his terms (along with his accomplishments) and then the relative orderliness at the end of the war. Very worthwhile. Also an interesting juxtaposition of the access to information by the press then vs. now...most people were not even aware that he was in a wheelchair and now we can watch a war live on TV.

Thanks for the advice. Actually my son is quite into history, especially WWII, so that shouldn't be a problem.

If you can get out to East Potomac Park (Haines Point) and see The Awakening statue, he probably would enjoy that. It's kind of a long walk, though. He also might like the Einstein statue (http://www4.nationalacademies.org/na...1?OpenDocument) on Constitution somewhere near 22nd Street.

Hi:
If your son is a history buff, I suggest the Holocaust Museum. Yes sad, but also and important piece of History.
Be prepared for some unpleasant scenes. It gave me a better understanding of what really took place. We were there for about 3-4 hours and left very moved by the experience.

www.holocaust museum.com for more information. You can get timed tickets for a small handling fee. We had them sent to us before we left and are very glad to have made the visit.

My teen son thoroughly enjoyed a performance of the Capitol Steps, a satricial musical revue. I think their web site is www.cap-steps.com

How about an evening at the Kennedy Center to see "Shear Madness", an audience-participation "who-dun-it". It was hilarious.

The Old Postal Pavilion (some interesting history about that building!) as well as a free tour of the clock tower. He might also like the Smithsonian Postal Museum, next door to Union Station, another great place to visit -- big food court, beautiful restored station, and movie theaters. We did some walking tours ($) hosted by a group, "Washington Walks", I think it was.

When I was a teen, my absolutely favorite thing in DC was the FBI tour.

I was a bit younger than 16 when I went to DC, but I enjoyed the Awakening (mentioned previously). I was also fascinated w/ Arlington National Cemetary,the Tomb of the Unknowns, as well as the Kennedy's gravesite. A second for Ford's Theater, and the house where Lincoln passed away.

There is a medical museum adjacent to or on the grounds of Walter Reed. You would probably want to take a taxi to go there. Your son will enjoy the gross specimens.