A little help in the DC area? Budget friendly ideas?

[sullins5]

So we were picked for the White House Easter Egg Roll and have decided to make a trip out of it! But I could sure use some pointers...
For all of you that live in the area, what would you NOT miss? We only have Friday night through Tuesday morning, and I could use some helps along the way. We know we want to do the 'zoo', the Natural Museum of History, have a tour of the Capitol, maybe the Spy Museum, maybe biking at night, but any that you would recommend that aren't just ridiculously expensive? And do all of you recommend the Metrorail system?
TIA!!!!

 

[Green Tea]

The Metro is great. Easy to use; no worries. Most things in Washington are free which makes it a great destination. If something is part of the Smithsonian, it is free. Zoo = free. Spy Museum = NOT free. Get a guide book that tells where tickets are distributed for various things. It is free to go up in the Washington Monument, but it requires a ticket. If you have not planed in advance and walk over there on afternoon, you won't get it....all the tickets would have been handed out at 8 am someplace...that type of thing.

 

[sullins5]

The Metro is great. Easy to use; no worries. Most things in Washington are free which makes it a great destination. If something is part of the Smithsonian, it is free. Zoo = free. Spy Museum = NOT free. Get a guide book that tells where tickets are distributed for various things. It is free to go up in the Washington Monument, but it requires a ticket. If you have not planed in advance and walk over there on afternoon, you won't get it....all the tickets would have been handed out at 8 am someplace...that type of thing.

Thanks so much...Do you know where I get a Washington Monument ticket? Should I just google it?

 

[singleinthe city]

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[soccerchick]

Thanks so much...Do you know where I get a Washington Monument ticket? Should I just google it?

Yes, google is your friend.

You can order them online - National Parks Service. They will mail them to you for a nominal fee; might be able to pick them up too- I don't remember as I had mine mailed.

You could easily stick to the free things. My kids love the Museum of Natural History and the Museum of American History. They also really enjoy the monuments - Lincoln, Jefferson, FDR, WWII and the zoo. The zoo is hilly, some people are surprised by that. Further on their list was the Air and Space and the Native American museums. I'm assuming you have small kids since you are doing the WHEER. While I love them, I'd skip the Spy Museum and Newseum until the kids are older.

Metro is easy.

Have never done the bike ride, so can attest to that.

 

[Green Tea]

I had a great book. Washington DC with Kids maybe...I am sure it is out of date at this point. If you go to Smithsonian.org you can click thru to the various places. It should tell you where tickets are distributed. Last time I did the ticket thing it was just on a street corner at 8 am or something odd like that. I think you can also get free timed tickets online, but you have to pay all the ticket fees. Still not a bad deal in insure you see what you want to see. I know last summer the Holocaust tickets were all gone for the next month online, but I went in the morning and waited in the line and we got in fairly quickly. Just plan in advance.

 

[deezeealum]

You sounds as though you have your short stay fillled! Tours will take a couple of hours and the zoo is large so that might take up a good portion if not an entire day! My only concern is bike riding at night?!? DC is not known for it's great security at night. The couple of times we have been there, the hotel concierge always told us to get a cab to drive us around at nigth to see the monuments! The metro is fabulous BTW and very clean!

 

[sullins5]

Thanks y'all for all the tips and advice!!! I would've done a 'search' on here, but I was in the car all day helping another family, and got my dd to get on here and check periodically. Since we just NOW made the decision to go, I know tickets go really fast to a lot of things and didn't know whether a Dis'er might suggest something I needed to do 'today'!
We already got the National Cathedral tickets, but had already missed one of the times.
We had been told about the biking at night through 'Bike and Roll' and that it was safe, but I really hadn't thought more about it. So thanks for the reminder about safety there also. Will have to see if someone has done that before.
Home now, so if I get time, I will do some searching, but thanks to y'all for your suggestions and ideas...I know sometimes booking things has to be 'fast and furious' and I knew I wouldn't have access except to read my mail while waiting...and there are a lot of 'fake' websites, one which my dd found while checking out the Easter Egg Roll and it even fooled her.
Which is why I love Disboards!!!....

 

[clutter]

Go EARLY to the zoo. Some of the buildings don't open until later, but it is such a great place to go when it is less crowded. Easter Monday is a big day at the zoo, so I wouldn't go that day.

 

[RangerPooh]

Congrats on the egg roll tickets. We lived in MD for a year and didn't win the lottery for those, but we did for the 2009 X-mas tree lighting ceremony

Our girls (5 and 3 at the time) liked the air and space museum and the Natural History museum. We also took them to the American history museum. If the weather is nice you could look into renting a paddle boat for the waterway by the Jefferson Memorial. I agree that if doing the zoo to do it first thing int he morning. The parking can become had to find later in the day.

 

[laurafergie]

Thanks so much...Do you know where I get a Washington Monument ticket? Should I just google it?

You can get an actual ticket emailed to you for a fee of 1.50 each. (The ticket is free, the fee is for convenience) HERE at recreation.gov.

I highly recommend doing this and for the National Archives if that is of interest to you. You will have your ticket in hand with a time and you just walk right in or a very minimal wait.

The Capital and the Zoo will each take most of a day. I suggest you do the Natural History Museum, The American History Museum (they are next to each other) and the Washington Monument for a day. And with the Egg Roll, that's about all you will be able to fit this trip. But that's the fun, you'll know you'll have lots left to do for another trip.

We love DC and go up a few times a year and used to live in NorVa back in the day. It is beautiful this time of year. Have fun!!

ETA: I wanted to mention NOT driving Downtown if at all possible, especially that weekend. It is unbelievable for uninitiated and the one way streets really take the cake. The Metro is your friend.

 

[sullins5]

You can get an actual ticket emailed to you for a fee of 1.50 each. (The ticket is free, the fee is for convenience) HERE at recreation.gov.

I highly recommend doing this and for the National Archives if that is of interest to you. You will have your ticket in hand with a time and you just walk right in or a very minimal wait.

The Capital and the Zoo will each take most of a day. I suggest you do the Natural History Museum, The American History Museum (they are next to each other) and the Washington Monument for a day. And with the Egg Roll, that's about all you will be able to fit this trip. But that's the fun, you'll know you'll have lots left to do for another trip.

We love DC and go up a few times a year and used to live in NorVa back in the day. It is beautiful this time of year. Have fun!!

ETA: I wanted to mention NOT driving Downtown if at all possible, especially that weekend. It is unbelievable for uninitiated and the one way streets really take the cake. The Metro is your friend.

And this is why I posted this thread! Thank you...don't remember with the business of today, but I checked recreation.gov as soon as I got home and of course, the monument is not available until June 22nd!! Figures! It really is ok though, and your schedule is almost exactly what we planned, except for our tickets for the Capital are for the day we leave and we won't have more than 2 or 3 hours at best.
And as of now? Where we are staying has a shuttle bus and takes you to the Metro station or you can walk, so this is gonna be an adventure for us!
Thanks for all y'alls insights...it really helps!

 

[sullins5]

Go EARLY to the zoo. Some of the buildings don't open until later, but it is such a great place to go when it is less crowded. Easter Monday is a big day at the zoo, so I wouldn't go that day.

Thanks clutter! We're thinking Sat or Sunday after the National Cathedral...there's SO MUCH to do!

 

[sullins5]

Congrats on the egg roll tickets. We lived in MD for a year and didn't win the lottery for those, but we did for the 2009 X-mas tree lighting ceremony

Our girls (5 and 3 at the time) liked the air and space museum and the Natural History museum. We also took them to the American history museum. If the weather is nice you could look into renting a paddle boat for the waterway by the Jefferson Memorial. I agree that if doing the zoo to do it first thing int he morning. The parking can become had to find later in the day.

Those are exactly the museums we want to hit. Here's the plan, but not sure of the order. Zoo, National History, American History, Air and Space, National Cathedral, White House Egg Roll and the Capital. Still not sure which days are best for what, except that Easter Service at the Cathedral and the Egg Roll time.
And we were SHOCKED to say the least that we got tickets. Really did it on a whim since our big trip this year is our first ever cruise. But, after much talking, we think it may be one of those things later on we'd regret if we didn't do. So thanks for all your helps!

 

[RangerPooh]

I agree with the pp comments about taking metro and not driving in the city. DH use to work at Red Cross headquarters which is just down the street from the white house and commuting in it was a PITA! The few times that I drove into the city to meet him was nerve wracking to say the least. But on weekends if we didn't use his parking spot we'd park at the Reagan Building. It was about $16/day but worth it. It was about a block to the American History Museum.

I can[t recall the stop (Enfant' ?) on Metro but there is one that will place you almost directly across the street form the Natural History Museum. If you plan to hit this museum do it early as it's popular for families with kids!

I can't remember your trip days but here's an idea (based on the egg roll being on Monday like last years):
Saturday- Natural History Museum, American History Museum
Sunday- National Cathedral, Air and Space Museum
Monday- Egg Roll, and possibly the zoo depending on what time spot you have for the roll
Tuesday- Capital

On Friday night if you wait until late ~9 or later you could drive into the city and pass the Lincoln Memorial and Jefferson memorial, and Washington Monument. Seeing those all lit up is really impressive.

 

[Swimalie]

If you do want to drive I also recommend the Reagan Building for parking on the weekends. We use it when we go down there and it puts you near the Mall and Pennsylvania Ave. We've lived here for 5 years and have yet to take Metro. We drive every time and have had no issues with it.

 

[sullins5]

I can't remember your trip days but here's an idea (based on the egg roll being on Monday like last years):
Saturday- Natural History Museum, American History Museum
Sunday- National Cathedral, Air and Space Museum
Monday- Egg Roll, and possibly the zoo depending on what time spot you have for the roll
Tuesday- Capital

On Friday night if you wait until late ~9 or later you could drive into the city and pass the Lincoln Memorial and Jefferson memorial, and Washington Monument. Seeing those all lit up is really impressive.

This is great! We may 'tweek' the zoo day due to hearing it could be packed on Monday, but this really helps. If we could cram 3 Museums in on Saturday, that'd really help. But I told dh, I'd like to enjoy it knowing that one day we'll be back!
And we'll definitely be using the Metro since the hotel has an airport and Metro shuttle!

Thanks everyone...y'all are great!

 

[laurafergie]

This is great! We may 'tweek' the zoo day due to hearing it could be packed on Monday, but this really helps. If we could cram 3 Museums in on Saturday, that'd really help. But I told dh, I'd like to enjoy it knowing that one day we'll be back!
And we'll definitely be using the Metro since the hotel has an airport and Metro shuttle!

Thanks everyone...y'all are great!

You could do the Natural History, American History and Air and Space on one day - They are all on the Mall. It will be rushed but doable. Maybe look online before hand and decide which exhibits are most important to you. Like in Natural History, we have to see the dinosaur bones and the jewelry......

I would seriously leave the zoo for it's own day.

The National Cathedral for it's own day or maybe after the Egg Roll. I could spend the entire day there, but the kids will not. There is only so much architecture and beautiful garden's kids can take!!

The Capital, if you are not going to spend the good part of a day there, I would plan on just going to the Visitor Center (awesome) and not try to do any tours.)

This weekend and week (Spring Break) is going to be very busy no matter where you are. Get there when things open with a plan and you should be fine.

Oh, I wanted to add - if you do wander at night. The Vietnam Wall and Lincoln Memorial, WWII Memorial and Korean Memorial are beautiful at night and you can usually find a parking place on Constitution by The Wall.(if they don't have it blocked for an event)

ETA There hasn't been any mention of food/lunch. Most of the Smithsonian Museums, Capital and the Zoo have food courts. I find them mediocre and quite expensive for what you get - and we end up taking lunch in our backpacks or we eat hot dogs from the street vendors. There just aren't any fast foods around in that area. It will be crazy busy and long lines in the food courts and you will use a huge chuck of your time trying to eat. You need to know that going in.

 

[Green Tea]

Sign up for the DC Groupon. You might come across some activity on sale

 

[turtlebean]

You guys are going to have so much fun at the Easter Egg Roll! I used to go every year growing up (my dad worked for the White House) and it is one of my favorite childhood memories. I hope someday I can get tickets and take my kids.

About the Zoo, if you are planning on driving there get there early. Parking at the Zoo is expensive and limited and often fills up before 10:30am. Parking on side streets around the Zoo is very limited too. If you take the metro, do not get off at the Woodley Park-Zoo stop, instead go up to the next stop (this is if you are taking the red line towards Shady Grove) and get off at Cleveland Park. Both still have a good walk, but the walk from the Cleveland park stop is much more bearable. The walk from Woodley Park-Zoo stop has a huge hill to walk up and can be very tiresome if pushing a stroller. You'll walk up plenty of hills in the zoo.