Advice needed for Washington DC 4th of July weekend with 2 kids

[DisneyFansInLINY]

We are from Long Island, NY and driving to Baltimore for a cruise that ends on July 4. Since we will be a hour away and it's 4th of July as well as my daughter's 7th birthday on July 5, we thought it would be a fun extension of our trip. We usually vacation at Disney so this is something different. In fact last year we were at Disney for 4th of July. And of course our cruise stops in Port Canaveral so we will be there for the day on June 29.

Anyway, my husband and children (DD 6 turning 7 on the trip and DS 3) have never been to DC. I have been there twice but as a child so I don't remember much.

I wanted to do a tour but my husband doesn't want to since my son can be a handful. For example, right now his arm is in a cast because he "fell" off the couch. (He really jumped but his version is that he "fell") Luckily the cast comes off a few days before we leave for our cruise.

I would love to do a fancy but family friendly brunch for my DD's birthday. As well as visit the must dos. We are staying at The Lowe's Madison (my daughter's name is Madison and this is a surprise trip) on 15th ST NW and I am not even sure how to get around as we don't want to drive anywhere.

Also, my husband wants to see the fireworks. He wants me to find a rooftop restaurant that we can eat at and watch the fireworks like at Disney. I know I am super late in the game and most of these places are bar and not family friendly but if you know any that aren't, please let me know.

I am overwhelmed with planning our DC trip. And I would appreciate any advice anyone could offer. And really need to know how to get from here to there.

Thank you so much.

 

[Ali]

Well, I hope you don't have your heart set on a roof top view because it isn't going to happen unless you change hotels to a holiday inn with a rooftop pool and I don't know how the view is from there. We have been planning a trip for 6 months now for the 4th of july week and I have researched everything. The bars with rooftop access are all sold out and they have an age limit of 21 and up so that;s out. There are still some cruises available but they are expensive.

You need to make the time to do your research and ind transportation. None of the tourmobilrs run on July 4, the metro is jampacked all day and night with people crushing in to the city, and the parade closes off some roads from 10 to 3ish.

Go forth and google. Good luck!

 

[DisneyFansInLINY]

Well, I hope you don't have your heart set on a roof top view because it isn't going to happen unless you change hotels to a holiday inn with a rooftop pool and I don't know how the view is from there. We have been planning a trip for 6 months now for the 4th of july week and I have researched everything. The bars with rooftop access are all sold out and they have an age limit of 21 and up so that;s out. There are still some cruises available but they are expensive.

You need to make the time to do your research and ind transportation. None of the tourmobilrs run on July 4, the metro is jampacked all day and night with people crushing in to the city, and the parade closes off some roads from 10 to 3ish.

Go forth and google. Good luck!

Thank you. I have been googling and have done quite a bit of research. Like I said, I am overwhelmed from it. And I was just looking for someone who lives in the area or has been to DC and can offer suggestions. I know the rooftop bars are booked and there is a 21 year old age restriction. I was asking if anyone knew of any hidden gems. As far as a cruise, we will have just gotten off a 7 day one and not interested in getting back on another boat lol.

I know the tours don't run on July 4 and am not interested in tours anyway because of my 3 year old. And I am not planning to take the metro on July 4. July 4 we will walk around. It is more July 5 that I was concerned about. But my hotel is offering free rides in a Fiat and I have booked a ride to the zoo on July 5.

I appreciate you taking the time to respond and have a wonderful trip.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Unfortunately, all reserved viewing spots are booked months in advance, so you'll just have to look for a good public viewing spot. Be warned that it will be tremendously crowded around the mall, and will be very hot and humid. It also rains a lot here on the fourth.

The Smithsonian museums will be open, but they aren't very enjoyable on such a crowded day. This is one of the worst times of the year to visit DC unless you like being miserably hot and crushed by the crowds.

Personally, I'd just stay in Baltimore if you can get a hotel reservation. They have a big fireworks display in the Inner Harbor:

http://www.promotionandarts.com/index.cfm?page=events&id=42

 

[wvjules]

Unfortunately, all reserved viewing spots are booked months in advance, so you'll just have to look for a good public viewing spot. Be warned that it will be tremendously crowded around the mall, and will be very hot and humid. It also rains a lot here on the fourth.

The Smithsonian museums will be open, but they aren't very enjoyable on such a crowded day. This is one of the worst times of the year to visit DC unless you like being miserably hot and crushed by the crowds.

Personally, I'd just stay in Baltimore if you can get a hotel reservation. They have a big fireworks display in the Inner Harbor:

http://www.promotionandarts.com/index.cfm?page=events&id=42

I was also going to suggest Baltimore instead.

Last year, DBF lived in Arlington so we went to the DC fireworks. We watched them from the Iwo Jima Memorial area. It was hot, crowded, and took us forever to get back home.

Now, if the OP is insisting on going to DC, I suggest one of my favorite places in DC, Gravelly Point Park near the airport. Pack a a picnic and spend the day there. I love being under the planes when they land. It's amazing how close they are! But you will need to get there SUPER early if you have any shot of getting a parking/viewing spot.

 

[hlg22]

We are from Long Island, NY and driving to Baltimore for a cruise that ends on July 4. Since we will be a hour away and it's 4th of July as well as my daughter's 7th birthday on July 5, we thought it would be a fun extension of our trip. We usually vacation at Disney so this is something different. In fact last year we were at Disney for 4th of July. And of course our cruise stops in Port Canaveral so we will be there for the day on June 29.

Anyway, my husband and children (DD 6 turning 7 on the trip and DS 3) have never been to DC. I have been there twice but as a child so I don't remember much.

I wanted to do a tour but my husband doesn't want to since my son can be a handful. For example, right now his arm is in a cast because he "fell" off the couch. (He really jumped but his version is that he "fell") Luckily the cast comes off a few days before we leave for our cruise.

I would love to do a fancy but family friendly brunch for my DD's birthday. As well as visit the must dos. We are staying at The Lowe's Madison (my daughter's name is Madison and this is a surprise trip) on 15th ST NW and I am not even sure how to get around as we don't want to drive anywhere.

Also, my husband wants to see the fireworks. He wants me to find a rooftop restaurant that we can eat at and watch the fireworks like at Disney. I know I am super late in the game and most of these places are bar and not family friendly but if you know any that aren't, please let me know.

I am overwhelmed with planning our DC trip. And I would appreciate any advice anyone could offer. And really need to know how to get from here to there.

Thank you so much.

I live in the DC area and can answer some of your questions.

First, definitely plan on taking metro, not driving. Your hotel is about 4-5 blocks from a few metro stations - Farragut North (Red Line) and McPherson Square (Blue & Orange Lines). It's very easy to use.

The rooftop buildings I know of that would have fireworks views and are open to the public are all bars, with the exception of the Newseum. They have a fabulous view from their roof terrace, but I believe tickets for their 4th event are $$$ - one of my friends was looking into it and said $300 for adults and $200 for kids, or something like that, and I don't know whether they're already sold out or not.

But, it is not TERRIBLE to actually go down to the Mall and watch from there, depending on your tolerance for crowds and the weather. There are things to do during the day while you wait for the fireworks - the museums will be crowded, but there's also the Smithsonian folklife festival and the parade, so it's a fun atmosphere. I have also on occasion waited and gone down RIGHT before the fireworks. The side of the Wash Monument facing the WWII memorial is less crowded because you don't have the perfect view of the monument with the fireworks behind it, but still great. The problem is getting out after with the crowds - I would normally advise just walking back to your hotel (about 1/2 hour walk) but not sure if that would be possible with the kids. You could also stop in somewhere to get a bite to eat to wait until the crowds die down and then get a cab/Metro. It is not something I want to do every year, but I think it's fun every once in a while.

For your brunch...what kind of food do you like? One recommendation would be Old Ebbitt Grill - it's nice, you can make reservations, it is a tourist favorite/historical, family friendly, and while it's not the most exciting food, their brunch is good and standard American fare. There's also Le Diplomate, which is not too far from your hotel, and is one of the really "hot" restaurants currently and would be a little higher on the fancy-meter. Food is fantastic french-bistro style and I've seen kids there. You would need to make reservations now for that, if you could get them. If you're more adventurous eaters and open to ethnic foods I can recommend some other places that are fantastic.

 

[GraysMom]

We watched the fireworks from the Iwo Jima Memorial about 25 years ago with my 3 younger brothers and family friends who lived outside the city. It was a long, hot, boring day spent saving our spot near the memorial. Early in the day there was room for my brothers to run around a little, but as the day wore on, more people staked out spots and they were pretty much stuck staying on our blankets. Your little guy sounds like he's very active and would probably have a difficult time staying contained in such a small area for a long period of time (with the added fun of heat and probably tiredness). Of course we didn't have digital devices to keep us occupied back then either!

We took DS9 to DC last May and had a great time. We stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn right across the street from the McPherson Sq Metro stop (on 14th St NW so probably not too far from your hotel). We were within walking distance of the White House, which wasn't all that thrilling to look at. We did do some Smithsonian museums and the International Spy Museum (very cool but your kids are probably a little young to really get your money's worth out of it). Our favorite part of the trip was visiting the Udvar-Hazy Center, which is kind of a satellite branch of the Air & Space Museum, but it's located outside the city near Dulles. It has tons of aircraft including the Space Shuttle Discovery and a Concorde. I'd recommend staying in Baltimore, as others have mentioned. I would imagine they have fireworks over the Inner Harbor or somewhere else in the city. Maybe do the Udvar-Hazy Center as a daytrip from Baltimore. Here's a link to the center http://airandspace.si.edu/visit/udvar-hazy-center/

 

[ldo]

I also suggest that you skip Dc on the 4th. There is a terrific hands on place called Port Discovery at the Baltimore Inner Harbor that is super fun for your age kids. I liked it as an adult, as well. There is also a very good aquarium and Science museum. Plenty to fill up a day and then see the fireworks in Baltimore.
Then the next AM, get up and go into DC. You can park near a metro and take that. July 5 should have much fewer crowds, as everyone came in on the 4th. You can easily walk from Air/Space to Nat. History and American History Museums. At 3/7, Air and NAt History are the big hits. Other option is to get a hotel over near Dulles Airport and go to Hazy Air museum (but my kids found it boring), and then metro to DC for fireworks.

 

[rajahfan7]

I'm from the dc area and I just stay home Disney does fireworks way better!

 

[PlutoPony]

There will be a large number of road closures in DC on the 4th. Some for crowd/traffic control for the fireworks but others will be just for the morning for the parade. The latter should run only until 11-noon'ish, which is right when you would be arriving at the hotel I'd guess. Would suggest calling the hotel closer to your stay and ask if they know yet which roads are going to be closed and see how they recommend you come in from Baltimore. That could save you some headaches. Driving in DC is enough of a pia without adding unexpected road closures in lol.

It's hard to describe what a crush of people there are for the fireworks if the weather is good i.e. not storming all day. Think I'd count on getting back to the hotel by foot unless you're willing to sit back an hour or so and let the worst of the crowds clear before attempting metro.

 

[hlg22]

There will be a large number of road closures in DC on the 4th. Some for crowd/traffic control for the fireworks but others will be just for the morning for the parade. The latter should run only until 11-noon'ish, which is right when you would be arriving at the hotel I'd guess. Would suggest calling the hotel closer to your stay and ask if they know yet which roads are going to be closed and see how they recommend you come in from Baltimore. That could save you some headaches. Driving in DC is enough of a pia without adding unexpected road closures in lol.

It's hard to describe what a crush of people there are for the fireworks if the weather is good i.e. not storming all day. Think I'd count on getting back to the hotel by foot unless you're willing to sit back an hour or so and let the worst of the crowds clear before attempting metro.

Road closures on the 4th are all down around the Mall. The OP's hotel is well north of the Mall (Scott Circle/Logan Circle), so coming from Baltimore they will most likely be coming 295 to NY Ave. and then over - road closures shouldn't be an issue.

 

[StephMK]

I agree with the others about rethinking staying in Baltimore. The harbor is fun and your kids are a good age for the aquarium. I love DC and think if possible, you should definitely see the fireworks there at least once.
However, you are filling the end of a relaxing cruise vacation with 2 days of hot, sweaty, crowded conditions with bad traffic.

Personally, I would plan a separate trip down when they are a little older. My kids didn't really appreciate being down there until they were around 9. There is a ton of walking needed and it is typically really hot and humid during that time. Is DS ok with staying up late? Watching the fireworks will put you back at the hotel after 10pm. Getting up to walk around the zoo in the heat the next day might make for some crabby kids.

If you do go, we had good luck walking a few extra blocks to a farther away Metro stop after the fireworks. It was not quite as crowded so we were able to get on a train a little faster. Plan for it like Disney - pick out a few main things you want to see and just know you won't get to see everything. It sounds like your DD will have a fun bday - enjoy your trip!

 

[bdcp]

As PP said, good viewing spots are reserved months ahead, and in reality a lot are private, such as condos and office buildings. There are only a few hotels within walking distance and they are very expensive for those dates. We have lived in the DC area almost all our lives and I've been downtown exactly twice for fireworks and both times were in the 70's. DH and I never took our boys into DC. If we go to fireworks we go to local ones and then watch a Capitol Fourth on tv. In fact, the best time to see the Capitol Fourth show is the rehearsal which is held the night before. You can get really close and while they don't do fireworks, you can watch the performers do their rehearsal.

You cannot really drive down. Used to be able to, but not anymore as there's so much parking that has been take away, especially since 9/11. And, you really don't want to walk a couple of miles if you do find anything and it won't be free by a long shot. Metro will be a ZOO especially with good weather which is always a concern. I can tell you the odds of thunderstorms on the 4th are pretty high. Most years the fireworks do go off, but many times they've had to evacuate the mall due to lightning during the afternoon. To us, it's just not worth the hassle.

I agree with staying in Baltimore. The fireworks will be just as good and the Inner Harbor is a very nice place to hang out.

 

[bdcp]

I also suggest that you skip Dc on the 4th. There is a terrific hands on place called Port Discovery at the Baltimore Inner Harbor that is super fun for your age kids. I liked it as an adult, as well. There is also a very good aquarium and Science museum. Plenty to fill up a day and then see the fireworks in Baltimore.
Then the next AM, get up and go into DC. You can park near a metro and take that. July 5 should have much fewer crowds, as everyone came in on the 4th. You can easily walk from Air/Space to Nat. History and American History Museums. At 3/7, Air and NAt History are the big hits. Other option is to get a hotel over near Dulles Airport and go to Hazy Air museum (but my kids found it boring), and then metro to DC for fireworks.

"Hazy Air" lol. It's the Udvar Hazy museum and I live about 7 miles from it. Great place to visit and they do run buses back and forth between it and the Air and Space museum in DC. Not sure of cost or anything, but you do pay for parking at Udvar Hazy. We've been to Udvar Hazy several times and taken friends and family. We enjoy it, but the thing that younger children would enjoy is going up in the observation tower and watching flights land at Dulles (and listen to the pilots talking to the controllers on the radio that's piped in).

 

[Altoqueenkelly]

Stay away!! haha!! It gets insane in DC around holidays. We live in Richmond VA and take day trips often... but we avoid holidays!!!PS, I would never drive in DC, even on non busy days its complete madness and it can be very confusing to drive around, that place is seriously like a maze


I like the idea others have suggested about Baltimore.

 

[Altoqueenkelly]

Oh yes... the aquarium!!!!! Baltimore aquarium is AMAZING AMAZING AMAZING! 100 times more fun than the maddens of 4th in DC

 

[Missy1961]

I'm also from NY but have lots of family in the Northern VA area. A few years ago we thought we'd spend the 4th of July in DC. It was awful. I'll never do it again. And we did it during the day - way before the fireworks.

I'll be there this year on the 4th, and I don't plan to leave my sister's house at all on that date. Just like I never go to NYC on New Year's or to watch the parade on Thanksgiving, I'll never go to DC on the 4th of July again.

 

[danygirl]

The 4th of july in DC with a three year old sounds like a nightmare. The place is packed from early am. It will be steamy hot.

One year I got the brilliant idea to take my girls to NYC on January 30th. Figured it was the day before new years eve, wouldn't be nearly as crowded. Boy was I wrong. DC on July 5 will be the same.

If you are prepared for this and accept this it can be fine, we have done WDW both Christmas Week and Easter because that was when we could get there.

You will need to pack lots of water, bring some tp (When I was a teen I had friends who made money selling tp squares in the porta john line) and set your expectations low. I would suggest the zoo during the day on the 4th since it is likely to be less crowded, and do the DC stuff on the 5th instead. The fireworks don't start until night, I would ask your concierge for advice on getting to a good viewing spot. you can get to the zoo via metro.

 

[ChvGator]

I live right outside dc, and have done the mall fireworks probably 6 or 7 times. I think it's fun, but take an in and out approach. I wouldn't get there earlier than 7:30.

I highly suggest not taking metro. I did it once on the 4th and will never again. Too many people, pushing, and it's hot. If someone on a train passes out over the heat there will be delays. Plan on walking from your hotel to your viewing spot.

So there is a hotel with rooftop viewing - the liaison. I've been there once for fireworks. It was only OK. Not the greatest view. Supposedly the mandarin oriental has mall views, but I cannot speak to the quality. You could probably walk to the ellipse to view from the Madison, but it's a few blocks. I kind of like the location of the Capitol Hill holiday inn.

The only restaurant I know of with viewing is the POV at the W, and it's a bar. Maybe the hay Adams.

It will be hot.

 

[DisneyFansInLINY]

Thank you everyone for your help. I greatly appreciate it. We are fine with crowds as we have gone to Disney for Christmas and New Years for the past 2 years and will be there again this year.

We don't expect to see everything and if we don't get to watch the fireworks or parade, we will be fine with it. Our main concern is making our daughter's birthday fun and memorable.