Any tips for visiting Washington D.C.?

[JLTraveling]

When my dad was a DoD employee, we spent two weeks in DC every summer for 15 years. It's still one of my favorite places to vacation. You will NOT have time to see anyplace close to everything, so be prepared for that. Heck, you could spend a month in ONE Smithsonian museum and find that you had not really seen everything in detail.

So...plan for a highlights tour. The Metro is extremely user- (and tourist-) friendly, clean, cheap, efficient, and super easy to figure out. All of the subway lines are color coded and the stations have huge maps. Take the orange or blue line to the Smithsonian stop...you will emerge from the station in the middle of the National Mall...an experience not to be missed. From there it's an easy walk to all the major museums. We normally planned for 2 museums per day... grab a map on the way in and figure out which exhibits you really want to see.

Other highlights include the monuments and memorials...since you're short on time, it may be best to take an evening driving tour to these. Driving (and parking) are not that bad in the early evening, and the monuments are open till midnight. We've done this many times, and it's pretty easy. Everything is well marked and easy to find.

Ford's theatre and the house where Lincoln died are always interesting and fun for the kids. The FBI tour is great, not sure exactly how it works post-September 11...ditto for the Capitol, and I'm pretty sure the Pentagon no longer offers tours -- is that correct?

Writing to your senator for tour tickets is worth a try, but as your trip is quickly approaching, they may be out of tickets. However, anything you can get is a good thing, cause the tickets are free and often the congressional tour is more in-depth than the one you can get as a walk-in.

Since your trip will be short, I would primarily focus on the museums on the Mall, plus a handful of other sights that are on the Metro line. Also, get a good guidebook and check operating hours. The museums usually close at 5, but on certain days/times of year, other places may have extended operating hours.

For the evenings, I recommend seeing Georgetown one night. You will have to drive or take a cab (expensive because it crosses several zones), but maybe you could do it the same night you tour the monuments? It's just a cool neighborhood with tons of good restaurants and shopping, and everything's open late.

Dupont Circle is another must-see neighborhood. It's the bohemian area, although it's been somewhat "yuppified" in the past decade. Two excellent restaurant choices there are Kramerbooks and Afterwords, my favorite restaurant in the city with a huge bookstore and delectable full menu, and Zorba's, a moderate to inexpensive Greek place. Like Georgetown, Dupont Circle stays open late. Tons of shops, lots to look at.

Another don't-miss dining experience is the Ice Cream Shop at the Museum of American History. All of the museums have restaurants, but most are varying levels of cafeteria. American History does have a cafeteria, but look on your museum map for the Ice Cream Shop which is on a different floor. A lot of people don't know it's a real restaurant, as it's a re-creation of a turn of the century ice cream parlor. They have a limited but incredibly good menu of lunch items and of course, amazing desserts. They are open very limited hours, so be sure to check early.

Like others have said there is a LOT of walking involved, mostly on hard marble floors. So be sure to wear comfortable shoes and drink lots of water. A tourmobile trip one day might be nice, but you might end up losing a good bit of time waiting for the trams. I would just stick with Metro.

Any other questions, just ask away!! I love DC, can you tell?

 

[Belle5]

I don't know if you intend to visit the National Cathedral (it's like a European Cathedral) but our family's favorite D.C. restaurant is the Cactus Cantina which is one block north (we walk) of the cathedral on Wisconsin Ave NW. The veggie fajitas are the best I've ever had and I am from Dallas. (I usually don't like veggie fajitas) There is a kid's menu that is in the 3.95 range--no drink.

 

[Bowen9475]

We visited Washington DC last April with friends. There were 7 adults and 8 children ages 1.5 - 7. We walked those kids all over the National Mall area one day visiting several of the monuments and the White House. We all had a blast! One thing the kids loved doing - we visited the National Mall Park Ranger Station 9which was on a map we had) and the kids all got National Mall Junior Ranger Activity books. These books had activities to do based on the various monuments. The kids got stamps in their books for each of the monuments they visited and they were able to show the books to the park rangers back at the ranger station and all of them got plastic Junior Park Ranger badges. The kids loved the books and activities and it made it more enjoyable for them to do age-appropriate activities, as well as they learned a lot too! As an aside - our kids also did this type of program in Philapelphia and enjoyed that one too.

 

[Ahrizel]

I love DC! The metro is good, easy to use and safe. Driving is ugly and parking is a fortune, dont do it. The Smithsonian museums are wonderful and have free admission, gotta love it. Holiday weekend will be crowded, I'd suggest getting up early to hit the biggest sites. Grab a guidebook to help planning, try one aimed at kids to give you ideas for yours. Much as I like the Holocaust museum, I would skip it with the ages of your kids, I believe they recommend 11+ and I would agree with the recommdation. The tour bus is the Tourmobile and would help with the walking. Distances are deceptive on the mall, I learned that the hard way Have a great trip!

 

[Mom to Jordan]

WE are thinking of staying outside the city and taking the metro in to avoid the traffic. Anyone have a suggestion for a good place to stay. This is a budget trip but we want clean and safe.

Jordan's mom

 

[JLTraveling]

When we stayed outside the city, it was always in one of two places -- years ago, it was the Holiday Inn in Ballston, VA. It's about a 6-8 block walk from an orange line Metro station, which will take you all the way in to the National Mall...or you can transfer to any of the other lines at Metro Center, about three stops prior to Smithsonian. It's a real nice Holiday Inn, but you'll have to check rates...it can be real cheap or real expensive depending on time of year. Practically next door to the Metro station is a nice mall and some other shopping.

In later years, we switched to the Embassy Suites in Alexandria, VA, because I got married and we traveled with my parents, so it was nice to have separate rooms. It's directly across the street from a Metro station, I think it's on the yellow line, and you have to transfer to blue to get to the Mall, but it's a real easy transfer. Alexandria's a great place to stay, there's a cool "Old Town" section that's colonial...and if you stay out there be sure to check out the Bilbo Baggins restaurant. Rates were in the $69-$79 range on AAA a few years ago, and it includes a nice breakfast buffet complete with cooked to order omelets.

Both of these hotels are in nice areas, great for shopping and perfectly safe to walk at night. Ballston has grown up in the last decade, a lot more commercial than it used to be, while Alexandria stayed quaint. So it partly depends on the kind of neighborhood you're looking for.

 

[DisneyForLife]

We have also stayed in Alexandria, VA. I highly recommend it. As the previous poster said it is a safe place to walk at night and there are a lot of stores and restaurants to walk to.
While in DC a good place to eat is Union Station downstairs, a huge variety of food, and then you can catch the tourist trolley right outside if you want. Or if it is at night you can catch a tour bus and take a night tour.

 

[Anastasia]

We just got back from 2 nights in DC about three hours ago!!

We had a blast. The kids LOVED it! Comments:

1)Seeing the monuments at night is great. It is a lot of walking, but really worth it. The Jefferson Memorial is particularly beautiful at night.

2)You could easily spend a day in the Air and Space Museum. I have to say that I didn't think I would find it that exciting, but I loved it, as did all three kids and DH.

3)Mount Vernon is great. We went there today, and spent over four hours there. We could probably have spent longer, but it started to rain. According to brochures that I saw, Mount Vernon opens at 8 A.M., so if you are early birds, keep that in mind. It is a very easy and beautiful drive along the Potomac. It is 16 miles from DC, and took less than half an hour.

4)I would agree about the Metro. We didn't use it on this trip, but we have in the past. It is super simple to figure out, and clean and safe.

5)Alexandria is a beautiful town, and I would recommend it as a place to stay outside of the District. Plus, if you want to go to Mount Vernon, you are closer to it. (You drive through Alexandria to get to Mount Vernon). Old Town Alexandria has a lot of nice shops and restaurants.

I'm sure you will have a great time.

 

[bdcp]

I actually live in the DC area and grew up here from age 8. There is a ton to do right downtown and you can get to the mall area via the subway. We always drive, but since I've driven downtown since I was 16, I'm used to it. Remember almost everything in DC is free. The museums and the zoo are owned by the Smithsonian Institution and do not charge admission. The museums on the mall would take you several days to go through. We usually spend 4-5 hours in each one and still skip stuff. I would also stay downtown on the metro line if it were feasible. Metro center is a good place to stay because you can pick which direction on Metro you want to go without having to change trains like you could if you stay outside the city. Avoid the subway during rush hour or you'll have to stand. Also, taking a taxi is not that expensive. I've taken one from the museums to Georgetown and it cost less than $10 for 3 of us. DC taxis are zoned, not measured by distance. Going from one zone to the next is how they figure the cost. We have never done the tour buses or guided tours except for the Capitol. It's easy to get where you need to go by yourself and you can make your own schedule. I wouldn't drive around either if I was staying close to metro.

There are a couple of interesting things to do that do cost. One is the International Spy Museum. It's across the street from MCI center, right off the subway and next to Chinatown, it's also walking distance from the museums. I've done it. Also, last I heard only school groups are getting in to the White House. I dont' think there are general tours. I would also do the US Capitol and use the tour because you learn a lot about it from the guides.

For meals, you have a wide choice staying near a metro stop. DC has a ton of good restaurants, chains and independents. Also in Union Station there is a wide variety of chain places like Pizzeria Uno, for example. I would warn you that on the mall itself at the museums, there are only a couple of restaurants, like Air and Space, and those are cafeteria and they're okay, otherwise you're stuck with hotdogs from vendors. Otherwise you can walk to MCI center and eat there or at one of the many places a couple of blocks surrounding it.

 

[back2disney]

Fly to dc and rent a car there if you'd like.(everything is really within walking distance, kinda like nyc)
Avoid that one north south highway along the east coast (~I-95?) to get there as your priority.

 

[Carrie Ellis]

I would not recommend the part of the Holocaust museum that requires a ticket for the young kids. I did take my 8 year olds through it but I kept them away from some of the graffic parts. I explained alot to the boys why it happened and discussed how hate and intolerance can lead to something like this. Anyway, I did want my boys to know this but it is rough. On the first floor there is a children's part called (I believe) "Daniel's Story". It is made for children and it is on their level. You don't need a ticket for this; just walk in! The best stop for the Holocaust museum and the Smithsonian museums (which are on the mall) is the Smithsonian stop on the metro. You will get off right were my husband and I work! The USDA building!

 

[l2much4u]

I would recommend eating at Grand Central Station...they have Ethnic foods from all over the world... something for everyone...fairly cheap also....Have fun...I live an hour from there and love it everytime I go...so do the kids (14, 8, 7 and 5).

 

[donaldbuzz&minnie]

An earlier poster mentioned the Ice Cream Parlor at the American History Museum on the mall. Unfortunately they turned the whole place into a junk food court - really disappointing since it was fun. The American History museum has a fairly new exhibit that would probably be a lot of fun for your boys on Transportation. If you go in to the museum from the mall, it will be on the lowest level in the far right side of the building.

To be on the safe side, don't eat anything but packaged food from the food trailers all over the place. (No bathrooms - I'll say no more.)

Don't forget the Air and Space Museum on the mall - a little boys' paradise. If you have a car, the time, and are flying into Dulles, the annex is at Dulles and houses some of the collection of planes that wouldn't fit downtown.

If you have time, your boys might also really enjoy the mule-pulled canal boat ride on the C&O Canal sponsored by the National Park Service in Georgetown. It's a gentle ride into an earlier era. They only do this a few times a week, as I recall, but it's worth it. (About $8 per adult ticket, kids?)

Have a great trip!!!!

 

[dcfromva]

An earlier poster mentioned the Ice Cream Parlor at the American History Museum on the mall. Unfortunately they turned the whole place into a junk food court -

We were just there this afternoon... DH and I had been talking about going to the Ice Cream Parlor all morning long (and what we would order!)... What a disappointment when we walked in and found a Subway Sandwich shop right where the Ice Cream Parlor used to be!

(All was not lost, though, we did see the 75 Mickey's on display over at the Ronald Reagon building )

-DC

 

[moopdog]

MarcyinPa... will you be driving and if so, from where in PA? Reason I ask is because I heard that there is a place on the way to DC (for us anyway) that is pefect for kids, it is a ranch with those miniature little ponies and although I'm not a horse lover I was told I HAVE to stop there on our way to DC. I'm sorry but I can't even remember the actual name of the place or the town it's in... but I'm pretty sure it's in Southern/Central PA kind of on your way "out" of the state, heading towards DC. Hopefully someone else can offer more info. Just thought it'd be nice to add a Pit stop to the trip to enjoy this place... I think there's a website too. Good luck!

 

[sanctus]

I'm with everyone else on the Metro. Do not bring a car into DC unless you have no choice, you'll waste half your day trying to find parking, and still have to walk forever to where you really want to be.

On Smithsonian, with the ages of your children hit the air and space museum, and natural history, they're the most kid friendly. Do not miss the bug room at natural history - big hit with kids, especially the giant hissing cockroaches.

Walk the mall and see the monuments. As beautiful as they are at night, I don't recommend walking around then. DC is not the safest city sometimes.

You might try to old post office pavilion for lunch. It's loaded with shopping and food court options, not too expensive and lots of variety.

 

[marcyinPA]

MarcyinPa... will you be driving and if so, from where in PA? Reason I ask is because I heard that there is a place on the way to DC (for us anyway) that is pefect for kids, it is a ranch with those miniature little ponies and although I'm not a horse lover I was told I HAVE to stop there on our way to DC. I'm sorry but I can't even remember the actual name of the place or the town it's in... but I'm pretty sure it's in Southern/Central PA kind of on your way "out" of the state, heading towards DC. Hopefully someone else can offer more info. Just thought it'd be nice to add a Pit stop to the trip to enjoy this place... I think there's a website too. Good luck!

Yup, we'll be driving from the Lehigh Valley. The ranch sounds interesting! My little guy would like that...the older one would hold his nose

I think we'll be heading down 78 to 81 (or is it 83..I always get confused there!) through York and down. It's been a while since we've driven in that direction, but the inlaws live in Annapolis so we go down there at least once a year.

We got a rate at the Marriott at Metro Center that includes parking and breakfast each day, so we're all set with the parking. That's the reason why once the car is parked,it's staying parked! LOL

Thanks for all the great tips everyone!!

 

[stressedmom]

Hi - congratulations on your trip to DC. You will love the city and you will love the Marriott Metro Center. Stayed there last year and it was so convenience to subway it was literally steps from the side door entrance of the hotel. There are two major color lines that you can catch from the Metro Center station so it's VERY easy to get around. The subway is clean, safe, and fast. I've used many subway systems before and DC's is the best. Have fun!!!!

 

[amyjo]

Someone mentioned the Old Post Office for food--they have a great food court. They also have a tower you can go up in, which is really cool! I think it's free (it used to be) and it's run by the National Park Service. You get a little lesson about the bells in the tower and then go up to the top where you get a great view of DC. IMO, it's better than the view from the Washington Monument and the wait is a fraction of what you'd wait for the Monument.

 

[TDC Nala]

www.wmata.com

Note that the FBI is not currently giving public tours, and White House tours must be set up through your Member of Congress up to six months ahead of time.

The Old Post Office building food court is not nearly as extensive as it once was. The biggest food court in that area is now in the Reagan Building. To get into either (or most any other public place in D.C.) you will have to pass a metal detector and bag search.