Anyone familiar with Washington DC?

[Jeafl]

We are planning on going for vacation this summer, as well as Williamsburg.

I wrote my congressman to get tickets for the White House, FBI and Capitol Bldg, tours, only to hear that they are no longer open to the public. With these major attractions off limits, what do you recommend we see and do? So far this is our list:

Smithsonian Air & Space, Natural History and American History museums

Ford's Theater/House where Lincoln died

Washington, Lincoln, Jefferson monuments

Bureau of Engraving and Printing

That's it so far. I like art museums, but DH and kids are not thrilled with that idea. We will be staying at Loews L'Enfant Plaza hotel, which has a metro station, so transportation won't be a problem.

Any suggestions?

 

[Christine]

The National Gallery of Art is good, my DD (12) just had a field trip there and the kids LOVED it. There is a sculpture garden adjacent to the museum that is supposed to be a lot of fun.

There is also the spy museum (I think) and the Holocaust museum that are supposed to be good; however, I have not "kept up" with things even though I live around DC so I'm not usre what's running anymore! Pathetic, huh?

 

[Stimpy]

We went to the International Spy museum and found it interesting. We also LOVE the Air & Space museum and the other Smithsonian buildings. Arlington Cemetary is always interesting and thought provoking. There is also a Holocoust museum(sorry about spelling), which we haven't been to but have heard it is very eye-opening. I think that would depend on how old your kids are though and how comfortable you would be taking them there.

If you can, take the trolley tours early in your trip. They show you most of DC. You can get off and on at a lot of interesting areas. The also have a night tour of the monuments which is really pretty.

 

[Pam]

Arlington National Cemetery and the Robert E. Lee house are also good stops.

National Zoo

Snoopy would be the person to consult as she lives there!

 

[caitycaity]

the spy museum and the holocaust museum are don't misses.

the white house vistor's center is open to the public, so you could always stop there. i think your congress person must be misinformed b/c tours of the capitol are currently available, according to the house website.

http://www.house.gov/house/tour_services.html

i also thought the white house was open for touring via your congressperson.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/tours/

FBI tours have been unavailable for quite some time now. even before 9/11 i think.

also, i would suggest that you spend some time at arlington national cemetery.

 

[AirForceRocks]

I believe that White House tours are limited to groups of 10 or more, but Capitol tours are still available.

http://www.house.gov/house/tour_services.html

This link gives more information on tours of the Capitol.

 

[Twigs]

All the above suggestions, also when we went we got congressional tours of the Kennedy Center, it was a good tour, DS's then 9 even liked it.

The Supreme Court building was interesting too.

 

[BibbidiBobbidiBOO]

I think your congressman is wrong. We have called ours and confirmed our available dates via e-mail about Capital and Whitehouse tours. They said it should not be a problem and will get back with us as the June date gets closer. The White House tour does say 10 people, so they may put us with others.

 

[Jeafl]

Huh. My congressman (whom I did NOT vote for ) replied that the White House tours were only open to school groups and veterans at the present time. Maybe i will contact our senator and see what he has to say.

Thanks for the suggestions! Keep 'em coming.

By the way, my kids are 14, 11 and 8.

 

[BibbidiBobbidiBOO]

Hmmm. Dh is a Lt. Colonel in the reserves, maybe that helped? I have no clue!

 

[Kimickey]

I would suggest trying to get on with tourmobile. www.tourmobile.com
I would try and do an evening tour if you can or have the time. Depending on the weather. I've lived in the metropolitan area of DC all of my life and did the evening tour one summer evening four years ago and have a totally different light on my home town. The day tour is great also. It takes you to all of the things you want to see, plus you board and unboard all day when you want. You are not bogged down to staying with that particular tram all day.

 

[onecoolmama]

There is a great tour bus that stops basically all over washington called Tourmoblie Sightings.

You get the history of the mounuments and it stops (if I remember it has been a while) at the Washington Monument, the Capital, Thomas Jefferson memorial, the Lincoln Memorial, Holocost, the White House Union Station and all the museums. It stops and lets you get off at each one then when you are done with a museum, or the captial, or whatever one, you just wait for the next bus to come. I think there are day passes and again you can pick it up any one of those stops.

It is at least nice to do for one day because it is a long walk from Union Station to the Washington Monument..and the Holocust museum is quite a hike from the other museums. There were things that I didnt know that were downtown until I took this tour and it dropped me off. So that is my adice. Use it at least to get to the farther places and then you can do the all the other Smithsoians the other days since they are right on the mall.

And of course..i dont know where you are staying, but the easiest way to get downtown is to use the metro. The Smithsoian stop drops you right off in the middle of the mall and as I said all of the Smithsoains are walkable from that point.

Good Luck have a great trip. It was one of my favorite places to hang out, play freesbie and volleyball on half days and no school days as a kid!

 

[shortbun]

Definitely put the Zoo on your list. The Arboretum is very close
to your hotel and pretty cool/actually hot(it's tropical for the most part) From your hotel, you can take a walk and walk by
the Watergate - good chance for a history lesson and to provoke a conversation about politics and temptation. The Hirschorn is
right next to Air and Space, it's full of sculpture and good for a
fast tour/walk through. My fav gallery and a small one is the
Phillips Collection. they have several Degas, my favorite Renoir(Luncheon of the boating party), lots of light stuff rather than
heavy art. We got lucky the last time and the temporary exhibit
was child friendly but DS doesn't mind a one hour museum.
The other thing I'd definitely take my kids to see is the National
Portrait Gallery-all the Presidents are there and that's fun.
There's all kind of fun stuff going on outside in D.C. in the summer.
The Kennedy Center often has family entertainment. How about
Mt. Vernon over in Alexandria-it's fun even if you just stay outside and look at the original trees and outbuildings. Last time we were there, we played hide and seek as well as some other games children in that era would have played. There is a Children's Museum in D.C. I've been there with a 4 year old, the
older children might not love it but it's got some interesting stuff.
It's off the beaten path, can't remember the closest subway but
we walked about 20 minutes from the closest to get there.
D.C. is loaded with great fun-you just have to walk around and
people watch. I love sitting on a bench outside the Capitol and
watching folks go in and out. Vietnam Wall, Women's Memorial
and Lincoln Monument are all close to each other.
I'm hoping to be in D.C. again this summer. Have fun!

 

[snoopy]

In addition to the above ideas, depending on the ages of the kids in the group, you might also enjoy the Newseum. My kids like the National Portrait Gallery, although its not for everyone. Our zoo is decent, and free, so that is also a thought. For browsing in shops and dinner/nightlife, come visit me in Georgetown.

You're staying in a great location, I always recommend Loews L'Enfant to out of town guests.

 

[Lisa F]

The holocaust museum is a fabulous museum but might be intense for small kids. You definately have to be in the right mood/frame of mind to go to that one.

Dumbarton Oaks in Georgetown is a really fabulous set of gardens that is open to the public.

If you are willing to take a little bit of a drive, Mt. Vernon is not too far and it's really neat to see George Washington's home (plus the landscape/river is also beautiful).

If you're into the space program, NASA Goddard is located in Maryland and they have a visitor's center, but I have no idea what is there, but might be worth checking into.

Fords theater WAS under restoration but I believe it might be open again. We saw 1776 there a while back and it was really awesome to see a play there (you can also see Lincoln's Box, which is kept empty... it's kind of weird to realize that you're looking down on the same stage and watching a performance just like Lincoln must have been).

If you like shows, there is also the National Theater and the Kennedy Center to check out.

There's also the National Zoo (and right near there is the National Cathedral if you are into that sort of thing, it's a really cool building with some neat things about it, like a chapel devoted to Lincoln and some funky gargoyles, I remember one being darth vader). Of course at the National Zoo you need to see the giant pandas.

 

[LisaF]

Definitely contact your Senator regarding the Capital Building tour - we are taking a tour in 2 weeks. The White House is open for tours through your Congressman or Senator. The Spy Museum is a timed entry museum so you may want to purchase tickets through Ticket Master. You can also purchase tickets for the Washington Monument tour through the National Park Service - this is also a timed entry building. Be sure to visit all the monuments around the Mall and Elipse (SP?). Ford's Theatre is a nice tour - the Park Ranger gives a talk at quarter past the hour beginning at 9:15, taking a break for lunch and then beginning again at 2:15. My kids LOVE the SMithsonian museums - they're favorites are The Air & Space (10 yo. boys) and the Natural History Museum. DD (13 yo.) wants to see the Holacaust museum again, but I haven't had time to explain in detail everything to the boys yet, so maybe on our next trip. The BEP is open to the public, or again, you can get early morning tours through your Congressman or Senator. Hope this is helpful.

LisaF

 

[tkd lisa]

We did the Children's Museum last Memorial Day weekend and our kids were 11 and almost 10 at the time. Union station is the closest metro, but it's probably 1 1/2 miles from there. Given the ages of your kids, I'd not recommend it. It's more geared for the younger kids, although the Japan section was pretty cool.

Mount Vernon can be nice, and even if you don't have a car, there are boat and bus trips that will take you there. The National Zoo is very popular with my family as well as all the Smithsonian exhibits.

 

[Tina]

Snoopy, I don't think the Newseum has reopened in its new location yet, has it?

Spy Museum is definitely cool, but plan to visit on a week day, then you won't have to worry about the timed entry or large crowds. We went on a Saturday and even with the timed entry, it was just too crowded to see anything. We went back on a weekday and had a blast.

Don't forget Georgetown for a little nightlife. Lots of great restaurants and shopping.

 

[caitycaity]

i think the newseum is reopening in 2006.

 

[snoopy]

Ooops, Tina, you are correct. I had forgotten that they were expanding.

I stand corrected. Come back in 2006 and visit the Newseum.