Dh doesn't want to go to Disney this year..he wants Wash. DC!

[jodifla]

I think if you are located around there, it makes sense to go at any age. But for a big special trip that needs airline tickets and hotels, I'd wait.

I wouldn't trade WDW for D.C. for an elementary age kid.

We just took our third-graders to Greenfield Village, a very historical village Henry Ford built, and my group was more interested in the goldfish and turtles that the actual old buildings.

 

[cristielf]

I think if you are located around there, it makes sense to go at any age. But for a big special trip that needs airline tickets and hotels, I'd wait.

I wouldn't trade WDW for D.C. for an elementary age kid.

We just took our third-graders to Greenfield Village, a very historical village Henry Ford built, and my group was more interested in the goldfish and turtles that the actual old buildings.

Greenfield Village and the Henry Ford museum is nice too

 

[jodifla]

Greenfield Village and the Henry Ford museum is nice too

They are great! But when you are really young, the history is kind of lost on you.

They really liked the glassblowers, though.

 

[JUJU814]

I think if you are located around there, it makes sense to go at any age. But for a big special trip that needs airline tickets and hotels, I'd wait.

I wouldn't trade WDW for D.C. for an elementary age kid. We just took our third-graders to Greenfield Village, a very historical village Henry Ford built, and my group was more interested in the goldfish and turtles that the actual old buildings.

Neither would I, but unfortunately, dh doesn't agree.

We'd be driving..10 hours.

 

[cam&phoebsmom]

I am another who grew up going to DC monthlymy dad was a firefighter in the city and there is so much to do!

Air and Space and Natural History museums are easily the most "kid friendly," but the National Gallery is also wonderful. We had a 6, 5, 3, and 1 year old when we went as a group. They have a scavenger hunt they give out at the front desk and you have to go through the museum finding different paintings or works of art. We let the 2 oldest have digital cameras and they liked photogrpahing the different "favorites."

The National Zoo is wonderful-they have changed it so the pandas are more easily seen than when I grew up (back then we always seem to see only a paw, LOL).

I would also suggets doing a double decker bus tour. It is a fun and fast way to see a lot of the monuments and a good intro for kids.
http://www.opentopsightseeing-dc.com/index.php

For the kids the Capital Children's Museum is also very fun.
http://www.ncm.museum/

If you do decide to head to Baltimore they have an "Urban Pirates" tour that is very entertaining out on the water. One is based out of Annapois and one is in Fells Point (great little restaurants there as well). The aquarium is fantastic and if there is a rainy day in your trip head to the Maryland Science Center-we hav held year passes and always find something new to do.

One thing I will caution is that even though the museums are free, it is still an expensive city/area to travel to.

 

[bumbershoot]

D.C. is on our list, but not until our DS is in middle school. I don't think of it as a place for MOST elementary kids.

Same here. I love DC, I miss DC, somedays I wish I hadn't moved from the area b/c it was just so much fun to be there...but I'm NOT taking up a vacation or spending hours on a place while DS is only 7 to see it.

Neither would I, but unfortunately, dh doesn't agree.

We'd be driving..10 hours.

But don't you get a say?

If he wants a more educational trip, I am SURE there are some AMAZING things within just a few hours of you. DC is walking, it's either hot or cold, it's a big huge experience...and IMO for a 7 and 9 year old it's not going to have the *same* impact as it's going to have in years to come. I would save it for the future. If DH wants education and you're OK with that (I"m just feeling sad for you b/c you do your adult trips based around his likes, and now your family trips too!) I would come up with something closer to you.

I even have family out there...but I'm still not going there until later on, unless we were to get an AMAZING deal and I knew we'd go back in the future.

 

[MSSANDRA]

We like DC, not as much as WDW but it can be fun. That said, we do not do WDW in the summer and I will NEVER do DC in the Summer again. It is HOTTER and just as crowded as WDW. It is a much harder trip to take than WDW. At WDW we stay on site and that nice free air condition bus takes us where ever we want to go....not DC. Plan to use public transport or tour buses. We had a 9 year old that I really did worry about loosing. My DS was ealy teens on his last trip and LOVED it. There are things a 7&9 will love but it is harder to help them have fun. If it is an one time trip trip I would wait. We are taking DS4 with us within the year but because we want to go, not for him. Hotels and food is higher than WDW.

 

[mommyof2princesses]

You know, your dd would probably love the American Girl store which opens tomorrow in DC! My 7 year old dd really enjoyed DC and asks to go back all the time. I am hoping to take her next month for a mommy/daughter day. We only live 2 hours away.

We will probably go to the National Zoo, she loves the science museum and I like the american history museum. You can go in the old post office and go up in the clock tower...it is pretty neat! Just to see the white house is cool...we saw it from the gate. It is so big! The Washington monument would be cool to go up in and there are lots of great things to do in the National Mall (museums, and such.)

If you are planning on doing American History next year I would suggest planning a trip to Colonial Williamsburg, Jamestown and Yorktown. They have homeschool days in Sept and March (although we did MArch and it was COLD!). All 3 places are really close to each other and only about 2-3 hours from DC. They do a great job with the homeschooling programs on those days and the price for homeschoolers cant be beat!

 

[*Seanaci*]

DC can and I'm sure is fun. I don't know as I've never been.

Good luck and have fun!

 

[ZandZsMom]

We went to DC 2 years ago...DD was 8 and DS 7. My son really wanted to go and my daughter was "ok" with it. I was very surprised at what they liked. I thought for sure she would be nagging to leave while in the Air and Space Museum as she had no interest in it. Well, it was her favorite museum. They often ask when we are going back as we missed so much on our 5 day trip.

They really enjoyed doing the twilight tour our first night and then seeing how different it all looked and felt during the day. I'm so glad I took them young and will definitely go back when they are older.

OP, I too, have a hard time breaking away from Disney and trying new places. I didnt notice where you are from. Is it possilbe to do both? DC in itself is relatively cheap, other than hotel and food.

 

[GinnyEmma]

Dc is awesome!! Believe it or not kids in dc have a great time. The zoo, the spy museum, the air and space, natural history, the mint. Only you can make the kids not like the trip. Why not let your husband parent?

 

[taitai]

DC is a wonderful trip. You will have the best time. It is hot in the summer but all the museums have AC so you should be good. Order your tickets to go to the top of Washington Monument ahead of time and contact your Senators and Rep asap to try to get White House and Capital tickets.

I am pretty amazed at those who think DC is for older kids. There is so much for younger kids to enjoy, too. Everyone can take something different from the experience. The last time we were there, my boys (5,5 and 6) like the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, the Museum of Native American Art and the monuments the best. I am sure the next time we go, as their interests evolve and change, they will appreciate other things more.

To say don't go to DC until they are older is like saying don't go to Disney until the kids are older and taller and can ride all the rides. Just because they aren't tall enough for EE doesn't mean they can't have fun with everything else.

 

[JenInVirginia]

I live just outside of DC and I think your kids will like it more than you think. Your daughter might like the butterfly pavilion at the Natural History Museum and the Hope Diamond/Gem exhibit. The American Indian Museum has kid-oriented, hands-on stuff, the zoo is awesome (and free!), Mount Vernon is also worth seeing.

 

[Starr W.]

We're going to Washington DC for spring break next year.

My 2 DS's (15/10) can't wait to go.

To be honest I think mine are getting slightly bored with 2 WDW trips per year.

You know those commercials with the kids getting excited about going to WDW? That's the reaction mine had when told they were going to stay on Mackinac Island, MI during our trip up North this summer.

When told about the next WDW trip, got the "whatever mom" looks.

 

[Sandi12404]

My 13yo dd told me a couple months ago that she wants to go to Washington DC "to see the monuments and stuff". We're thinking next summer for a trip but I told my husband we have to check out DC cupcakes

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

We're going to Washington DC for spring break next year.

My 2 DS's (15/10) can't wait to go.

To be honest I think mine are getting slightly bored with 2 WDW trips per year.

You know those commercials with the kids getting excited about going to WDW? That's the reaction mine had when told they were going to stay on Mackinac Island, MI during our trip up North this summer.

When told about the next WDW trip, got the "whatever mom" looks.

I agree. It's awesome but still too much of it and it's not special anymore. We had been going 2-3x per year and by our last trip 2 yrs ago of 10 nts we were so parked out and decided to stay away for a while. (Well, ok we switched to DCL for our Disney fix.) Now ds14 is begging to go back.

It's funny to me to think about waiting till kids get older to go to DC, because for pretty much any kid growing up in MD or Northern Virginia, you've been to the Natural History Museum at least twice before leaving Elementary school (and for that matter, I'd gone to the Naval Academy and State House 4 times). The public school districts are all over free educational field trips! It actually took me until early high school to want to go back because I was so sick of DC!

That's kind of how I feel about Boston, the Freedom Trail, and Plymouth Plantation! BTDT a zillion times.

lol! That's how we feel about the Franklin Institute, Academy of Natural Science, Independence Hall, Philadelphia Zoo,etc.

OP, I just want to say, as much as we love WDW, we try to do other things too. During one of our WDW visits, my parents came too and wanted to visit KSC which dh had always wanted to do but never pushed it. I felt like I would rather be having root canal but it turned out be a really neat place. A few times I was even choked up and teary-eyed during the IMAX movie watching JFK's speech. Also the pictures of my boys and parents together there are priceless memories.
Another time on a Williamsburg trip we passed a sign on the interstate for the Ft. Eustace Army Transportation Museum. So having "learnt my lesson" at KSC, I sucked it up and went along cheerfully (except for telling him I'd rather have root canal.) Again, I was surprised how much I enjoyed it.

Since then we visited Sedona/Grand Canyon/Hoover Dam, Niagara Falls and Shenandoah Valley/Luray Caverns, VA & I have to admit my kids ask more often to return to Sedona more than any other place including WDW.
I learned something about myself too (that I'm kind of becoming a museum & National Park nerd) and I welcome dh's input/suggestions more than ever.

DC is definitely on our 'to do' list. (ok, just not in my countdowns. lol!)

 

[JUJU814]

I just want to thank all of you for your support and encouragement to try something new! (despite us all being over the moon for Disney!)

Your ideas and suggestions have me excited to try something different!

Also, I don't feel as bad missing out on Disney this year since Fantasyland is under expansion. We'll wait until it's all done. Then the new Legoland will be open also.

There are just too many places to go..and I LOVE to travel. Maybe I was a gypsy in a previous life....

 

[wdwmom0f3]

We spent all of last summer in Baltimore and we visited DC while we were there. Getting in for the White House tour was very interesting and I did it with in a month of our arrival. You will have to send in the names and SS numbers of everyone in your party and then it has to be approved.

Over all DC was OK, but I have no desire to go back at all. My kids were bored with museum after museum, which made me feel like this is a better place to go for older kids because most young kids wont get it.

I will say that we really enjoyed going to the Baltimore Harbor and it's not far from DC. The National Aquarium is there and it was great.

 

[kkmcan]

Dh wanted to visit San Francisco last fall which is when we normally do DL for Halloweentime. I did want to see SF but wasn't sold on giving up DL.

It turned out great! We had an awesome time, the kids had a wonderful time as well and they got to have a whole new kind of experience they've never had before (city transportation, China Town, riding the cable cars, Alcatraz etc). But..... I missed DL like crazy!

We've decided to try and have new places to see and experience every year or two in between DL trips. Makes DH happy and my kids actually love it too!

Now we've got our next DL trip planned for this Oct for Halloweentime and we are over the moon about going!! So many new things to see at DL as well since we haven't been in a year now. They are expanding like crazy over there this year and next year.

 

[hmacmahony]

while we LOVE LOVE disney, and I know I am going to say this on a disney board...

there is so much more to life than disney.

My kids have had no shortage of disney trips in their short lives.
But, I guarntee if you ask them what their favorite things to see on vacation are, while disney will be on the list, it won't be the only thing, and probably won't even be the top thing on the list.

We did DC with a 1, 4, 6, 7 year olds, and they all LOVED it. They still talk about it, and all the stuff they saw. We did as much as we could, the monuments, zoo, arlington (they were in awe!), holocaust museum (the kids section, which has sparked such an intense desiere for learning, that my oldest who is now nine has read just about every book she can get her hands on about WW2, espically anne frank)

We have traveled across the country with them, and while we love a good disney trip, there is so much more to life. So much more I want them exposed to than rides and characters.

My kids love yellowstone, and las vegas, they loved the redwoods, they had a ball in forks looking for vampires, they cheered for every cowboy at a rodeo in wyoming, this year they are looking forward to seeing whales and moose on our trip. we are going through Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Mass, CT, NY. They can't wait to go to arcadia national park, to see the mayflower, to go to the beach and boogie board (a new found love they found out last year in CA).

We are strong believers that the more experiences our children have, the more well rounded they become. And its such amazing real life learning. My kids teachers are always amazed at how much knowledge my kids know, and most of that knowledge is because they have been there done that.

My daughters kindergarten teacher was amazed this year, when her teacher was talking about when she got married there was a big volcano that had erupted. My daughter raises her hand and says, was it Mt St Helens? Its really cool! And was able to tell the teacher about the inner workings of a real volcano (and that daddy took a helicopter to see the inside of the volcano).

While I love disney, and disney is an amazing place to go, don't discount how much fun you can have other places. And how much fun your kids can have to.