Easter Weekend in Washington D.C.? Good idea?

[castleview]

Hi,

We're planning a trip to DC over April vacation and I'm wondering if Easter is a good time. What will there be to do on Easter Sunday? I know the White House has a hunt but isn't that hard to get too. If anyone has any knowledge of the crowds there, I'd appreciate it! Also, are the museums opened on Easter?

 

[Hoodie]

April vacation week is usually pretty crowded. Also, this year the National Cherry Blossom Festival wraps up Easter weekend so there will be even more crowds.

http://www.nationalcherryblossomfestival.org/cms/index.php?id=390

not to discourage you - the weather is usually very nice that time of year and the cherry blossoms should be out, either at peak ot just after. Very pretty - just very busy as well.

DC is a big brunch town so if you are interested in Easter brunch, you should probably start looking at places now.

 

[castleview]

April vacation week is usually pretty crowded. Also, this year the National Cherry Blossom Festival wraps up Easter weekend so there will be even more crowds.

http://www.nationalcherryblossomfestival.org/cms/index.php?id=390

not to discourage you - the weather is usually very nice that time of year and the cherry blossoms should be out, either at peak ot just after. Very pretty - just very busy as well.

DC is a big brunch town so if you are interested in Easter brunch, you should probably start looking at places now.

Thanks! Are the crowds any worse than Disney in August? School teacher husband so we're used to that. Also, will the museums open?

 

[Hoodie]

Thanks! Are the crowds any worse than Disney in August? School teacher husband so we're used to that. Also, will the museums open?

The crowds around the tidal basin and Jefferson monument (there are usually concerts, etc. happening there) can be pretty bad. I'm surprised people don't end up in the tidal basin since there is no fencing!

The museums should be open. Since they are free, they tend to be crowded as well, but you can usually find spots to see everything. The worst spots tend to be around the most popular items - the Hope Diamond can be VERY hard to get to, the bug zoo in the Natural History Museum is usually shoulder to shoulder. Patience is usually all that's needed.

Don't forget the National Cathedral. It's probably my favorite spot - very pretty gardens and the tour is very interesting. http://www.cathedral.org/
Make sure you check out when the Easter services are first or other special events , so that you can plan around them. Sometimes it closes for events.

And the National Zoo has a brand-new baby gorilla born January 10th. They don't even konw if it's a boy or girl yet. S/he is already out with the rest of the group.

 

[Kimmumum]

We went last year for spring break and the cherry blossom festival was the weekend after Easter. From Good Friday until the following Friday I didn't think the crowds were bad at all. Then Friday came and I think people came out of the woodwork. We were very glad that we were leaving on Saturday. The locals told us it was because of the cherry blossom festival. They were the one thing that I wanted to see when we went to DC and I'm glad I got to see them at 99% (they can tell you how much they are in bloom every day). They were beautiful!!!!

Everything is open too. You really wouldn't know that it was Easter (which is kind of sad). The National Cathedral was my favorite spot too. Well worth the trip since it is a little outside the city.

 

[Christine]

Everything is managable until the Cherry Blossom Festival. Then there are people EVERYWHERE.

Washington DC at Easter won't even be close to Disney at Easter. Yes, it will be crowded and you will have lines but it's all tolerable.

 

[JoyG]

I've been to the White House Easter Egg Roll for the past three years. The tickets are free, but the hard thing is you have to camp out overnight for them...

I wrote about it extensively in my travel blog. Link below.

 

[poutytink]

The cherry blossom festival ends 4/12. I will be there too from 4/11 to 4/16. I figure once the festival is over, it won't be that bad. Can't be any worse than Disney!!

 

[castleview]

Well, it's a done deal! We'll be there from Good Friday until Monday morning. We don't have much time but managed to get a fantastic rate at the Embassy Suites in Old Town. Thanks to the poster who wrote about the Easter Egg Roll. I was thinking of it at first, but now I'm not so sure.

I know it will be crowded, but I'm so excited. Been to DC a few times, but never saw the Cherry Blossoms.

 

[Kycha]

Everything is managable until the Cherry Blossom Festival. Then there are people EVERYWHERE.

Washington DC at Easter won't even be close to Disney at Easter. Yes, it will be crowded and you will have lines but it's all tolerable.

You won't regret it. We went Easter Sunday a few years ago. The crowds were manageable. It was raining too. That meant more people in the museums rather than out on the Mall. But, as pp said, the Cherry Blossom Festival is what really draws the crowds in. But to see the cherry trees around the tidal basin in full bloom, is beautiful.

 

[Christine]

I know it will be crowded, but I'm so excited. Been to DC a few times, but never saw the Cherry Blossoms.

Hopefully they will be blooming when you are there.

 

[castleview]

Hopefully they will be blooming when you are there.

Me too! Do you happen to know Old Town at all? We're thinking we might try to get to church there on Easter morning.

 

[KarenB]

We will be there too! We are going Friday (Good Friday) and coming home Sunday. Only staying 2 nights, but we can't wait. We are meeting friends there and staying somewhere on PA Avenue. I can't remember all the details.

Can anyone recommend a place to eat for 4 adults, maybe in the "mid range" for price? We would like something that is more a local place rather than a touristy place.

Thanks,
Karen

 

[Christine]

Me too! Do you happen to know Old Town at all? We're thinking we might try to get to church there on Easter morning.

No expert on it. I've only been there to shop occasionally and get my hair cut! There is a beautiful, historic Episcopal Church in Old Town and I'm sure there are others of most denominations.

 

[KarenB]

Saw this for Saturday night

http://nationalcherryblossomfestival.org/events/eng/event_display.php3?event_id=256