Inexpensive ideas for Washington DC

[robin09]

We have a need to runaway for a weekend, been a rough year which started last september when hubby broke his hand. He recently had surgery on it, and it's more painful and hard to use. He's a mechanic that can't use his hand... not good...

Our DD13 has aspergers, and has been going thru a rough school year, with the school expecting more than she can do (emotionally), so a runaway weekend is in order.... Interesting and fun things please.. and I wouldn't mind for it to become a learning weekend... Thanks guys!

 

[KristinU]

The Smithsonian museums are free, fantastic, and educational! Hop off the Metro and start with the castle and get info and decide where you guys want to go from there. We love DC Also, you can just do a walking tour of the monuments, free and educational for sure. There's so much to see and do that you could never cover it all in one visit.

We've always stayed at a campground in Lorton, VA, so I can't help with hotel recommendations (although I know the CG we stay at has cabins: Pohick Bay Regional Park) The Metro is easy to use and pretty inexpensive. You can definitely do an inexpensive "runaway" trip.

Have fun!

 

[mjkacmom]

There have been tons of threads on this topic - if you search, you will get a huge amount of information! DC is great, because most of it is free.

 

[AverageDiser]

We have a need to runaway for a weekend, been a rough year which started last september when hubby broke his hand. He recently had surgery on it, and it's more painful and hard to use. He's a mechanic that can't use his hand... not good...

Our DD13 has aspergers, and has been going thru a rough school year, with the school expecting more than she can do (emotionally), so a runaway weekend is in order.... Interesting and fun things please.. and I wouldn't mind for it to become a learning weekend... Thanks guys!

We went to DC in April for the Easter Egg Roll We sent no money on entertainment at all- the Smithsonian Museums and monuments are all free admission. (the Washington Monument charges a small fee, but I don't know if it's even opened back up yet, I don't think it has.) DD10 has Asperger's as well, and she could have happily spent a whole day at any of the museums!

We stayed at the Wardman Park Marriot- it's used mostly by convention goers, but was a very nice hotel, rooms were clean and comfy, it's just huge! It was $109 when we stayed, and included parking- which many of the hotels charge extra for- look at the website for packages, ours was the National Zoo package. There is a Metro station directly across the street, as well as a McDonald's and a lot of other restaurants. We used the Mickey Ds for breakfast and the prices were comparable to the prices at home. For luches we *gasp* got food from the trucks- we all survived and dd loved all the choices. Again, I didn't pay more than $10 for both of us. We kept the car parked and used the Metro, easy to navigate and pretty cheap, my brother was with us, but I wouldn't hesitate to do it on our own. It can definitely be done reasonably, just depends on how high or low your budget is.

 

[Pluto1976]

Plenty of stuff to do in DC. Here are couple of things and some are repeats from what others have said:

- The Smithsonian Musuems and there are many so pick a few that interest you. The Natural History, United States History, and Air and Space are nice

- Make reservations to tour the Capitol Building. Very cool. However, don't bring any food or drink with you b/c they will make you throw it out before entering.

- The National Archives (see the Constitution, Declaration of Independence)

- The National Zoo which is a Smithsonian musuem

- The National Mall (lots of monuments there)

And the great thing is all of this is free.

My advice would be to get a hotel close to a Metro station and just utilize the subway system. I believe the metro orange line will take you to allot of the places listed above. Although you can transfer between lines as neccessary.

Enjoy!

 

[hsmamato2]

agree w/ pp's plenty to do, it's mostly free,and fun! my ds ,at 12 fell in love with the modern art museum at Smithsonian.... the campground in Lorton, can you camp there and catch the train into the city?

 

[KristinU]

the campground in Lorton, can you camp there and catch the train into the city?

Not RIGHT there, but it is about a 10-15 minute drive to the Franconia-Springfield Metro station. Free parking in the ramp on weekends and holidays

 

[robin09]

Thanks for the replies...Haven't been to DC in years, so this is a huge help. I found a room at the Metro points hotel in New Carrollton, Maryland. It is 89 a night with breakfast. They said it was close to transportation and had shuttle... I wish I was going to Disney! but can't get there for a weekend by driving!

 

[drnp]

My first post!

I agree with the Smithsonian and National Archives recommendations. I also like the Library of Congress, tours of the reading room and great hall are free. The Thomas Jefferson building is one of my favorites in all DC.
Also, call your US Rep or Senator before you go and ask for a capitol tour ahead of time. They save you a long wait in line and one of their interns usually does it, and of course it is for free too!
For inexpensive places to eat try Chinatown, Union Station, or a food court in the Ronald Reagan building. There is also a very good cafeteria in the basement level of the Congressional offices, but it can get very crowded during lunch time.

 

[bbarba]

If you are willing to spend a little money, the Spy Museum is excellent. YOu need to buy tickets online, it can get busy. It is REALLY cool. and highly recommended. It is in the CHinatown area, metro accessible.

 

[Mrs.Malone]

New Carrollton would be a convenient area, and that's a great room rate. I would advise just using plenty of caution if you will be walking in that area at night. Whether deserved or not, that metro station has a reputation as being one of the less-safe ones (still very safe though if you use common sense), and the neighborhood around it is a little sketchy.

 

[leebee]

Check TravelTicker for great room rates in the city. We got a Marriott near Embassy Row (can't think of the name of the circle...DuPont Circle!) for $119 a night, with free parking and b'fast. Nice to be IN the city, NEAR public transportation. Also check Hotwire (and go to betterbidding.com for help identifying hotels that come up on Hotwire) for great deals.

In the Mall area, they have circulator busses for only $1 a ride. The Mall area doesn't look that big, but when you are spending your days touring indoors (museums, monuments, etc.) it's nice to not have to walk too far to your next destination!

 

[lisaross]

We are going to DC in a few weeks:

We booked a room at the Americana Hotel, Arlington, VA - its a couple of blocks to the Metro (plus they have a shuttle as well) its any older hotel but got good reviews...under 100 a night plus free continental breakfast!

Those that have been, can i but metro tickets at the station - round trip?

This is what we have planned:

the afternoon we get their - going to visit the Arlington Cemetary

then our full day we want to hit the Bureau of Printing and the Museum of American HIstory and if we have time the Nat'l Zoo

the following morning we will be going to the White House - we've been approved - very excited!

lisa

 

[KristinU]

We are going to DC in a few weeks:

We booked a room at the Americana Hotel, Arlington, VA - its a couple of blocks to the Metro (plus they have a shuttle as well) its any older hotel but got good reviews...under 100 a night plus free continental breakfast!

Those that have been, can i but metro tickets at the station - round trip?

This is what we have planned:

the afternoon we get their - going to visit the Arlington Cemetary

then our full day we want to hit the Bureau of Printing and the Museum of American HIstory and if we have time the Nat'l Zoo

the following morning we will be going to the White House - we've been approved - very excited!

lisa

Sounds like a great rate for the hotel, and a great itinerary!

And yes, you buy your Metro cards right at the station out of machines. The machines take cash as well as debit/credit cards. Very user-friendly.

 

[Belle & Ariel]

We really enjoyed Ford's Theater. There is a museum with details about the CIvil War and events leading up to the Lincoln assassination. You can also go into the theater and see Lincoln's box. It is well worth it to rent the headphones for $5--they add alot to the tour. You can make a reservation online for a few dollars per person--google Ford's Theater.
We were there twice this summer and once stayed at Holiday Inn Alexandria on Eisenhower Avenue which is right next to a Metro station and the other time at Holiday Inn Green Belt which has a shuttle to the Metro. We used Entertainment card on both and paid $50- $60. I always read reviews on trip advisor and both are rated very well.
Your daughter might enjoy a tour on the DUCKs which is a bus/boat ride through downtown.