Need Help Planning Washington DC Trip

[mousefan73]

I just did a girls trip there last month. Not sure if this has already been mentioned, but here are my tips.
1. If you do Arlington do the trolley tour. It’s only $20 a person. Yes you can walk the whole thing but it is very spread out and it will save you tons time and was worth the money. You can buy tickets there.

 

[mousefan73]

For some reason it didn’t save my next tips:
2. Public transportation in DC is really good for the US. The metro is relatively safe and clean get you everywhere including Arlington cemetery and the Pentagon area. There’s also a bus system that’s called the circulator go ahead and Google it but for example the circulator redline does the entire mall monuments and museums and only cost one dollar per ride per person

3. I was blown away last time with the World War II memorial for some reason I never noticed it before it’s split into two sections Atlantic and Pacific, and if you walk towards it on the left and right side, you’ll see a line of black plaques that are actually artistic representations of a timeline of what war meant for people during that time it was very moving because it starts with, for example, young men being shipped off to Bootcamp and getting their shots you can see it below. This is right near the Washington Monument.

 

[mousefan73]

Oh, and actually a good mall is the Pentagon mall or mall of Pentagon it’s one stop on the metro from Arlington cemetery. So if you want to place to eat afterwards, you can head there tons of options.

 

[leebee]

You should probably be aware that some of the buildings won't let you bring backpacks inside- and there often isn't any storage available. I have a friend who travels with a small one-shoulder type pack and she had to take it back to her hotel as she couldn't take it inside with her (at the White House, for sure) and there weren't any storage lockers.

 

[starry_solo]

We were in DC in October.

What interests your children?

Timed entry tickets are needed to the National Air & Space Museum (Smithsonian) in DC, as well as the National African American Museum. You don't need timed entry tickets to the Air & Space Museum in VA (that's the second Smithsonian one) - it has tons of airplanes, helicopters, etc. Oh, and a space shuttle!

Food is very yummy at the African American Museum; best food in all the Smithsonians!

Pandas are gone from the Zoo; the rest of the Zoo is nice, but the main attraction were the pandas! Pandamonium! LOL.

The memorials are very nice. Take an Uber to the Jefferson Memorial and then you can walk to FDR, MLK, Korean, Lincoln, Vietnam, along the reflecting pool, onto the WWII monument, and then the Washington Memorial. That's probably at least 20,000 steps from Jefferson to Washington. We did that in a day.

It's too late to get the White House (you had to submit 30-45 days in advance via your congress-person). But there is a nice White House Visitor's Center, kitty corner from where you would go to get entry into the White House. And the WWI memorial is right there too.

 

[EMHDad]

Thank you everyone for your tips and thoughts. I have made the preliminary itinerary. 2 Disclaimers.
1. This trip is in place of a school DC Trip. This is a Go Go Go trip and not focus on relaxing.
2. It is flexible. I have packed a lot in the few days, but I understand that I may need to adjust as I go. Also, I know that I could spend a whole day in just one museum. We dont have time for everything to be in depth, so we are going to do the best we can.

Trip itinerary...

Arrive at DCA at 10:00am on Day 1

Day 1 Activities:
- Smithsonian Museum of American History
- The Washington Monument Tour
- Smithsonian Holocaust Museum

Day 2 Activities:
- Eisenhower Memorial
- Smithsonian Air & Space Museum
- Smithsonian Natural History Museum
- Ford's Theater Tour

Day 3 Activities:
- Rent Electric Scooters for 3 Hours and see the Following Memorials...
WWII, Vietnam, Korean, Lincoln, MLK, FDR, Jefferson.
Maybe Sightsee around the White House if we have time.
- Tour the Capitol Building
- National Archives Museum Tour

Day 4 Activities:
- Tour Arlington National Cemetary
- Sightsee Around the White House, BLM Plaza, Christmas Tree (If it is still up)

Flight leaves 6:15pm to Head Home

 

[fla4fun]

Day 4 Activities:
- Tour Arlington National Cemetary
- Sightsee Around the White House, BLM Plaza, Christmas Tree (If it is still up)

The Christmas tree is a living tree, so even if it isn’t decorated the tree itself will be there. We visited in early summer and I took photos of the tree (without any decorations, of course).

 

[TwoMisfits]

Thank you everyone for your tips and thoughts. I have made the preliminary itinerary. 2 Disclaimers.
1. This trip is in place of a school DC Trip. This is a Go Go Go trip and not focus on relaxing.
2. It is flexible. I have packed a lot in the few days, but I understand that I may need to adjust as I go. Also, I know that I could spend a whole day in just one museum. We dont have time for everything to be in depth, so we are going to do the best we can.

Trip itinerary...

Arrive at DCA at 10:00am on Day 1

Day 1 Activities:
- Smithsonian Museum of American History
- The Washington Monument Tour
- Smithsonian Holocaust Museum

Day 2 Activities:
- Eisenhower Memorial
- Smithsonian Air & Space Museum
- Smithsonian Natural History Museum
- Ford's Theater Tour

Day 3 Activities:
- Rent Electric Scooters for 3 Hours and see the Following Memorials...
WWII, Vietnam, Korean, Lincoln, MLK, FDR, Jefferson.
Maybe Sightsee around the White House if we have time.
- Tour the Capitol Building
- National Archives Museum Tour

Day 4 Activities:
- Tour Arlington National Cemetary
- Sightsee Around the White House, BLM Plaza, Christmas Tree (If it is still up)

Flight leaves 6:15pm to Head Home

Just an FYI on the bolded - this is NOT a Smithsonian museum, and you do need timed tickets for this museum. I just wanted to mention both things, b/c to get tickets, you would go to this museum's site (https://www.ushmm.org/) and not the Smithsonian site.

You will also need timed tickets for the Air and Space Museum - https://airandspace.si.edu/

And there are currently no guided tours of the National Archives.

And I know this is go-go-go, but my kids really enjoyed going up in the Washington Monument, which also has timed entry $1 tickets. If you can't get tickets to the Capitol (which are hard to get last minute), this is a nice (and short) replacement, and let's you see the city from above. It's short and sweet, and a nice museum break...

 

[EMHDad]

Just an FYI on the bolded - this is NOT a Smithsonian museum, and you do need timed tickets for this museum. I just wanted to mention both things, b/c to get tickets, you would go to this museum's site (https://www.ushmm.org/) and not the Smithsonian site.

You will also need timed tickets for the Air and Space Museum - https://airandspace.si.edu/

And there are currently no guided tours of the National Archives.

And I know this is go-go-go, but my kids really enjoyed going up in the Washington Monument, which also has timed entry $1 tickets. If you can't get tickets to the Capitol (which are hard to get last minute), this is a nice (and short) replacement, and let's you see the city from above. It's short and sweet, and a nice museum break...

Thanks for the information. I did not realize that the Holocaust museum was not a smithsonian museum. We did get tickets to all the above activities. (Most were free or had a $1 cost.) In fact, I actually got tickets to the Washington monument for the last day as well in case the boys want a second bite at that apple.

 

[georgina]

The Christmas tree is a living tree, so even if it isn’t decorated the tree itself will be there. We visited in early summer and I took photos of the tree (without any decorations, of course).

Not this year. The tree was diseased and they cut it down in the fall. Brought in a cut one, which blew over once due to high winds while they were in the process of decorating it

https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/wind-topples-national-christmas-tree/3481258/

 

[nw6675]

Sounds like you already are doing this, but be sure to make reservations as far in advance as possible if they are needed.