OT: Does anyone live in the DC area?

[Soupermom]

We are headed to Washington, D.C. for our spring break this year (the week after Easter, March 24th-28th). I was wondering when all the schools are out in the DC area...

Also, I plan to order my tix for the Wash. Monument ahead of time; is there a time of day when the view is best?

Finally, we'd like to go to the NASA center in Maryland one afternoon; can you tell me how far that is from the Mall area?

THANKS so much! Have a Disney Day!

 

[sne26]

We are headed to Washington, D.C. for our spring break this year (the week after Easter, March 24th-28th). I was wondering when all the schools are out in the DC area...

Also, I plan to order my tix for the Wash. Monument ahead of time; is there a time of day when the view is best?

Finally, we'd like to go to the NASA center in Maryland one afternoon; can you tell me how far that is from the Mall area?

THANKS so much! Have a Disney Day!

I live in the DC area- in Bowie, Maryland. The schools in our county (PG county) are on spring break from March 17-24. I know though, that all the schools in each county in the area have slightly different schedules, especially with spring break. But I don't think whether the kids are in school would be a huge factor for you, for visiting the area. (I don't think that everybody rushes down to visit the sites in DC when they are out of school--we've lived here 5 years and have gone to the Mall area twice!)

Your big factor will be when the cherry blossoms are blooming. The biggest tourist time of DC is when the blossoms are blooming, and during the Cherry Blossom Festival. Everybody from everywhere seems to be in DC at that time. The blossoms only bloom for about 2 weeks, and obviously it depends on the weather, but I would guess anytime from the last 2 weeks of March, to sometime in April. The festival for 2008 goes from March 29- April 12th. So will just miss that, but hopefully you will get to see the blossoms. I don't know if this is a first trip for you guys to DC, or what, but it is very pretty to see the blossoms around the tidal basin.

I can't answer your question about the Monument, because I haven't been up it since I was a child.

And I don't live far from the Nasa Goddard Center. It's probably about 30 minutes from the mall area. But don't plan to travel to it, or from it, during the morning and evening rush hour or it could take you alot longer.

Hope this helps! If you have any other questions, feel free to PM me!
Stacey

 

[LuvENDisney]

Hi! I have lived in the area for say, 30 something years in both MD and now VA. I agree with Stacey that locals don't make up most of the sight-seeing visitors downtown. Yes, the Cherry Blossom time of the year is one of the busiest times to visit DC, but is definitely one of the most beautiful time. Hopefully, they will be out on time for your visit.

Your timing for traveling anywhere out of the city to MD or VA needs to be coordinated with the traffic. AVOID it at all costs!! Although traffic here can be unpredictable, morning and evening rush hours are definitely a bear to deal with.

Where are you planning on staying? Take the metro where ever you can. It is great. During the mornings and after work, the trains are crowded, but it is easily accessible to travel to the monuments and museums.

Sorry, I can't help you with the monument tix either. I'm not sure, but I bet during sunset, it should be nice.

PM me too if you have any questions. Have a great trip!!

 

[daisyduck123]

I live about 1/2 hour away from D.C. in Anne Arundel County.

We only get the Thurs. & Friday before Easter & the Monday after off for our Spring vacation.

 

[dis-happy]

Make sure you visit the Bureau of Engraving.....it's very interesting and often overlooked. You should be able to get timed tickets for this before you go. In general, spring time in DC is busy, so get a good tour book, make your plans early, get whatever pre-admission tickets you can, and try to arrive early in the day. Also, the Monday after Easter is when they do the White House Easter Egg Roll.....since it's for little kids and tons of people show up for that, you might consider that day your best day to go to MD.

 

[Soupermom]

Thanks everyone! At the moment we are staying downtown at Hotel Harrington; not my first choice but reviews say it is old but clean, and a great location. Also, I could get it for $135, which is WAY better than everyone else. Hoping to do better on Priceline, once I figure that system out.

We plan to walk and use the Metro to go most places, but I didn't think it went to the NASA center. If all goes as planned, we would hit the NASA center after lunch; it closes at 3pm, so we'd leave by then. If we had to drive, would that be a bad traffic time?

I've called our representatives office and am on the list for tix for the White House, Capitol, Bureau of Engraving, and maybe the Pentagon. We hope to hit the spy museum, the mall memorials, Arlington Cemetary, Nat. Geographic Society Center, Cathedral, and a few of the Smithsonians. We'll have 4 full days. My son loves all things NASA, so I was hoping to hit the center in Maryland, too.

I welcome any other comments you natives may have!

 

[MomNeedsVacay]

Thanks everyone! At the moment we are staying downtown at Hotel Harrington; not my first choice but reviews say it is old but clean, and a great location. Also, I could get it for $135, which is WAY better than everyone else. Hoping to do better on Priceline, once I figure that system out.

We plan to walk and use the Metro to go most places, but I didn't think it went to the NASA center. If all goes as planned, we would hit the NASA center after lunch; it closes at 3pm, so we'd leave by then. If we had to drive, would that be a bad traffic time?

I've called our representatives office and am on the list for tix for the White House, Capitol, Bureau of Engraving, and maybe the Pentagon. We hope to hit the spy museum, the mall memorials, Arlington Cemetary, Nat. Geographic Society Center, Cathedral, and a few of the Smithsonians. We'll have 4 full days. My son loves all things NASA, so I was hoping to hit the center in Maryland, too.

I welcome any other comments you natives may have!

You look like you have a LOT packed in!
I would also suggest the National Zoo (its free and metro accessible).... SKIP the National Aquarium..... its awful. The treasury department is really cool... it shows you how money is made etc....
Rush hour starts around 3 in DC unless you are traveling on a Friday, then its even earlier! YIKES! Have fun and maybe we'll see you around!