Planning an April trip to DC any suggestions

[crazyforpooh]

I can't seem to find a site online where I can order a guide/tourist book.

Do any of you have any suggestions.

Planning on going for 4 days. DD was supposed to go in 8th grade but due to 9/11 her trip was cancelled and we promised to take her.


Any all suggestions or assistance would be greatly appreciated.

Laura
A Scrapaholic

 

[AJA55]

Hi Laura….. I’m from the other Washington! ! State that is and we will be going to Washington DC in 4 weeks and 1½ days. (not that I’m counting) I’ve been reading and going on line and reading and asking questions and reading for months now. The two books that I liked are the Unofficial Guide and Washington DC for Dummies. If you have any questions just let me know.

 

[crazyforpooh]

Let me know how your trip goes and what you liked and didn't and where you stayed when you come back we aren't going till April 2004. So, I'd be interested in your ideas.

If you want to get rid of you books when you come back send me a PM.

Laura
A scrapaholic

 

[JudithM]

Laura, a few websites for starters ...

www.yahooligans.com/around_the_world/u_s__states/Washington__D_C_/

www.si.edu

www.whitehouse.gov (BE SURE IT IS .GOV!!)

www.dcchamber.org

www.nps.gov/nacc/


Cherry blossoms usually bloom in late March early April & will make a beautiful sb layout, I am sure !

 

[mmmom]

I lived in DC for 8 years but relocated almost 11 years ago. We've been back to visit a couple of times but my favorites include-
Franklin D. Roosevelt Memorial -great place to wander
Arlington Cemtery-eternal flame, tomb of unknown soldier
National Zoo-hilly but lots of fun
Union Station and Old Post office-shopping and places to eat
Georgetown-shopping, walking around
My favorite thing is to drive around at night and look at Capitol , monuments and white House all lit up
Capitol tour-esp. subway
Metro-my kids just got a kick out of riding it and buying tickets from machine
Hope this helps-I'm sure you'll have a great time no matter what you choose to do

 

[Megan's Mom]

I was going to mention the cherry blossoms as well. There are usually some festivals that go on at that time. Washington is a great place to visit. There is so much to do. Since you already know when you are going and you have some time. Contact your local Rep and ask for ticket to the white House and the capitol. These have to be asked for well in advance. Doing this will keep you from waiting in line and possibly not getting into the White House. Take in the FBI tour which I think is one of teh best tours around. One of the times that I was there my DH was working and I took a tour. I don't remember the name of it but they are the little open buses that run all through the town. the best thing about those are that they transport you to all the museums and if you want to visit you get off do your thing then go back to the bus stop area and wait for the next bus, they come around about every 15-20 minutes. They go to all the high points in the city. It saves some tread on the shoes and they let you know some of teh history and facts about the town. Have a great time and I hope that the cherry blossoms are in bloom.

 

[AJA55]

I pm'd you. The books are yours when we are done. Nice to know that they will be passed on! ! !

 

[brack]

We lived in DC area for 13 years and loved it. You must spend a lot of time in the Smithsonian. If you don't you will regret it. It is awesome.

Be sure to take a lot of film or a digital camera with lots of memory; the flowers will be starting to bloom in April

 

[lrmillen]

smithsonian is awesome. but if you're like me it could take you four days just for that! i don't know if your family are museum fans. my sister in law went a short time ago and loved the FBI tour. have fun.

 

[soccerchick]

Some other places to visit...The Spy Museum is very cool. The Holocaust Museum is very powerful and emotional. If your daughter has studied Elie Wiesel's book Night in school I would say go.

Definitely do some of the museums, the zoo (but NOT the day after Easter, it will be crowded with a "reunion" type promotion that takes place every year on this day) and yes, wear sneakers since it is hilly. The Cherry Blossoms should be in some stage of bloom as well.

If you have specific interests, let me know and I will look around for other events. Also check out the Washington Post on-line. I haven't looked there in a while but they did have some links on their website for tourist-type info.

 

[JulianneP]

Write to your congressmen and ask to get tickets to the White House. The rules and guidelines are always changing about how to take a tour because of 9/11 but your congressmen should be able to tell you how to get tickets now as well as send you some tourist info.

Be sure to take a paddle boat out around the tidal basin. The monuments look even more beautiful as well as the cherry blossems that should be blooming then.

The name of the tour bus just slipped my mine right now(Ack) But they are big and blue and you can catch them anywhere. They are great! Anyone that comes to visit us we send them on that. Not only will they take you anywhere but they also give you fun trivia about D.C. as you drive around.

Do not skip Arlington Cemetry. It is beautiful! The tour bus through there is your best bet as well.

The Kennedy Center is also fun. There is usually a children's show there or just something fun in the lobby going on.

 

[nicurn]

go to the botanical gardens! they have just redone it and it is fun. Lots of cool plants! it is a few blocks up (towards the capital) from the air and space museum.

Natural history museum is fun, has the hope diamond, an insect zoo, some cool exhibit about earthquakes... has a map that is updated every 10 minutes with the latest earthquakes

air and space museum.... very cool. there is an entire section of hands on stuff for kids with some cool stuff. The Imax movies are here and at the natural history musuem. If "Too Fly" is still there (it was the first one I think) it's cool. (the dinosaur one over at the natural hx museum you can skip, it's pretty lame)

mount vernon is pretty nice, nice tour of George's house, the grounds are gorgeous! well worth a trip. It's not very far from dc, it's in alexandria va.

the tour-mobile seems pretty cool, I think it's roughly 18$/person but I think you can hop on and off all day at various places. Look up tour-mobile and wash. dc and it should give you info.

The national zoo rocks! it's hilly, but having just been out to the san diego zoo, it's a piece of cake. (and personally, I like our zoo better. You can see the pandas (if they are outside) from the patio overlooking their enclosure... it's almost all the way at the top of the zoo across from zebra and next to the american buffalo (no line). There are a bunch of "baby" animals... they are probably all 1-2 yrs old now, but stll cute.

Arlington cemetary and arlington house (general lee's home at one point I think, or his sister's....) See the house if you can, its pretty neat.

See if you can get tix to the white house, although I don't think they are doing tours anymore.... can't keep straight what is closed still to the public these days.

Try and get tix from your congress person to the capital.

The supreme court may be open....

Spy museum, national building museum, post office museum, museum of african art....

feel free to email me, I live in the dc area and would be happy to answer any questions. We will also be in town if you get stuck or need anything. maggie

 

[DISshopkeeper]

DC ROCKS! Went for World Figure Skating Championships last March and fell in love with this city!

We did this trolley tour. You can get on and off at will. It's the only one that goes to Georgetown. LOVED this tour.

http://shophta.com/acb/stores/15/product1.asp?SID=15&Product_ID=52


Find yourself a copy of a "Stationmasters Guide" which is a small reference book for the Metro system. I put it on a wish list at half.com and got one for about $4.00. The Metro is awesome. We stayed in Crystal City, which is a section of Arlington. The Metro ride to DC was about 10 minutes and we took it at all hours. Very safe and convenient.

Have fun!

 

[crazyforpooh]

suggestions

I'm still not sure how long we should go for. I'm sure it will be busy when we do go since it's school vacation and it seems like I can find a hotel with a decent rate in order to stay longer.

Any hotel suggestons or where to stay outside the city on the metro line?

Thanks again,

Laura
A Scrapaholic