Pre-Trip Report: It's Going to be a Capitol Vacation!

[Charleston Princess]

Oh, you know I love the new bag, Jilly!!!

 

[wigdoutdismom]

Jill, I have a messenger bag, you are going to love it! Very cute print!

 

[jillyb]

Oh, you know I love the new bag, Jilly!!!

I knew you would like it Jackie! It will also go very well with my eventual stay at AKL aka your African paradise.

Jill, I have a messenger bag, you are going to love it! Very cute print!

Thanks Anita! Good to know you love your messenger bag. I'm a visual person so once I can see it for myself I'm sure I'll love mine just as much as you love yours!

 

[Hidden_Mickey]

Hi, glad to hear you are getting your itin set jilly! We leave on the 25th, going to Williamsburg first until the 29th.

I have been driving the staff of our congressperson nuts with the tour requests, lol. She was able to get us tours for the Bureau of Engraving and Printing and the Capitol but not the White House. DH really wanted to see the White House, but I've read that the tour is over-rated. Has anyone been? Even just to see the visitor center? We are now considering just going to the visitor center. There are crazy restrictions for the tour - NO bags, no cameras... basically all you can bring in are your keys, a wallet, and a cell phone. Is it the same for the visitor center?

I ordered tix online for the Washington Monument and received them in the mail today. They are for 4:00 on the day we arrive. Of course check in is at 3:00 so I'm hoping that we can drop off the car at noon when we get there, then go out on the mall for lunch and whatever until our tour, then check in later.

I also got my package from the Smithsonian, which looks helpful. I didn't get my Metro package yet.

Other than the tours we've made and the Smithsonian Museums we are not sure what we want to do or where we want to eat and I kind of like the idea that we can kind of wing it. I got a DC travel guide with a huge list of restaurants so that should help.

I also got a AAA map of the city.

DH wants to go to Baltimore for an Orioles game but I think it's too far and will take up a full day so I'm trying to talk him out of it, considering that our time there is so limited. The Nationals are out of town when we are there or I would say let's go see them. I would like to go to Mount Vernon but nobody else wants to go, so that's up in the air.

Tomorrow I'm going to order AAA tix for Busch Gardens and Water Country USA tomorrow.

I will let you all know how it turns out.

 

[jillyb]

Sounds like ya'll are going to be busy too! I would love to go in to Balitmore to the aquarium there but there's just not enough time. I'm trying to go with the TGM theory of seeing the "best of the best" since this is our first time as a family. Hopefully there will be other trips in the future where we can see what we don't see this time.

I struggled with doing the White House Visitor Center and the Capitol Visitor Center. I'd really like to go to both but those bag restrictions are killing me! I understand why they have them but it's still a pain. And there's no way I'm not bringing my camera! I'm pretty sure I could restrain myself from taking pictures! LOL In the end I decided I'd much rather have my bag with water, snacks and other "necessities" than go see these. I've read some mixed reviews on these so I'm not too worried about missing them.

I still haven't heard anything back from the National Archives. I'm wondering if I'll go to the mail box one day and there will be the envelope with our tickets? That would be cool!

 

[Kirby]

To be honest, we thought the White House Visitor center was a waste of time when we were there three years ago. What we liked best about it was it had a restroom and a place to sit down for a minute out of the heat.

 

[mominwestlake]

I know there are bag, food, and beverage restrictions for tours in the white house and capitol, but are you saying you also can't bring those items in the visitors center? That would be a pain to not bring a bag in the visitor center.

 

[jillyb]

To be honest, we thought the White House Visitor center was a waste of time when we were there three years ago. What we liked best about it was it had a restroom and a place to sit down for a minute out of the heat.

It's that kind of ringing endorsement that made me change my mind.

 

[jillyb]

I know there are bag, food, and beverage restrictions for tours in the white house and capitol, but are you saying you also can't bring those items in the visitors center? That would be a pain to not bring a bag in the visitor center.

This is information on the White House Visitor Center on the White House website:

Prohibited Items
Prohibited items include, but are not limited to, the following: handbags, book bags, backpacks, purses, food and beverages of any kind, strollers, cameras, video recorders or any type of recording device, tobacco products, personal grooming items (make-up, hair brush or comb, lip or hand lotions, etc.), any pointed objects (pens, knitting needles, etc.), aerosol containers, guns, ammunition, fireworks, electric stun guns, mace, martial arts weapons/devices, or knives of any size. The U.S. Secret Service reserves the right to prohibit any other personal items. Umbrellas, wallets, cell phones and car keys are permitted.

Please note that no storage facilities are available on or around the complex. Individuals who arrive with prohibited items will not be permitted to enter the White House.

This is on the Capitol Visitor Center website:

Prohibited Items
Before entering the Capitol Visitor Center, all visitors are screened by a magnetometer and all items that are permitted inside the building are screened by an x-ray device. The following items are strictly prohibited:

Item All Capitol Visitors
Capitol, including Capitol Visitor Center House / Senate Galleries
Aerosol Containers Prohibited Prohibited
Any battery-operated electronic device Allowed Prohibited*
Medical devices are permitted.
Any pointed object (knitting needles, letter openers, etc.) Prohibited Prohibited
Pens and pencils are permitted
Any bag larger than 14" wide x 13" high x 4" deep Prohibited Prohibited
Cameras Allowed Prohibited*
(both in and out of session)
Cans and bottles Prohibited Prohibited
Creams, lotions, or perfumes Allowed Prohibited*
(both in and out of session)
Electric stun guns, martial arts weapons or devices Prohibited Prohibited
Food or beverages of any kind Prohibited Prohibited
Guns, replica guns, ammunition, and fireworks Prohibited Prohibited
Knives of any size Prohibited Prohibited
Mace and pepper spray Prohibited Prohibited
Non-aerosol spray Prohibited Prohibited
Prescriptions for medical needs are permitted.
Razors and box cutters Prohibited Prohibited
Strollers Allowed Prohibited*
Video recorders or any type of recording device Allowed Prohibited*
* indicates items that may be checked at the House and Senate Gallery Staging Areas.

Please note that the U.S. Capitol Police are authorized to make exceptions if a prohibited item is determined to be necessary and required to serve child care, medical or other special needs. Items allowed in the Capitol but prohibited in the House and Senate Galleries may be checked at the House and Senate Gallery Staging Areas.

Also, note that smoking is not permitted anywhere in the Capitol, and food and drink are only allowed in the Capitol Visitor Center Restaurant.

I figure it's just easier to avoid going there than not carrying a bag or worrying if my bag is too big. Plus, Clay smokes so he'd have to stand outside at the White House Visitor Center since they don't allow tobacco products; which is stupid because everybody knows you can't smoke in buildings anymore.

 

[mominwestlake]

This is information on the White House Visitor Center on the White House website:



The information on the White House Visitor Center makes me think it is for the White House. Has anyone been to the WH Visitor Center and been allowed to bring a bag in? I can see why you couldn't bring in drinks and food but even the Capitol Visitor Center lets you bring in your purse with your wallet.

 

[cristit14]

We went to the White House Visitor's Center last month and we had a backpack. They do have a metal detector so you have to go through that, but our bag had a camera and some water bottles and we were fine. We went to the Capitol too, but I don't think we took the backpack that day, just had the camera with us then. I was kind of disappointed in the Capitol tour. You don't really get to see very much. There is a Galley pass that you can get, but we didn't do that and maybe we should have.

 

[iluvwdw4ever]

We went to the White House Visitors Center a couple of weeks ago and had 2 strollers, backpack, soft-sided cooler, and 2 cameras and never had a problem with any of it.

They will not allow drinks of any kind, opened and unopened, to be taken into the Capitol Visitors Center. We asked the security guard about the drinks in our cooler and he said that we would have to either drink them all or throw them out before going in. There was no way that I was going to waste 10 unopened drinks so my DH and kids went in without me!!!!!! My husband said that I didn't miss much!!!!

They also do not allow opened drinks in any of the Smithsonians. They did let us take the cooler in though.

 

[mominwestlake]

They also do not allow opened drinks in any of the Smithsonians. They did let us take the cooler in though.

Were you able to take in unopened bottles of water or juice boxes? Or no drinks at all? Sorry for all the questions but our big concern is keeping the kids hydrated in the heat and not wanting to spend a fortune buying drinks from vendors. I also wanted to pack our lunch a day or 2 to eat on the mall after touring a museum in the morning but it sounds like we can't bring food in either?

 

[iluvwdw4ever]

Were you able to take in unopened bottles of water or juice boxes? Or no drinks at all? Sorry for all the questions but our big concern is keeping the kids hydrated in the heat and not wanting to spend a fortune buying drinks from vendors. I also wanted to pack our lunch a day or 2 to eat on the mall after touring a museum in the morning but it sounds like we can't bring food in either?

We had several unopened drinks but they were all in the cooler..it seems that if they see the drink out in the open, they make you toss it or drink it, but if it is more hidden or inside a bag, they will let you take it in. Doesn't make much sense, but we found this to be the case at many places.

We also had tons of snacks in our backpack but never had a problem.

 

[Hidden_Mickey]

Holy cow, those Capitol restrictions sound crazy... I'm glad I asked!

 

[Nancy for Disney]

DH wants to go to Baltimore for an Orioles game but I think it's too far and will take up a full day so I'm trying to talk him out of it, considering that our time there is so limited. The Nationals are out of town when we are there or I would say let's go see them. I would like to go to Mount Vernon but nobody else wants to go, so that's up in the air.

Sounds like ya'll are going to be busy too! I would love to go in to Balitmore to the aquarium there but there's just not enough time. I'm trying to go with the TGM theory of seeing the "best of the best" since this is our first time as a family. Hopefully there will be other trips in the future where we can see what we don't see this time.

We just got back from our trip on Saturday. I would stay away from Baltimore. We drove through there on the way home and it was the worst traffic I have ever experienced. We took I-70 from Baltimore and it took us about 4 hours to go 100 miles. I have never seen anything like it.

Otherwise we had a wonderful time. I didn't think the restrictions at The Capitol were that big of a deal. I took my backpack. We just didn't take any water. You can take all the pictures you want there.

If you go to Arlington take the tour bus. It is $7 a person. My DH wouldn't do it but I wish he had. It was the worst walk of them all. It would have been worth the money.

If you have any other questions I am happy to help.

 

[Hidden_Mickey]

OK, we went online today and bought our Busch Gardens and Water Country passes, plus the meal tickets and pre-paid parking for both parks - thanks to whoever suggested that, I think it looks like we saved money on everything. Now I just hope the weather holds and they don't close the parks for some reason! That was pretty much my last task, other than scoping out restaurants in Williamsburg, but I see they have an IHOP, which is all we need, lol. 4 days to go! Now to start packing... Oy!

 

[jillyb]

FINALLY got an e-mail response from visitor services at the National Archives with our reservation. The date/time is Friday, August 14 at 10:45 am. Ugh...not so good. Oh well...I can work with this!

So, without further ado, here's our final itinerary:

Thursday, August 13 (travel day):
Check in to Embassy Suites and get settled in room
Swim a couple of hours then get cleaned up, check out the local area and find someplace for supper
Get to bed early (no later than 10:00)

Friday, August 14:
Breakfast at hotel
National Archives - reservation @ 10:45 (hoping to be out of here by 11:30 so we can beat the lunch crowd)
Lunch at either the Pavilion Café or Cascade Café in the National Gallery of Art
Library of Congress (guided tours @ 10:30, 11:30, 1:30, 2:30 and 3:30)
International Spy Museum (closes @ 7:00 p.m. and last tour is @ 5:00)
Return to hotel; supper; swim before bed?

Saturday, August 15 (this day will be done with Tourmobile):
Breakfast at hotel
Arlington National Cemetery
Lunch at Old Glory BBQ
The Mall (FDR Memorial, Jefferson Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, World War II Memorial, Washington Monument, 56 Signers of the Declaration of Independence Memorial, Iwo Jima Memorial and Korean War Veterans Memorial) *will do what can realistically be done
Return to hotel; supper; swim before bed?

Sunday, August 16:
Breakfast at hotel
National Space Museum
Lunch at either Old Post Office Pavilion of Start and Stripes Cafe
Hirshhorn Sculpture Garden
Ride the carousel
National Museum of American History
Return to hotel; supper; swim before bed?

Monday, August 17:
Breakfast at hotel
National Zoo
Lunch at one of the cafes at the Zoo
National Museum of Natural History
Butterfly Pavilion @ Museum of Natural History
Return to hotel; supper; swim before bed?

Tuesday, August 18 (departure day):
Breakfast at hotel
Mount Vernon
Head for home

I still need to get our tickets for Tourmobile, Spy Museum, Butterfly Pavilion, Washington Monument and Mt. Vernon and we'll be all set! Oh, and I also want to print out information on the exhibits at the various museums so Clay and the girls can pick out what they want to see. The bag I ordered should be here Friday so I'll be checking it out and figuring out how much it will hold.

It occurred to me the other day I might need to buy one or two more SD cards for my camera. I've got two already: one 128 MB and one 2 GB. Do ya'll think these two will be enough or should I get another 2 GB just to be on the safe side? And, of course, I'll need to buy a couple extra batteries for the camera and make sure I bring extra batteries for our handheld fans.

 

[golfgal]

You don't need tickets to get into Mount Vernon. If you are taking a tourmobile type thing there, save your money. A combination of the Metro and bus will get you there for a few dollars vs $30+/person for the boat or tour buses.

 

[luvmy3jewels]

We went to DC (and Baltimore for an Orioles game) a couple of weeks ago. A previous poster was correct about traffic being backed up going into Baltimore (we didn't have any problems going from Baltimore to DC though). We regretted that we only had one night in Baltimore because there is so much to do there, particularly when you stay around the inner harbor area. However, going to a game at Camden Yard is great and a lot of fun!

As far as DC goes, I pre-ordered tickets to the butterfly thing at the Museum of Natural History. It costs more to pre-order them and then you have to wait in the same line as everyone else when you get there to pick them up. I wished that I had not pre-ordered them ahead because there was no time savings with the added cost. However, it was something that was definitely worth doing and probably one of the highlights of our trip.

Definitely pre-order your Washington Monument tickets. The line to buy tickets in the morning is really long!

In hindsight there were several things about our trip that I would have done differently. We walked way too much (particularly for my kids and mother). I wish I had brought strollers for my youngest two (5 & 6). I thought they were old enough to do without them, but I was wrong. Next time we go, I would buy the two day pass from the double decker tour bus (can't remember the name) and ride that from destination to destination.

The Smithsonians and Zoo were packed on the weekend (particularly the Museum of Natural History and the Air and Space Museum). I would like to go back in a few years, but would plan for a Fall or Spring trip when there will be less travellers.

One thing that also bit us in the rear was planning for meals. We ate a late breakfast on Sat. morning and were going to eat a late lunch at the cafe between the two art museums. Unfortunately, we got there at 3:30 to find out that they had closed at 3. That meant we had to walk several blocks away hungry, hot, and tired to try to find someplace to eat. (We ended up at a Potbellys that had great sandwiches). On Sunday night, we wanted to eat at Old Ebbitt's grill. However, since we were a party of 6 they were going to have to split us up and we would still have had to wait almost an hour for a table. (We ended up at Harry's Saloon, which was OK but I wouldn't recommend). I wish I had better planned out where to eat (including maps showing locations) and when to eat (to avoid long waits).

Good luck with your trip!!