Spring break trip to DC-Help!

[Iott Family]

We are a family of 6 who are contemplating a last minute spring break trip to Washington, DC. Could use some good advice on where to stay and so forth. Would also like to purchase a good guidebook to help us decide, etc.

Please keep in mind we are in the heart of Indiana, we plan to make the 10 hour drive and park our car upon arrival and use public transpo to get around. We would like to see the Smithsonian museums, etc so that needs to play into our itinerary. Our dates are March 29-April 2.

TIA!

 

[Hidden_Mickey]

Hi, we went this past summer and stayed at the L'Enfant Plaza hotel. It was very nice and right on top of a metro station - very convenient. We were able to walk to the Smithsonian museums.

There is an Unofficial Guide to DC that I borrowed from the library that was pretty good. I got maps from AAA. You can call the Smithsonian and they will send you guides on the museums. I visited the National Park Service's web sites for all the monuments to get an idea what to expect.

We made advance reservations for the Washington Monument and met our congresswoman, who got us tour reservations for the Capitol, Bureau of Engraving & Printing and the White House. It was kind of like a "commando" style version of DC (!), but we only had a few days, as we spent some time in Williamsburg first.

Definitely go to the second Air & Space Museum out by Dulles. We went on our way into Washington and were glad we stopped. It is about 45 minutes from downtown so we knew we wouldn't go back out there once we got to DC. It is a huge hanger of aircraft, everything from the Enola Gay to the first Space Shuttle. Way cool stuff!

If you like Chinese food, go to Full Kee restaurant in Chinatown.. A friend who is a local told me about it. It looks like a hole in the wall but the food was awesome and was reasonably priced as well.

Happy Planning!

 

[funkychunkymonkey]

Dont miss the Mesuem of Crime and Punishment. Its a wonderful hands on experance and so cool and a great photo op upstairs. The one of me sitting on the motercycle and in jail are two of my faves! We had so much fun (19 year olds at the time). I cant wait to go back this year!

http://www.crimemuseum.org/

 

[golfgal]

We stayed in Old Town Alexandria when we went. I recommend the Embassy Suites there. Keep in mind that parking at a lot of the hotels in DC proper is VERY expensive, like $30+/day expensive. Using the metro is super easy and very convenient.

Don't miss the Holocaust Museum either. It is an amazing place. We also really enjoyed Mount Vernon. We took the metro then a bus to get there, again, super easy.

We pretty much planned 2 museums/day and that went pretty well. It gave us time during the day to hit other things too.

Take the monuments at night bus tour. We did not take that and I really regret not doing that.

Be prepared for a lot of walking too.

Oh, and keep in mind that driving at spring break might land you in a huge snowstorm so I would make sure your hotel reservations can be canceled with out penalty.

 

[kirbydog48]

I give another vote for Alexandria old town. We stayed at the Residence Inn over the holidays and it was great. Very reasonable. Ten minute walk to the metro, 20 minutes into D.C. Loved the Natural History museum.

 

[TDC Nala]

Please keep in mind we are in the heart of Indiana, we plan to make the 10 hour drive and park our car upon arrival and use public transpo to get around.

You are wise to do this. All metered street parking in the District of Columbia requires payment 7 days a week, and on weekdays much of it disappears.

Use the Metro website to figure the rail system:
www.wmata.com

This will tell you what lines to ride and which tickets to buy. There is a full-day ticket, but it cannot be used before 9:30 AM (that's to stop us commuters from buying it, because it's cheaper than rush hour fares).

If you want a White House tour or to see Congress in session, contact your Member of Congress (2 senators and a congressperson to choose from) and ask for tickets.

 

[lovemygoofy]

First be prepared for crowds! D.C. is the mecca for it seems every middle school in America.
Oodles and oodles of groups with bright colored matching shirts on as far as the eye can see.I'm sure it looks good from an arial point of view.

When you are booking your hotel, make absoultely sure they either have parking and how much they charge or there is a public garage somewhere near by. Parking even at the hotel is not cheap.

You can purchase tickets to the top of the Washinton Monument and the Holocaust museum for $1.50 ahead of time. You have to have the tickets and either purchase ahead of time or stand in line for same day tickets.You can also purchase Mount Vernon tickets ahead of time.

Be prepared that you aren't going to see everything you want to see. It just isn't possible. The Smithsonian museums are quite large and because of the tourist season will be packed including lines to get into them. My tip for the lines is to go around the buildings to the back entrances instead of the front entrances that are right off the Mall.

Hotels are more expensive during the week here instead of the weekend. I'm not sure why but I guess because it's a busy working city.

I love my Dummies Guide for D.C. and the Unofficial Guide is quite helpful with restaurants and children activity breakdown.

 

[Breezy_Carol]

Beware. Those dates are right in the middle of Cherry Blossom Festival. Expect large crowds.

 

[TDC Nala]

Beware. Those dates are right in the middle of Cherry Blossom Festival. Expect large crowds.

true. The Metro trains will be packed with people going to the festival.

If you're in a crowded tourist season, there will be lines to get into the Smithsonian museums because I believe everyone has to go through metal detectors and a bag check at all of them.

 

[Iott Family]

Ok, this is where we are with plans and reservations. We have booked the Embassy Suites near Dupont Circle for March 25-29th. Mind you we are a family of 6 so we got the executive suite with 2 queen beds and sofa bed for 260.00 a night. Parking is pricey and we plan to use the metro services but we decided we would pay for covenience of being able to walk to most places and metro to the rest. We also get a "free" hot breakfast every morning and evening drinks/appetizers with our room. There is an indoor pool for the kids and mini fridge/microwave in the room. So I will bring snacks, bottled water, etc.
I am looking at getting a room for one night near the other air and space musuem so we can take another two days to sight see that direction before heading home


Now how do I go about getting the free admission tickets that we will need to get into some of these attractions before hand?


Thanks so much for all of your help, i will keep you posted on updates!!!

 

[lovemygoofy]

Ok, this is where we are with plans and reservations. We have booked the Embassy Suites near Dupont Circle for March 25-29th. Mind you we are a family of 6 so we got the executive suite with 2 queen beds and sofa bed for 260.00 a night. Parking is pricey and we plan to use the metro services but we decided we would pay for covenience of being able to walk to most places and metro to the rest. We also get a "free" hot breakfast every morning and evening drinks/appetizers with our room. There is an indoor pool for the kids and mini fridge/microwave in the room. So I will bring snacks, bottled water, etc.
I am looking at getting a room for one night near the other air and space musuem so we can take another two days to sight see that direction before heading home


Now how do I go about getting the free admission tickets that we will need to get into some of these attractions before hand?


Thanks so much for all of your help, i will keep you posted on updates!!!

If you go to the respective websites, each website will send you to the place to the tickets. I believe it will cost you $1.50 per ticket for things like the Washinton Monument and the Holocaust Museum.

I hope your husband has patience and understand when it comes to driving. The devil himself made dupont circle

Keep your eye on travel zoo website. They always are advertising hotels in D.C. but again with it being the peak of tourist season I don't know that alot of hotels will be on sale.

 

[Iott Family]

If you go to the respective websites, each website will send you to the place to the tickets. I believe it will cost you $1.50 per ticket for things like the Washinton Monument and the Holocaust Museum.

I hope your husband has patience and understand when it comes to driving. The devil himself made dupont circle

Keep your eye on travel zoo website. They always are advertising hotels in D.C. but again with it being the peak of tourist season I don't know that alot of hotels will be on sale.

We already have our room reserved. We are now working on the sight seeing portion of our trip! LOL
Hubby is very patient, and Dupont Circle is going to be a nightmare Im sure but Im hoping we can avoid driving except for arrival and departure from DC itself!

 

[golfgal]

You can't get early admission tickets to the Smithsonian--which is free to everyone. You can order online tickets to Holocaust Museum and other places that charge admission fees. For the bus tours, etc. you get those at the various stands around town that sells them. I wouldn't order those online/not sure you even can-what if the weather is bad and you want to rearrange your plans.

Mount Vernon the best idea there is to plan your arrival as soon as it opens and go immediately to the mansion for the tour. The rest of the plantation you just wander around and view at your leisure so it doesn't matter if you see that sooner or later but you have guided tours through the house itself and that line can be hours long in no time.

You may want to investigate parking your car at Union Station or at the airport (Reagan) and taking the metro to your hotel. There are also some parking ramps around town that charge a LOT less for parking. Unless you want to drive out to the beach or something you won't need your car at all. You can take the metro or a bus to everything touristy in DC.

All of the museums have a food court but they close early so keep an eye on times for meals. We ate in the cafeteria at the Library of Congress one day. That was the best deal and the biggest selection we had all week. The restaurant selection right around the Smithsonian and the monuments is very limited so plan accordingly. You can not bring food or water into the museums but there is someone selling water bottles out of coolers on every corner (at least in the summer).

 

[mjkacmom]

Ok, this is where we are with plans and reservations. We have booked the Embassy Suites near Dupont Circle for March 25-29th. Mind you we are a family of 6 so we got the executive suite with 2 queen beds and sofa bed for 260.00 a night. Parking is pricey and we plan to use the metro services but we decided we would pay for covenience of being able to walk to most places and metro to the rest. We also get a "free" hot breakfast every morning and evening drinks/appetizers with our room. There is an indoor pool for the kids and mini fridge/microwave in the room. So I will bring snacks, bottled water, etc.
I am looking at getting a room for one night near the other air and space musuem so we can take another two days to sight see that direction before heading home


Now how do I go about getting the free admission tickets that we will need to get into some of these attractions before hand?


Thanks so much for all of your help, i will keep you posted on updates!!!

We stayed here! It was great! On your way to the metro station, you will pass by a pizzaria that will be on your left, up some stairs. I forget the name, but the pizza is awesome (there will be lines at dinner time). And I live in the NYC area, where we have MANY great pizzarias. Edited to add Pizzaria Paradiso.

 

[czycropper]

When seeing the museums and the sites in the City just go on the Metro and keep the car in the parking garage. When you go to Mt. Vernon, leave the hotel after 9 am and you won't hit the morning traffic and yes, please prepare your DH on the Dupont Circle traffic and that he may get a little confused-I lived off Dupont Circle for a few months before moving to NoVa.

If you want a much cheaper hotel (&much older hotel) you may want to try closer to the museums & Penn. Av. is the Hotel Harrington - please note that its NOT a fancy restaurant by any means.

Now, when we go into DC on visits we usually stay at Marriott Metro because of it's convenience, right at MetroStation, within a few blocks to the Mall, and PennAve.

My DH & I met while we worked in DC, got married there and then moved away but we go back once/twice a year. Usually around that time since it's also our Anniversary (my formal portrait was taken at the Jefferson Memorial).

Also, even though there will be crowds - that's one of the best times to visit DC, great weather and the beautiful cherry blossoms are out! Just plan for the crowds, mostly in the Mall & museums.