Tips for visiting Washington, DC?

[OhMari]

I'd suggest the tourmobile. It's extrememly convenient and a good deal.

http://www.tourmobile.com/


They hit most of the major sites

I ditto the tourmobile. We went the 1st week in August and it was very hot. Don't forget about the Metro or M train. I think we paid $5.00 a piece and it was good for all day. They just recommend that you don't use it during rush hour. Escalator's, ride on the right, walk on the left.

 

[Jennifer S]

I can't get over all the responses and help. I am printing this thread to take with me. Thanks all!!

I can't help w/ the hotel. We only stay at Westin's and Sheraton's - we get a huge employee discount thanks to my mom.

 

[DizkneeDenna]

I just wanted to add a couple of things that haven't been mentioned. One of the newest museums is the American Indian Museum - we have been a couple of times now and it is really interesting - lots of video presentations, beadwork, dolls - it is a really beautiful museum. They also have a great cafeteria - serves authentic Indian cuisine.....kind of expensive - we considered it our donation! It is very close to the Capital and the Botanical Gardens.

I would recommend skipping the tourmobiles - I took my sister-in-law and nephews last summer and it can be almost impossible to get back on once you get off. Summer is so crowded. As was already mentioned - you really don't need it....get a day pass on Metro - that will get you just about anywhere you want to go (with some walking). Washington was designed as a city to be walked.

I live in Arlington and would recommend the Arlington Cemetary and the Pentagon - my nephews were really impressed with both. Arlington Cemetary you can tour - the Pentagon can be seen somewhat from the Cemetary. You can also get off at the Pentagon City Mall and walk across the street to get a view of the Pentagon.

If you get off at the Rosslyn Metro exit you can walk to the Iwo Jima Memorial - there is a good view of DC from there - Pentagon, Capital and the Potomac River. Also at the Rosslyn Metro stop is Freedom Park on Fort Myer Drive. If you walk into the park you will see a portion of the Berlin Wall, Martin Luther King's jailcell door and other Freedom Artifacts. It is very cool - the park was designed to lift you up off street level - so that offers some nice view of NOVA (northern Virginia)!

Hope this helps.....
Denna

 

[motherhen17404]

I was a courier in D.C. in the 80's and I must agree with everyone's ideas. However, I do want to suggest a good place to eat. Armand's Pizza is a really fun place to eat for kids. Not sure the still do this, but when my son was young, the did a "make your own pizza" night. They even will show the kids the large pizza ovens in the back. They have a lot of locations, but the Tenleytown
shop it the one we use to go to all the time. http://www.armandspizza.com/newsite/index.html?loc=undefined&loci=0

Also, I would suggest using the Metro as much as you can. It is a very nice subway, nothing like New York subways. Just don't try to eat or drink on the trains, they are very strict about that.

 

[tkd lisa]

I was going to mention the Native American museum as well. Our Boy Scouts visited there this winter, and I'm taking my Girl Scouts this month. It's very interesting.

If you do go to the zoo (and it's definitely worth it!), one tip is to get off at the Cleveland Park metro stop and get back on after the zoo at the Woodley Park Zoo metro stop. The zoo is about 1/2 way between the two stops, but it's a VERY hilly area. When you get off at Cleveland Park, you just head downhill to the zoo, then continue downhill to Woodley Park after your visit!

Another tip I try to follow is to hit the most popular sites early in the morning. I find that many people take the chance to sleep in on vacation, so you can beat some of the crowds by doing those things first thing. Also, Wednesdays and Fridays are often "outings" days for local day camps, so you'll get many extra people in the popular places on those days, so I'd avoid them then.

 

[snoopy]

I echo everyone's great advice and I just have to also say how amazing the American Indian museum is. We've been 4 times since it opened and we still haven't seen it all, so allow plenty of time!!

I live in Washington so if I can be of further assistance just give me a holler. Although I think the out-of-towners are better resources than I am (you know how that is, you live somewhere, you rarely sight see. )

 

[zulaya]

I was just on the National American Indian Museum website and I am kind of concerned that you have to line up at 10am just to get in sometime that day.

Is that really the case? Can anyone help?

 

[justhat]

Do people really think the National Zoo is so great? We live in DC and go there pretty frequently since we have a 1yo who loves animals, but in terms of zoos I think it's a pretty poor one. There are so few animals and each time we go there are less and less. I remember I think last summer all the reports of animals dying and they thought the zookeepers were hurting them. Last time we went (about 3 weeks ago) the camel and otters were gone, and the capybaras had gotten in a fight and were covered in blood. The animals don't get the care they deserve, and they should really start charging admission so that they can give the animals better care. Yes, the have the new cheetah cubs, but since they were practically the only animals everyone was surrounding the cage. I'd still see it if I were visiting DC, and we still go often as residents, but I really think so many other zoos are better.

 

[justhat]

I was just on the National American Indian Museum website and I am kind of concerned that you have to line up at 10am just to get in sometime that day.

Is that really the case? Can anyone help?

We went on February 27th and there was no wait at all to get in. We haven't been back yet, but I imagine the summer is much more crowded. I think that's kind of extreme though, but I guess it could be true.

 

[caitycaity]

zulaya, i am an nmai member, so i never have to wait very long, but iirc, you can buy (for a small fee) tickets in advnace if you are worried about the wait.

justhat - fwiw, i totally agree abouyt the zoo. dh and i went once and we've never been back. the syracuse, ny zoo is better than the dc one - sort of sad.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

For quick bites--I love the cafeteria at the Art Museum....I do not like that most of the other parts of the Smithsonian now have McDonald type fast food courts

Our girls love riding the metro....we are going to toss in Arlington the next time we get up there.

They liked seeing Dorothy's shoes at the American History Museum and the Native American Museum (sorry if I've slaughtered the names) is a must do on our next list.

Honestly, they just like running around the mall--and riding the carosel on the mall. They are on the young side though. They do better with houses and real stuff--and touch and feel type museums. So we tour based on what we want to do and try to make what we want to do as kid friendly as possible. I got them to stay in the Louvre in Paris for 2 hours hunting down the Mona Lisa and Venus de Milo--so D.C. was very easy in comparison

Have a good trip!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

We are in the midst of planning a trip at the end of March over the kids Spring Break. Looking for hotels that are convenient to the metro, but not priced out of sight, if you know what I mean.

Any suggestions?

We liked the Hilton in Alexandria near the King Street Metro...it was $150 or less (hubby's company paid for it and 150 is the cap...so I don't recall the exact price). There is a Hampton Inn near there....

You might also try the Crystal City/Pentagon area.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I ditto the tourmobile. We went the 1st week in August and it was very hot. Don't forget about the Metro or M train. I think we paid $5.00 a piece and it was good for all day. They just recommend that you don't use it during rush hour. Escalator's, ride on the right, walk on the left.

If that is the metro pass i'm thinking of--you can't use it during rush hour/peak times. don't recall the exact time though.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I was just on the National American Indian Museum website and I am kind of concerned that you have to line up at 10am just to get in sometime that day.

Is that really the case? Can anyone help?

You can pay a small service fee and order tickets for a specific day. There should be a link on their sight.

 

[zulaya]

caitycaity--

We are going March 25-29, so not summer, but I think that week is the peak week for the Cherry Blossoms.

Would it be in my best interest to get a membership given the activities of that week?

Also, is this necessary or even available at other Smithsoniam museums? Or is it just that NMAI is so new?

Thanks for your input.

 

[zulaya]

I actually saw you could order the tickets for the service fee, but when I clicked on March 2006, it says no tickets are available.

 

[snoopy]

We went to the American Indian museum the day after Thanksgiving and encountered a long line, but it moves very quickly. We only waited about 40 minutes, tops.

 

[caitycaity]

I actually saw you could order the tickets for the service fee, but when I clicked on March 2006, it says no tickets are available.

it's probably too far in advance.

 

[HelloChum]

Just chiming in...we thought the exact same thing about the zoo as well. We were a bit disappointed, but at the same time...we couldn't go to DC and not see it. We definitely did not spend a whole day there...half day at best.

Also agree with the posting on which zoo metro stops to take to avoid hills...esp. since my DH had to carry youngest DS on his back for the walk to/from zoo!!!

 

[Jennifer S]

We live near Phila. so we do the Zoo there. My kids are getting past the zoo age anyway. Plus I never knew how much there was to do in DC. I was only planning 2 days (I thought the 5 year old would be bored) maybe I should add another.

Snoopy - I hear you on the out-of-town thing. We live outside of Phila and ever take the kids. They go to a lot on school trips but I rarely go.

Thanks all- guess I have to print this again - I keep getting more and more good stuff. That pizza place sounds cool- thanks for that!!