Took the kids to DC....

[My2CrazyGirls]

So we finally took the girls (9 and 7) to DC to the Natural History Museum since they will be closing the Dinosaur area next month for 5 years! We drove in and parked in the Ronald Reagan building (that was great!). Museum was good but our 7 year old threw a ton of fits! If you were there on Saturday and saw a 7 year old on the floor throwing her shoes...that was my daughter!

Everyone's favorite thing was the butterflies...it cost 22 bucks for the 4 of us.

After being in DC I could not wait to get out of there. We stopped at a cupcake place a couple miles away and could not find parking anywhere, too many people. Going in for the day was fine but I would never want to take a vacation to DC, just not my thing for more than a day

 

[disny_luvr]

We are going in a few weeks to see the dinosaur display before it closes. We stay in Arlington and take the metro in. Where did you guys eat?

 

[PlutoPony]

Cherry Blossom Festival started this past weekend, officially kicking off spring tourist season in DC. Add in that Saturday had gorgeous weather after our brutal winter and I'd expect significant crowds over the weekend and going forward. Much like WDW, getting into the City early is a big help avoiding throngs at the popular attractions.

Metro has suspended all track maintenance for the next month, so there shouldn't be any track/station closings slowing down transit times. It might be easier to Metro than drive in, at least for the next month or so.....

Cherry Blossom peak bloom is currently forecast to be around April 8-12 per NPS. We are hopefully in our last cold spell right now, so this date may be adjusted ...

 

[crisi]

I love it for about a week - but it isn't a town I'd want a car it. To me its a Metro, walk and taxi town. And I'd avoid tourist season - I'd much rather go in hot and sultry August.

San Francisco is the same - about a week NO CAR.

 

[mrsp1030]

We live in the suburbs and the only way we go in is via metro or we get a hotel for a night (if just DH and I). DC has a lot to offer but the crowds, traffic, hassle is starting to get to our family too!

 

[clutter]

You made it!!!!!

I drive to work everyday, so I know a few of the ins and outs (but I also don't work along the Mall!). But all bets are off for Cherry Blossom. There are SO MANY busses!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Actually from now through May, because after that are all the class trips.

 

[Eureka]

You made it!!!!!

I drive to work everyday, so I know a few of the ins and outs (but I also don't work along the Mall!). But all bets are off for Cherry Blossom. There are SO MANY busses!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Actually from now through May, because after that are all the class trips.

I'm wondering how Cherry Blossom season is going to impact my evening commute. I drive right by the Tidal Basin going home. At least if there are back ups, it'll be pretty!

 

[sydneysmom]

We're going the last week of April.... I'm hoping that it's not "as busy" as it will be throughout April. (we're missing Cherry Blossom + Easter .....) here's hoping! I'm bummed about the Dinosaur exhibit.... but it's going to be just me and DH, so it's not Earth shattering if it's not available. I know he'll look at it as "hey, more time at Air and Space!"

Quick question though.... (and this probably is a stupid question) the rest of the NH museum will be open, right? Only the dinosaur exhibit will be closed? I think I'd still like to go if it's open. Did you eat at any of the cafe's in the museums? We were thinking that to avoid having to leave the museums, we'd try some of the cafe's there... we heard that the American Indian museum has an excellent restaurant....

Please let us know all the other stuff you did.... museums, restaurants... I know, I'm totally nosy!! But we're going so soon so if you did or tried something really fun or that you loved, I might have to add it to our list!

 

[mrsp1030]

I love the cafe at NH museum. All natural and locally sourced.

 

[CalDisneyMomof2]

I saw that you said it costed you $22. Are they charging now for the museums?

 

[Simba07]

They are charging for "special" activities, like IMAX and the butterfly experience. The museums themselves are free - and there is plenty to do without paying.

 

[automaticsoap]

Quick question though.... (and this probably is a stupid question) the rest of the NH museum will be open, right? Only the dinosaur exhibit will be closed? I think I'd still like to go if it's open.

Only the Dinosaur Hall will be closed.

I saw that you said it costed you $22. Are they charging now for the museums?

The Butterfly Pavilion is a ticketed exhibition, but general admission to the museum is still free.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

I saw that you said it costed [cost] you $22. Are they charging now for the museums?

Free admission, although of course your taxes help support them.

 

[My2CrazyGirls]

OP here. Yes the butterfly exhibit did cost 22 (and worth it since it was everyone's favorite, plus it supports the museum which is free and plenty to do).

We ended up walking back to the Reagan building and eating in the food area (lots to choose from) because our 7 year old was just way off and tantrumy, we figured we better eat something quick. We are wondering if the amoxcilin made with artificial color and artificial sweetner got to her?

Overall i did not think the museum was crowded. We got there 15 minutes after it opened. The area overall was not that bad, traffic was OK. It was when we left after lunch and drove about 1.5 miles to the Sweet Lobby for cupcakes where we could not find parking anywhere. My husband dropped me off to get the cupcakes and it ended up being good because this shop was the smallest place I have ever been in! The capacity was like 6 people!

We will head back when the weather is warmer to see the monuments and other museums and stuff. We live about 40 miles away so we can go whenever really.

 

[Disney Khaleesi]

I love DC! I could stay there forever! Though in reality I couldn't actually live there. I'm a terrible driver and don't do traffic. But the memorials are really amazing to see and it's surrounded by a lot of great history. Just not everyone's cup of tea.

 

[disney1990]

We live about 10 miles outside of DC. We sometimes drive and sometimes take the Metro. Looking forward to Cherry Blossoms in a few weeks. I can totally understand why visitors to the city would not want to drive. It was built to be confusing!

 

[danygirl]

They do a butterfly exhibit at Brookside gardens in Wheaton, MD for about 6 per person if you are local

 

[disney1990]

They do a butterfly exhibit at Brookside gardens in Wheaton, MD for about 6 per person if you are local

The butterfly exhibit at Brookside is going to be closed this year for some kind of remodeling.

 

[wdwmom0f3]

We went a few years ago and I will never go back. My son talks about loving that trip but the rest if us hated it. I'm glad we saw it once, and the White House tour was the highlight, but the rest I could do without. I know lots of people love it but I had rather be at Disney or the beach for vacation.

 

[OhMari]

We took our kids when they were 11, 9, and 17. The 2 youngest hated it. They both said many years later they would of liked it more after 8th grade when they learned about Civics and History.

Julia Child's kitchen opened the summer we were there, I loved that display more than the dinosaurs. The Milwaukee Public Museum has an awesome dinosaur display, so my kids were unimpressed, but oh well.