Washington D.C. help please!

[mouseclick1]

We'll be heading to D.C. over labor Day weekend, and staying at Le 'Enfant hotel. We'll probably arrive around 5:00 on Friday, and leave after breakfast on Monday. Our 2 boys, 13 & 14 will be traveling with us. This is everyone's first trip to D.C.

I know 2 days is not much time to see the area, but we are going to do our best!

The memorials I really want to see are:
Lincoln, Washington, Korean War, Vietnam War, Jefferson

The buildings I want to see are: (I know we don't have time to tour, but I at least want to see them!)
White House, Capitol, Supreme Court

I would love to go to Arlington to see:
Iwo Jima, Changing of the Guards, Kennedy's site, possibly my uncle's gravesite if I can find it!

Finally, I would like to see the Holocaust museum and the National Archives.

Is it possible to see all of this in one weekend? We'll have a car, but will probably use the metro or walk whenever possible.

Are the guided bus tours worth it, or are we better off doing it on our own?

I'm sure we'll have a meal at the Hard Rock, any other suggestions? Nothing too upscale, just some fun and interesting places to go with 2 teens!

Any other suggestions? Thanks!

 

[olena]

You have a lot planned. We go in two weeks. We'll also be staying at the Loews L'Enfant Plaza. I suggest you join the Loews First Program. It's easy and free and you get some perks.

 

[contempgal]

I've been to DC numerous times and still haven't seen everything. That's a pretty lofty schedule for one weekend. The Holocaust Museum itself is a pretty long tour experience, as you walk through the building and normally get enthralled in reading and seeing everything.

I've done a tour, but it was a weeklong thing I did in HS and well worth it, we toured just about everything, including the Pentagon and Ford's Theatre.

Just a side note, I wouldn't miss the changing of the guards at Arlington. The entire cemetary itself it actually a must and is my all-time favorite DC area experience.

 

[jrydberg]

That's an awful lot to do in a couple of days. I'd say you're likely to have to cut something out.

The memorials are in the same general area, so I'd consider that one group. The White House isn't too far from them and the Holocaust museum is fairly close to the Washington Monument as well.

The Capitol and the Supreme Court are close to each other and the National Archives is pretty close to those. BTW, with teenage boys the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum (near the Capitol on the Mall) might be a good place to look at, depending on time and if they're into that sort of thing.

The stuff in Arlington Cemetery would take up a considerable amount of time (though there is a metro stop there).

Personally, I'd do it without the bus tour, but I've never taken one, so hard for me to judge that.

 

[Cindy B]

You have too much planned for a weekend. The stuff you would like to do would take about 4 days minimum. Remember there are lines, and bag checks at everything nowadays, so that will take up some time.

I think the changing of the guard is on the hour, but I might be wrong about that. JFK, and IWO Jima are fairly far apart, if that helps. There is also a hefty walk from the metro stop to JFK headstone.

THe memorials you may see via walking by, but may not be able to go inside.

I thought there was timed tickets to Holocaust, but I may be wrong there. I was there in April, and i remember a long line for the National Archives.

The Hard Rock is fun for kids, as well as the ESPN restaurant.

 

[Morganpics]

The changing of the Guard is every 30 minutes. Don't miss it.

I also thought you had to get tickets through your congressional reps to go to the White House?

Washington Monument-be there EARLY. As soon (or earlier) as it opens for tickets.

 

[snoopy]

You won't be able to tour the White House unless you are part of a school group.

You are in a good location, and you should be able to knock off a majority of stuff on your list, but maybe not all of it. I'd advise you to park your car until you are ready to head home -- the metro is cheaper and a lot more efficient.

 

[mouseclick1]

Thanks for your help! I kind of thought I was being too optomistic with all I want to see! Guess I'll have to work on what to cut out.

 

[goin2disneyagain]

I went for one day during the week a few years ago and you would be shocked at how much I actually saw. We did a tour and felt that it was worth every penny. The changing of the guard at the tomb of the unknown was the most awesome thing I have ever seen.

 

[JulianneP]

It is best to take the bus tour for the monuments and Arlington. The are a lot of fun and you will learn a lot of trivia and facts during the ride. If you do the bus tour you could do most of that in one day. You are able to pick and choose what stops you want to get off on.

Don't forget the Panda's There are 150 statues of them all of D.C.

 

[disney4us2002]

Probably the last thing you need is another place for your list, but your kids may really like the Spy Museum. It is pretty cool and the gift shop has cool gadgets.

 

[Pam]

We just got back from DC and my 16 yr. old son went nuts at the Spy Museum!! He loved it!

Second about the changing of the guard at Arlington - two thumbs up!

We had over an hour's wait at the National Archives. At the Smithsonians, Archive, etc. your bags, backpacks, etc. are searched - that takes time as they go through all pockets.

At the Holocaust Museum you need a ticket (free) for a certain time for the permanent exhibits but you can walk around and view the other exhibits while you wait.

We never did get tickets for the Engraving building, people began lining up at 7:00 am.

We ate at the Hard Rock Cafe one day, the Old Post Office (take the elevator to the top for the view) and also Hooter's (yeah - had 3 boy teens - that made their day!! )

 

[AirForceRocks]

Since you want to see the buildings rather than tour them, I think two days should be fine. If you wanted to take the building tours, then now way would you have enough time.

Since you are on a short leash, time-wise, I highly recommend taking the Tourmobile. I think it costs like $20/person, and one arrives every 20 minutes or so. It hits all of the tour spots, and if you want to get off and take a look, you can - just catch the next vehicle. If it isn't something you care to investigate further, you just stay on the vehicle and go to the next spot. We used it about 20 years ago when I visited with my grandparents - it was great for hitting everything with not too too much walking.

Here's the link so you can look it over.

http://www.tourmobile.com/

 

[goin2disneyagain]

Tourmobile is who we used also. I highly recommend them as well.

 

[tinatark]

I say go for the tourmobile. You can get 2 day passes for a little more than the one day ones. They are the Natl. Parks contractor, so are closest to the monuments, drop you off, you check the schedule to see when the next one will be there, usually every 20-30 min. They're also the only ones that are allowed to go into Arl. Cemetery - you get 8 min ir so at the Kennedy graves (enough time), then they drop you off at Lee's house.

To find your uncle's grave, you can either look it up on the web site or at the visitor's center at the cemetery.

White House public tours have resumed, but have to be arranged through your Senator's office, in advance. I would think they'd not be available on weekends. Same thing for the Capitol, but they also have self guided tours. It's worth it to go inside the Capitol.

We were there in Feb/Mar, had no lines or waiting for anything. I have heard horror stories about the waits for the tickets!

I bought the book, Washington DC for Dummies, written by the same people who did Disney for Dummies, it's great! I would offer to send it to you to use, but it's already loaned out!

Another thing I remember, your boys are a little older, so it may not be an issue, but most of the restaurants there seemed to be artsy-trendy.

Our visit to the National Cathedral was awesome. The people there were the friendliest of any attraction we visited. The history was also great - Helen Keller, lots of very famous rich people (you recognize the names when you see the memorials), the only president interred in DC is there (Wilson, you can actually touch his above-ground crypt, which was eerily okay, after all the "look but don't touch" we'd had all week!) this building took 80-something years to complete, the final stone was placed by George HW Bush.

Good Luck! I hope you enjoy your trip!

 

[montblanc]

This schedule sounds a bit ambitious, traveling by car is alright but parking is very difficult sometimes. Please don't forget the Spy museum and the Air and Space museum, kids love these.