Washington D.C. Trip

[NewCrew42]

I highly recommend DC by Foot. Google it for times & location.

We also did their Lincoln Assassination Walking Tour. There is a charge but well worth it. We scheduled Fords Theater the next day which made it more meaningful. The museum here was excellent as well.

We ate at Subways several times

The cafeteria in the art museum on the mall was excellent. The atmosphere was lovely. There was a wall that was like a waterfall. Very fresh, good food. A make your own salad station where you select your lettuce & toppings & they toss it for you.

 

[NewCrew42]

Also our Library of Congress Tour was with a docent. I highly recommend this guided tour here. Beautiful building, lots of great information.

 

[pintamino]

If you want to visit the White House, you'll have to send in a request well in advance. I've never made the cut. If you get in, you will not be allowed any bags, not even a phone or camera -- and they don't provide lockers. Do not bother with the White House Visitor Center -- talk about dull.

I remember that being the rule when we were trying to get a visit last year, but it must have changed recently because the official website now reads:

Prohibited items include, but are not limited to, the following:

* Cameras or Video Recorders
* Handbags, book bags, backpacks or purses
* Food or beverages, tobacco products, personal grooming items (i.e. makeup, lotion, etc.)
* Strollers
* Any pointed objects
* 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, car keys, and cell phones (including those with cameras) are permitted. However, guests will not be allowed to use cell phones inside the White House. Phones used inside the White House may be confiscated by US Secret Service.

We stayed at the Radisson Hotel Reagan

• Pentagon: can't take pictures of it, only look from the outside, can visit 9/11 memorial

You can take a Pentagon tour if you schedule it ahead of time! Request through your congressman or on their website.

http://pentagon.afis.osd.mil/tour-selection.html

I went last spring break and it was a very well-done tour. Lots of walking, though! You're also allowed to take pictures at the memorial, which is, IMO, stunning. We did all the sights and the 9/11 memorial was the one I remember the most.

The Spy Museum is also excellent. We usually stay at the Embassy Suites near DuPont circle -- delicious breakfast and lots of room.

 

[Frye7127]

We went this past November while our kiddos had a break. We had 3 1/2 days and did the following.

1. White House Tour - stored our bags in the lockers at the Smithsonian - American History. You can take your phone with a camera on it, but you cannot take it out inside the White House. Got tix through our congressman. Also, went to the Visitor's Center - could take it or leave it.

2. Capitol Tour - through your congressman. Very interesting and we loved it.

3. Smithsonian American History Museum - Our 2nd favorite...

4. Smithsonian Air and Space - Liked it, but didn't love it like we though (big aviation buffs).

5. Smithsonian Natural History - enjoyed.

6. Washington Monument - reservations ahead of time and really enjoyed it. Wished we would have done it earlier in our trip to get a lay of the land.

7. Arlington Cemetary - My 10-year-old loved this...completely fascinated with everything we saw there.

8. The National Archives - Humbling to say the least.

9. Bureau of Engraving and Printing.

10. Night Tours of the Monuments - Definitely money well spent - Capitol building, Lincoln Memorial, WWII Memorial (loved this), Vietnam, White House, Korean Warm Memorial.

11. Iwo Jima

12. Thomas Jefferson Memorial.

and Payload! 13. Smithsonian Air and Space Udvar-Hazy - Highly recommend!! It was our favorite of the Smithsonians - and a must do if you are a Transformers fan!

We stayed at the Hampton Inn - Alexandria Old Towne South - clean, quiet, good breakfast, friendly staff, and a shuttle to the Metro and would pick you up all hours of the day and night.

 

[eduk8r26]

If you go to travelzoo and sign up, they will send you weekly deals on their top 20. Washington is often included and you can get some good deals on lodging, sometimes including parking.

 

[Swimalie]

and Payload! 13. Smithsonian Air and Space Udvar-Hazy - Highly recommend!! It was our favorite of the Smithsonians - and a must do if you are a Transformers fan!

I was going to recommend this for anyone who has access to transportation. We love this museum. It's $12 per car load to park so a bargain for larger families and free to get in to the museum. The museum has some of the rarest airplanes you will ever see and the highlight for us is a full space shuttle! First time there I met Buzz Aldrin.

 

[azdizzymom]

Just had to say glad I found this thread over the weekend. I knew you had to pre-plan for lots of D.C. but not so far out! I knew we wanted to try to do White House tour and wasn't sure how to try and get tickets. After reading this I looked up my state rep and found link on his website. Filled out form Sunday PM and got information back and the White House Security form to fill out yesterday. Although we won't hear until 2-3 weeks prior to visit time I am just glad I got our request (which I know is just a request) in early. Also had info for Supreme Court Tour, Bureau of Printing and Engraving and Pentagon tour (there is a separate form to fill out for that which I requested).

Thanks again.....

 

[Swimalie]

Not to hyjack, but are any of the food courts around the Mall better than others? We just want a quick lunch and I know it will be expensive, but wondering if some are better than others? We are staying on the outskirts and taking the metro in, so we'll eat somewhere near the hotel.

I highly recommend the food court of The National Museum of the American Indian. It's not cheap but they have the most eclectic food. You can get food from the different American Indian groups across the US. It was great to chose from and freshly cooked. The food court is in the basement and well worth the trip there. The museum is next to the Air and Space Museum on the mall.

 

[punkin]

I highly recommend the food court of The National Museum of the American Indian. It's not cheap but they have the most eclectic food. You can get food from the different American Indian groups across the US. It was great to chose from and freshly cooked. The food court is in the basement and well worth the trip there. The museum is next to the Air and Space Museum on the mall.

If you go during prime lunch hours, there will be a long line out the door. It is sooo good.

 

[minniebeth]

OP, you will love the Williard! If you got rooms for 1/2 the price of rack rate, you did great! We've stayed at the Williard for the past two summers and loved it. The location CAN'T be beat! It is an historical hotel, so spend a little time learning about the history and soak it in. The hotel itself is beautiful and the rooms are very nice, spacious and comfortable!

The hotel restaurants are pricey, but make sure to visit the Round Robin bar...again, historical and beautiful! Cafe du Parc is pricey too but the breakfast buffet is wonderful and is worth a splurge! If not the buffet, then splurge for pancakes! Filling up on a hearty breakfast and bringing snacks to get you through until your next meal will be worth it!

You are getting plenty of sightseeing tips, so I won't go into that, but you can walk many places from the hotel. The White House Visitor's Center is literally right across the street and also steps away from the White House itself. Make sure to walk and view both sides of the WH! The Washington Monument and WWII Monument are a short and easy walk to do...a must to take the walk at night from the Williard!

Another one of our favorite restaurants 2 blocks from the Williard is Old Ebbitt Grill...another landmark and great place to dine.

Enjoy your trip!

 

[kissy]

I just want to comment that we just came back from a stay at the Willard a week and a half ago. It was amazing! If you've got a half price deal then go for it! We walked to everything in the national mall. I love the museum of american history and the national archives. Have fun!

 

[cdsulhoff]

I lived 15 mins from DC most of my life!
If you want to take a drive out to national harbor there is some nice place to eat there! The Gaylord hotel is there! and you over look the Potomac river at the WW bridge to DC. National harbor has a steakhouse with bull riding (Bull riding is only $4)!Next door they have the piano bar with the dueling piano!

At the Gallery place/ Chinatown metro stop you have Really good restaurant in Chinatown! Gallery place has an Thai restaurant its right next to the escalator! Don't know the name just know its good! Hubby and I eat there before we go to the Capitals game! which the Verizon center is connected to the gallery place! Across from the gallery place is the Legal Seafood! Tennille From Hells kitchen is one of the chefs there! Robert Hess is a chef here in Solomon's Island at catamarans.
As you read already there are SOOO many places to visit! WARNING DO NOT EAT IN THE MESUMES!!! They are nasty and rip you off! YICK!!!

There different neighborhood that are nicer than others! Capital Hill is nice!Capital Hill area is where alot of the higher ups in the GOV eat at! Love Georgetown, If you go to Georgetown got to Georgetown cupcakes!

Blue duck tavern is a good place to eat!

Don't know if your planning on just staying in DC but Annapolis(Naptown) this is my hang out place!! It is about 30 mins away from DC. Baltimore is also close by!

Make sure you get Crab Cakes While you are here in the DC area! now everyone has there own thought on whats the best crab cakes! And I'm not the person to ask cause IM VERY PICKY ON MY CC!!!! So I make my own!!! LOL

 

[Swimalie]

If you want a new cupcake place that sells some neat ones, try Crumb at Union Station http://www.crumbs.com/. They have a 12=pack of sampler sizes so you can try different flavors instead of being locked in to 1 or 2 flavors.

 

[brymolmom]

You all have inspired me - I have been thinking in the back of my head to do a DC trip - and I think we might do a long weekend for spring break based on this thread.

Can someone give me more detail on the Monument Moonlight idea? SOunds like a great idea - and good with two kids (as the bus will do most of the 'walking'). Does it run late into the evening? If it goes to Washington Monument is that when we should do the trip to the top? If so, how to coordinate our tickets? How far in advance might we need a reservation for the tour?

TIA!

 

[Planogirl]

Does the Old Post Office still have a food court? It's been so many years since we went.

We went to all of the big sites but two gems that stood out to us were the Library of Congress (beautiful) and the National Cathedral. The metro was nice and efficient too.

 

[DiZneEChIcK]

Just bumpin it

 

[tink fan]

We are going to DC at the end of May--that is if my kids don't get any more snow days.

I made a reservation at the Grand Hyatt Washington. It looked nice on the website, but I was a little concerned because the price was much less than the other hotels I found. Anyone know anything about it??

I needed a reservation that could be canceled, so I can't do priceline or any other site like that.

 

[momjkm]

One other suggestion - if you would like to visit the top of the Washington Monument. Visit their website with the National Park Service. You can reserve up to 6 tickets for the day and time that you would like. There is no charge for the tickets, but there is a small handling/postage fee to mail the tickets to you. >>>>>

If you cannot get tickets for the Washington Monument (or don't want to wait in long summer lines), we went to the clock tower in the Old Post Office Pavillion... great views of all around of Washington, DC. It may not be as high but no crowds/free/free/free/great views... THERE IS A FOOD COURT but looked small... we did go to the food court at the Regan Building one day and lots of good options... we would definitely do this again.

Get tickets ahead of time for the Holocaust Museum for earlier time possible. We had tickets for 1030am but even then it was very crowded. almost too crowded....

My advice if you go to Arlington Cemt.- PAY THE EXTRA FOR THE TRAM AROUND... WE DIDN'T, my thinking it was early in the AM (9am, August) and wouldn't be too bad, we are in shape, blah blah blah--- BIG MISTAKE... that we now joke about.... pay for the tram!!!!

We stayed at the Crowne Plaza Hamilton... got a great deal with Priceline... was 1 block from McPherson Station (orange and blue lines- the main lines we used when not walking). It waS 3 blocks to the White House... It was clean and ok. Nothing exciting but price made it better....

Someone said to avoid the white house visitors centers-- they were right EXCEPT if you need to sit for a while in the A/C... we went in August last summer so we were always warm... just like disney in august (but disney is way better)


My favorite thing was Ford's theatre-- just liked it. We went to the Theatre part one day and the next went back to see the museum part/house across the street.
Jill

 

[brymolmom]

I think we're going to go to DC for a few nights over spring break.

I just got a great travelzoo rate at the four points sheraton (5 blocks to white house) for $89 per night weekend. That is the best I've seen since I've been watching.

A couple questions:

That moonlight tour mentioned - do I have to book it now? Which tour company do you recommend for that? I am interested - dd isn't much of a walker and I know she'll be tired at the end of the day - so riding to some sights will be beneficial.

I already wrote my congressperson to ask for White House tour tickets, not sure if I can get in - not too much notice.

I am planning on hopefully the White House, maybe 2 museums, the zoo and the Moonlight Tour (if affordable). Anything else I should squeeze in with a 7 and 8 year old? I know we can't do it all...

 

[clori]

I'm going in April with 3 kids 6, 10 (about two weeks shy of 11), 12 as well as two seniors in their 80s who can't do tons of walking. We have congressional tours for Library of Congress and Capital. I was just doing the White House Visitor Center because it will be less walking. I paid $1.50 pp to have timed tickets for the National Archives. I was going to do that for Fords Theater but the congress office I used said they will try to get them for me.

We are staying at Embassy Suites in Alexandria. It wasn't the best budget wise but it has free breakfast, indoor pool, two rooms, and across the street from the metro. I am doing a nighttime monument tour using dctrolleytours because they said they would pick us up and drop us off at our hotel in Alexandria free of charge.

We also plan on doing the Arlington Cemetary tourmobile tour, visit the Old Post Office (Washington Monument was sold out) and the Holocaust Museum Childrens section that doesn't require tickets (and only some of us will go). If I can get tickets we want to do Bureau of Engraving and Printing. Depending on how my parents are doing etc we will try and see Museum of Natural History, American History and Air and Space Museums. We'll have 4 full days.