Washington D.C. Trip

[pintamino]

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...

I unfortunately wouldn't count on getting the White House this close (don't know when your spring break is, but I've had a couple friends try and get them within three months and it never worked out).

I mentioned this earlier, but you're not too close to get the Pentagon tour!
http://pentagon.afis.osd.mil/tour-selection.html



The Newseum is pretty affordable and VERY nice, as well. My younger brother really liked the Spy Museum, but it was a little more expensive if I remember correctly.

 

[brymolmom]

Do any of you locals have the Entertainment Book? Those Trolley/moonlight tours are pretty expensive and I'm wondering if it would be worth it to buy the Ent. Book for DC. Thoughts on this if you have one? If there is a trolley or moonlight tour coupon it might pay for itself easily...plus I might use a restaurant or two esp. if there are some in the area of my hotel.

Looks like I could get the book for $21...

 

[MrsPete]

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

Yes, it isn't all that great a food court, but they do have one.

Also, if you're going, be aware that the elevator to the top -- the real reason to go to this location -- closes early. Check to be sure, but I think it closes at 5:00.

 

[Prose]

we took a trip to DC in October and had a great time! I can confirm that you're allowed to bring your phone on the White House tour, but it must remain firmly in your pocket. As soon as you go outside at the end of the tour, though, everyone whips their phone out and starts taking pictures!

If you don't have time to apply for tickets to the Bureau of Engraving tour, show up early before they open - there will be a line to buy tickets. Bring coffee and snacks for the line -- there are cafeterias in nearby office buildings, but are a bit of a hike.

One of our highlights was a bicycle tour of the monuments. They offer them both in the day and at night. They have bikes and helmets for everyone, and you primarily ride on sidewalks. It's a great way to stay active and see the monuments up close. I didn't realize there was a monument to Einstein in DC, but there is and it's kind of cool. Our favorite is the Korean War Monument, with the marching "ghost soldiers".

For fans of Top Chef on Bravo, former contestant Spike has a burger place and a pizza place in DC. We ate at Good Stuff Eatery, the burger place, and it was really good.

The Metro is awesome. We bought day passes each morning and rode them everywhere (well, almost - the Metro doesn't go to Georgetown).

The Holocaust Museum is amazing but intense. The most intense exhibits are shielded, though, so parents can decide whether they are appropriate for kids. It is right next to the Bureau of Engraving, so they can easily be done one after the other.

We loved the Newseum, expecially the interactive newsroom and the Berlin wall. Check out the wall of front pages from around the world along the sidewalk in front, it changes every day.

If you're on Twitter, follow @drgridlock...you'll get real-time info on Metro delays and breakdowns as well as traffic alerts. DC Metro has an iphone app that will find the nearest Metro station and tell you when the next train is coming.

 

[Betzee]

We are thinking of a very last minute trip to DC for a couple days the week leading into Easter.

At this point, very unlikely that we could get tickets for any of the major tours. So, with that in mind, do you think it is still worth the trip?

I was thinking of doing a couple of the museums, the zoo and a night time tour of the monuments.

Any thoughts are appreciated.

 

[Swimalie]

We are thinking of a very last minute trip to DC for a couple days the week leading into Easter.

At this point, very unlikely that we could get tickets for any of the major tours. So, with that in mind, do you think it is still worth the trip?

I was thinking of doing a couple of the museums, the zoo and a night time tour of the monuments.

Any thoughts are appreciated.

The weather will hopefully be better then. We're still below freezing in the mornings and we've been about 10 degrees below normal for most days.

If the government shutdown does happen it might still be going on when you want to come. The zoo and free museums will most likely be closed. Private museums like the Newseum and Spy Museum should be open since they are not dependent on the federal funding.

 

[elgerber]

We are thinking of a very last minute trip to DC for a couple days the week leading into Easter.

At this point, very unlikely that we could get tickets for any of the major tours. So, with that in mind, do you think it is still worth the trip?

I was thinking of doing a couple of the museums, the zoo and a night time tour of the monuments.

Any thoughts are appreciated.

I aboslutely think it's still worth the trip. The only tour we did last year was the Capital tour, but if we hadn't done that, then we just would have had more time to do other things. There is so much to do, you will have no problem finding things to make it worthwhile.

 

[NCRedding]

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.

Edited because I didn't mean to sound snarky. We just decided the American Indian musuem food wasn't for us. We decided to try the American Indian museum restaurant last summer (on the advice of the DIS), but we balked when we realized our lunch was going to cost at least $75 for the three of us, but it was still a cafeteria, with metal bars and plastic trays. I'd personally rather pay less for lunch, then enjoy a seated meal for dinner at one of the many ethnic restaurants. Also my opinion, I really didn't care for the American Indian museum. I felt it had too much space and not enough information.

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.

I've stayed at the Grand Hyatt. I would love to stay there again. The metro stop is in the basement of the hotel, so you don't have to go outside to get there. The rooms were very comfortable and had nice linens and a couple of easy chairs. The breakfast buffet was included when we went. It kept us full most of the day so we could eat a snack lunch. The outside area around the hotel is very quiet at night.

OP, if you can get the Willard for something that works in your price range, go for it. It is a beautiful hotel in an excellent location.

We also went to the Crime and Punishment Museum, which was really interesting for us. It did seem silly to pay for a museum when so much in DC is free, but we all felt this one was good. DD especially enjoyed it because she enjoys forensics, etc.

 

[Tink's Pixieduster]

We are thinking of a very last minute trip to DC for a couple days the week leading into Easter.

At this point, very unlikely that we could get tickets for any of the major tours. So, with that in mind, do you think it is still worth the trip?

I was thinking of doing a couple of the museums, the zoo and a night time tour of the monuments.

Any thoughts are appreciated.

Just a word of caution - if a government shutdown occurs at 12:01 AM Saturday, April 9, it might affect your plans. The last time a government shutdown occurred federal offices, plus all the Smithsonian museums and the monuments, were closed and federal employees were furloughed for 3 weeks. Please keep this in mind while doing your planning. The shutdown might not happen if congress can get their act together, or if it does happen the period of time might be shorter, or it might even be longer. There is no predictability once a shutdown has taken place. I suggest you go ahead with your plans for now, but just watch the news so you can be informed and have a Plan B or C.

 

[jillyb]

We went in August 2009 and had a blast! There's a link to my trip report for that trip in my signature.

 

[mikehn]

Just a word of caution - if a government shutdown occurs at 12:01 AM Saturday, April 9, it might affect your plans. The last time a government shutdown occurred federal offices, plus all the Smithsonian museums and the monuments, were closed and federal employees were furloughed for 3 weeks. Please keep this in mind while doing your planning. The shutdown might not happen if congress can get their act together, or if it does happen the period of time might be shorter, or it might even be longer. There is no predictability once a shutdown has taken place. I suggest you go ahead with your plans for now, but just watch the news so you can be informed and have a Plan B or C.

IF the govt is shut down during the time you are in town, all federal govt related visitor activities will be closed. This includes all the Smithsonian museums, the National Zoo, the monuments, national parks, memorials, etc. You really should have plans B and C ready if anyone is planning to visit here in the next few weeks.

 

[TDC Nala]

IF the govt is shut down during the time you are in town, all federal govt related visitor activities will be closed. This includes all the Smithsonian museums, the National Zoo, the monuments, national parks, memorials, etc. You really should have plans B and C ready if anyone is planning to visit here in the next few weeks.

This is true. If you are coming anytime in the next month or so, and you can't cancel your plans once it's determined that there will be a shutdown, do some research into privately operated museums - there are lots of them downtown. Yes, you'd have to budget for admission fees. Not sure if I can confirm it but I understand that Mount Vernon (George Washington's estate) is not operated by the federal government and would not close during a federal shutdown. The zoo, I'm afraid, would be out.

 

[Tink's Pixieduster]

This is true. If you are coming anytime in the next month or so, and you can't cancel your plans once it's determined that there will be a shutdown, do some research into privately operated museums - there are lots of them downtown. Yes, you'd have to budget for admission fees. Not sure if I can confirm it but I understand that Mount Vernon (George Washington's estate) is not operated by the federal government and would not close during a federal shutdown. The zoo, I'm afraid, would be out.

I can confirm Mount Vernon is NOT operated by any federal, state or county government agency. It is operated by a private foundation.

 

[Betzee]

Wow! Thanks all...wasn't even thinking about these places being closed down if the Gov't shut down.

Hmmm....I'll have to do some more thinking about this. I'd hate to promise the trip to my daughter and then have the chance that we can't do anything. Maybe we'll just wait until this darn Congress gets their act together and stops playing politics!