Washington DC

[minniebeth]

Your 12yo DD is at a perfect age to do the Holocaust Museum. You can preview some of the material by walking ahead if you think she would find it particularly disturbing. It is very moving and an unforgetable experience.

We love visiting the Bascilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. Even if you are not Catholic, it is an amazing place of art and beauty. It is on the campus of Catholic University.

Our favorite monument to visit day AND night is the WWII Monument.

Georgetown is really cool too...great shopping, restaurants and history.

Some DC hotels we have stayed at:
Key Bridge Marriott, Arlington: very nice, good location
L'Enfant Plaza: people stay here and like it for it's location, but personally, ick, ick, ick...
JW Marriott: Very nice and perfect location in the heart of the city
The Williard Intercontinental: AWESOME hotel and location, yet pricey.

The Hard Rock Cafe is right next to Ford's Theater which may be a place your DD would find fun to eat at. She might like seeing the W Hotel next to the White House which is very very cool!
We also love Old Ebbitt Grill, and Clyde's to eat at.
If you want a lovely brunch out, Cafe Du Parc at the Williard Intercontinental is French and wonderful! My DDs and I ate here several times and had a lovely time.

Those are my little DC nuggets.... have a great time planning!

 

[pipersmom]

We just had to abort a planned trip a couple of weeks ago. I think you've gotten plenty of great "where to go" tips. I just wanted to add when you're looking for a place to stay, don't overlook B&Bs..it was just going to be dd and I, and a B&B in the city is about half price compared to a decent hotel. Just google DC and B&Bs and there are a couple of sites that consolidate a bunch into one website Just do it well in advance. Can't beat a "homey" place to stay and a great breakfast!

 

[TeamTinkerbell]

We go the DC about once every year.

We always stay at http://www.lenfantplazahotel.com/
It has a metro stop in its basement. The location to the metro and the short walking distance to the Castle and Air/Space Museum make it very convenient.

The metro will take you Union Station, has a great food court with tons of eating options. It is also next to the Old Post office.

Another eating option we love is at the Indian Museum. They have a cafeteria that is AWESOME. The other food options at the Smithsonian are pretty lacking.

I highly recommend taking an nighttime monument tour. The bus will have a tour guide and take you right to each one on its tour. The ease of the travel and the door to door service makes the cost worthwhile.

Other than the nighttime tour, I would recommend purchasing a metro pass and just doing the free stuff. You will spend most of your money on food (which isn't cheap unless you go out of the tourist areas.)

Thanks! I printed the brochure. It looks really nice. That is one of my issues right now. It'll just be myself and a 12 y/o girl, so where we stay is important. I like the fact that the metro is right there.

 

[TeamTinkerbell]

We just had to abort a planned trip a couple of weeks ago. I think you've gotten plenty of great "where to go" tips. I just wanted to add when you're looking for a place to stay, don't overlook B&Bs..it was just going to be dd and I, and a B&B in the city is about half price compared to a decent hotel. Just google DC and B&Bs and there are a couple of sites that consolidate a bunch into one website Just do it well in advance. Can't beat a "homey" place to stay and a great breakfast!

I have looked at those too. I'm with you on the homey feel. Just not sure yet what we're doing.

 

[jillyb]

If I did this right, here is a link to another DIS thread about DC.

http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2215863

Thanks for the plug Kirby! If nothing else it will show OP what NOT to do! LOL

 

[mamamary]

subscribing - I want to go to DC too and need ideas!

 

[TeamTinkerbell]

Thanks for the plug Kirby! If nothing else it will show OP what NOT to do! LOL

Thanks JillyB. I can't wait to read it.

 

[TeamTinkerbell]

We lived 20 minutes outides of DC until last may for 20 years...there is so much to do there...
I can't help with the hotels but I can help with what to do while there..


How long are you planning on going for?

The museums and Monuments are amazing...
Washington Monument
Jefferson Memorial
Lincoln Memorial
FDR memorial
American History Museum
Natural History Museum
National Air and Space Museum
Newseum---i love this place
Spy museum---good for older kids...and adults
Archives
The Postal Museum (go to the top)
Building Museum
Ford's Theater

And of course the capitol--tickets are required for tours and have to be obtained either through your congress member or through visitthecapitol.gov


Also...National Cathedral, Kennedy Center
the zoo is okay....i really don't think it's anything special but if you have kids who like animals it might be worth it if you have time

The library of congress is really cool as well

The White House---unfortunately, you havent been able to buy tickets for tours for years now BUT you can still get tours BUT they have to be made through your congress member
(since you can't get public tours, the white house visitor center is a neat place to go and just learn about teh white house adn it's history and architecture, etc.)


Within about a 1 to 1 1/2 hour drive of DC...
Virginia:
Arlington National Cemetary
Natinal Air and Space Museum- Dulles Annex
Mount Vernon
Gunston Hall

Maryland:
Baltimore
Ft. McHenry

Theres is so much more than this but this is what I can remember from memory right now

Thanks. We may need to go back a couple of times to see everything!

 

[Kirby]

You know, once you've taken your trip, you'll need to come back and tell us all about it. We love to read about other people's trips. And all the pre-trip preparation too. Just continue to post on this thread to keep it all together.

 

[scottishduffy]

DH and I just got back from a trip to DC. We flew in on Saturday and flew out on Veterans Day.

Day 1: Arrive in DC at 5 pm. We just walked arounf our general area that evening. Hung out a pub near our hotel and relaxed. Got a Metro Map and started plotting routes.

Day 2: Took a hop-on-hop-off bus tour. Our company was alright, but I think the open top DC tours may be a bit better. While we were waiting for our buses we would always see that fleet around and they seemed to be the largest company. On this day we did:
Ford's Theater
White House (just going by to see it, not any kind of tour)
Jefferson Memorial (listened to ranger talk)
FDR memorial
Lincoln Memorial
Arlington Cemetary

All of these things were just short jaunts to go around see the site. I would have enjoyed more time at Arlington as I felt we did not really get to finish it. We did see the changing of the guard but not kennedy's tomb or the Arlington house since we got there near the end of the day.

Finished by walking around georgetown area and having some ethiopian cuisine. Spicy but very good!!

Day 3: Museums!
Holocaust Memorial- Powerful museum that is very well done. The stronger images are kept at a height that only adults can look and see. There is a childrens area here as well that is very done.

Newseum- I enjoyed it alot. Interesting place with quite a few interactive exhibits. Follows the history of News and how america has recieved its infornation. Also has exhibits dedicated to several larger events in our history ( 9/11, Lincoln assasination, reporters killed in duty).

Went to chinatown and had dinner a chinese place. But unlike home, we tried to order some of the stranger cuisine: cuttle fish, marinated jelly fish, chicken feet dumplings.

Day 4:
Smithsonian Air and Space: Loved it! Hubby Loved it! Wanted more time here. There is also an annex to this museum called the Udvar-Hazy which we did not get to see. There were several preschools running around the day we were there and all the small children seems to love this museum as well. Lots of interactive exhibits.
Smithsonian American History: Enjoyed this a lot as well! Tons of exhibits, and very interesting.

That evening we went back to the chinatown area and had dinner at a lovely Indian Restaurant. We were trying to have all different types of cuisines while up in DC (Miami *only* really has latin food).

Day 5: Fly out and come home!



I enjoyed everything I did. I think next time perhaps I woudl schedule one museum and one monument per day. We always felt we had too little time in each museum since we were trying to fit in 2 each day. One museum and One monument would have given us enough time in a museum and then we could finish up the day with a monument since those do not take too long.

The hop on and hop off tour were great and would do it again. but just picking the other compnay from the one i did. I also would have gone a bit easier on the cuisine. I had the will to try different cuisine.... but after 3 days of this lacked the intestinal fortitude. My stomach still hates me.

If I had more time than I did i would have liked to take day trips to areas near DC. Have a fun trip!

 

[DisneyGerry]

Best part of it all--with the all that there is to do in DC--is most of it is free!!! I'd think very very few places in the World have free admission to some of its best places: The Mall--you could spend a week going to different museums, etc: Natl Gallery of Art, Air and Space, American History, Natural History. Monuments. Strolling around the Mall. The Zoo is free--see the Panda's.

 

[TeamTinkerbell]

You know, once you've taken your trip, you'll need to come back and tell us all about it. We love to read about other people's trips. And all the pre-trip preparation too. Just continue to post on this thread to keep it all together.

Great idea. I need to get to planning it.

 

[TeamTinkerbell]

The last time I was in DC was our 8th grade trip, which would have been around 1982. I remember we went to some sort of mall or museum like underground and there was a food court of sorts. Does this exist or is it is my imagination. I also think that I may be getting some other things mixed up.

 

[3prettyprincesses]

The last time I was in DC was our 8th grade trip, which would have been around 1982. I remember we went to some sort of mall or museum like underground and there was a food court of sorts. Does this exist or is it is my imagination. I also think that I may be getting some other things mixed up.

Nope, you're not crazy. It's called Union Station and is fabulous! Lots of shopping and literally an underground hallway of food. There's even a movie theater. We love going there.

Another great place to eat is an amazing pizza place called Two Amy's. Unbelievably delish and they have other Italian food as well as pizzas.

The DC Duck Tour is soooo much fun. It leaves from Union Station and is an old WW2 vehicle that can act as both a car and boat. Basically your driver acts as a tour guide pointing out cool monuments and interesting facts while you drive down the streets of DC. Then you literally drive into the Potomac River. Honestly, it's probably one of our absolute favorite things we've ever done in DC.

Like everyone else has said, the museums are awesome. The National Gallery of Art is another fav of ours too. They just re-did the American History Museum last year and it's pretty amazing now. Lots to do there. The Spy Museum is also really cool, more for adults and young teens though.

Links:

Union Station
http://www.unionstationdc.com/

Duck Tour
http://www.viator.com/tours/Washington-DC/Washington-DC-Duck-Tour/d657-5046WAS_DUC?pref=02&aid=g1330

Spy Museum
http://www.spymuseum.org/

2Amy's Pizza
http://www.2amyspizza.com/

 

[CaliforniaDreamin]

My DD15, is going Saturday with the Sophomore class. I know they are going to the Pentagon (they had to go thru some major hoops to get this approved), The Holocaust Museum, Jefferson Memorial, Mt Vernon, Arlington Cemetary, Smithsoniam Museum of their choice, Washington Monument, WW2 and Vietnam Memorials, Lincoln Memorial, Korean Memorial, US Capital tour and lunch with a Senator. I so wish I could go with her. I hope she really enjoys the experience. She is already getting excited. Looks like she will need some good walking shoes...she is planning on wearing UGGs, hope this works!

 

[TeamTinkerbell]

Nope, you're not crazy. It's called Union Station and is fabulous! Lots of shopping and literally an underground hallway of food. There's even a movie theater. We love going there.

Another great place to eat is an amazing pizza place called Two Amy's. Unbelievably delish and they have other Italian food as well as pizzas.

The DC Duck Tour is soooo much fun. It leaves from Union Station and is an old WW2 vehicle that can act as both a car and boat. Basically your driver acts as a tour guide pointing out cool monuments and interesting facts while you drive down the streets of DC. Then you literally drive into the Potomac River. Honestly, it's probably one of our absolute favorite things we've ever done in DC.

Like everyone else has said, the museums are awesome. The National Gallery of Art is another fav of ours too. They just re-did the American History Museum last year and it's pretty amazing now. Lots to do there. The Spy Museum is also really cool, more for adults and young teens though.

Links:

Union Station
http://www.unionstationdc.com/

Duck Tour
http://www.viator.com/tours/Washington-DC/Washington-DC-Duck-Tour/d657-5046WAS_DUC?pref=02&aid=g1330

Spy Museum
http://www.spymuseum.org/

2Amy's Pizza
http://www.2amyspizza.com/

Well good. I'm not crazy, at least not about that. I love pizza, so I'll have to try 2 Amy's and I like the duck tour!! That sounds like a lot of fun.

 

[TeamTinkerbell]

My DD15, is going Saturday with the Sophomore class. I know they are going to the Pentagon (they had to go thru some major hoops to get this approved), The Holocaust Museum, Jefferson Memorial, Mt Vernon, Arlington Cemetary, Smithsoniam Museum of their choice, Washington Monument, WW2 and Vietnam Memorials, Lincoln Memorial, Korean Memorial, US Capital tour and lunch with a Senator. I so wish I could go with her. I hope she really enjoys the experience. She is already getting excited. Looks like she will need some good walking shoes...she is planning on wearing UGGs, hope this works!

ooh not sure on the UGGS. Looks like thaty have a lot to do. It's good that most everything is pretty close by.

 

[lovemygoofy]

My DD15, is going Saturday with the Sophomore class. I know they are going to the Pentagon (they had to go thru some major hoops to get this approved), The Holocaust Museum, Jefferson Memorial, Mt Vernon, Arlington Cemetary, Smithsoniam Museum of their choice, Washington Monument, WW2 and Vietnam Memorials, Lincoln Memorial, Korean Memorial, US Capital tour and lunch with a Senator. I so wish I could go with her. I hope she really enjoys the experience. She is already getting excited. Looks like she will need some good walking shoes...she is planning on wearing UGGs, hope this works!

Can your daughter walk miles in UGGs uphill and downhill and be comfortable? I don't have UGGs; are they water proof? I don't know yet if it's going to rain here but it's been miserable cold with rain lately.

I cannot stress how a good pair of walking shoes is needed. It's a good mile or more from the nearest metro station down to the basin of some of the memorials. Are they taking a tour bus around everywhere or some kind of tour? I'm just thinking about your poor daughter's feet after all that walking.

 

[Christine]

My DD is 18 and has been wearing UGGs for years. She considers them her most comfortable shoes and I can see that she would take them and wear them on a trip such as this.

As for me--they'd never have enough support!! But I find that 18 y/o feet are much more resilient than 45 y/o feet!

 

[mjkacmom]

DH and I just got back from a trip to DC. We flew in on Saturday and flew out on Veterans Day.

Day 1: Arrive in DC at 5 pm. We just walked arounf our general area that evening. Hung out a pub near our hotel and relaxed. Got a Metro Map and started plotting routes.

Day 2: Took a hop-on-hop-off bus tour. Our company was alright, but I think the open top DC tours may be a bit better. While we were waiting for our buses we would always see that fleet around and they seemed to be the largest company. On this day we did:
Ford's Theater
White House (just going by to see it, not any kind of tour)
Jefferson Memorial (listened to ranger talk)
FDR memorial
Lincoln Memorial
Arlington Cemetary

All of these things were just short jaunts to go around see the site. I would have enjoyed more time at Arlington as I felt we did not really get to finish it. We did see the changing of the guard but not kennedy's tomb or the Arlington house since we got there near the end of the day.

Finished by walking around georgetown area and having some ethiopian cuisine. Spicy but very good!!

Day 3: Museums!
Holocaust Memorial- Powerful museum that is very well done. The stronger images are kept at a height that only adults can look and see. There is a childrens area here as well that is very done.

Newseum- I enjoyed it alot. Interesting place with quite a few interactive exhibits. Follows the history of News and how america has recieved its infornation. Also has exhibits dedicated to several larger events in our history ( 9/11, Lincoln assasination, reporters killed in duty).

Went to chinatown and had dinner a chinese place. But unlike home, we tried to order some of the stranger cuisine: cuttle fish, marinated jelly fish, chicken feet dumplings.

Day 4:
Smithsonian Air and Space: Loved it! Hubby Loved it! Wanted more time here. There is also an annex to this museum called the Udvar-Hazy which we did not get to see. There were several preschools running around the day we were there and all the small children seems to love this museum as well. Lots of interactive exhibits.
Smithsonian American History: Enjoyed this a lot as well! Tons of exhibits, and very interesting.

That evening we went back to the chinatown area and had dinner at a lovely Indian Restaurant. We were trying to have all different types of cuisines while up in DC (Miami *only* really has latin food).

Day 5: Fly out and come home!



I enjoyed everything I did. I think next time perhaps I woudl schedule one museum and one monument per day. We always felt we had too little time in each museum since we were trying to fit in 2 each day. One museum and One monument would have given us enough time in a museum and then we could finish up the day with a monument since those do not take too long.

The hop on and hop off tour were great and would do it again. but just picking the other compnay from the one i did. I also would have gone a bit easier on the cuisine. I had the will to try different cuisine.... but after 3 days of this lacked the intestinal fortitude. My stomach still hates me.

If I had more time than I did i would have liked to take day trips to areas near DC. Have a fun trip!

Did you take the tourmobile instead of the trolley? This is what we did, and spent most of the time walking, because there was never one available (as we stood in the direct sun, for 1/2 hour, watching a bunch of trollies pick up folks across the street, under a shaded canopy). And we wondered why there was a long line to get tickets for the trolley, even though it was more expensive... There were a few overweight people who the tourmobile driver made squish together, to make more room - it was pathetic! And we literally had to chase one down when they just went past our stop!