What to do In Washington DC if the Smithsonian is closed???? Help

[wvjules]

Let me suggest one other place. My cousin lived in Fairfax for a number of years and we would visit once or twice a year. My daughter was obsessed with airplanes so we would visit the Udvar-Hazy every time. She would sit in the fake air traffic controller tower and watch the planes land at Dulles. It would take major bribing to get her to leave. We were told about Lady Bird Park which is right next to National Airport. It was great because she could sit there with the planes landing right above her head and her siblings could run around. We also visited Mount Vernon every time. Again the kids could run around outside and I got my history fix. The Smithson Museums are great but the kids would get bored and they can be very crowded (probably not an issue now). The zoo was a top place with them as well but the zoo is wicked hot like Animal Kingdom hot. Also Washington D.C, is very hot and humid in the summer. Be prepared with lots of water when you do decide to go.

Even better is Gravelly Point Park. It is right at the end of the runway.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

We got to sleep under space shuttle Atlantis, for my son's Cub Scout pack, at the Kennedy Space Center.


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We also got to sleep on the USS Yorktown, in Charleston, SC.

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That is just so awesome!! Such unique experiences to remember.

My husband when he was younger did space camp at Kennedy Space Center as well but I'm not sure all of what they got to do. There is a photo somewhere in our closet in the 5th bedroom/office on the main level of him from that. I can't exactly remember what it is of but I know it was from that camp. If I find it in the next few days I'll post it.

 

[amusa]

The best place to watch the plane at DCA (District of Columbia Airport) will be Gravelly Point Park. You can get a good view of the underbelly of the planes. Free Parking but you may have to loop through the airport to get to it depends on what side your coming in.

It was already mention. I just saw it, lol.

 

[JaxDad]

The best place to watch the plane at DCA (District of Columbia Airport) will be Gravelly Point Park. You can get a good view of the underbelly of the planes. Free Parking but you may have to loop through the airport to get to it depends on what side your coming in.

It was already mention. I just saw it, lol.

District of Columbia Airport? It's never been named that. DCA is just the IATA identifier code. The airport is Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, also known as National Airport, Washington National, or Reagan National Airport.

 

[amusa]

MWAA (Metropolitan Washington Airport Authority) uses DCA, IAD abbreviation. I was a PE (Project Engineer) and I had DCA (RRWNA) and IAD (Dulles) airports.

 

[ajanderson84]

Did you already go on this trip? If not:

1. The rioting has calmed down, though you will see the results of it all over the place.
2. The National Zoo is open now and you can reserve a space to go there.
3. Mt. Vernon is also open again and mostly outdoors.
4. The Space Museum is open, again, pre-reserve
5. I believe the art museum (Smithsonian) is also now open with pre-registration.

Enjoy!

 

[WorldOfPooh]

Did you already go on this trip? If not:

1. The rioting has calmed down, though you will see the results of it all over the place.
2. The National Zoo is open now and you can reserve a space to go there.
3. Mt. Vernon is also open again and mostly outdoors.
4. The Space Museum is open, again, pre-reserve
5. I believe the art museum (Smithsonian) is also now open with pre-registration.

Enjoy!

The Air Space Museum one near Dulles Airport (with Space Shuttle, Enola Gay and Concord) is open for free time entry ($10 parking fee till 4 pm)
https://airandspace.si.edu/udvar-hazy-center
The Air Space Museum in DC remains closed.