Would you take a family vacation to Washington DC in June?

[mouseclick1]

We have a 3 night visit to DC booked on our way to Hilton Head this June. I am wondering if we should hold off on visiting DC at this point and visit at some other time. I am not worried about any terrorist attack or anything, I just wonder if security is heightened to a point where it might take away from the trip? To those of you that either live there or have visited recently, are things fairly normal now or is the atmosphere pretty tense? Visit now or hold off? What do you think?? Thanks!

 

[Jeafl]

I'd probably still go, but you might want to PM Snoopy or Caity Caity since they live there. I'm sure they could help you out.

 

[ChiTownZee]

I would go.

 

[SeaSpray]

I would definitely go. I'd go to NYC on a trip, too.

 

[ead79]

I really love visiting DC (it's my second favorite place to go), so I would go.

 

[mouseclick1]

Thanks for your opinions. So is everything kind of "business as usual" in DC now?

 

[caitycaity]

i'm not really sure how to answer your question. things have really changed here since 9/11 imho, but i don't think the changes that i perceive would bother tourists (or that tourists would even notice them). in terms of tourist attractions, i think it is pretty much business as usual, with maybe some extra security. nothing that i would consider a huge hassle though.

you will still be able to see almost everything that you could before with a few exceptions. and i am not sure how this year's tourist season will be, but last year the crowds were noticeably smaller. i would still come if i were you.

 

[Pugdog007]

I was there 2 weeks ago... and other than the 2 ft of snow everything was fairly normal

 

[tar heel]

We were in a quandry last fall because we had a long weekend trip planned in conjunction with a wedding, then the sniper started shooting. Ultimately, arrests were made the week before we were going -- I honestly don't know what we would have ended up doing and I don't know what I would do about this summer. We had a very nice but short trip. We had not been to Washington for a few years, and there was a lot more security than last time we were there -- bag searches at the museums, guards walking around on top of the white house, etc. The most serious security was at the Washington monument -- You get a timed ticket, then are led in in groups of 10. You and your bags go through airport-type metal detectors.

 

[addicted_to_WDW]

The security in DC is noticably tighter than it was pre-9/11. There have always been agents on the White House roof, but they are more noticable now because people are actually looking for the extra security. The security checkpoints at the museums are no more intrusive than those at WDW...the only difference is that the lines are longer because you have a smaller entrance and a smaller number of guards.

Living here, I don't do the various tours. I know that at one time they were seriously scaled back, and for a time there were no tours at the White House. As far as I know, everything has resumed with some security modifications.

Should you come? Heck yes! I think the new security arrangements are here to stay, so delaying a trip will have no effect on what you are able to do.

 

[snoopy]

There have always been agents on the White House roof, but they are more noticable now because people are actually looking for the extra security.

DH will be so happy he's being noticed!

Security is tighter, as mentioned above, but with the exception of a few tours no longer running (FBI, White House) its business as usual.

I would advise you to come. June is a great month to visit D.C., especially early June, before it gets too hot.

 

[tkd lisa]

I agree! Come visit! We're 1 1/2 hours south of DC and we come up a lot and do the tourist things. June is a good month, because all the school trips are over, but it's not super hot yet.

Note that when I say it's not super hot, that's a relative thing. June weather is typically mid-80s with 80% humidity. That's compared to July-August where it's 100/100!

 

[aprincessmom]

DD and I had planned to go this April but some personal things came up and we've had to postpone to the end of June. The way I look at it, life will never be the same as it was pre-9/11. We will always be looking over our shoulders, we now understand how vulnerable we are. Life goes on.

I live just outside of Boston and figure I'm just as safe here as there so I may as well enjoy myself and take a vacation.

 

[TRAPPED-PARENT]

I'd say go.

We went in July one year and it was very, very hot. Have a backpack with snacks and some water with you because when you are just about dying of thirst, you can't find a vendor!!!! People were looking at us eating our sandwiches on the steps of the National Archives with their tongues hanging out!!! LOL

It's unbelieveable what has happened in Washington, DC in the last few years ... many things that you can no longer do.

Things we did that I understand are no longer available are:

Tour of FBI
Tour of Pentagon
Full tour of Capital and visit to chambers

Go this year before something else becomes inaccessible!!!


p.s. Don't miss the Holocast Museum ... take your time (at least 1/2 day) ... it will be an experience you won't soon forget.

 

[mouseclick1]

Thanks everyone! I feel much better about keeping our plans as they are. D.C. - here we come!