Family Trip to D.C. Any Suggestions?

applebobbrush

My family (my husband, my 12yr old daughter and myself) are taking a trip to Washington D.C. at the end of March. Could any locals or past residents or anyone that has ever been there give us some must see great vacation tips. We for sure are checking out the Washington, Lincoln and Jefferson memorials as well as a couple of the Smithsonian museums and the National Zoo. I would appreciate any tips, great food places or places to avoid.

Thanks!

the_journeyman

Holocaust Museum?

JM

SithZombie

I live in the area! Go to the Spy museum, and the Air and Space museum! I know Air & Space is FREE =D

engineman312

spy museum

jrnygirl

Find a hotel near a Metrorail station and it will make traveling much easier than taking a car. Contact your senator's office if you want to have a tour of the white house, etc. The national cathedral tour is really nice.

CapsFan17

My favorite place to eat in DC is Tony Cheng's. Its an all you can eat Mongolian BBQ, not very MFP friendly but definately worth it if you like Asian food. :happy:

www.tonychengresturant.com

mike_hill

Not sure where you are staying, but if possible take the Metro (subway) into the city as parking/traffic is pretty bad.

sillygoose1977

Watch the changing of the guards at the Tomb of The Unknown Soldier and the Vietnam Memorial.

MB_Positif

I agree with everything above, especially parking elsewhere and getting an all day Metro pass. All of the Smithsonians are free. There is an aquarium which is in the basement of the treasury building or something, you have to pay for it and it is small and is not worth it!

curliefrii

You have to pay to get in, but the Spy Museum or the Newseum are both really cool. I also really like the Library of Congress (behind the Capitol).

I wouldn't bother with the National Zoo... it's free but not really a lot of write home about. As cool as dinosaurs are, I think the Natural History museum needs a serious update, but the American History museum has been recently renovated and is pretty awesome.

If you have access to a car, driving and going to Mount Vernon or Robert E. Lee's house in Arlington National Cemetary is cool too.

rbryntes

You'll have long lines everywhere, because it's the beginning of peak tourist season, but I would check out the National Archives (7th and Pennsylvania NW) - you can see the Constitution and Magna Carta and the like. And there are always exhibits.

Depending on your other interests, there are various things to see - if you like mystery and crime, the Spy Museum and the Museum of Crime and Punishment are near each other, although both are pay museums.

You mention the Smithsonium - I didn't know if you were aware that the Smithsonium as an institution has several museums, and the Zoo. There's American History, Natural History, National Gallery, National Portrait Gallery, American Indian, Air and Space.... plan on spending a lot of time at each.

Plan on a huge budget for food. I see people in sticker shock over restaurant prices here. Teaism has three locations and is reasonably priced.

Otherwise, it depends on what you like, what kind of food you like, etc.

rbryntes

I agree with everything above, especially parking elsewhere and getting an all day Metro pass. All of the Smithsonians are free. There is an aquarium which is in the basement of the treasury building or something, you have to pay for it and it is small and is not worth it!

It's the Department of Commerce, 15th and Penn..

Thriceshy

I agree, Air and Space is great, and if you want, there's an adjunct facility, the Udvar-Hazy Air and Space Museum just outside of DC. They have a space shuttle there, and an SR-71! If you had to pick one Smithsonian (and didn't go with Air and Space), I would absolutely recommend Natural History--it is absolutely an all-day, amazing trip. Parking and Metro is a good idea, though, if we're only into it for a few hours, we've been known to find parking early in the day on a Saturday or Sunday, then get out and move the car (or leave) after three hours to avoid the tickets. But at a Smithsonian you've never visited? You're not likely to want to leave after three hours, and finding a second parking spot after moving the car is often impossible. Sometimes we park as far out as the Vienna Metro station and take the train in. If you like hiking/walking about, there's a lovely park in DC that's not far from the zoo and is also free (free parking, too) http://www.nps.gov/rocr/index.htm. There's a small nature center there, and even stables. You could head a little farther afield and check out Bull Run/Manassas Battlefield in Manassas, which has a great "old town" area with nice diners and cafes.

Edited to say that, being the frugal miss I am, I listed the free and cheap places (parking at Udvar-Hazy and the zoo is pretty steep, though). We went to Mt. Vernon and were floored by the price (but wowed by the drive along the Parkway!)--wound up leaving without touring because it would have been 15 bucks a pop just to look around. So we've put that off until next year when the cash flow is a little less strangled.

Kris

rbryntes

I wouldn't bother with the National Zoo... it's free but not really a lot of write home about. As cool as dinosaurs are, I think the Natural History museum needs a serious update,

I would respectfully disagree with you. I love Natural History, it's always being updated. There are several different areas other than the dinosaurs. And I do think the Zoo is worth seeing. Naturally crowds gather around the pandas but there are m,any animals worthy of seeing.

AllanMisner

The Air and Space Museum is my favorite. I also enjoy going to the Korean War Memorial at night. The way they light it is really cool.

Nerdy_Rose

The Native American Museum is great! And the cafe has really good food.

deeharley

Watch the changing of the guards at the Tomb of The Unknown Soldier and the Vietnam Memorial.

^^ This.

ilookthetype

You'll have long lines everywhere, because it's the beginning of peak tourist season, but I would check out the National Archives (7th and Pennsylvania NW) - you can see the Constitution and Magna Carta and the like. And there are always exhibits.

Depending on your other interests, there are various things to see - if you like mystery and crime, the Spy Museum and the Museum of Crime and Punishment are near each other, although both are pay museums.

You mention the Smithsonium - I didn't know if you were aware that the Smithsonium as an institution has several museums, and the Zoo. There's American History, Natural History, National Gallery, National Portrait Gallery, American Indian, Air and Space.... plan on spending a lot of time at each.

Plan on a huge budget for food. I see people in sticker shock over restaurant prices here. Teaism has three locations and is reasonably priced.

Otherwise, it depends on what you like, what kind of food you like, etc.

Agreed.

Someone mentioned the Holocaust Museum, I second that.

DC also has a great selection of Ethnic foods, if your family is food adventurous I'd suggest using an app/site like UrbanSpoon/Yelp and checking out some of the options.

jujuevins

I second the Air and Space Museum near Dulles airport http://www.nasm.si.edu/udvarhazy/

Fantastic one day (or longish half day) experience.....

LifeChanged1209

The Viet Nam Memorial is (to me) by far the most incredible site. It's right near the Lincoln Memorial, so you won't have to go out of your way to see it. At the other end of the mall, however, just past the capital on the left, is the National Law Enforcement Officer Memorial. Being a retired police officer, I think this is a MUST SEE. Also, it's worth the time and metro fare to see the changing of the guards at Arlington National Cemetary, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Asharee011

I took a trip to D.C last March and some great places are the Holocaust museum, the play Shear Madness at the Kennedy center I believe, then the subway is a great experience, then the monuments are really cool, and China town is awesome:) Have fun!

Chagama

In no particular order, Holocaust Museum, Air and Space, American History, National Archives. I always liked the Zoo.

I definitely agree to use the Metro as much as possible. It's easy, gets you almost anywhere you want to go, and parking and driving are terrible.

skinnybearlyndsay

Find a hotel near a Metrorail station and it will make traveling much easier than taking a car. Contact your senator's office if you want to have a tour of the white house, etc. The national cathedral tour is really nice.

The National Cathedral is closed for earthquake repairs. So is the Washington Monument.

You could go to Mount Vernon or Old Towne Alexandria (the Torpedo Factory is really neat).

CJK1959

Things to see: Arlington National Cemetary, Library of Congress, Botanical Gardens, Lincoln Memorial, World War 2 Memorial, Vietnam Memorial Wall, Union Station has a lot of neat eateries, National Museum/Gallery of Art, American History Museum...Dorothy's ruby slippers! Smithsonian Air and Space

Stay close to a Metro station, the best way to get around the city

Mount Vernon is really neat, great car trip
Spend time just walking the mall...you see some neat things/people and a wonderful sense of what this country is about!

Enjoy yourselves!

moujie

SO many wonderful things to do in DC! You can walk to just about everything and the metro is very easy to use. I am a Maryland resident but have spent quite a lot of time in DC. Do yourself a favor and go through some neighborhoods like Adams Morgan - where there are tons of "ethnic" restaurants to choose from, or Georgetown for upscale boutiques, or Dupont Circle for great restaurants (also a large gay community). Obviously seeing the capital and walking around the National Mall and Washtington Monument. Vietnam Memorial, Lincoln memorial, the kids will like the Smythsonian (natural history & air and space are great for kids) also the Native American Museum is nice. There is a spy museum that's good for kids - you may want to google it. I have never done this but it looks like a blast: segway tour of the city -- you get a guided tour and you get to zip around on a segway! National Zoo is nice. Eat lunch at the Capital Grille (expensive) and you'll probably see a politician or two or ten! The Newseum. Union Station. Are you going to be there over a weekend? If so go to Eastern Market - it's both an open air market like a big yard sale/antique market and there's also a building with little food shops, etc.

There are so many things to do in DC, hope you have nice weather! It's been cold here!

whencynstops

Get a hotel as close the Metro as you can. I usually get there, park my car, and never see it again until I leave. Last time I went up I took the train. It was great not being in a car for over 5 days.

ahealthy4u

I suggest anything to do with history try to fit as much as you can in I loved touring all the sites when I was there. My highlight of it all though was going over to VA to visit George Washington’s home.

naz81irani

i have wanted to go to the holocaust museum. i have heard its very very sad but its sad truth, unfortunately.

Enjoy your trip!

whencynstops

I agree, Air and Space is great, and if you want, there's an adjunct facility, the Udvar-Hazy Air and Space Museum just outside of DC. They have a space shuttle there, and an SR-71! If you had to pick one Smithsonian (and didn't go with Air and Space), I would absolutely recommend Natural History--it is absolutely an all-day, amazing trip.

I agree - Udvar-Hazy was unbelievable. The Air and Space was over crowded, I liked it, but if I had to pick I would say Udvar-Hazy!

ilookthetype

OH! The WWII Memorial is best seen at night.

bayertablets

I agree with everyone about the Holocaust Museum. I went when I was in high school and have been wanting to go back ever since. You do have to get there pretty early to get tickets for the permanent exhibit (some of which may be too graphic for your daughter), but it is worth it. If you can't get tickets to that, they always have other free temporary exhibits that are usually pretty fascinating as well.

My second favorite place is Ford's Theatre! They do tours and there's a museum-like area with items on exhibit and tons of fun facts. The tour guides are extra knowledgable and super fun.