Family Trip to D.C. Any Suggestions?

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

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.

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

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!

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.

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

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.

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

^^ This.

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

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

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!

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).

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!

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.

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!

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.