Family Trip to D.C. Any Suggestions?

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.

Definitely go to Sticky Fingers Bakery! I go there every time I'm in town...they won Cupcake Wars last year, and just two weeks ago one the Cupcake Wars All-Stars...you WON'T be disappointed!

I have stayed at the Holiday Inn on C Street. I would leave the hotel in the morning go left to the road and straight ahead would be the Air & Space Museum. I love all the little museums down that street. You can go from one to another. You will have fun if you plan on going to the museums in the day time and the cafes at night.

We totally enjoyed the Chinese Friendship Gate and at Mongolian food that we selected which was cooked on a grill right in front of our eyes. I think the best thing was walking around the Mall at night to see the Lincoln Memorial all lit up. All I can say about the National Gallery of Art is that the grandchildren used the audio guides which are free and listened to both the short and extended versions of the adult and children's guide for each picture and statue.

We loved the American History Museum. You will love the gems in the Natural History Museum. On Tuesdays, get there early and go to where the Butterfly Exhibit is as it is free on Tuesdays! I think my grandson totally enjoyed every museum but had the most awesome time in the Capital. They keep you in close check in your group. I loved the National Archives. My two oldest grandchildren have been to DC with me several times. It was my 7 year old granddaughters first time to go. She saw us use a cab to get from the airport to the hotel. We put our things in the room then went to the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden. Next, we took a cab to The Franklin D. Roosevelt Memorial. I think because she lives in a rural area that she thought we were going to be driven everywhere. No, from our hotel, we could walk all around the mall.

We had been on long trips other years and I did not want to overwhelm Maya. I think the boys loved going to the places that served the best food and kept checking in as we got near their favorite places to see if I was hungry yet! You may want to eat at the Mitsitam Cafe at the National Museum of the American Indian.

I hope I have given you some ideas.

I agree with the others and know that you will have a grand time no matter where you go.

I intend to go back again. It is my favorite destination.

If you take side trips, Arlington National Cemetery is a must. I totally enjoyed Mount Vernon. It was too warm for most animals by the time we managed to get to the National Zoo. Maybe you will have better luck.

I love exploring and finding out what interests my grandchildren.

Linda

Our family went there a couple years ago. Definitely use Metro. The Holocaust Museum was amazing. We spent the entire day there. After seeing so many pictures of Arlington Cemetery, it was really cool to be there. And the Changing of the Guard was inspiring, solemn, and a cool thing to see. We toured the White House and Pentagon, but you have to have security clearance months in advance. DC is a fun place to visit and history abounds. Have fun!

I live just outside of DC. The Holiday Inn on C St. is nice and usually pretty decently priced for its location. It's right behind the Air and Space Museum, so in easy walking distance of all the Smithsonian museums. Be prepared that you could spend days in each Smithsonian museum and still not see the whole thing. I'm not exaggerating here! As others have said, the Holocaust Museum is truly one of the best, but they're all pretty good. They're also all free! Some, like the Holocaust, require timed tickets to get in, but you don't have to pay for those. They only do tickets to make sure there aren't too many people in the museum at the same time. In addition to the Holocaust Museum, I would also see Air & Space, Natural History, and American History. Some museums (Newseum, Spy Museum, Corcoran) are not part of the Smithsonian Institution and do cost money. I really like the Newseum, but doubt I would bother with it if I were only going to be here a short time. I would also recommend avoiding Madame Tussaud's. The DC one really isn't worth the entry fee.

Regarding Metro, you can get a Smartrip card which will give you reduced fares on the Metro or local buses. However, the card itself costs $5, so unless you're going to be using public transportation a lot, it's probably not worth the money.

Other places to see...Georgetown (not Metro accessible, but worth the trip if you like shopping), OId Town Alexandria (beautiful, and where I live, so I have to give a plug).