Washington DC Travel Tips

[blacktitleist]

Mrs. BT and I are trekking to DC with the little BT's (7 and 4) the first week of April.

I've come to you for knowledge.

Here's what is definite at this point: Hotel is booked, outside the city, with a free shuttle to the metro station about a mile away (Crystal City)

We've got our U.S. Capitol tour lined up already through our senator's office, awaiting word on White House tour.

We plan to get around DC using the metro and we are exploring the possibility of purchasing tickets on the DC Trolley, which makes several loops around town and stops at all the hot spots. You can come and go as you please, plus, until March 12, if you purchase tickets for it, you get three days for the price of one.

We plan to see all the monuments and several of the Smithsonian Museums (Air and Space, Natural History, American History), as well as the Zoo.

I'd like to squeeze in Arlington, Bureau of Engraving, and maybe the Newseum as well.

My 7-year old has started learning about Washington, the presidents, founding fathers, etc in her class (her teacher grew up in DC and has taught them the National Anthem and all the patriotic songs) and she is starting to ask lots of questions about Washington, Lincoln, Jefferson, etc.

So, I thought there would be no better way than to take her to DC to learn and see even more. Even thinking about hitting up Monticello on the way up and Mount Vernon on the way home (we live in NC).

So, any tips or advice from you wise folks, feel free to share.

I did a search for this and came up empty, so I apologize for any d_b

 

[KJIM]

This might help to start: http://www.sportsjournalists.com/forum/threads/81685/

(Tough to find; I only remember it because I was going at the same time as 21)

 

[Bob Cook]

Advice? Do you need it? It sounds like you've got things pretty well-planned. And the beauty of DC is that the museums (for the most part) are free, so if your kids aren't into them, you don't feel the pressure to stay to justify your admission fee.

Only advice is consider the Marine museum in Quantico on your way back to NC. It's right off 95. Sure, it's the official Marines museum, so take the messages there for what they're worth, but it's a beautiful building (designed to invoke the Iwo Jima flag raising), and there's a lot of great history in there. The kids will enjoy the part where you go through basic training (without Sgt Hartman threatening to rip off your skull and **** down your neck).

 

[blacktitleist]

This might help to start: http://www.sportsjournalists.com/forum/threads/81685/

(Tough to find; I only remember it because I was going at the same time as 21)

Ah, thanks. Very helpful.

 

[Flying Headbutt]

If you're hell-bent on going to the Newseum, watch Groupon for tickets. They usually have them every few weeks or months. Otherwise it's pretty damn expensive to get into that museum, but you can absolutely kill an entire afternoon inside there.

When you're at the Capitol, stop at Spike Mendelsohn's Good Stuff Eatery or We, the Pizza for lunch. I can attest that the burger joint is really good. I'll assume the same for the pizza. It's three blocks away from the Capitol, still in the shadow of the dome.

 

[JackReacher]

Typically, I'd suggest Ben's Chili Bowl, but recently, I had dinner down the street at Dodge City Bar, which has half-smokes (cooked out back on the patio) that at the very least, are just as good as Ben's.

 

[micropolitan guy]

The White House Museum (not at the White House, but at 15th and Pennyslvania or near there) is fascinating. Lots of stuff about every president, and it's free. And the A&S Museum at Dulles is spectacular, without the hores of people at the one on the mall.

You do lots of walking in DC. Is your 4-year old ready for that?

 

[Dyno]

You do lots of walking in DC. Is your 4-year old ready for that?

Good point. I have relatives with kids who were the same ages when they came to DC last year. The kids were worn out after some time at Air & Space, the walk across the mall and a little time at the Natural History Museum. They were pretty much done for the day after that.

The little one might enjoy a ride on the carousel on the mall side of Air & Space, near the Hirschhorn Museum.

Also, if you go on the standard Capitol tour first, through the new visitors center, the video they show before the tour starts is pretty boring. I went with a friend's family and the 9 and 11 year old, who had been really excited about the Capitol, were bored out of their minds and the 5 year old fell asleep. The film was close to 15 minutes, as I recall.

 

[DanOregon]

I stumbled across the first FDR memorial (it's across Pennsylvania from the National Archives) - it's much smaller than the newer one.

So if I had one bit of advice - try and carve out some time to see discover stuff on your own and be careful how much time you spend "watching movies" in various museums and points of interest (though they are a nice break from walking). I wish I'd visited Teddy Roosevelt island.

 

[bigpern23]

I could spend days in the Air and Space and Natural History museums. I've never been to the Bureau of Engraving, but is that something that's going to keep a 4-year-old's interest? Sounds on the dull side.

If you can, seeing the original copies of the Constitution and Declaration of Independence at the National Archives is pretty neat and doesn't take long (assuming the line isn't huge, which it wasn't when I was there last).

 

[Dyno]

I could spend days in the Air and Space and Natural History museums. I've never been to the Bureau of Engraving, but is that something that's going to keep a 4-year-old's interest? Sounds on the dull side.

If you can, seeing the original copies of the Constitution and Declaration of Independence at the National Archives is pretty neat and doesn't take long (assuming the line isn't huge, which it wasn't when I was there last).

The Archives often has a long line these days. You can get timed tickets in advance. If you're interested, the info's on their website.

It's too bad the Washington Monument is closed right. Kids usually love that.

 

[21]

This might help to start: http://www.sportsjournalists.com/forum/threads/81685/

(Tough to find; I only remember it because I was going at the same time as 21)

This thread gave me the greatest advice. Your kids are so young, they'll probably love the Metro more than the museums. You can go online to make reservations to get into the White House and Capitol, usually through your congressman or senator.

 

[NoOneLikesUs]

When you're at the Capitol, stop at Spike Mendelsohn's Good Stuff Eatery or We, the Pizza for lunch. I can attest that the burger joint is really good. I'll assume the same for the pizza. It's three blocks away from the Capitol, still in the shadow of the dome.

Burgers and fries at Good Stuff are good stuff indeed. It seemed pretty kid friendly too (at least when I was there).

 

[dixiehack]

The one thing I remember about DC is the last legal parking space was taken in 1961.

 

[Dyno]

This might help to start: http://www.sportsjournalists.com/forum/threads/81685/

(Tough to find; I only remember it because I was going at the same time as 21)

This thread gave me the greatest advice. Your kids are so young, they'll probably love the Metro more than the museums.

Excellent point, too. The metro was the favorite part of the trip for the 4 and 7 year olds I previously mentioned.

Also, be aware that metro is doing a lot of track work and stations and sections of various lines are closed on some weekends. During the week, they do single-tracking during off-peak times, but no stations are closed. Also, I cannot stress this enough. When on metro escalators, stay to the right if you're not walking up the escalators. This is something that locals hate about tourists, especially if you're traveling during rush hours. Stand right, walk left. For info on metro closures, their website is wmata.com.

 

[qtlaw]

My kids have gone back to DC/Maryland every year of their lives (mom is from there; I stopped going about 4 yrs ago) and I can say it sounds like you've got everything down.

I loved our personal tour through our local congressperson's office; great to ride the underground railway.

The Zoo is awesome, great for families.

Smithsonians are wonderful, Air & Space are my favorites and do not miss the original Stealth Bomber SR-71 at Dulles.

Mt. Vernon was fun as well.

Metro is great way to get around, makes me long for it here in SF/CA

Enjoy, hope its an early spring in April.

 

[podunk press]

Isn't that Cherry Blossom Festival weekend? If so, it'll be pretty but crowded along the Tidal Basin.

Great week to go regardless.

Lots and lots of walking. Your 4 year old will be fine. I did when I was 4. But my favorite thing, by far, when I was 4? The Metro. "This is the red line train to Shady Grove ..."

 

[ColdCat]

if the kids like baseball, there's always a Nats game. great stadium right off the metro and tix are fairly easy to come by given how terrible they are.
Also try Mt. Vernon. It's the one thing you'll have to drive to but if your older kid is starting to read about George Washington, a visit to his house might be pretty cool.

 

[JackReacher]

if the kids like baseball, there's always a Nats game. great stadium right off the metro and tix are fairly easy to come by given how terrible they are.

Easy there.

 

[Versatile]

if the kids like baseball, there's always a Nats game. great stadium right off the metro and tix are fairly easy to come by given how terrible they are.

Easy there.

I don't believe in Zimmerman(n). I just believe in Steve.

I hate touristy crap. But if you have kids, the Spy Museum is going to be far more entertaining (and similarly pricey, especially considering all the free museums in the city) than the Newseum to them.