Pleeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaassssseeee Help!D.C. Area
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Wendyismyname · 01-05-2004, 09:09 AM

This July, we're going to visit our niece and her family in Spotsylvania, VA. We'll be driving from the Indianapolis Area. Neither my DH nor I have ever been to the East Coast area, so we're complete rookies! Can you help with driving directions?
Looks like the quickest route is I-70, but I'm afraid(I'm a traffic chicken) of driving around the DC area.

Also, I need all kinds of ideas on what and where to visit! My niece said that almost everything in DC is free(the museums, the White House, Lincoln Mem.) with the exception of a few things(going into the Washington Monument).

We want to tour Arlington National Cemetary(morbid, I know). Go to the beach somewhere. Take a day to see (parts of) DC. Visit Fredericksburg, and of course, just hang out.

What else is out there?? What about the Holocaust Museum? Would you recommend taking the kids there(9&8).

Know of any good hotels that're are on the way to VA?

Thanks for any and all help!!!

Wendy

AKLRULZ · 01-05-2004, 09:18 AM

I grew up in Northern Virginia and we regularly visited DC and continue to do so - just did a Christmas White House tour on Dec 27th. While I can't help you on driving directions (I'd personally contact AAA for a Triptik), here are some thoughts on the attractions.

The mall museums are fantastic and are all free for touring although there are upcharge attractions such as the IMAX at the Air & Space Musuem. Call your Congressman now (as in today) and see if he can assist you in obtaining tickets to tour the White House - they are VERY limited and are down from 7,000 visitors a day before 9/11 to about 1,000 a day now. Its a neat tour, and I bet your kids would get a kick out of being in the President's house - it's all my kids have talked about since our tour. I'd also recommend calling ahead for tickets to the Washington Monument (there is only a small surcharge). Plan on doing a lot of walking to the monuments - there is a tour tram that you can ride on to visit some of the attractions if that is your style. Arlington National Cemetary is far from morbid and is really a moving experience. We were just there with our kids this past summer and all three of my kids came out feeling quite patriotic! A must do, IMHO.

In terms of the Holocuast Museum - I'd personally not take my children there until they are teens. It is VERY heavy, although much of the graphic depictions are shielded behind high walls that you look over. It's very educational, but my opinion is that it's just not age appropriate for most children (you know your kiddos best though). When we toured my wife had a very difficult time with it and was haunted for weeks by some of the images we saw. I'd give it a PG-13, and you'll also want to call ahead for advance tickets (small charge) should you decide to tour as they only give out a very limited number of same day tickets each morning.

The Zoo! Don't miss the National Zoo - it's best to go on the Metro and it's very accessible on the red line. Make sure to visit the Panda exhibit early before it gets too hot. They're fun to watch! The Mount Vernon estate is South of the city in Alexandria, VA, and is also a neat tour that I'd recommend.

In terms of the beach - well, you won't find the world's best around here, but Ocean City, MD and Virginia Beach, VA are all about a day trip away from where you'll be. Nothing luxurious, but you'll find sand and surf!

Mt parents live in Spotsylvania and if anyone in your family is a Civil War or history buff you'll find lots to do in that area also.

Enjoy your trip!

Wendyismyname · 01-05-2004, 09:27 AM

Thanks Steve!! I knew you were from that area and could help!!
That's what I was afraid of, as far as the Holocaust Museum. I didn't think I'd want my kids to see it. My grandpa was in a battalion that liberated Dauchau(sp?) and another camp and he wouldn't even talk about it!

We're planning the trip to coincide with DH's birthday(7-16).

Oh! What about Naval Ships??
I just did a search (on here) about the DC area. Great ideas and pointers there!!

Do you by chance know how much the trolley, or bus, is? My niece said you paid a one time fare which allows you on and off all day??
Great idea on contacting my congressman about tickets! Are they good for that particular date only? Does everybody need a ticket? My great-nephew will be 1, so I wasn't sure about him needing a ticket!

Any more thoughts and tidbits would be welcome!! And it sounds like you and Don are going to have a great time this July!!

Thank you!!!

Wendy

**CRCrazy** · 01-05-2004, 09:32 AM

Yeah, what he said!

Seriously, Spotsylvania seems to be a popular place! My sister and her family live there! We've gone to visit them several times, and have done many of the things on your list. We haven't done the Holocaust Museum, but the Mall is Fantastic - in fact, my middle daughter won a prize for a poem she wrote about a visit to the Lincoln Memorial. Arlington Cemetary is an incredible take in - don't miss this! There are all kinds of Civil War battlefields and graveyards throughout Spotsylvania and Fredericksburg - bring a big roll of paper to do some rubbings with your kids - the epitaphs are incredible. Again, most of the museums and the National Zoo - also fantastic, but hot at that time of year - are free! Downtown Fredericksburg has some beautiful garden tours, and is great fun to walk around, and just poke into the antique shops, etc.

I have driven from NH, so can't help with driving - we take I-95 down all the way.

AKLRULZ · 01-05-2004, 09:43 AM

[ QUOTE ]
Do you by chance know how much the trolley, or bus, is? My niece said you paid a one time fare which allows you on and off all day??
Great idea on contacting my congressman about tickets! Are they good for that particular date only? Does everybody need a ticket? My great-nephew will be 1, so I wasn't sure about him needing a ticket!

[/ QUOTE ]

Hey! You know I'm not sure how much the trolly costs, but I do believe you get an all day type of pass. We've never done it but they're popular I'd say from the amount of folks we have seen on them!

I believe the only way to obtain White House tickets these days is actually through your Congressman. We had to provide full legal names and SSNs of everyone in our party including the kids, and the tickets are good only for one date and a specific entrance time. And the word "tickets" really probably isn't the correct term because we just had a letter stating we were "on the list" for the date and time - we didn't have tickets per se as you would for a movie or theme park admission. You'll want to get there at least 15 minutes early b/c 2 weeks ago you had to line up by last name, not by your party - very confusing and time consuming if you have people in your party with different last names as we did - we were with my inlaws and my wife's sister's family! Also, each person over 12 needed a photo ID when we entered two weeks ago - whether that was due to the security threat level or was SOP, I'm not sure, but they matched up ID with names on their list. PHEW! (The tour is worth the hassle of obtaining "tickets" to get in!)

Enjoy!

Wendyismyname · 01-05-2004, 09:53 AM

Very cool Steve!! I'll have to tell that to my niece and we'll have to nail down a definite date then for a tour of the White House!

I think the kids will like this trip. It'll be a nice drive to see how well they'll do on the long trip to WDW next year.

Any websites you know of??

Wendy

AKLRULZ · 01-05-2004, 10:05 AM

I think ya'll will have a super time in DC!

[ QUOTE ]
Any websites you know of??

[/ QUOTE ]

White House tour info

National Zoo info

Smithsonian Musuems

Tourmobile Sightseeing

Washington Monument

Arlington National Cemetary

Metrorail Info (Subway)

Check those out - they're in my favorites. Also may do a Google search for other info - have fun!

Wendyismyname · 01-05-2004, 02:32 PM

Thanks Steve for the websites! What about Mt. Vernon? Where exactly is it located and about how long of a drive from where we're staying??

Wendy

AKLRULZ · 01-05-2004, 02:42 PM

Wendy, Mount Vernon is maybe 15-20 minutes southeast of DC, but in what I'd call the DC metro area (Northern VA). It's a neat tour and my kids think it's very interesting to see the tombs of George and Martha (we're really into graves - LOL!).

Probably would be tight to fit it in on a daytrip to DC coupled with touring monuments and museums but it's worth a visit!

Wendyismyname · 01-05-2004, 02:47 PM

I felt really ignorant after I asked that question because I looked it up. I didn't know it was the name of a city also!! LOL!!!

We're into graves also(totally morbid, LOL) so I think it would be really cool.

Wendy

**chezp** · 01-05-2004, 03:08 PM

[ QUOTE ]
I believe the only way to obtain White House tickets these days is actually through your Congressman. We had to provide full legal names and SSNs of everyone in our party including the kids, and the tickets are good only for one date and a specific entrance time.

[/ QUOTE ]

Wow, I didn't realise things had changed that much since 9/11. We went round the White House in 1999 and I will be honest we were shocked at the lack of security everywhere in DC, but especially at the White House. I guess they've tightened up on that now. It seems a real shame though, as it looks as if us foreigners can't go round the White House any longer.

pmlskr · 01-05-2004, 03:35 PM

Wendy, you may want to check out Petersburg National Battlfield, I believe it is not to far from Spotslvania, went to school in the area George Mason Univ. It is oozing with Civil War history. Also there is a very cool Church and Cemetary at the end of the tour(make a right coming out of the Park) called Old Blandford Church and Cemetary. The church has 15 Tiffany Stained glass windows in honor of the Confederate states and then the cemtary is full of Revolutionary to present date graves, they have a great tour and the guides are full of fascinating storyies related to the graves and the dead as well as the folklore of the era.

Steve you might like this too.

Any question please PM and I will get you more info...

Pam

denwol · 01-06-2004, 07:45 PM

Hey - that's funny! I just today made reservations for the Loews L'Enfant Plaza hotel in D.C....

We are so excited to go! My oldest DS has been asking to go for some time now, and even though we only live about 1-1/2 hours away, we thought it would be more of an adventure for him if we stayed right there!

We will be going over president's day weekend (he has a 4-day weekend from school). It will be cold - no doubt - but most everything is indoors, so it shouldn't be a problem.

I'll let you know our favorites when we return!

DVC_Don · 01-06-2004, 08:05 PM

Post deleted by Disnydad

Wendyismyname · 01-07-2004, 09:44 AM

Thanks! I had done a search here on the boards about DC because I figured some one had written about it! Don, we'll be leaving to come home about the time that you're starting!! I don't think we'll manage Gettysburg this time though. I can't believe how much stuff is out there!

Wendy