Looking for info about planning trip to DC About This Page:

[Danidurph]

Hi all!
Looking for info. I think I want to take a trip to DC this summer. My teenage daughter would like to go.
Looking for info about where to stay that is close (walking distance) to the museums/on the mall. Would it be better to get a suite with a mini kitchen so we don't have to eat out BLD? Or a hotel with breakfast included? Not concerned about the cost because it will only be a few days. Want to have. Great experience.
Also. What sites are a MUST do? I feel so lost because planning Disney is so easy and I always know what to do and if not, there's a forum for that.
How about restaurants? Any must do's?
TIA,
Dani

[CinderAbby]

Having just gotten back from DC, unfortunately there's not much I can recommend. I went with the school and they bussed us everywhere and we weren't allowed a lot of time any one place but I do have some info for you.

You go through security everywhere - literally. We ate at Reagan International Trade Center at the food court. That's the only place we could go to - the food court - but we still had to go through security.

The Newseum was really interesting and worth a visit IMO. Depending upon how much your daughter has learned about things, she'll either find it interesting or boring. They have a 4D experience I skipped in favor of some of the other exhibits. They also have a balcony that during our trip, no kids were allowed out on without an adult present.

The Holocaust Museum, while interesting, was also very disturbing. While it's not one I really want to recommend to anyone, it's a personal choice as to whether you want to go or to skip it.

If you go to the Smithsonian Natural History Museum, be advised the dinosaur exhibit is closed until 2019 I believe (it just closed a few weeks ago). They do have a butterfly garden, but it requires a ticket (which were $6 each).

The Air and Space Museum has an Imax theater but I don't know what's playing or what the cost is.

Hope some of this helps

[Danidurph]

Thanks Darlene. The holocaust museum is something on the list. I feel it's important for my kids to visit this, I understand that you can shield littler ones from certain exhibits there. My son, 9, is excited for air and space.

[HiddenMickey]

It's been a while since we went, but we stayed at a Hyatt about a block from the Mall area. We could walk to all the museums there. We did get breakfast in the hotel, but it wasn't included if I remember right. We ate in cafeterias at the museums for lunch. Dinner, we found places we could walk to. I think one was Planet Hollywood.

I would see about ordering tickets to go up in the Washington Monument before you go. And the White House too if you plan on that.

[CinderAbby]

I feel it's important for my kids to visit this, I understand that you can shield littler ones from certain exhibits there.

Yes, the more disturbing things there - such as what is shown on the video screens - were hidden by a wall about waist high, maybe just a little higher. I didn't even realize there were tv screens until I made the "mistake" of moving closer to something and then I looked down for some reason. After that, I didn't move too close to anything else. What happened was appalling enough just to hear about it and my stomach isn't strong enough to handle any more that what I could see straight ahead.

[CynBeth]

Unfortunately I can't recommend a hotel since we live an hour away and usually visit for a day on a Sunday once or twice a year. We have found that the museum of the American Indian or whatever it is called has the best food court and I would recommend walking around it as well. We really like the Museum of American History and the Air and Space Museum. The National Zoo is great. I believe the Washington Monument just opened up again and that would be good to do if you have time and walk to the WW II Memorial and Lincoln Memorial. Your family might also enjoy the Spy Museum. Nationals Park is wonderful if they are in town and you have time or interest for a ballgame.

[cubfancolleen]

Yes, the Washington Monument just reopened, a week ago. So I'd look into securing tickets now (if you want to do that). I also recommend looking into one of the hop on, hop off buses. DC is very walkable, and has a good Metro system, but the hoho bus will circulate between many of the "must see" spots. I recommend Arlington National cemetery - especially the changing of the guard ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknowns. The FDR memorial is one of my favorites, and the Jefferson Memorial, and those aren't right on the Mall (the space stretching between the Capitol & the Lincoln Memorial). Many of the Smithsonian museums line the Mall - Air & Space, American History, Natural History, Freer Gallery, etc. also the National Gallery of Art. Many memorials as well - Washington, Lincoln, WWII, Vietnam, and Korea.

Think about a side trip to Eastern Market. You can get a meal there, and it's a fun area of town. Check Trip Advisor for some planning help.

Another option for getting a view of the city is doing a Duck tour. They start at Union Station, and along with going through town, will take you on the river.

Georgetown has an area right on the river with some nice waterfront restaurants. There are also lots of great eating spots throughout Georgetown, or the Dupont Circle area (metro accessible) or Adams Morgan (lots of ethnic restaurants).

Have fun!

[Huntermom]

I think DC is a great vacation and good for even a long weekend so long as you understand you will not see and do it all.

My kids loved the Holocaust Museum. It was something they had studied pretty extensively in school and they were moved by the exhibits. IMHO it is a worthwhile venture.

The Air and Space, Natural History and American history museums are large and I feel each worth a day.

My kids always preferred a hotel with kitchen facilities. They tended to be health conscious and it is easier to have a healthy meal in a Homewood Suites or Residence Inn, both of which also serve breakfast. It's also nice to be able to keep cold drinks and fruit in the room for a snack.

I would have your kids go to the Smithsonisan website and look and see what the museums off and then narrow it down. My adult DD just spent a weekend in DC and still enjoyed the zoo, even though she has been too many times to count.

DC seems to be a destination for school groups, so you may enjoy it better if you go during the summer. We have also been on winter breaks without much crowding. It seems like this time of year is big on school trips.

[CinderAbby]

It seems like this time of year is big on school trips.

That is an understatement. During our trip, we had our group (200 plus students) and all we had to wear was white lanyards. We saw groups with bright orange ones and another with bright green ones. I also some other various lanyards but their school id's were hanging from them. We saw a group of kids wearing bright yellow strip things (almost like a sash - it went from one shoulder to the opposite hip and then went around the waist). Then there were the groups that wore t-shirts. Blue, green, yellow, black, purple, pink and tye-dye were the colors I remember. We even saw one group that was wearing uniforms. Since it was all girls, it was a gray pleated skirt with a white button down, long sleeve shirt with a red sweater vest. So yeah, this is definitely school group time of year.

[Belle320]

Definitely plenty to do in DC and the best thing is a lot are free. I suggest using Kayak.com or Hotels.com to find a hotel with kitchens. But since so many sites are free, that may help offset the cost of eating out. Definitely check out the Smithsonian website to help plan your trip. Also you can tour the White House and / or the US Capitol, but these may require some advance planning. In addition to the Air and Space Museum on the National Mall, a second Air and Space Museum is located in Chantilly, VA. It currently has the Space Shuttle Discovery, along with several other large exhibits.

[Danidurph]

Thanks everyone! We booked a residence inn. We are very excited

[Teresa]

We loved the Holocaust Museum, and spent about 4 hours there. We would have stayed longer, but my niece started whining (she doesn't find any museum interesting - and she was 18 at the time!).

We stayed in Maryland, just over the border. The subway is wonderfully efficient, and staying out of the DC limits makes it cheaper. Arlington National Cemetery is absolutely wonderful (but costs). The zoo is wonderful (free). Of course, the Vietnam memorial is great, but we were super impressed with the Korean War memorial.
Unless you want to walk forever, I wouldn't recommend trying it. It's bigger than it looks. The buildings are massive (a block or two long at times).
We took one of the tour busses from the train station, pay one price and for 2-3 days you can hop on and off the bus at will. We used it as transportation all over the city. It was great.

[savvydebbie]

Travelling around is one of my favorite activities. Difference is, I do not just travel and stay for like a week. I stay for months (even years). Yea. It has something to do with my work.

Anyway, I'm planning to travel and stay for like a few months at DC, too and I'm looking for a place to stay where museums are just a walking distance only. I have to bring with me a lot of stuffs, so probably a hotel wouldn't be an ideal place to stay. Any suggestions?

[Danidurph]

we booked the residence inn right in downtown DC, they have full kitchens in several sizes, studio, 1 BR and 2 BR
walking distance to the mall and close to a metro stop

Residence Inn Washington, DC/Capitol: Washington Extended Stay Hotels

[JJs_Mom]

Did anyone mention the National Zoo? It is free to enter and is worth the visit.