Request for DC Family Vacation Advice

[Prairie Pubbie]

Freeper Advice needed for DC family vacation

[Maria S]

I'm so envious of your trip to DC! I've been there several times...it was wonderful each time.

Since this is an election year, call your representative and senator's offices now! They SHOULD cheerfully get you passes to the WH and congress so you can bypass the waiting-in-line stuff. Our representative sent us tickets, and one of his aides personally escorted us through the maze between (and underneath) the house and senate. We took a little golf cart type vehicle because it's a lengthy corridor between the two houses. We passed Bob Dole in a hallway, and saw Ted Kennedy (he's a BIG 'un!) down on the floor of the Senate! Another time, our representative got us tickets to the WH...wonderful visit!

Do NOT miss the Viet Nam memorial...if you can walk past it without breaking down, you're tougher than I! Also...if you can go up in the Washington Monument, DO IT!!! Take a camera...there's a birdseye view from all four sides and you can get some spectacular pictures from waaaaay up there! Don't miss Arlington National Cemetery, and JFK's gravesite. (Look straight up the hillside to see Robert E. Lee's home...you can visit there, too!) The hourly changing of the guard is a remarkable, very moving experience...buses run continually, so it's easy to get around the Cemetery, and everyone should see it.

Lastly...ride Metro everywhere! It's very safe, incredibly clean, and you'll see lots of Washington residents go to work (and they LOVE to help visitors!)...and parking is the pits! Wear comfy shoes and have fun!

[Rummyfan]

If staying in Alexandria try for some place economical in the Old Town area, although economical and Old Town don't usually go together. Again if staying in Alexandria, flying into Reagan would be the first choice, Dulles second. The Metro provides very good transportation around DC and the suburbs but some places of interest - Mount Vernon for example - may require a taxi or bus ride too.

If you want the White House tour, try working through your Congressman to arrange tickets. Well in advance! The cherry blossoms reach their peak in early April (typically) so you will miss that.

A new museum that has opened in the last couple of years is The Spy Museum - get tickets ahead of time if interested because it has been selling out. Even newer is the aviation wing of the Smithsonian which just opened in late December 2003. It is located adjacent to Dulles Airport and would require taxi (the Metro doesn't go out that far). Admission is FREE. Although I have not been yet I have heard from other visitors it is fantastic - lots of static displays of famous aircraft, from the Enola Gay to one of the shuttles.
That's the tip of the iceberg. Let me know if you need more info.....

[mewzilla]

I'd recommend a visit to Arlington National Cemetery. Here's a link to its website.

[general_re]

You can save a bit of money flying in to BWI, but transport from BWI to DC will offset the cost savings...

If you fly into BWI, there's an express bus that runs to the Greenbelt station - you can take the Green line right into DC...

[Helen]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/local/longterm/metro/front.htm

Learn it. Live it. You'll love it!

[IncPen]

bookmark

[Publius6961]

Good for you. You have a sporting chance of being able to do a lot, but not even 8 days is enough to see everything. When is the trip scheduled?
I think the mall deserves three days, much is there: the Air & Space museum, the National Gallery of Art, the Capitol, The Archives...
Try to visit Union Station, the Supreme Court building, the Georgetown Park mall; National Geographic headquarters.
Food? Once in a lifetime chance to dine at 1789 Restaurant,Georgetown, and La Bodega del Arabardero, for authentic Spanish food..

Take notes and lots of pictures!

Flying into BWI is a good alternative usually saving lots of cash and the Amtrack into Union Station is a snap. A good alternative.
Good luck!

[ReleaseTheHounds]

http://www.wmata.com/

This is a link to the very nice Washington Area Metro. Check out the route maps and especially the "Ride Guide" along the lower right of this page.

For places to stay, I'll leave that to other more experienced FREEPERS, but one suggestion might be Crystal City, VA (in the middle of Arlington -- one Metro-stop from Reagan National). Very safe and a flexible for site-seeing (there is a Crystal City Metro Stop). Also nice informal dining on 23rd Street in Arlington -- a few blocks from the Metro Stop. I'm sure there are a variety of Holiday Inns, Comfort Inns, etc. nearby.

May-June is well past the Cherry Blossom season (early April) but the city/mall is beautiful in early summer. I would encourage you to make an appointment to meet with your congressman and request a tour of the Capitol Building. Plan a walking tour of the monuments (get in line early morning for tickets for the Washington Monument -- you can then walk to the Founders Pond, Vietnam Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, FDR Memorial, Jefferson Memorial and back to the Washington Monument circling the Mall).

Plan some visits to the Smithsonians: Air & Space, etc. Plan a visit to Fords Theater: http://www.fordstheatre.org/
You can buy tickets to a performance online or just plan a visit during the day to see where President Lincoln was shot -- but they won't let you in if there is a performance going on or about to go on.

There may be public transportation (see the Metro guide) to Washington's Mount Vernon -- or you may want to rent a car for a day to take in places like Mount Vernon. If you did rent a car, you might enjoy a day trip out to Front Royal, VA and a brief ride down the upper portion of the Skyline Drive -- one of the prettiest drives in the USA. There are also vinyards out in that part of VA that are a nice relaxing time.

If you're interested in Civil War sites: Manassas (Battle of Bull Run) is about 40 minutes from Arlington, VA by car. Fredericksburg, VA is a neat town for a day-trip.

I've never been there, but the International Spy Museum is supposed to be very good... This looks like a great website:
http://www.spymuseum.org/index.asp

I'll end here... hope this helps.

[John H K]

The White House is probably the lamest tourist destination in the DC/Baltimore area. Absolutely not worth the wait/hassle. But people feel compelled to visit it.

A million cooler things to visit.

[Dust in the Wind]

Union Station was an interesting place to view and eat. It is several miles around the monuments so wear good walking shoes and realize the building security detectors are more sensitive in that town than in the airports. Credit card strips will set some off.

[FateAmenableToChange]

1. Airports - If time isn't an issue and money is, lots of people fly into BWI and take the MARC train down to Union Station in DC. It's a regular train, very clean and safe, and cheap ($10-$15) and fast. From there you can go anywhere in D.C. I'd recommend taking a taxi to your hotel - you're looking at about $20 max (remember that you can haggle with D.C. cabbies if you're staying outside the district) for a fare and it takes you right to your hotel. Alternatively, you can use the Metro.

Between Dulles and Regan - National, it's almost a wash - you have to take a cab to and from Dulles, but flights into Regan - National usually average about $100 higher than flights into Dulles. On the other hand, both are closer than BWI.

2. Hotels - If money is only partly an issue, consider staying in the Holiday Inn in oldtown Alexandria. You're 7 blocks from the King Street Metro and it's a very nice walk straight west on King Street to the metro station. In Alexandria, stay within 2-3 blocks of King Street - there are sections between Alexandria and Arlington that are a little sketchy.

Alternatively, there is a hotel called the American or the Americana or something like that in Crystal City (Arlington) which is close to the pentagon and also right on top of a metro line. Also in Crystal City you have your choice of Marriott & other higher end hotels.

Don't stay in the district. You'll get hosed on hotel rates and taxes.

3. Places to see - (1) Oldtown Alexandria is an awesome place to eat and relax; (2) Mount Vernon (just south of Alexandria - you can actually walk there on a safe bike path that goes through town); (3) Pentagon; (4) Smithsonian; (5) the Cold War Museaum (run by the son of U2 Pilot Gary Powers); (6) anything else.

[ElTianti]

Wow, so much to do. If you’ve got a car and you’re a civil war buff Sharpsburg, Manassas, and Harper’s Ferry are a 45-90 minute drive from DC. George Washington’s home in Mt Vernon is a short drive as well.

The new Smithsonian Air and Space adjunct near Dullas Airport is fantastic.

[Diva Betsy Ross]

oh I just thought of something else.. you could get a really neat souvenir from your Congressman.

You can request an American Flag that has been flown over the Capitol building on one of the days you are in town, or get one for each kiddo, two separate days. I think it is $25.00 per flag. You will get a certificate with it. Just ask for a flag request for special occasions.

[Swanks]

Avoid the typical lunch madness at the Nat. History Meuseum, etc. Go to the cafeteria between the East and West wing Art Galleries(Downstairs). (Not many think to go there so you avoid the touoristy crowds.) Nice sized cafeteria (but everywhere is DC is costly.

Make 'em tour the Art Gallery while there. Just the architecture alone is impressive.

The gardens to the left, right and behind the origional Sandstone Castle is nice to. Good place to get away from the crowds. The kids will like the waterfall / fountains.

[Non-Sequitur]

Contact your congressman and senator. They can often get you tours of the White House and Capitol where you are not part of a massive heard. My Senator, Sam Brownback, actually had an aide shepard a group of about a dozen of us through the Capitol. He even took us on the floor of the Senate.

[Publius6961]

Oh yes, I forgot. The military nurse memorial near the Vietnam memorial. If that doesn't bring tears to your eyes, nothing will. One of my favorite places to go for a moment of meditation on every visit to the area (other than the Georgetown U campus).

[Capriole]

You're probably thinking of The Dubliner, which is owned by the IRA and is a fundraising source for them. Teddy Kennedy has been known to hang out there.

[Gefreiter]

No one's sharing where NOT to go though, ie where the hell to stay out of in the DC area. Info like that is really helpful.

I was at a conference 2 summers ago, staying in a Hyatt Regency (I think) a few blocks from the Capitol. I was out looking for a paper on Sunday morning and ran afoul of 4 guys sitting on the sidewalk, drinking quietly and looking generally malevolent. I managed not to get killed, but I am a "bald, white bitch" apparently. DC definitely celebrated diversity.

But the day before, I had walked basically across town with no problem at all; one block over from my hotel and I had a problem.

[Our man in washington]

That's either the Dubliner or the Irish Times. They're right next to each other. The link for the Dubliner is here. Good food, but not really kid-friendly:

http://washington-dc.travelape.com/nightlife/the-dubliner-pub/

As for where to stay, you might consider North Arlington if you can get a good rate. You can find a good mid-level hotel (Comfort Inn, Quality Inn, etc.) within walking distance of the Orange Line. And if you hop on the Orange Line, you can be downtown in 15 minutes. You're right not to drive.

Anyway, I second the recommendations already given. Otherwise, it depends on the child. I enjoyed visiting the U.S. Congress when I was a kid, but then, I liked politics. Arlington Cemetary is interesting, particularly the tomb of the unknown soldier. Tour buses leave from Uniion Station, and those can be fun for learning bits of trivia about our nation's capital. Union Station is also an excellent place to get a meal.

Good luck. Freepmail me with any specific questions. Welcome!

[Alissa]

Washington DC is my hometown, so I have lots of opinions:) Besides all the above good advice, plan to go to the Holocaust Museum, which is walking distance from the Smithsonian. You have to reserve a time to go through the major exhibits. I showed up at 10:00 for a 1:00 entry.

Also the Supreme Court and Library of Congress are all right there on Capitol Hill and only takes a few minutes to drop by. (I took my daughter to the Capitol, Supreme Court and White House as the 3 branches of gov't tour.)

You definitely want to fly into Reagan National Airport. Dulles and BWI are quite a distance out. If you don't have a car, be sure your hotel is within walking distance to a Metro stop. In Alexandria, the Embassy Suites is right across the street from the Metro station. While in Alexandria, be sure to spend a little time in Old Town. Great restaurants! Eat lots of good seafood.

If you're into art, the Phillips Gallery is fantastic. I like it more than the National Gallery.

You might want to go to Georgetown as well. A lot of politicians live there, once you get on the side streets, and it also has good restaurants.

The Pentagon has tours. Also, you can prearrange with your Congressional representative to visit their office and a staffer might even give you a personal tour of the Capital.

Even though the Metro is wonderful, bring comfortable walking shoes! May would probably be a better month. Summer starts in June in DC and it can get very hot.