[TomB]

I don't know what you are looking to be near, but last year my son and I stayed at the Holiday Inn Capitol at Smithsonian. It was a great place and only one block from the greatest of all museums, the Air and Space museum. It's also close to the Capitol.

I'm going back with the whole family this year, so I'm interested in the responses to this thread.

I'm also planning a trip to NYC. Does anyone have any recommendations for hotels/sightseeing? We're thinking of staying in the Times Square/Midtown area.

[Sisku Hanne]

Just spent the weekend following the inauguration in DC taking a class at the Washington Sculpture Center.
I was *very* pleased with our hotel...The Washington Suites Georgetown. You get a full kitchen, living room with sofa bed & bedroom with 2 doubles. There's a TV in each room- great for keeping the kids happy while the adults have their own space. It's less than 2 blocks from The Foggy Bottom metro at Georgetown University Hospital. It also has a parking lot on site and the best complimentary continental breakfast I've ever had. Very safe area, too.
I also considered Jury's at Dupont circle.
My main criteria were safe location, close to Metro stops, and easy walk to nearby shops and restaurants, which makes Georgetown/Foggy Bottom & Dupont Circle great choices.

[CaptainAwesome2]

You can stay with a friend of mine at Gutheridge Hall and GW and get wasted.

[lonewacko_dot_com]

For future reference, I don't recommend camping at the Greenbelt National Park campground unless you're really hard up:
http://lonewacko.com/blog/archives/000814.html
http://www.nps.gov/gree/index.htm

[Gaetano]

No No No

Stay at the Embassy Suites in Old Town Alexandria Virginia, near the Metro station.

Alexandria is one of the most beautiful and historic towns in the whole US of A. If you have never been there, go now !