Subway unbelievably nice, compared to NY. Got to keep our government workers safe and clean.
Washington DC Family Vaca
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We stayed in Maryland where it was cheaper, with hopes of taking the kids to the Sandy Point beach one day we were there. But I think it would be much better staying in northern Virginia as the trips into D.C. are much shorter/quicker each day by the Metro if staying for several days. Weather didn't permit going to the beach anyway.
Not sure about the 8 year old but the changing of the guard at the tomb of the unknown soldier.
Definitely a must do and I think good for all ages
Ok, here's a DC area recc for you.
Violent crime is way way up in recent years (source). Stay safe, don't get carjacked, etc.
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- Hardly anyone goes so you won't have lines like at the Washington Monument, and you won't see influencers in every pane of glass taking photos.
Violent crime is way way up in recent years (source). Stay safe, don't get carjacked, etc.
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The Museum of American History has an old Waterloo Boy tractor. Mt. Vernon is nice to get out of the city especially on a nice day, impressive, and a good history lesson.
I recall that the cafeteria in the Supreme Court building was fine and drinking a beer there. The drinking age then was 18.
The National Archives is good for the documents there.
I recall that the cafeteria in the Supreme Court building was fine and drinking a beer there. The drinking age then was 18.
The National Archives is good for the documents there.
Just did a complete northeast vacation last summer.
Here’s what we did:
Flew into BWI and stayed at a hotel near the airport.
The Amtrak has a stop at BWI. From there, direct links to New York, Philly, DC etc. Amtrak is extremely reliable in the north east. Trains departing every 30 minutes day and night.
Amtrak is extremely reliable in the northeast because it’s the only area where Amtrak has ownership in the railway. Everywhere else in the country they have to lease the tracks from Union Pacific.
We were able to stay at BWI all week and experience all cities with no car rental needed at all. (Hotel shuttles will drive to the Amtrak station, just a Few minutes drive from the airport).
Another plus, all Amtrak stations in each major city are in the heart of each city. So you’re exactly where you wanna be. No parking, no Uber, etc. public transit in all major northeast cities are pretty much the cream of the crop in the US.
Here’s what we did:
Flew into BWI and stayed at a hotel near the airport.
The Amtrak has a stop at BWI. From there, direct links to New York, Philly, DC etc. Amtrak is extremely reliable in the north east. Trains departing every 30 minutes day and night.
Amtrak is extremely reliable in the northeast because it’s the only area where Amtrak has ownership in the railway. Everywhere else in the country they have to lease the tracks from Union Pacific.
We were able to stay at BWI all week and experience all cities with no car rental needed at all. (Hotel shuttles will drive to the Amtrak station, just a Few minutes drive from the airport).
Another plus, all Amtrak stations in each major city are in the heart of each city. So you’re exactly where you wanna be. No parking, no Uber, etc. public transit in all major northeast cities are pretty much the cream of the crop in the US.
Stay outside on the metro line stop and take that in every day, its very easy to use and get around with it. Contract your congressman and senators and see if you can get a pass from them to view the house or senate in action. Note its cool to see, but disappointing as hell. Get tickets in advance for the WH, Holocaust Museum and the Washington Memorial.
If you are going to do the Smithsonian's, choose one to see a day, or two that are close together, a few will have extended hours, find out which one's. Air and Space, American History are great, natural history and the new Indian Museum are great for kids. Do not see everything, or even try, you could spend a week in some of the museums and never see it all.
Try to schedule a day to drive down to Mt. Vernon and take that tour, well worth it, and if going to Gettysburg, be sure to see the map park and schedule a tour in your vehicle if possible. See the map room and museum to get a feel for the battle and what happened each day first thing. Walk around Gettysburg to see all the sights and the shops.
In DC be sure to take a tour at night bus tour when all the monument's are lit up.
If you are going to do the Smithsonian's, choose one to see a day, or two that are close together, a few will have extended hours, find out which one's. Air and Space, American History are great, natural history and the new Indian Museum are great for kids. Do not see everything, or even try, you could spend a week in some of the museums and never see it all.
Try to schedule a day to drive down to Mt. Vernon and take that tour, well worth it, and if going to Gettysburg, be sure to see the map park and schedule a tour in your vehicle if possible. See the map room and museum to get a feel for the battle and what happened each day first thing. Walk around Gettysburg to see all the sights and the shops.
In DC be sure to take a tour at night bus tour when all the monument's are lit up.
This is a good idea too.
Amtrak's DC-BWI runs are also supplemented by a regional rail service (cheaper than Amtrak, just as fast for BWI-DC, but can end earlier in the day) that's also a good way to save some dollars.
They have a children's museum that they can go through without seeing the entire thing. The entire museum is haunting, to see. They give you an identity of a person that lived through it and then at the end you find out if they survived or not. Also the bureau of printing is cool to see, its where they print the money, one of three in the US.
If you go to Mt Vernon. Go to Washington’s distillery and pick up a fifth of his recipes whiskey.
Gettysburg is an easy two day stay. On the first day tour the museum and be sure to see the map room. This will give you a sense of the battle and what happened each day. Then schedule to have one of the Rangers drive you around the battlefield in your vehicle. It takes an hour to hour and half, but well worth it. They are great taking you around to telling you what happened at each area. Be sure after the tour to drive the battlefield and check out all the monuments that have been set up for different divisions that fought in the battle. Be sure to go to Culp's hill and little Round Top. See the start of Pickets charge and then the stone wall where the union held.
Walk around the town and take it all in, you can still see bullet holes in the walls of the buildings, and be sure to walk through the cemetery and see the graves and how many are unmarked with the number of people buried there.
Walk around the town and take it all in, you can still see bullet holes in the walls of the buildings, and be sure to walk through the cemetery and see the graves and how many are unmarked with the number of people buried there.
Metro bus was the easiest to use as it goes to just about everywhere along the mall/capital/musuems routes. DC is just a neat area if you enjoy history.
If you end up driving to Philadelphia to DC, Fort McHenry is in Baltimore which overlooks the bay. This is where Francis Scott Key wrote the national anthem during War of 1812.
One last thing, our kids enjoyed having National Park Passports. Just about every National Park has it's own stamp with date of visit to stamp in the book. Kids may enjoy getting those stamps as you'll be able to get a bunch them out east. Kind of neat over the years to look back to see when you visited or revisited various places.
- Mt. Vernon was much better than expected.
- Air & Space outside of DC to the see Enola Gay, space shuttle Discovery, and many other historical aircraft types. When we were there couple years I believe it was a B-17 in their shop they were restoring which you could overlook from the museum.
- US Mint kind of neat and didn't take all that long.
- Arlington Cemetary is humbling. Changing of the guard is definitely worth seeing. JFK grave site and Robert E. Lee's house are also there.
- Monuments as perviously mentioned.
- National Zoo was kind of a let down as Henry Doorly in Omaha is much better if you've been there. About only reason to go to the zoo was for pandas, but they're no longer there.
- National Archives for constitution, declaration, and bill of rights. Suggest getting a reservation for $1.00 to avoid long lines.
- Capital tour. Not sure if they still do these, but you used to be able to contact state rep office to set up guided tours to see portions of the building.
- Ford's Theatre & Petersen House is neat for the significance of it. Not a lot to see, but Lincoln's clothes and pistol used are there.
- Obvious Civil War sites within an hour or two of DC are Gettysburg, 1st/2nd Manassas, and Antietam. All are neat if you enjoy the Civil War. If your able to time visits with ranger talks and walks makes it much better. I can't stress enough if you like the Civil War and go to Gettysburg, book a battlefield tour guide at the National Park Visitor Center in Gettysburg. They drive you around in your car and do as much/little walking as you want. They'll discuss and show you whatever interests you about the battle. They'll get as little or as much in depth as you want. Their knowledge is unparalleled. If able to visit during the anniversary of the battle, July 1-3, that is really a neat time to go.
If you end up driving to Philadelphia to DC, Fort McHenry is in Baltimore which overlooks the bay. This is where Francis Scott Key wrote the national anthem during War of 1812.
One last thing, our kids enjoyed having National Park Passports. Just about every National Park has it's own stamp with date of visit to stamp in the book. Kids may enjoy getting those stamps as you'll be able to get a bunch them out east. Kind of neat over the years to look back to see when you visited or revisited various places.
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We stopped at Gettysburg once after taking the kids to DC. We thought it would be a quick two hour stop and we could get into our hotel in Ohio early and get a good start to Cedar Point the next day. Wrong. The kids actually loved it, and we were there more like six hours.
It was before they tore down the observation tower and they liked that. I think we started at the visitor center and learned a bit and then went on a ranger guided tour of the battlefield. There are other options such as buses, bikes, self guided audio, etc.
It tied in well after having been in DC at the Lincoln Memorial.
As for DC, I interned a summer there while at ISU and husband and I lived there several years after we got married. We have taken kids there three times.
For kids not exposed to much in the way of different cultures and foods in rural Iowa, we went to different areas and experienced new foods. We took them to a seafood market at the wharf, one of those places with newspapers down on the table and a bucket for shells. Also to one of the many Ethiopian restaurants in Adams Morgan and a restaurant in the small Chinatown area. All of them were big fans of the ice cream at American History on the Mall.
I would like to go to the Holocaust Musuem, but youngest two were a little young for that when we last went. Kids loved things already mentioned. Did the White House tour, it was great. Went to Supreme Court and since I was quite familiar with the Capitol at the time, that was one of the kids’ favorites. On the Mall, kids liked Air and Space, Natural History (Dinosaur Bones!) and American History the best. Loved the monuments. Even the little Einstein statue on Constitution. And definitely go to National Archives.
We made a side trip to Baltimore and went to the Aquarium, Inner Harbor, Fort McHenry (big hit, it is so small! And they put the kids in soldier costumes!), and an Orioles game. Went to Naval Academy in Annapolis. We have driven down Skyline Drive, hiked in Shenandoah National Park, stopped at Monticello in addition to Mount Vernon, and toured UVa in Charlottesville.
While in DC, took in the zoo which is an easy subway trip, drove to Mount Vernon, shopped in Georgetown, gone to the Basilica at Catholic University both subway and driving, but prefer driving there. Arlington Cemetery is worth it for us anyway, easy to drive or take subway. We’ve been to Ford’s Theater and Peterson House, the latter being pretty creepy.
The thing to remember is we did these things in three trips. Try to hone in on what might be most interesting to them and make sure they have down time just to hang on the mall and play frisbee or tag and take a dip in the pool at night. Cause you don’t want a meltdown that derails you longer than the down time (although our problem was a dinosaur obsessed six year old).
If you are going to the National Archives Museum…I highly suggest becoming a member.
The best perk is not waiting 2 hours in line. Our wait was more like 15 mins.
There are different membership options.
Check them out.
www.archivesfoundation.org
The best perk is not waiting 2 hours in line. Our wait was more like 15 mins.
There are different membership options.
Check them out.
Store Membership - National Archives Foundation
Get 10% off your entire purchase today with a membership at the National Archives Foundation! To take advantage, just show your confirmation to the store staff when making your purchase. Membership starts at our National level, which costs $60 – …
I spent 25 years in DC area. LIved in Northern Virginia burbs. Am here in DC area now, avoiding winter. A few thoughts:
* you might consider staying near metro stop in No. Va. - Rosslyn, Clarendon, etc Lots of good places to eat in Clarendon
* DCA/Reagan airport is the one to use for convenience. If lucky you may see the White House out the plane window.
* USMC memorial Iwo Jima is in Rosslyn. Right next to that is Arlington Natl Cemetery, which is must see. Solemn, yet gorgeous grounds.
* Right across road from cemetery is the Pentagon.
* Another battlefield to consider is Manassas - nearer than Gettysburg. Best w/ guide.
* Mount Vernon is must see. Use the MV Parkway, which is pretty in Spring.
* When I think beach, I think Ocean City, MD, not Virginia Beach. Just a thought.
* If you go to Ocean City, can stop at Annapolis, MD home of Naval Academy.
* Metro is good - but maybe Uber is the way to go these days?!
* For something out of the ordinary, you might drop in on a meeting of the Northern Virginia Relic Hunters Club. (I dug a lot of relics when I lived out here).
* Harpers Ferry, WV might be worth a day trip.
* Georgetown and C&O Canal right across the river from Rosslyn.
* Right next to DCA off GW Parkway is a tiny park on bank of Potomac. Folks stop there to watch jets take off. You can watch the jet hurtling down runway directly at you then at very last instant (short runway) pulls up and you survive!
Good for you. A trip the kids will never forget....
* you might consider staying near metro stop in No. Va. - Rosslyn, Clarendon, etc Lots of good places to eat in Clarendon
* DCA/Reagan airport is the one to use for convenience. If lucky you may see the White House out the plane window.
* USMC memorial Iwo Jima is in Rosslyn. Right next to that is Arlington Natl Cemetery, which is must see. Solemn, yet gorgeous grounds.
* Right across road from cemetery is the Pentagon.
* Another battlefield to consider is Manassas - nearer than Gettysburg. Best w/ guide.
* Mount Vernon is must see. Use the MV Parkway, which is pretty in Spring.
* When I think beach, I think Ocean City, MD, not Virginia Beach. Just a thought.
* If you go to Ocean City, can stop at Annapolis, MD home of Naval Academy.
* Metro is good - but maybe Uber is the way to go these days?!
* For something out of the ordinary, you might drop in on a meeting of the Northern Virginia Relic Hunters Club. (I dug a lot of relics when I lived out here).
* Harpers Ferry, WV might be worth a day trip.
* Georgetown and C&O Canal right across the river from Rosslyn.
* Right next to DCA off GW Parkway is a tiny park on bank of Potomac. Folks stop there to watch jets take off. You can watch the jet hurtling down runway directly at you then at very last instant (short runway) pulls up and you survive!
Good for you. A trip the kids will never forget....
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Great insight from folks who really know their stuff. Here are a few more thoughts from my trips to DC:
- DCA. The flights in/out of Reagan International Airport are amazing. Best views of the National Mall and area. Can't believe they still let commercial airplanes that close.
- Old Post Office. The best views (other than DCA flights) are from the Old Post Office.
- Arlington Cemetery. Try to take in as much as you can, don't just ride the trolley to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
- "Unknown Soldier?" Read the inscription on the tomb. It says something like "Here lies an American soldier known but to God." Not unknown!
- "Unknown Soldiers." There is a field just behind the area where you observe the changing of the guard that is filled with simple gravestones that say "unknown soldier." I find that is more powerful than the changing of the guard.
- Remember the Titans HS. I know it is a little cheesy, but I enjoyed visiting the HS and talking to current football players.
- Museum of the Bible. I haven't been here, but they have an incredible collection of Bible and Bible-related artifacts (including many that were obtained in shady manners).
- Newseum. I also haven't yet been here, but I would really like to visit this museum about the news industry.
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