Request for DC Family Vacation Advice

[CJ Wolf]

"(2) Mount Vernon (just south of Alexandria - you can actually walk there on a safe bike path that goes through town); " uh, That'd be a long walk.

You could also take the spirit of Washington Tour to Mount Vernon, great way to see the town from the river and Mt. Vernon as well. It's a nice half day trip.

[Howlin]

I was there in 1997 when the Women's Memorial was dedicated. If I live to be 1000, I'll never forget the sight of all those women who served in the military and their families marching by candlelight across Memorial Bridge! And never have I EVER spent a more fun weekend in D.C. Everybody was so darned polite and friendly!

I took my aunt, who was a Lt. Col. during WW2 -- and we went to a huge luncheon at some hangar out at Andrews Air Force base; the women were divided by theater -- and to see them in their uniforms just brought tears to your eyes!

A highlight of the weekend was during the dedication service when Al Gore spoke and a LOT of the little ladies got up and left.......LOL!

[RoseofTexas]

Definitely a MUST SEE is the Ford Theater!! You could almost feel the presence of President Lincoln there! Have fun!

[Howlin]

I haven't seen it mentioned yet, so I will bring up the Korean War Memorial. Absolutely my favorite monument now!

You can see it, the Vietnam Wall and the Lincoln Memorial all at the same time.

We have found that going to the monuments at around Sunset is our favorite time of day; less crowds, gorgeous views!

[kevkrom]

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.

You can get tickets in advance for the Holocaust and Spy museams. Contact them directly before your trip so you can get the days/times reserved before you even arrive.

Metro will get you to most of the major attactions, though you will have to use supplental buses (or walk) if you want to get the places like Georgetown. For $30, you can buy a pass that is good for any Metro (rail) ride you take for an entire week. I believe there is even a less expensive option if you only need it within the downtown zone.

Metro is close to most of the monuments and government buildings, the Smithsonian (except the air and space annex at Dulles airport), the National Zoo, etc. it is definately the best way to travel in the downtown area.

[kevkrom]

The Baltimore Harbor and Aquarium is just up the road a bit. That's a good choice for kids.

They also have a children's museum and Fort McHenry to visit.

[Howlin]

You just had to bring up Hogate's, didn't you???

[Howlin]

My advice, postpone the trip until Bush's inaugaral. It will be a site to behold.

Oh, yes! Just bring ALL the winter clothes you own! And boots!!

[McGruff]

This is a useful thread. I'm bookmarking for possible trip with my family.

Question, the last time I was there in the 1980's the Moonies would be outside all the major attractions and really made me angry. Are they still there?

We also rode a bus type thing around the White house and museums. It was a quick way to see a lot of locations. Do they still exist?

[WhyisaTexasgirlinPA]

Sorry - I don't live close enough to DC to be of any help.....

[the OlLine Rebel]

Yes, had to put in a plug for what HAD been a legend (1 of my grampa's favorite places back in the day), even if all the new-fangled people have no clue. Haven't been there a couple years, but it's usually been just fine!

Unfortunately, as I experienced personally 1 time while working in Crystal City, it's a LONG walk to the L'Enfant Plaza Metro!

[the OlLine Rebel]

No, just the homeless, begging on every Smithsonian wall. :-\

Yes, buses exist major time!

[the OlLine Rebel]

"That's a good choice for kids."

Guys, when are you going to realize the "kids" are virtual adults - 17 and 20?!

Ft McHenry is great not just for kids - *all* should see our war sites BESIDES the Civil War (they're a dime a dozen)! There are also smatterings of the Battle of Baltimore down to North Point, but unfortunately, mostly just signs and you have to know it all. More later.

[Prairie Pubbie]

Another BIG thanks to all you dear, patriotic Freepers! With your sage help this will be the best family vacation we've EVER taken!

[SquirrelKing]

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.

Good idea. We maily stay in the Mall area and spend our time wandering about the Museums like the slack-jawed yokels that we are. Visits to outlying spots such as the Nation Geographic Society and others can carry you through mean streets. When in doubt take a cab or the subway.

Couple of rules:

Don't wander round at night.
Don't visit the Senate Mail Room.
Don't debate politics/theology with raving derelicts.
Don't stand in front of the White house and make a gun with your finger and say "bang!"
Don't say Hillary's name after midnight - it's the witching hour.

[Moose4]

Well, I haven't been back up there in at least ten years, but here goes...

You're very smart not to take a car (but you might want one for a couple of days--see below). DC is hell to drive around in. For a city that's supposedly laid out in a nice simple grid pattern, it is surprisingly tough to maneuver through it. Between one-way streets and the infamous traffic circles (I still have post-traumatic stress from the first time I ever drove through Dupont Circle, and I don't mean from the locals on the street) it's better to park and take the subway.

Metro is nice--other people have provided links to the WMATA Metro site with maps and all. It's a bit expensive, but when I lived up there, it was very clean and safe and easy to navigate. Just be careful and plan your route ahead of time, and don't get off at the wrong station. If you fly into DCA (Washington Reagan National) you can get on the Metro right there. It covers most everywhere you need to go.

Take comfortable shoes. You will be walking A LOT. If you've never been to the National Mall area, you have no concept of just how bloody huge it is. And there's stuff to see on the entire length of it. The Smithsonian, the Vietnam Wall, the various monuments...it's amazing. And tiring!

I don't know how they handle visitors' galleries in Congress anymore, or at the Supreme Court, but on a high school field trip we got to go in for five minutes and watch a case being argued before the Supreme Court. They may still be doing that. Call your Congresscritter's office for more info, if you're interested.

Other non-Mall-area places of interest are the National Cathedral and National Zoo, both of which are close to Metro stops, and both worth a look. And Old Town Alexandria itself is pretty cool.

You might want to go ahead and rent a car for just a couple of days. Mount Vernon is several miles south of Old Town Alexandria and best accessible by car. Likewise, the new Air and Space Annex is way out at Washington Dulles International Airport, 20 miles out of town. There's a toll road right off Interstate 66 West that'll run you right out there. And if you feel like getting away from the city completely, go an hour west on I-66 and you're into the Shenendoah Valley up near Front Royal and Winchester--beautiful, beautiful country.

Don't go to DC in the summer. Go in May. DC is built on a swamp and it feels it after Memorial Day, it gets hotter than hell.

Just watch yourself like you would in any big city. Keep your money close, watch for pickpockets, etc. Don't wander too far. I think the town's better than it was when I lived in the area, but there are big chunks of DC that still qualify as "mismanaged crime-ridden drug-infested liberal-managed hellhole." Stick to the well-traveled areas, don't wander at night. And be ready for panhandlers outside the Metro stations.

DC, for all its faults, is a wonderful place to visit. Just use a good dollop of common sense, be careful, and you'll have a great time.

}:-)4

[VA is for Freepers]

I live near DC and concur with all recommendations. The great thing about DC is a lot of the tourist sites are free... from the monuments, museums to the National Zoo. Lunch for the four of you at a museum will set you back $40-$60 and the food will be cafeteria quality. Plan your site seeing with lunch in mind. Ford's Theatre, Union Station, and the Old Post Office are tourist attractions a little bit off the Mall with a variety of food options.

There are two other excellent tours:

FBI (J Edgar Hoover Building):
http://sc94.ameslab.gov/TOUR/fbi.html

Bureau of Engraving and Printing:
http://sc94.ameslab.gov/TOUR/engrave.html

Bring your best walking shoes...

Mike

[meowmeow]

When you ride the Metro escalators, STAND on the right side or WALK on the left side - especially during rush hours.

Old Town Alexandria is my favorite place to spend an evening.

There is a trolley service from Arlington Cemetery. Tickets are $20 I think for a day. It drives around and around The Mall and you can get on and off wherever you please, all day.

My favorites here: the Zoo, Air & Space Museum, American History Museum. Enjoy! We like tourists - as long as they are not standing on the left side of the escalators when it's time to go home.

[bigeasy_70118]

Personally, I found the White House tour to be a snoozer.

When I was 12 years old, my brother and I were pulled out of line at the White House tour and whisked away to the Rose Garden, where Ronaldus Magnus, Nancy, Bush 41 and Bar were getting ready to take Marine One to Andrews for a trip to Ireland.

I shook Ronaldus's hand and haven't washed it since. That was one tour, I didn't think was a snoozer.

Of course, in 1993, I met Klintoon while he was jogging (if you want to call it that) around DC. He was President Elect. So these things have a way of evening themselves out.

[Swanks]

BTW Back to lunch. At the Nat'l Art Galley cafeteria I noted, just off there; I think on the East side, is a more formal but small restaurant. Have not eaten there but since the kiddies at 20, you may want to try it. Again, its one of very few places on the Mall to eat lunch away from the madness.