Washington DC tour suggestions

[NewJeffCT]

we may be down there on Monday (Memorial Day) and have most of the day for a tour or tours. Any suggestions on what to do for a family with an 8 year old girl?

Thanks

[taterguy]

1. Taking an 8 year old to DC the same day they have a giant motorcycle rally

Bring ear plugs.

[NewJeffCT]

5. thanks for the warning

didn't realize that.

[HopeHoops]

2. Well, unfortunately the Smithsonian will probably be closed or I'd say Air&Space Museum.

Now just walking The Mall is pleasant - if it isn't too hot out. We usually take the Metro in and get off by the Capital building. Walk around it and past the ponds and then down the length of The Mall to the Washington Monument. From there on to the WW-II memorial (built after I was last there) and down to the Viet Nam wall, Lincoln Memorial, and Korean War memorial. On the way back, hit the carousel (if it is still there).

[NewJeffCT]

6. the only day the Smithsonian is closed is Christmas

they're open every other day and even have extended hours on many holidays.

[HopeHoops]

11. Well that's cool - then definitely Air & Space.

[PassingFair]

3. Visit the FDR Memorial....

I saw it for the first time during Bush II's reign
of war, and was knocked out by the differences in
philosophy between the two.

Conservatives are sure to feel uncomfortable amongst
the pro-people sentiments posted.

[NewJeffCT]

19. thanks - good suggestion

hope we can take a decent amount of it in.

[LeftinOH]

4. Avoid waiting in line for the Washington Monument- it's not worth the wait.

The tiny windows (very very very tiny) offer decent views, but it takes so long to get up there, you'll ultimately be wasting precious time which could be better spent elsewhere. IIRC, there is an observation tower in the Old Post Office Building just off the National Mall -the views from there are pretty good, and there are plenty of shops and eateries inside the building which make for a decent spot to rest.

[LynneSin]

7. Contact your senator or representative - they can give you a bunch of free passes

although not sure if the White House/Congress tours will be open on Memorial Day, but still they always have goodies for people visiting DC.

Also, make sure you get to the Holocaust museum and do one lap around the National Park to see all the momuments.

[cbdo2007]

8. For an 8 year old....I would just stick to the monuments and then a Smithsonian tour....

such as the Air & Space Museum or the Natural History (with the hope diamond, not sure what it's called?) or even the Treasury. Kids like to see all that money being printed, but not sure if they are open.

A few of my favorite things in the DC area were Mount Vernon, a tour of the Capital set up by our Senator, the National Archives, and of course a White Hours tour, oh and Ford's Theater, but I'm not sure how much a little kid would like that stuff.

[charlie and algernon]

9. The Natural History Museum would be great for an 8 yr old

It's a taxidermist's heaven, stuffed animals of hundreds of species.

[bikebloke]

10. Don't forget the Exorcist stairs.

In Georgetown.;)

[DFW]

12. The Washington Zoo is pretty awesome

Also, do NOT miss the Jefferson building at the Library of Congress. It is one of the most unsung, visually stunning
buildings in North America from the inside. You'll think you're in Versailles or Buckingham Palace or something.

Also, when you're hungry, take a walk up Wisconsin Avenue starting at M street. Georgetown is full of little, fun
places to eat. The Singapore Bistro on 19th street near Dupont Circle is cool, too.

If you want a shot at spotting Helen Thomas, eat dinner around 7 at Mama Ayesha's Lebanese restaurant on Calvert
Street off Connecticut Ave. You can get full just on the appetizers (Hummus, Baba Ganoush, etc etc).

Not far from the Singapore Bistro is the Daily Grill at 1200 18th street. It's a favorite hangout of DC political
types, and, when he's in town, you might spot Howard Dean there at lunch.

Say hi for me if you see Helen or Howard!

[MiddleFingerMom]

15. Agree with DFW -- Georgetown for interesting dining and funky shops...

.
.
.
.
.
...and DEFINITELY the zoo.
.
.
One of the initiations of the lobbying group I worked for there was to close a bar
and sneak over the fence and try to spot animals while avoiding Security.
.
.
High wrought-iron fence with spearheads at the top.
.
.
You are NEVER in your life so focused on ANYTHING as you would be focused on your
grip on the "spearshafts" as you straddle that fence.
.
Never!!!!
.
.
.
.
.
It was dark and cloudy. We saw some darker lumps on some dark lumpy rocks and the
consensus was that they may have been animals. We then boogied.
.
.
.

[elleng]

13. Zoo is good, I agree with DFW. Its hot here now,

Consider a bus tour.

http://www.graylinedc.com/

HAVE FUN!!!

[Bake]

14. Arlington Cemetery, JFK's grave.

Incredibly moving.

Bake

[vard28]

16. It's supposed to be HOT and humid!

Museum of Natural History would be great for an 8 year old girl AND anyone else you've got with you. Lots of different types of exhibits in one place. Plus, it's air-conditioned! :)

[struggle4progress]

17. Driving and parking in DC pretty much sucks. If you can, plan to use the metro.

You could walk from the Supreme Court to US Capitol visitors center then check out some Smithsonian museums along the Mall and go on down to the Lincoln Memorial via the Vietnam War Memorial

Without stopping, it might be an hour amble. But there's days of stuff to do along the way

The National Aquarium and the Holocaust Museum are nearby

[grasswire]

18. not for this particular trip...

....but I just learned that the Diplomatic Rooms at the State Department are open to the public and filled with priceless priceless antiques and treasures. I lived there, and I didn't know that. Damn.


Standing on the steps of the Capitol and looking down the Mall to the Washington Monument is one of the grand experiences of life. Just grand.

Two things close to the Capitol: the Conservatory just to the right off Constitution Avenue is a gorgeous old place filled with rare plants. Might be a nice place to sit for a few moments.

And on the other side of the Capitol a couple of blocks is Union Station, which has a huge food court.

Wherever you are in a building remember to look UP at the ceilings. Library of Congress has the most beautiful ceilings.

[Burma Jones]

20. Road Closings and Metro Problems this weekend - and some suggestions from an (almost) native....

http://www.wtop.com/?nid=41&sid=2231606

If you're just here for a day, and it's not too sweltering, a tour of Mount Vernon followed by hanging around Old Town Alexandria is not a bad way to spend the day.....Also, the Nationals are playing the Phillies at 1:05....The National Zoo was a go to destination when my kids were under 10, but the Metro's Red Line will be experiencing big delays, and the Zoo is on the Red Line. Bumming around Georgetown is fine for Grownups. If you go out to the end of MacArthur Blvd in Potomac, MD you can go to the Great Falls Park and get a mule driven canal barge ride

http://www.nps.gov/choh/planyourvisit/greatfallstavernvisitorcenter.htm

[NewJeffCT]

21. thanks

good suggestions

[femmocrat]

22. The Smithsonian for sure.

The Capitol, Washington Monument, Vietnam Wall, World War II, Jefferson and Lincoln Memorials are all nearby on the Mall.

The Zoo is kind of out of the way (in NW) and except for the pandas, kind of disappointing, IMO. I thought it was really run-down and there was a lot of construction going on when we there there 3 or 4 years ago. Of course that has probably changed by now.

[grasswire]

23. ice cream parlor in the American History museum

How about the National Gallery of Art? The Calder mobile is pretty impressive. I once spent an afternoon in that building with an eight-year-old boy, explaining pointillism and Pollock and Warhol and so much more. It was a great experience.

[applegrove]

24. I would definitely walk to the Lincoln Memorial. It is such an awe-inspiring place.

[CBHagman]

25. If you want to swing by the Kennedy Center...

...there's always a free performance at the Millennium Stage.

http://www.kennedy-center.org/explorer/artists/?entity_id=22036&source_type=B

A free shuttle leaves from the GW University/Foggy Bottom Metro stop all day and evening.

Even if you aren't interested in the free performance, you can have a look at the Kennedy Center, go out on the terrace and look out on the Potomac and out towards Georgetown and also towards the National Cathedral.

[kimi]

26. I just moved away from the DC area so I do have some tips

If it is hot and humid, walking a lot can be sorta miserable. Do inside stuff till later in the day if possible. Monuments and stuff can be cool when lit at night, too. Natural History Museum and Smithsonian are air-conditioned (Yay!) and very neat, and you can spend a whole day there. National Archives has the Declaration of Independence, Constitution, and Bill of Rights, which is pretty cool, everyone should see them, frankly, IMO. That's a pretty full day, especially with a young-un. There are so many great places to eat, depends on what you like, take the advice of folks here or try Tripadvisor. Take Metro, no other option, really. If necessary, park out of the area at an outlying station and commute on Metro into DC - it's a fun experience if you get on a line without delays - check their website for info, it's usually up-to-date. (Trivia info - the 2nd longest continuous escalator in the world is at the Wheaton Metro station on the Red Line.)

Hope you and your girl have fun!!

[alphafemale]

27. There's a really great breakfast place on the plaza of the Sailor Monument.

Do that.

[7wo7rees]

28. Ya gotta eat

Try an Ethiopian restaurant. You sit on the floor and feed each other. Hands on! New tastes! Definitely DC! They're everywhere.
Try a half smoke on the Mall. Half hot dog, half sausage. Yum!
Try Ben's Chili Bowl. Really very good.

Oh, and if you're riding the Metro, stop at Dupont Circle. Longest escalator ever, and live music, and eye-popping 6-way intersection of hectic and cool.
I've seen 6-man trombone bands, pan flutists from Peru, and a mouth harpist who did the best rendition of Whammer Jammer since Magic Dick (Below right).

[CBHagman]

29. Tip to the OP about the Dupont Circle Metro stop.

There are two exits to the Metro, south and north. The south side is the circle itself, with its beautiful fountain, a hangout and rallying place for lots of people.

North side is further up Connecticut Avenue, among the shops and bars and restaurants, and not far from the Phillips Collection and what we call the Hinckley Hilton.

[HughBeaumont]

30. You can eat at Ellas Wood Fired Pizza on 9th . . .

. .. across from the Spy Museum and the National Portrait Gallery (both great places for kids), just outside the Gallery Place Metro.

I go to DC 8 times a year to see my sister and de-stress.