Planning a summer washington DC family visit

[twobone]

Hi,

Just looking for advice on spending a week in Washington DC this summer.

I will be a family of 4 (wife and 2 boys 9 & 14). The idea is to check out the sights and museums.

Should I rent a condo or house via VRBO/AIRBnB? Hotels look crazy expensive. If yes, what neighborhood should I look in.

Any other advice, like weeks to stay away

[flatbutt]

Summertime is always busy in DC. It's a good walking town around the monuments and museums but IIRC you'll probably do best staying near Georgetown or other outskirts but AirBnB would likely be a good deal.

[ckelly78z]

Not sure on lodging, we stayed at a campground outside of DC and parked at the cemmetary, then walked or rode the bus everywhere.....it's been years ago though. You absolutely need to visit the U.S. Mint and actually seei money being printed and handled, the Zoo is a hilly, but really well laid out attraction, of course spend a day or two going through the Smithsonian, and spend a day visiting the memorials. You'll have fun, and so will the kids (let them wade in the reflecting pool), but it takes some walking to get places, I don't remember that much cost a whole lot to visit, but you have to plan your days so yopu can see the most. Have fun.

[scottmandue]

I believe I stayed in a hotel in Alexandria, very cool old town with cobblestone streets and historic taverns where the founding fathers hung out. Jumped on the DC merto train to Arlington cemetery (I know you have kids but it is a must see) but best thing is you can buy tickets and jump on the tour bus right there, they have a bunch of buses that circle the mall and stop at all the monuments/museums, buy a day ticket, buses stop in front of each spot about every 10-15 minutes and you can get off, wander around and then catch the next bus.

I would say take one day just to go around and see all the monuments... then, depending on how much you like museums... pick one or two museums a day (they are HUGE!).

Next time I'm planning on taking a week, so much there to see.

[OffCamber00]

Balston, Clarendon and Courthouse are great neighborhoods just outside the city. They are on the Orange line which takes you right into city center. Lots of retail and dining options.

In the city, Dupont Circle, Georgetown (as mentioned), U Street corridor and Cathedral Heights are great places.

In addition to the great suggestions above, the Georgetown waterfront is a great place to grab a cocktail in the summer and watch the people. there are tons of places to eat and shop just up the hill on M street. If you are into architecture, the National Cathedral used to have a "behind the scenes" tour which takes you up on the roof and all over where tourists aren't allowed to visit.

I'd suggest not trying to see all the Smithsonians. Pick a couple and plan to spend 4-6+ hours at least in each. It's no use trying to breeze through.

The Spy museum is a must see, imo.

[flatbutt]

Originally Posted by OffCamber00

The Spy museum is a must see, imo.

As is the Native American Museum.

[SilberUrS6]

Originally Posted by OffCamber00

I'd suggest not trying to see all the Smithsonians. Pick a couple and plan to spend 4-6+ hours at least in each. It's no use trying to breeze through.

I could spend a week each at both the Air and Space museum and the U-H Center.

[VaSteve]

Originally Posted by flatbutt

As is the Native American Museum.

Not so much.....super disappointing. I have been told they kept the good stuff at their own museums in OK or private collections.

[Radioactive]

Went last summer, family of four, Fairfield Inn in NW with free breakfast. Used the subway every day. Big Bus tour was bad, renting bicycles to ride the mall was good. Going to Mt Vernen was very good.

[911boost]

I am not sure when the metro line to Dulles will be open, but I second the Udvar-Hazy Smithsonian, there are some cool planes in there.

Bill

[356racing]

When in the summer? 4th of July is a great time to be in DC if that's a option for you. Fireworks at the Mall and parade down Constitution Ave. Also, contact your congressman(their office anyway) and set up a tour of the Capitol.

[Rick Lee]

I beg to differ. Firstly, there is no Metro in G'town. So, if you stay there, you will have a very long walk to/from the Foggy Bottom Metro at least twice a day. And that's with a long day of walking in between.

As for the Spy Museum, it is by far the lamest, most overrated museum in DC. Maybe it's gotten better since I was there around the first year they were open. But honestly, I've learned far more about espionage from one Tom Clancy novel than the James Bond BS that museum is all about.

Now for the good - the museums on the Mall are world class and with free admission. Food is pretty good too. Stay away from any chains. Only eat where you don't recognize stuff. Chinatown in DC is a joke - it's a colorful gate over the street with a Starbucks, CVS and Fuddruckers with Chinese characters on the signs. Stay away. Great food in the burbs - Old Town Alexandria, Bethesda, Chevy Chase, Rosslyn. Definitely spend time in Alexandria. If you have connections on the Hill, get a staffer to take you around so you can skip the unwashed, sweaty tourist masses at the Capitol Visitor Center.

And for the love of God, when on the Metro escalators, please stand to the right. The people who want to pass you are on their way to work.

[BeyGon]

Old Ebbits Grill for dinner or happy hour, just great. Oldest bar in DC. They say the British drank beer in it watching the White House burn.
There was a great place called B. Smith's but I have heard it's closed, maybe yes, maybe no.

[wdfifteen]

Subb'ed. I haven't been there since the early 80's and that was mainly to go to the Garber collection. I was such a patriot I went to D.C. the week I was graduated from high school (June 1968). Boy was I naive. Jaded as I am, I still want to go back.

[mjohnson]

Originally Posted by BeyGon

Old Ebbits Grill for dinner or happy hour, just great. Oldest bar in DC. They say the British drank beer in it watching the White House burn.
There was a great place called B. Smith's but I have heard it's closed, maybe yes, maybe no.

Debatable history on the Ebbit notwithstanding, the 4-6 and 10ish-close happy hour with half-off raw bar is awesome. Have crushed many dozens of oysters there...

[rcooled]

Originally Posted by VaSteve

Not so much.....super disappointing.

I agree. The American Indian Museum was the most underwhelming museum we visited in DC, by far.

We stayed in 2bdrm condo on Massachusetts Ave. which was about a 15 minute walk from the mall. It was close to a Metro station, grocery & drug stores and restaurants. Very nice place...we booked it thru here:
Apartment Zen Hospitality at Mass Ave, Washington, DC, DC - Booking.com

Instead of walking up & down the mall to the different monuments, museums and attractions (things are a lot farther apart than they look), I highly recommended using Capitol Bike Share to get around. There are pickup & drop-off locations all over the downtown area and their smartphone app will give you availability info and allow you to make payment. We used them almost every day. Also used UBER to get out to places that were too far to bike to. Never waited more than five minutes for a pickup. We also made good use of the Metro system.
https://www.capitalbikeshare.com/

If you plan on visiting the Washington Monument, get advance tix on-line to avoid long lines at the site. This is a must!

If you're into aviation, I strongly recommend visiting the Udvar-Hazy Center of the Natn'l Air & Space Museum out at Dulles airport.
The Library of Congress is not to be missed. It had, by far, the most spectacular interior decor of any public building we visited.
The Museum of Natural History is definitely worth a visit...your wife will surely enjoy all the gems (like the Hope Diamond) and other precious stones on display there. Lots of interesting stuff for the kids too.
The American History Museum has a good cafeteria in the basement...we grabbed lunch there a couple of times. Another good option for a quick lunch are the various food trucks parked at different locations around the Mall.
We found several restaurants up on Capitol Hill to be quite good. We also had a couple of tasty dinners at a place called Cuba Libre, about a 15 minute walk from the condo. Great drinks there too!
Cuba Libre Restaurant | Washington


Library of Congress


Udvar-Hazy Center

[zelrik911]

We are Australians so some historical sites didnt resonate the same for us as for US citizens, however we absolutely loved George Washington's plantation house on the Potomac river at Mt Vernon.

The National Archives has the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights. In the Hall there is also a neglected copy of the 1297 English Magna Carta - set off to one side - which I found fascinating.

Next time we go, we will try and stay near Dupont Circle, its not Georgetown but the area has a nice feel to it. The subway is convenient.

Your family will enjoy it.

[Jim Richards]

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

I beg to differ. Firstly, there is no Metro in G'town. So, if you stay there, you will have a very long walk to/from the Foggy Bottom Metro at least twice a day. And that's with a long day of walking in between.

As for the Spy Museum, it is by far the lamest, most overrated museum in DC. Maybe it's gotten better since I was there around the first year they were open. But honestly, I've learned far more about espionage from one Tom Clancy novel than the James Bond BS that museum is all about.

The DC Circulator bus runs through G'town and is reasonably pleasant to ride on.

The Spy Museum is interesting. My wife and I enjoyed it.

The American Indian Museum was disappointing, at least during the first year it was open.

If your family enjoys baseball, go catch a game at Nationals Park.

The Zoo is nice, as is the National Acquarium at Baltimore's Inner Harbor. Oh yeah, the Baltimore Orioles play nearby.

If you'll have a car, nearby things to do include hiking on the various trails in the Shenandoah National Park, renting canoes/kayaks/stand-up paddle boards on the Potomac River, sightseeing in Anapolis, which is also home to the U.S. Naval Academy.

[Jim Richards]

Summit Point Motorsports Park is about a 1.5h drive, WNW of DC. They have 3 tracks and the various car clubs run events there all the time.

[Jim Richards]

One last thing, summer is hot, sticky, and the mosquitoes like tourists almost as much as us locals.