We always take the kids away for a few days during Spring Break. We are considering Washington D.C. because it is only about a 3 hour drive and I think it would be a great time of year to go. Has anyone taken their kids and what did you do? We are planning on the zoo and the Houlacost (sp?) museum. Any other suggestions?? Any good, kid friendly hotels??

By Conni on Sunday, March 26, 2006 - 05:12 pm:

I have never been but will be reading your post to see what others suggest. I would love to take my kids there. I have one that is a History nut and would love it.

By Pamt on Sunday, March 26, 2006 - 05:43 pm:

Absolutely the Smithsonian and all of the monuments like the Lincoln Memorial, the mall, the Washington Monument, White House, Capitol, etc. I'd actually have the zoo way down on the priority list b/c you can go to a zoo anywhere. I realize that the Wash. Zoo is one of the best, but you can't see the other sites anywhere but in Washington. I've only been once and it was as a teen, so no suggestions on hotels. Sorry!

By Kaye on Sunday, March 26, 2006 - 05:59 pm:

We went to Dc two summers ago with the kids. We loved it.

The zoo was great, it is the only place in the us that has panda's. So we went to see those and pretty much skipped everything else.

I wanted to tour the treasury but skipped it. There is a science museum that has some hands on stuff, my dd extracted dna. They have tours of the place with the declaration of independence (the archives). We did not do the holocaust museum, thought it would be too much for the kids. Most of the museums are free BTW. The aerospace museum was top notch.

By Dawnk777 on Sunday, March 26, 2006 - 08:28 pm:

I went to DC, when I was 18, with my family. It was a great trip. We stayed in a hotel in Alexandria, VA, which the travel book apparently made it sound like it was much closer than it was. I think it was about 25 miles away! LOL!

I loved the Smithsonian, going up in the Washington Monument, seeing the Jefferson and Lincoln Memorials, the Reflecting Pool, and Mount Vernon (where George Washington lived). The walk through the White House isn't really that big a thing, since you barely get to see anything. I thought that was boring.

I still remember that the hotel sign said, "Bring your next affair here!" My sisters and I all giggled, being teens and all and my mom said that there was a time that we wouldn't have understood that!

So, did they mean your next event? Or was this a good place for a tryst, since it was a distance from DC? Hmmmm? This was 1978, by the way!

By Yjja123 on Sunday, March 26, 2006 - 09:16 pm:

The kids loved the zoo and the Smithsonian. We spent a few days touring the Smithsonian.
We stayed at my brother's cottage in Annapolis so I cannot recommend hotels.

By Reds9298 on Sunday, March 26, 2006 - 09:24 pm:

Definitely the major sites...I would also put the zoo last just because there are a million zoos! The monuments at night are a MUST-SEE...not just daytime if you can do it. The Smithsonian is amazing, but HUGE so pick and choose what you want to see or it will be overwhelming.

One of the coolest things I did in DC was attend a narrated re-enactment of Lincoln's assassination. It was amazing! I had goose bumps the entire time. It was actually in the place where Lincoln was shot, that's what made it so cool.

We didn't do the White House because we heard it was boring. Seeing it from the outside was good enough for me. We stayed outside of DC somewhere (this was A LONG time ago so I can't remember) but I know we took the subway into the city.

Hope you have a great time!

By Bea on Sunday, March 26, 2006 - 11:26 pm:

Try a bus tour of the city, which includes historical sights such as the White House and other major monuments familiar to school-age children. Contact Old Town Trolley, (202) 832-9800, for more information on city tours. The National Air and Space Museum, (202) 357-2700, the world's most-visited museum, is full of aviation and space technology treasures. There is a spectacular IMAX film shown daily and the Albert Einstein Planetarium presents several daily programs. Admission to the museum is free. Check out the newest arrivals -- two panda bears from China -- at the National Zoological Park, (202) 673-4800.

Buy Fodor's Around Washington D.C. with Kids, 3rd Edition (Paperback). It's a great resource

Don’t overlook the smaller museums. Some good ones are the Newseum (for everyone, but the older the kid the better, with a razzle dazzle, hi-tech exploration of the role of media in our lives), the Postal Museum (not just for stamp collectors), and the Washington Dolls’ House and Toy Museum. Instead of the elevator ride to the top of the Washington Monument (which requires timed-entry tickets, and is closed until March), consider the wonderful view from the Tower of the Old Post Office. Not as high, but not as crowded and the view is wonderful.
Enjoy a special view of the Jefferson Memorial from a pedal boat in the Tidal Basin. The Capital Children’s Museum is a place where you can enjoy an afternoon of hands-on activities guaranteed to delight the under 12 or 13 crowd. It’s a great place for kids to unwind after sightseeing. Plan to spend at least two hours.

If you’re visiting during the summer or holiday breaks, pick up tickets at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing in the morning for same-day timed-entry visits. At non-peak times you’ll still need at ticket, but you won’t have much of a wait. The half hour tours are given between 9 and 2 pm (also 5 to 7 pm June-August). Learning about money is a guaranteed crowd pleaser! Head to Ford’s Theater and The House Where Lincoln Died where there’s rarely a line and you are free to wander on your own. You’ll also be only a few blocks from a midday meal in Chinatown.