Washington DC

[mlcspinner]

We are leaving on a family vacation to Washington DC this Saturday. Does anyone have thoughts on places that are a must and things that would be OK to miss

 

[domer88]

It is probably too late but you can call your congressman and request a tour of the Congress, which is very cool. You would see the Senate and the house and therefore the space where presidents give the state of the Union, then walk down to the Air and Space and watch the video of Kennedy setting the goal of a man on the moon within a decade from the very room you just walked from.
The old Post Office (just off the Mall) has a tower that is 2/3 the ht of the Washington Monument and has usually very short lines.

 

[IrishGrizz]

Wish I would have gotten a trip up the Washington Monument, but the lines were too long. If you want that trip, go early for a ticket. I really liked going through the mall- but I wasn't taking little ones with me.

 

[WeisWeisBaby]

Personally I think the White House is small and overrated, I bet Trevor Robinson could bench the white house if he wanted to

 

[IrishinTN]

We were just there a few weeks ago and if you have kids, you must go to the Museum of Natural History. They have a butterfly exhibit there now which is a room with hundreds of different butterflies going all over the place. They are beautiful and the kids would love them. Although if you do, you need to go upstairs and get tickets as soon as you get there because, just like the Washington monument listed above, there are a limited number of tickets every day. But, if you go on Tuesday it is free, and once again, you must get tickets as soon as you get there or you will miss out. Go early.
Once you are finished there, step out into the mall and you will see the Capital building on your left, the Washington Monument on your right. Then further down behind it is the Lincoln memorial. If you don't mind a 2 mile walk there and back again, you can walk down there and also see the War memorials, the White House (through the trees as you pass the Washington Monument), The Jefferson Memorial (about half a mile to your left), the reflecting pool, and all the war memorials. It is pretty neat to be surrounded by all that history. Especially if you're a history nut like me.

 

[mlcspinner]

We were just there a few weeks ago and if you have kids, you must go to the Museum of Natural History. They have a butterfly exhibit there now which is a room with hundreds of different butterflies going all over the place. They are beautiful and the kids would love them. Although if you do, you need to go upstairs and get tickets as soon as you get there because, just like the Washington monument listed above, there are a limited number of tickets every day. But, if you go on Tuesday it is free, and once again, you must get tickets as soon as you get there or you will miss out. Go early.
Once you are finished there, step out into the mall and you will see the Capital building on your left, the Washington Monument on your right. Then further down behind it is the Lincoln memorial. If you don't mind a 2 mile walk there and back again, you can walk down there and also see the War memorials, the White House (through the trees as you pass the Washington Monument), The Jefferson Memorial (about half a mile to your left), the reflecting pool, and all the war memorials. It is pretty neat to be surrounded by all that history. Especially if you're a history nut like me.

the butterflies sound great, when you say early are we talking like 8 or 9 am

 

[IrishinTN]

the butterflies sound great, when you say early are we talking like 8 or 9 am

Check the times but I think it opens at 9:00. We got there around 10:00 a.m and got tickets for 4:30 p.m. (they are all given out in 5 minute increments, first come, first serve), so we cut it pretty close. Of course, we went on Tuesday when it was free. Oh, and they have an Imax there, and the cherry trees should be blossoming, so it should be even more beautiful.

 

[Epitome]

If you want chills up your spine and the hair on the back of your neck to stand, you need to see the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery. Watching the Armed Forces Honor Guards will be the highlight of your vacation. Good luck

 

[irishmarine]

i totally agree with nd. i grew up in maryland so dc was every field trip ever, but as i grew up and was in the military i really appreciated all that was there. walk the mall and see the monuments. take some time apart to really appreciate the wall, and the WWII is unbelievable. national history museum is great as is the the air and space. but i would recommend arlington. to see the tomb of the unknown soldier and jack and bobby kennedy tombs, not to mention how perfectly aligned and so crisp everything is there. have fun and really just appreciate it all, i miss it

 

[HereComeTheIrish]

Enjoy yourself Spins!!! Hope you have a great time.

 

[mlcspinner]

Enjoy yourself Spins!!! Hope you have a great time.

thanks man, we are looking forward to it

 

[leprechaun4life]

Forget Smithsonians, go to the International Spy Museum