Taking my 13 year old son to D.C. in June. It's been 14 years since I was there. I think I stayed in Virginia that time but I don't remember. Going to all of the usual places/memorials.

Flying Midwest Airlines which means flying into Reagan Airport.

Rather not rent a car if I don't have to. If I recall there was a bus that looped around to all of the various points of interest. You paid a daily fee and could get on and off and any of the stops.

Want a nice hotel but nothing overly expensive as we don't plan to be there much during the day.

Any tips/advice would be appreciated.

quote:

Originally posted by VegasVic:

Any tips/advice would be appreciated.

Don't smoke crack with the Mayor.

i'd skip the rental car. the train system will take you about everywhere you need to go. just a few short walks and only a couple of bucks.

the monuments are nice, but the museums might be the most interesting to your son. i'd dedicate a lot of time to them.

and don't pee in the white house bushes. they have cameras in them and someone will tackle you.

Take your son to the spy museum. It has only been around a few years, and is
amazing. He will never forget it!

quote:

Originally posted by RoyalWulff:
Take your son to the spy museum. It has only been around a few years, and is
amazing. He will never forget it!

Cool, I have never been there.

Both history museums are awesome. I didn't care too much for the Space museum personally.

Vietnam/FDR/WWII and Arlington are great stops to reflect.

If you can, try and get into the Capitol Building. You may need a touring group though. And if you need a place to shop/eat, I highly recommend the Pentagon Mall.

quote:

Originally posted by RoyalWulff:
Take your son to the spy museum. It has only been around a few years, and is
amazing. He will never forget it!

sounds cool. i need to make another trip to DC.

I'm thinking Embassy Suites in Crystal City. About a mile from the airport, two room suite and free drinks for two hours. We usually stay in an ES if possible.

quote:

two room suite and free drinks for two hours. We usually stay in an ES if possible.

Don't forget the cooked to order breakfast....

quote:

Originally posted by VegasVic:
I'm thinking Embassy Suites in Crystal City. About a mile from the airport, two room suite and free drinks for two hours. We usually stay in an ES if possible.

You might want to re-think staying in Crystal City. It gets sketchy once the sun goes down. I am thinking about heading to DC during Memorial Day to watch the Crew in the Nationals new park. I would recommend pricing out some hotels closer to the mall. Just my recommendation.

I love DC...I'm there several times a year for business. I haven't done the tourist/historical things much in maybe a couple decades, so I can give you a few of my favorite places.

Crystal City is a good location - Orlando's advice is probably better than mine, as I haven't been out in Crystal City in several years...and I didn't have children with me. Nonetheless, the location is good for getting around. The Metro in DC is fantastic and easy to use. Crystal City is located on the blue and yellow lines, and they will get you anywhere. DC Metro

If you like an Irish Pub, The Dubliner is the best I've ever been in, in the United States. It is located right close to the Capitol (Union Station Red Line Metro Stop) on the corner of North Capitol and F Street (in the bottom of the Phoenix Park Hotel). It has live Irish music every night, great beer, and the food is fantastic. I'd be comfortable taking my 13 year old in there - it's mostly a resturant that turns into a bar at night. Fish and Chips, Sheperds Pie and the Potato Skins appetizer are my favs. Next door is Kelly's Irish Times...another great pub.

A must for me is Mount Vernon. You'll need to figure out transportation, as the Metro doesn't go down that far. It's not that far down the Potomac from Crystal City. I'm sure the hotel can help you find a way there.

A favorite place of mine is Old Town Alexandria, VA.....great place for shops, bars and resturants. There is another good Irish resturant/pub there called Pat Troy's. The Hotel could get you there. Old Town is really a neat place to lay low outside of the tourist stuff.

If you are Catholic,The National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception (CUA Red Line Stop) is a nice place to see...though do it during daytime hours as it is rough up there.

The National Archives are very fascinating. And I believe it is free.

Of course, Washington Monument, the Capitol, Memorials, etc. are great. But I thought I'd give you a few of the things that make me love DC.

The last time I was there I had a special behind the scenes pass for the Archives. It was fascinating, I really enjoyed that. I got it from a Senator or Congressman.

If there is time take a run over to Gettysburgh. They have regular tours but I'd suggest taking one of the licensed private tours, you can get more information for tour options once you're there.

At Reagan Airport, buy a burger and fries at Five Guys stand in the airport. GREAT food and reasonably priced. Kind of like the In-N-Out of the East Coast. Has its own website.

Be sure to check out the Korean war memorial, which is very haunting. My dad was in that "conflict," and it is very moving.

Also there is this espionage museum and gift shop somewhat near the White House. Don't know the address--just know how to get there. Fascinating to me, but I've always loved the spy stuff.

The Spy Museum is a ways away from the White House. It is at 8th & F streets. Be sure to allow yourself enough time. My buddy and I spent quite awhile in there and it was very interesting. They have an interactive spy tour that we didn't get to take part in, but I understand it is pretty good. Just the museum alone though is worth it.

As far as places to stay, when I organized my Vietnam reunion in 2003, I booked rooms at the Courtyard Marriott and the Marriott Residence Inn in Rosslyn. They are about 4 blocks from the Rosslyn Metro station and that will get you wherever you want to go. They are also in walking distance of IWO Jima Memorial (Marine Corps Memorial) and Arlington Cemetary. At the cemetary, you can access the Tour Mobile (Check it out here) and do the cemetary and then across the bridge to DC. That is the best way to get around if you don't really know where you are going. Like you said, you can get on and off at your leisure and just catch the next tourmobile when you are ready to move on. There are some stops that you might not want to get off at.


Old Town Alexandnia is great. If you like seafood, I would recommend the Fish Market at the lower end of King Street.

I think the Old Town trolley goes to Mt Vernon, and if not, you can always take the Metro bus down there I think.

There isn't all that much going on in Crystal City (as far as I'm concerned) If you want to shop, yeah, but you don't want to be buying souveniers at the Pentagon City Mall. Way expensive. Street Vendors in DC are the best bet for that. Not much going on in Rosslyn either, but it is a good central point. There is a restaurant at the top of the Holiday Inn that is nice and looks out over the Potomac to Georgetown University and down the river toward the Kennedy Center and National Airport.

I didn't know they had a Five-Guys at the airport, but I agree, they are excellent. Just a heads up though, unless that one is different than the stand alones in Virginia, they don't take plastic, so make sure you have cash or travelers checks. I don't think they have any franchises outside of Northern Virginia, so you probably won't find one in DC, but there is one in Old Town Alexandria.

quote:

Originally posted by Hauser:
Old Town Alexandnia is great. If you like seafood, I would recommend the Fish Market at the lower end of King Street.

I think the Old Town trolley goes to Mt Vernon, and if not, you can always take the Metro bus down there I think.

The Fish Market was one of my favorite places when we lived out there. I thought it had since closed?

Mt. Vernon is, IMO, a must on any visit to DC.

I agree with staying in Rosslyn, very convenient to a lot of different places, and you can walk across the Key Bridge and be in Georgetown in no time.

Just to stress what others said, I too love Five Guys Burgers and Fries. Great stuff.

FYI, there are 2 - Five guys Burgers anf Fries in WI, one in Delafield, and the other is on state street in madison.

quote:

Originally posted by Toolman:
FYI, there are 2 - Five guys Burgers anf Fries in WI, one in Delafield, and the other is on state street in madison.

I wonder if it is part of the chain that started in this area. Do they use peanut oil for their fries and have boxes of peanuts sitting around? I know they were trying to sell francises but didn't know if they stayed in the region or not. EDIT: I guess it is. Looking at their website, they have REALLY expanded. WOW. How long have the stores been out there?

Fantastic, the Fish Market has been open as long as I've been here. They closed the corner building part of it (across from Torpedo Factory) because if high rent but I think they added a building on the other side of it. Now, Landini's (owned by my son's friend's family) have bought the Fish Market from what I understand and are going to either expand or remodel, not sure of the details. I'll have to ask. Landini's is a couple doors up from the Fish Market IIRC

quote:

Originally posted by Tooner:
If there is time take a run over to Gettysburgh. They have regular tours but I'd suggest taking one of the licensed private tours, you can get more information for tour options once you're there.

Gettysburg is very interesting, but from DC, you are looking at over an hour's drive north. Was just there a couple weeks ago. Usually take the family there once or twice a year to walk the battlefields. If you go, stop at the visitor's center/museum -- lots to do and see there.

As for DC, if you are not renting a car, the Metro and bus would be the way to go. Metro has a stop at Reagan Airport where you will be flying in if you need transportation...although your hotel probably has courtesy service as well. Once you are at the mall area, you can walk to all the monuments and museums, but be prepared for A LOT of walking. Metro stops to use are Smithsonian and Federal Triangle. The WWII Memorial is the newest and very nice. Vietnam Memorial will really make you think twice -- when you look at all of those names, it is hard to imagine what those men went through. Holocaust Museum is very educational but can be a bit disturbing for younger kids.

If you can get transportation, the Udazy Air & Space Museum near Dulles Airport would be great for your 13-year old son. There are many actual aircraft, including a Space Shuttle, Concorde, numerous military planes, etc. You can also go up in a control tower that overlooks the airport. Well worth the trip.

As mentioned, Mt. Vernon is worth the trip to see George Washington's farm/home.

If you are a baseball fan, the Nationals just opened their new ballpark last night and it is supposed to be very nice.

Wear Kevlar when downtown..

But definitely hit up Gettysburg. It is a great experience IMO.

quote:

Fantastic, the Fish Market has been open as long as I've been here. They closed the corner building part of it (across from Torpedo Factory) because if high rent but I think they added a building on the other side of it

Ok, that's probably what I was thinking of, just the corner part there.

There are so many good places to eat in Old Town. I used to own a boat and had it docked at Columbia Island marina and we'd head down river, dock in Old Town and spend the day. Vegas, it's well worth putting on your agenda.

I used to live in Dupont Circle and loved that area, now this was early 90's and times could be different but there were some great hotels right there on the circle, you're close to everything and on the trainline to the zoo also. I used to walk from the circle to the mall. When I plan my next visit with my kids, I'll be staying in that area again.

This isn't in DC, but if you have the time I would try and make a trip out to Charlottesville to see Thomas Jefferson's house.

Personally I found it way better than Mount Vernon, and I liked Mount Vernon a lot too. Monticello had both tours of his house, and then the grounds around his house. I'm pretty sure that James Madison, and James Monroe both lived down the street from Jefferson so you could check out their houses as well. I did not visit them the last time I was there, so I have no info on them.

You would probably need to rent a car though.