Washington DC suggestions?

[devonpow]

We are going to DC over Memorial Day weekend, primarily for college visits for DS1. I want to make sure DS2 (12) also has fun - he hasn’t been thrilled being dragged along on college visits this year lol.

I haven’t been to DC since I was a kid, but I’m pretty sure we don’t want a car, correct? (We are visiting American and Georgetown, and maybe U of Virginia at the end. I know we need a car if we end up trekking there). What museums/experiences would be top of your list and do we need tickets ahead of time, particularly since it’s a holiday weekend?

Many thanks!

[gardengal]

What is your DS2 into?

Air & Space and Museum of AfrAm History need tix of the Smithsonians. Don’t overlook the smaller museums; the Postal Museum is awesome if he’s a stamp collector & the Hirshorn sometimes has really cool exhibits (those often require tix)

Is he into spooky? There’s ghost tours (night) in Old Town Alexandria & Georgetown iirc

Maybe try to get tix to US Mint or top of Washington Monument?

The Spy Museum is not free but my kids love it

[devonpow]

Mar 31, 2024 16:57:39 GMT -5 gardengal said:

What is your DS2 into?

Air & Space and Museum of AfrAm History need tix of the Smithsonians. Don’t overlook the smaller museums; the Postal Museum is awesome if he’s a stamp collector & the Hirshorn sometimes has really cool exhibits (those often require tix)

Is he into spooky? There’s ghost tours (night) in Old Town Alexandria & Georgetown iirc

Maybe try to get tix to US Mint or top of Washington Monument?

The Spy Museum is not free but my kids love it

he loves ghost tours! That’s a good idea

[slbride2003]

You don’t need a car for the schools in the city. We generally drive there from NJ but never use the car while we are there.
DS (11) loves Air & Space and The Smithsonian. He also enjoyed walking the Mall at night. The Korean War Memorial is pretty awesome lit up at night.

[sdlaura]

I grew up in MD, went to American for college, and I’m in the area now for spring break. We went into DC yesterday as a family.

It depends on how much walking you want to do. I personally would want a car for visiting American and Georgetown, as they are not super close to metro stops. Especially if you are used to driving in Boston, you’d be fine.

For the area around museums and monuments, you won’t need a car if you don’t want one. We drove in yesterday and pre booked a parking spot near the cherry blossoms on spothero. We went to the Natural History Museum (no tickets required) then to lunch, then walked around the Washington monument, Lincoln memorial, tidal basin, FDR memorial, and MLK memorial, then back to our car. No tickets required for any of that.

[CrazyLucky]

The AA Museum is amazing. But! go to the downstairs exhibit first or the line will be incredibly long.