Post by Shreddingbetty on Mar 19, 2014 23:14:58 GMT -5
We will be in DC in about 10 days for a huge international conference for DH. It would probably be a good idea to get restaurant reservations ahead of time so just trying to get some ideas for restaurants. We love all kinds of food. We will be staying very close to the White House.
I will also take recommendations on fun things to do with DD (almost 4) while we are there. We will actually only be in town for 3 full days and it will be she and I for most of that time. I want to do some of the usual tourist stuff but want to make sure we do some fun stuff for DD.
Check out kidfriendlydc.com/, it is a great list of stuff that is going on around DC. Obviously the museums are good, and free, and the zoo is awesome.
Post by spankswife on Mar 20, 2014 10:29:18 GMT -5
We have so much fun in DC. DD has been at 2 and 3. The National Zoo and the Natural History museum are her favorite. She also really likes the Washington and Lincoln monuments. (I think bc they are so big, the fascinate her). Air & Space is a fun one too. For us, each museum is a half day. Any more than that and DD gets overwhelmed/bored. There is also a carousel in the lawn of the mall that is fun.
The DC Duck tour is really cool. It is a amphibious vehicle, so it is a little tour on land, and then a boat ride, it is just the right amount of time.
We did the night monument tour once, and that is really pretty. Probably more for adults, but you get out at a few of them, so it breaks up the ride for the kids, and it Is a good/easy way to see a lot.
I second Zaytinya - amazing! Def needs a reservation. I like Thaiphoon for Thai food in DuPont Circle, and there is a sushi restaurant right there too that is really good, and has a great happy hour. Ben's chili bowl is iconic for lunch.
Old Ebbitt Grill is next to the White House and kind of an iconic DC political spot. Zaytinya is good, like the others said, so is Rasika. My all time favorite is Little Serow, but it doesn't take reservations and gets a long line. My favorite unique experience is Thai X-crossing (prix fixe menu, no substitutions, you get what you get and it's in a little old row house - very cool.) Rose's Luxury is a new place with lots of buzz - no reservations there either. Le Diplomate is another new "buzz" place that does take reservations. Bangkok Golden is a hidden gem for lunch. It's in a strip mall, but has Laotian food that the Washington Post has raved about. It's in the burbs though, not the district. Graffiatos is a good one to take kids too, it's great food and more laid back. If you are up for Ethiopian food, this is one of the few cities in the US where there is a large Ethiopian population. Ethiopic is a good one, but there are lots of good ones if you Yelp it. As far as activities - my kids (ages 4 and 6) big highlight is always riding the metro. They LOVE it. I'm guessing they'd like the Duck Tour. Fails for them have been the zoo (we've gone twice and it seems like so many animals are not out?), and the Smithsonians. Maybe my kids are just uncultured. *shrug*
I always laugh at the suggestion of Ben's Chili Bowl. It is definitely iconic - but do people actually go there sober? And with kids? It was literally in my back yard for 4 years and I don't think we ever, ever ate there sober. it is a grease pit.
Post by Shreddingbetty on Mar 20, 2014 20:02:50 GMT -5
Thanks for all the recs. We will not have a car and plan on walking or taking the métro (our pass is in the mail . We will definitely have to stick with places that take reservations because with this conference it will be tough enough as it is to eat places especially ones that are popular(at least ones near the convention center)
Post by Shreddingbetty on Mar 20, 2014 21:33:00 GMT -5
We are all set for Rasika, Zaytinya and Le Diplomate. Glad I booked now because reservations were already extremely limited. Graffiata was currently unavailable but found Ping Pong Dim Sum. We love Dim Sum nd it got good reviews. Now off to check out activities.....
I always laugh at the suggestion of Ben's Chili Bowl. It is definitely iconic - but do people actually go there sober? And with kids? It was literally in my back yard for 4 years and I don't think we ever, ever ate there sober. it is a grease pit.
I gained my Freshman 15 there when I went to Howard. I can't see myself going back but I loved it as a 10-20 year old and yes I was always sober.
I agree about the National Zoo and the Natural History Museum. The Natural History Museum was the first thought that popped into my mind when you mentioned a kid - it's very interactive. You can also take her next door to the sculpture garden and fountains if the weather is nice. That has a nice atmosphere. If you have time one day to go to Old Town Alexandria (you can take the metro to get there), you can ride a trolley and get her an ice cream along King St. (Take the trolley to the area near the end of the street. There are several ice cream places in the area just before the wharf.) You can also walk along the wharf and there's a waterfront park if the weather is nice.
I always laugh at the suggestion of Ben's Chili Bowl. It is definitely iconic - but do people actually go there sober? And with kids? It was literally in my back yard for 4 years and I don't think we ever, ever ate there sober. it is a grease pit.
I gained my Freshman 15 there when I went to Howard. I can't see myself going back but I loved it as a 10-20 year old and yes I was always sober.
Maybe I just spent too much time drinking when I lived in DC It was so easy for us to walk across our yard to get there after a night out, and it was always so good at the time, never so much the next day!
Ping Pong Dim Sum is fun. We enjoyed it there. Another GREAT place that I just thought of is Founding Farmers. Every single ingredient they use is homemade. If you order a drink with bitters, they handmade the bitters....it's amazing and not as expensive as a person would think.
You should definitely hit the Museum of Natural History - the dinosaur hall is slated to to shut down at the end of April and will be closed for renovations for the next 5 years! It's a fun spot for a 4 year old (the Air and Space museum (both the one downtown and the one out by Dulles) is another favorite of my kids).