Washington DC with toddler

[mbcdefg]

I'm planning a family vacation for August for me, MH and our two year-old daughter. 

I think we're just going to play it by ear with our activities, depending on the weather and how we're all feeling. National Mall, museums, maybe the zoo. MH and I have been there before and I'm sure we'll be back again. We're driving down from New Jersey. We're comfortable walking and also using the Metro, which I'm sure we'll want to do most of the time so we're not constantly looking for street parking.

My main question is about hotels. We don't care about a pool and we're not loyal to a particular brand. I'm looking near Logan Circle since I'm familiar with the area, but do you have any suggestions for hotels where parking isn't going to cost us a fortune? Would it be better to stay over in Alexandria and then take the Metro into the city? We did this years ago but I'm thinking it might be too much of a PITA with a young child to come in from Alexandria. 

Suggestions for restaurants that welcome young kids would also be appreciated. We had bad experiences on our last vacation where we used the "good for kids" filter on Yelp and then got dirty looks when we brought her into restaurants because they apparently didn't know they'd been classified as kid-friendly on Yelp. So personal recs would be great. No dietary restrictions and DD is not picky. 

And we'll be there for MH's birthday, if you can suggest a restaurant where we can bring DD and eat around 5-6pm. MH likes craft beer, so I'd like to find some places for him with a good tap list. Doesn't have to be fancy, just something a little "nicer" for a special occasion.

Thanks for any suggestions! 

[orval]

For parking, use spothero.com or parkingpanda.com You can put in your hotel address and find cheaper parking nearby.

Beer -- inlovewithbier.com/Tavern/ We have taken our kid here. Not particularly nice, definitely not fancy but had a great beer list and is cozy.
We also like Old Ebbitt Grill across from the White House. Also took our kid there(has a kids menu). Ok beer selection. Nicer restaurant, cool bar area(kid sat at the bar). You can make a reservation. www.ebbitt.com/

[gardengal]

FYI, check out metro's closure. I know this summer parts of metro are closed this summer (in the 'burbs, not city proper IIRC) so that may help you decide if you want to stay outside DC itself.

I've taken my kids (including when they were younger) on the early side to Jose Andres restaurants: Zatanya (favorite), Jaleo, etc. They are small plates & you can see if there's something your toddler would enjoy. Not beer focused, but I also really like Ambar in Barrack's Row (near Eastern Market metro). It's Balkan small plates & they have a bottomless option (both food & alcohol) that's a pretty good deal. The only hitch is that stuff comes out as ready & whether you kid is patient that "your" food is coming before something she wants to eat. My kids are obsessed with their brunch.

Here's a list, too. I haven't been to ALL the places on this list, but I've been to a few & agree they are kid friendly: dc.eater.com/maps/best-dc-family-friendly-restaurants-food

[mbcdefg]

May 31, 2019 12:47:29 GMT -5 gardengal said:

FYI, check out metro's closure. I know this summer parts of metro are closed this summer (in the 'burbs, not city proper IIRC) so that may help you decide if you want to stay outside DC itself.

I've taken my kids (including when they were younger) on the early side to Jose Andres restaurants: Zatanya (favorite), Jaleo, etc. They are small plates & you can see if there's something your toddler would enjoy. Not beer focused, but I also really like Ambar in Barrack's Row (near Eastern Market metro). It's Balkan small plates & they have a bottomless option (both food & alcohol) that's a pretty good deal. The only hitch is that stuff comes out as ready & whether you kid is patient that "your" food is coming before something she wants to eat. My kids are obsessed with their brunch.

Here's a list, too. I haven't been to ALL the places on this list, but I've been to a few & agree they are kid friendly: dc.eater.com/maps/best-dc-family-friendly-restaurants-food

Thanks! 

We actually took DD with us for dim sum yesterday. As long as she gets SOMETHING she's fine. She just starts pointing to things and says "More, more" - usually whatever we have is what she's in the mood for at that moment, lol. 

[candreco]

Don't stay in Alexandria this summer- Metro is closed south of DCA so it'll be a pain to get into DC.

Maybe look at hotels in the Navy Yard/SE Waterfront area, the Yards Park has a wading pool perfect for that age and restaurants nearby definitely get plenty of families in them. On the green line, close-ish to Capitol Hill. Great restaurants there and over on 8th St, a couple of beer gardens and a brewery nearby.