Matryoshka Posted July 15, 2012 Share Posted July 15, 2012 I'm thinking definitely Smithsonian Air & Space and Natural History, tour of Capitol and walk past White House and and monuments (Washington, Lincoln, etc.) What else can we squeeze into 4 days, and what other things should we definitely not miss? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
QueenCat Posted July 15, 2012 Share Posted July 15, 2012 The Spy Museum is incredible! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erica in OR Posted July 15, 2012 Share Posted July 15, 2012 Lincoln Memorial is great at night. Really enjoyed the National Museum of American History. Erica in OR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farrar Posted July 15, 2012 Share Posted July 15, 2012 Depends on what you're interested in and the age of your kids. A lot of people come here and never do any of the art museums, which is always odd to me as an art museum fanatic, but if you're not, then that's fine. A lot of people are quite fond of the Spy Museum, though it costs money. The Neweum is interesting for some people, the Bureau of Printing and Engraving is a popular tour, and, while it's an intense experience, many people feel the Holocaust Museum is not to be missed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
datgh Posted July 15, 2012 Share Posted July 15, 2012 Our families hands down favorite part of our trip to DC was going to all the monuments at night. They are really cool all lit up especially the Lincoln Memorial. We liked it so much we did it twice. Just make sure you have your walking shoes on. Try and get your tour of the capital via your Senators office. I think you get a better tour that way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joani Posted July 15, 2012 Share Posted July 15, 2012 If you have older kids, I wouldn't miss the Holocaust Memorial Museum. I took my older kids when they were 9 and 10 and it's the only thing they were still talking about months after we got home. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matryoshka Posted July 15, 2012 Author Share Posted July 15, 2012 Depends on what you're interested in and the age of your kids. Should've said I've got three girls, 14, 14, and 11.5. A lot of people come here and never do any of the art museums, which is always odd to me as an art museum fanatic, but if you're not, then that's fine. What art museums are there? I like them, my kids are less enthusiastic, but it would be good to know what the options are. I haven't been to DC since I was a kid, and I mostly remember the Smithsonian Air & Space and Natural History and the monuments, which I guess is why those top my list... :tongue_smilie: A lot of people are quite fond of the Spy Museum, though it costs money. The Neweum is interesting for some people, the Bureau of Printing and Engraving is a popular tour, and, while it's an intense experience, many people feel the Holocaust Museum is not to be missed. What is the Neweum? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoPlaceLikeHome Posted July 15, 2012 Share Posted July 15, 2012 I would not miss the National Gallery of Art if you like art museums. It has the only Leonardo Davinci in America as well a hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of paintings and other art works. If you go to si.edu for the Smithsonian, then you can click on current exhibits to see what interests you. If you like natural history, the American Natural History Museum is great. If American history interests then the American History Museum is great. If you give me an idea, I might be able to tell you since my ds and I have spent days and days and days in the Smithsonian museums and the NGA. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Katy Posted July 15, 2012 Share Posted July 15, 2012 DH says the Vietnam memorial is a must (I agree), and the changing of the guard at Arlington. Check family and town memorials and see if anyone died in Vietnam or is buried at Arlington so you can make rubbings. It's more meaningful to search out specific names. The capital building (is that still allowed?). Library of congress was fun for me. I liked the FBI tour, but I did that on my 8th grade trip, not sure if they still do that or not. Mt Vernon was a favorite of mine. DH suggests hitting Gettysburg on your way in and Mt Vernon on your way out if you're driving. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
klmama Posted July 15, 2012 Share Posted July 15, 2012 When are you going? If it's a month or two away, call your Senator's office on Monday and ask about White House tours. You absolutely have to go to the National Archives to see the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. When you take the tour of the Capitol, stop by your Senator's office first to pick up tickets to watch the House and Senate in session. Even if you only stay for 15-30 minutes, it's fascinating to be there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kathleen. Posted July 15, 2012 Share Posted July 15, 2012 The art gallery is currently showing Miro which we're planning to see. Also, you could got Mt. Vernon which is about twenty minutes south of D.C. I would say to check out the Archives and perhaps go to the Supreme Court. Georgetown is also nice to see. Botanical Gardens, Library of Congress, and on and on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lllll Posted July 15, 2012 Share Posted July 15, 2012 (edited) . Edited July 18, 2012 by ksva Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KungFuPanda Posted July 15, 2012 Share Posted July 15, 2012 If you want to see art, but you have folks balking AND those folks are gamers . . .the American Art Museum has a video game exhibit right now :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KungFuPanda Posted July 15, 2012 Share Posted July 15, 2012 Nm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farrar Posted July 15, 2012 Share Posted July 15, 2012 My kids loved that video game exhibit. They've been three times now. Sigh. There are more than a dozen art gallery options around the city. The National Gallery of Art is probably the easiest option and will have lots of recognizable things - plenty of impressionists in the West building, and Calders, Matisse, and other popular things to see in the East building. But there are other options - on the Mall, there's the Sackler and the Freer, which house mostly Asian art. The African Art Museum is self-explanatory. The Hirshhorn is contemporary art. Around the city, the Smithsonian American Art Museum and National Portrait Gallery are in the same space in Chinatown. It's an AMAZING space and the courtyard was named one of the modern architectural wonders of the world a few years ago - and, of course, there are lots of famous president portraits there and a cool folk art section in the SAAM. There are non-government museums - there's a museum of women in art, a textile museum... There's also the Philips Collection in Georgetown, which has a really cool modern collection, including Renoir's The Boating Party. And the Kreeger is a cool museum, also with a good early modern collection, though it has limited hours and is nowhere near any Metro stops. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KungFuPanda Posted July 15, 2012 Share Posted July 15, 2012 Call me outdoorsy, but if you get a nice weather day, I really enjoy the zoo and the arboretum. Mt Vernon can be a whole day. I love that place. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MariannNOVA Posted July 15, 2012 Share Posted July 15, 2012 Heather in NC did an amazing amount of sightseeing when she was here and she did it in 4 days. If I can find her itinerary, i will send it to you via PM. :001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matryoshka Posted July 16, 2012 Author Share Posted July 16, 2012 Heather in NC did an amazing amount of sightseeing when she was here and she did it in 4 days. If I can find her itinerary, i will send it to you via PM. :001_smile: Yay! That would be awesome. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MariannNOVA Posted July 16, 2012 Share Posted July 16, 2012 Yay! That would be awesome. :) I sent it. Do you all have a place to stay?:001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farrar Posted July 16, 2012 Share Posted July 16, 2012 Call me outdoorsy, but if you get a nice weather day, I really enjoy the zoo and the arboretum. Mt Vernon can be a whole day. I love that place. And, if you're here while things are in bloom, the Aquatic Gardens are pretty amazing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momto10blessings Posted July 16, 2012 Share Posted July 16, 2012 Air and Space Natural History American History Walking around the mall to see all the memorials up close. I would not waste time at the zoo. It's not that great compared to other zoos. Night- Nats game (go to the ticket booth 2 hrs before the game for $5 tickets) The memorials look SO NEAT all lit up at night. Even just driving around at night to see them. All free except the nats game. Not including parking, which is a different story Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mom22ns Posted July 16, 2012 Share Posted July 16, 2012 Heather in NC did an amazing amount of sightseeing when she was here and she did it in 4 days. If I can find her itinerary, i will send it to you via PM. :001_smile: Would you send it to me too? We'll be there next spring. I'd also love recommendations on places to stay. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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