PeachyDoodle Posted August 17, 2015 Share Posted August 17, 2015 I was hoping to take dd to Washington, DC for a few days this fall, but the time that works best with our schedule happens to coincide with Columbus Day weekend. Bad idea? We're hoping to do the usual tourist-y things: monuments, museums, Library of Congress, possibly the Capitol and White House if we can get tickets. We will probably drive up Friday afternoon and leave early Wednesday morning, but that still only gives us one non-holiday weekday. I'm not sure if we can go any other time before spring, and she's been looking forward to it (we've already had to postpone once) -- but I hate to make the trip if we can't do what we want to do. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farrar Posted August 18, 2015 Share Posted August 18, 2015 Great idea. It's a good time to be here. The weather is usually pleasant. While it might have a slight uptick in visitors, it'll be empty compared to the late spring and summer season. Especially on the weekdays, it should be a breeze. You likely won't even have trouble getting Congress tickets at that time. It's been forever since I've done a WH tour... I know they can be tricky even at the best of times, but Congress isn't hard (though, honestly, the tour you get varies so much by guide that it's crazy). 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J-rap Posted August 18, 2015 Share Posted August 18, 2015 We were there once that weekend, and it was fine! Be prepared for a big Columbus Day parade though. It might change things up just a bit. (It didn't affect what we did.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
*lifeoftheparty* Posted August 18, 2015 Share Posted August 18, 2015 Great time to be here! Lovely weather, low crowds... and a few of the Smithsonians stay open later than usual. Do we really have a Columbus Day parade??? Contact your Senator or Representative and they can hook you up with tours of the Archives, Capitol, and request a White House tour. We got ours, but it was in February, and I requested ut 6 months out. You are most likely to get it on a weekday. Pack ponchos, just in case.... we always try to go camping Columbus day weekend, and it always rains :-/ 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeachyDoodle Posted August 18, 2015 Author Share Posted August 18, 2015 So the museums and monuments and such won't be closed on Monday? The parade might be fun if we can catch some of it. Our Senator's office was awesome about helping us schedule tours for our last trip (which we unexpectedly had to cancel). I need to get in touch with them again ASAP to reschedule. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
*lifeoftheparty* Posted August 18, 2015 Share Posted August 18, 2015 So the museums and monuments and such won't be closed on Monday? The parade might be fun if we can catch some of it. Our Senator's office was awesome about helping us schedule tours for our last trip (which we unexpectedly had to cancel). I need to get in touch with them again ASAP to reschedule. Nope. They only close on Thanksgiving, Christmas and maybe New Years. The monuments/memorials don't really close... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeachyDoodle Posted August 18, 2015 Author Share Posted August 18, 2015 Yay! So glad we won't have to reschedule again! Thanks everyone! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farrar Posted August 18, 2015 Share Posted August 18, 2015 Do we really have a Columbus Day parade??? Yeah, I had the same thought! The museums never close. Like... never. Columbus Day isn't even a holiday for DC kids, I don't think. ETA: Apparently we have a parade that's over near Union Station... at least some years. I found very little about it. Really, not a huge thing here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Junie Posted August 18, 2015 Share Posted August 18, 2015 Columbus Day is a great day to go to DC because many of the commuters get the day off and stay out of the city. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J-rap Posted August 18, 2015 Share Posted August 18, 2015 Do we really have a Columbus Day parade??? http://www.nycgo.com/events/columbus-day-parade2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeachyDoodle Posted August 18, 2015 Author Share Posted August 18, 2015 Columbus Day is a great day to go to DC because many of the commuters get the day off and stay out of the city. Good point! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J-rap Posted August 18, 2015 Share Posted August 18, 2015 http://www.nycgo.com/events/columbus-day-parade2 Really strange, but I was converting "DC" to "NYC" in my head! Sorry! I only know about the NYC Columbus Day parade. :) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Momling Posted August 19, 2015 Share Posted August 19, 2015 My 13 yr old and I are visiting Washington DC this week and really enjoying it. It's neither as hot and humid nor as crowded as I expected it to be. We had a great time at the national gallery, the air and space museum, the "Newseum", and the Supreme Court. The archives, Fords theater, American history museum and Library of congress and American Art/portrait gallery were okay. The natural history museum wasn't for us... Too full of screamy kids running amok to see the exhibits. We'll go to the Capitol tour tomorrow. The White House is closed for renovation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kentuckymom Posted August 19, 2015 Share Posted August 19, 2015 We were there 4th of July week two years ago and, despite many people advising against it due to heat and crowds, we had a blast. I imagine during less busy holiday it would be even better. Have fun! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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