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| *Travel Tips>>>Washington, D.C. Travel Tips |
Going to Wash. DC for 3 days what should we see? |
Travel Info My family (mom, dad, and 12 yr. old boy) are going on a road trip from Nigara Falls to NYC to PA to Washington DC. Have most of the trip planned EXCEPT for what to do in Wash. DC. Travel Tips I was there the first week of June. I'd taken my 11-yr. old grandson there as part of his birthday. The Holocaust Museum was interesting, but I didn't think as good as the Museum of Tolerance in LA. (I study the Holocaust so I feel comfortable making comparisons). The other person is right that it might be a little much for a 12-yr old. You'll need tickets to get in. They're free, but you need to get them early and they're "timed" so don't get there late or you won't get in. When we were in DC we discovered to see the Washington Monument you had to get there practically at the crack of dawn to get tickets to go up--and then there was no guarantee you'd make it before closing. Some of the sections of the Smithsonian were closed for repairs or renovations. While at the Smithsonian be sure to get a package of the freeze-dried ice cream. It's $4 and is neopolitan flavored. It's an unique, but fun experience. Repairs were also a problem at the Musuem of American History. My grandson wanted to see the Hope Diamond at the Museum of Natural History but the line went on forever. One thing you can do is call the Washington office of your Congressman (House: 202-225-3121) or your Senator (Senate: 202-224-3121) and ask the operator to connect you to that office. You can arrange for a guided tour of the Capitol and if his voting schedule permits you might be able to personally meet that Congressman/Senator. To tour the White House you need to get tickets in advance (free), but it's only on certain days and you have to have a party of 21 (if I remember correctly). You might be able to bypass this by joining a tour group. That was my grandson's favorite part of the trip. Next favorite was going to Georgetown for lunch and then riding on the boat on the C&O Canal. It's run by the Park Service and the tickets don't cost much. It's a short ride, but it's fun going through the locks and the Captain of the boat is very nice and entertaining. Mount Vernon was interesting and you can buy tickets for a boat ride on the Potomac. For me the biggest disappointment was seeing how torn up the grass looked on the Mall. It wasn't the velvety lawn I remembered, but was full of ruts and bare spots in the grass and just looked shameful. As long as you're coming through PA why not stop in Philadelphia and see the Liberty Bell and go through the tour of King Tut. The tickets are kind of pricey, but it's pretty interesting. That takes about 1-1 1/2 hours. You can go online (gophil.com--I'm pretty sure of this address) or you can get the tickets there. Whatever you do, wear hats and sunscreen and drink plenty of water. The soda just makes things worse, believe me. While we were there (8 days) there were several heat alerts and the humidity was unbearable. I'd been to DC several times before and it was never that bad. Others While it may seem like a bit of a "downer" of an experience, I highly recommend the National Holocaust Museum. It is such a powerful experience, although it may be a little too mature of a subject for the 12 year old. Also, the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum is amazing. Use the metro shuttles to go from place to place. smithsonian , several museums. Arlington Air and space museum archives building place where Lincoln was shot and taken to die ESPNzone (near the above site) Lincoln Memorial have fun Some of the things I've really liked in DC include: Smithsonian - yes the Air and Space Museum is a must see. I also enjoy wandering through the outdoor sculpture garden, and the American History Museum. I also liked the National Portrait Gallery with the official portraits of each president. National Cathedral - if you are at all religious, this is a neat thing to see as we don't have many cathedrals of this scope in the US. Take a walking tour of it if you have the time - the docents have lots of interesting information that I found interesting. Monuments - Lincoln and Jefferson are both worth your time in my opinion. The Vietnam war memorial is memorable - don't know what it's like right now with possible anti-war displays. Mount Vernon (George Washington's home) is just across the river in VA and worth the trip. Going to the mint to watch them make money is fun too. Have a good trip! All memorials and monuments are worth taking in (Lincoln, Vietnam, Korea, WW II are all walking distance from one another). Swing by FDR and Jefferson at the Tidal Basin. Above all else, get to the National Cemetery and see the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknowns. You will never forget it. Personal experience. the postal tower go to the national mall lincoln memorial holocaust museum Smithsonian museum of natural history most deff. china town eat at the restaurant under a green tarp it's next to the chinatown sign on the street corner |
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