What is feasible for 2-3 days in DC?

[michigansandzil]

We have never been there before and plan on staying at Cherry Hill and taking the bus to the metro. Our children are 11, 9, and 5.

Is it realistic to anticipate spending one day at the National Mall and another day touring Smithsonian museums? We'd also like to see the capitol, the white house and the declaration of independence and the constitution.

[univmd]

We've been to the AF museum too, but we prefer the Smithsonian in terms of seeing many spacecraft including the shuttle, as well as seeing the Concorde. Cherryhill is the best in terms of having hundreds of 50 amp full hookup sites. If you do not stop and read everything, you should have time to see the Natural History Museum, the American History Museum, and the National Galleries of Art too. The visitor center at the Capitol is very impressive too. And the National Zoo has the panda and also a brand new elephant house exhibit. All free.

[djsamuel]

Just take the Metro in and see what you can. You should be able to see the memorials in less than a day since they are pretty much in a line (except the Jefferson Memorial). You can work your way down, starting at the Lincoln Memorial. Of all the war memorials, all of which are amazing, my favorite is the Korean War Memorial. There is something really eerie about that one. As far as the Smithsonian, don't miss the Air and Space museum, and Natural History. There are so many good ones though it is tough. The National Archives is nice, especially if your kids are into history some. Seeing the Declaration of Independence is a real experience for them, and if any of them have watched the movie National Treasure, they'll link what they see to that movie.

When I have to go to DC for work, I'll take the Metro to L'Enfant Plaza (convenient due to the location of my hotel and the Metro line I use) after work and walk the mall, seeing what museum is open, and if I stay the weekend, I'll visit what I can. You'll be able to see enough to make the trip memorable. Just don't try to see it all.

[jnharley]

We were exhausted each day site seeing in DC and towards late afternoon, there were some pretty unhappy children being dragged around. I would pick a few things to do and save the rest for the next visit because you will want to come back. You could spend all day in any of the museums.

[wbwood]

michigansandzilla wrote:

Veebyes wrote:
Your arrival day is a wash so you really only have 2 sightseeing days. 2 days could be spent whipping through the Smitsonians & nothing else.

Dragging small children with you? Have fun. It is not Disney.

We actually have 5 days. 2 for driving there and back, 2-3 for sightseeing and possibly 1 for doing nothing but swimming in the pool at the campground.

Never been to Disney, but in all honesty, my 11 and 9 year old boys are very excited to see DC and some of those places they've recently learned about in school. They actually came up with some spots they want to visit. They've never asked to go to Disney. Go figure!

Skip the pool day and use it to sightsee. They can use the pool the day you arrive and on the evenings when you get back from sightseeing. They can swim anywhere. They can't see what they will in cd anywhere else.

[Veebyes]

On the aviation side, I have been to all three. The Dulles, SFUH museum, the AF museum in Dayton & the Air & Space Museum on the Mall, plus many others. Each has their own character. The Dayton one is well worth a full day but it is almost all Air Force. No surprise. The Air & Space Museum is small but very well done for what & where it is. The SFUH out at Dulles is also worth a full day. It has a wide variety of aircraft civil & military. Where else will you find a Concord & the Enola Gay in its entirety separated by only 100'?

[michigansandzil]

Farm Camp wrote:

atreis wrote:

ExxWhy wrote:
One thought regarding the air and space museum. I personally think the Air Force museum in Dayton is better than the air and space on the mall. (Haven't been out to Dulles.)

X2.

Dulles Annex: The AF Museum is better in most respects than the Dulles Annex too (which isn't actually all that big), except for the Shuttle (AF Museum should really have gotten one!) and the Annex has more missiles and rockets from other countries. The AF Museum has a good collection of WWI/II planes and such from all over, but in terms of the missiles and rockets it's mostly US stuff. Overall though, the collection at the AF Museum is considerably larger and just as well presented.

X3. Went back and see the OP is in that state up north... 😉

I won't tell you to skip Air and Space in DC though. I was there in August and it's a great facility. However that said (IMHO) as far as planes go at least the Dayton AF facility has no equal that I've seen so far. It's a huge museum that you can easily spend a whole day in and still not see everything. Parking and admittance are free. There are also several local state and commercial camping opportunities.

That's good to know. I didn't know there was AF museum in Dayton. I'm about 4 hours north from Dayton so I will add it to my agenda for some time when we pass through. Thanks for the info, we're always looking for interesting things to see on the way.

[michigansandzil]

Veebyes wrote:
Your arrival day is a wash so you really only have 2 sightseeing days. 2 days could be spent whipping through the Smitsonians & nothing else.

Dragging small children with you? Have fun. It is not Disney.

We actually have 5 days. 2 for driving there and back, 2-3 for sightseeing and possibly 1 for doing nothing but swimming in the pool at the campground.

Never been to Disney, but in all honesty, my 11 and 9 year old boys are very excited to see DC and some of those places they've recently learned about in school. They actually came up with some spots they want to visit. They've never asked to go to Disney. Go figure!

[Veebyes]

Your arrival day is a wash so you really only have 2 sightseeing days. 2 days could be spent whipping through the Smitsonians & nothing else.

Dragging small children with you? Have fun. It is not Disney.

[Farm_Camp]

atreis wrote:

ExxWhy wrote:
One thought regarding the air and space museum. I personally think the Air Force museum in Dayton is better than the air and space on the mall. (Haven't been out to Dulles.)

X2.

Dulles Annex: The AF Museum is better in most respects than the Dulles Annex too (which isn't actually all that big), except for the Shuttle (AF Museum should really have gotten one!) and the Annex has more missiles and rockets from other countries. The AF Museum has a good collection of WWI/II planes and such from all over, but in terms of the missiles and rockets it's mostly US stuff. Overall though, the collection at the AF Museum is considerably larger and just as well presented.

X3. Went back and see the OP is in that state up north... 😉

I won't tell you to skip Air and Space in DC though. I was there in August and it's a great facility. However that said (IMHO) as far as planes go at least the Dayton AF facility has no equal that I've seen so far. It's a huge museum that you can easily spend a whole day in and still not see everything. Parking and admittance are free. There are also several local state and commercial camping opportunities.

Back to DC. Summer is Hot and HUMID. I've never experienced humidity like I have in DC not even in Florida.

The national archives which house the Constitution and Decleration of Independence, Magna Carta, and other documents are not probably going to be very exciting for real young ones although I was personally awestruck. Sadly (to protect the documents) you may not take any photos in the building at all. I was shocked at how deteriorated the Declaration is. Talk to the guards standing on duty though ( they know why) and they will share a huge wealth of history and information about these documents. They are amazing to speak with and it's obvious that they love doing what they do. They are way more than rent a cops. I can't give them enough cudos.

I was there for a week by myself for work in a hotel about a block from the White House and I spent every evening walking to most of the things I wanted to see... I missed so much... But in 2-3 dedicated days you can also see lots and plan a return visit when the kids are a little older. You will enjoy it. The Mall is a awesome place all in itself.

[Busskipper]

michigansandzilla wrote:
We have never been there before and plan on staying at Cherry Hill and taking the bus to the metro. Our children are 11, 9, and 5.

Is it realistic to anticipate spending one day at the National Mall and another day touring Smithsonian museums? We'd also like to see the capitol, the white house and the declaration of independence and the constitution.

YES -- give it a go -- will you see everything, not likely. but if you are not ambitious you will miss a ton. When I was a Kid my dad would drop me off every Saturday in the Smithsonian and I would walk around til 1 or 2 -- did this for 18 months and still only saw some of it, so will you see it all, no but the kids will have a life time memory, and will likely beg you to return.

We still try to get the Granddaughters down but there is just so much to see -- one suggestion is to get a good guide to the city and plan every step. Otherwise you will get frustrated. My suggestion is to start EARLY and stay late - comfortable Shoes are a must -- great spot to eat is the new Native American Museum -- really good food and atmosphere along with one beautiful building.

Talk to your Congressman's aid to see if they might be able to help out with some areas of your visit.

Cherry Hill is a great spot and they will also be able to help you plan.

BOL,

[atreis]

ExxWhy wrote:
One thought regarding the air and space museum. I personally think the Air Force museum in Dayton is better than the air and space on the mall. (Haven't been out to Dulles.)

X2.

Dulles Annex: The AF Museum is better in most respects than the Dulles Annex too (which isn't actually all that big), except for the Shuttle (AF Museum should really have gotten one!) and the Annex has more missiles and rockets from other countries. The AF Museum has a good collection of WWI/II planes and such from all over, but in terms of the missiles and rockets it's mostly US stuff. Overall though, the collection at the AF Museum is considerably larger and just as well presented.

[ExxWhy]

Yes, too much to see in 2-3 days. A LOT of walking and standing around, especially tough if you are there in the heat of the summer. You'll have to prioritize as others have mentioned.

One thought regarding the air and space museum. I personally think the Air Force museum in Dayton is better than the air and space on the mall. (Haven't been out to Dulles.) You might be able to do a day trip there another time which might help manage your time in DC. Depending on where in Michigan you are.

[wbwood]

As others mentioned, pick the ones you want to see. It is a lot of walking around. My ex and I did a few days and while we didn't see everything, we saw a lot. Everything in the mall, national archives, air and flight museum and others in that same area. We also went to Arlington and saw that. I'm not the type to stand around and read everything and look at every detail. If you were to do that, then you would be there for a long time. Plan your trip to your liking. And try to stay on the plan.

[atreis]

For a 2 day stay, pick 4-5 sites, 2 (or 3) for each day. There's absolutely no way you will see everything in 2 days.

We did Smithsonian Air and Space and Smithsonian Natural History one day, and the Capital, the White House (which has to be arranged in advance through your congressman but is well worth it), and Archives on the second day.

We stayed at Greenbelt NP and took the subway - far better than having to deal with traffic/parking, and at the time the kids were 11, 8, and 6.