Stephanie and Ray Cary of Mount Airy have always savored the fact that they live so close to Washington, D.C. and have been taking their two children there since they were tots. They loved taking picnics to the National Zoo, experiencing the hands-on activities at the Smithsonian museums and exploring Chinatown. The District of Columbia is a boon of museums and monuments, and is easier to get to than you might think with a brood in tow.
Here are some tips on taking a day trip to D.C. including the best way to get there, what you can fit into a day and where to eat when you are there.
Making the trip
Though it might not have been your first thought, driving is an option. The Cary’s have been making the trek to D.C. with Kyle, 14, and Morgan, 12, even before the kids could walk.
“We know the city well enough to find good, reasonable parking garages. Don’t be afraid to drive into the city and park.”
One suggestion Stephanie Cary offers if you are driving is to plan your route ahead of time. She suggests parking in Chinatown and walking to the museums. For parking details visit http://dc.about.com/od/transportation/a/ParkingNearMall.htm.
Since the district’s streets can seem like a confusing grid of numbers and letters, taking the Metrorail — Washington, D.C.’s subway system — can also keep you from sitting in congested city traffic or getting lost. Three possible stations that offer a straight shot to D.C. are Glenmont, in Silver Spring (parking is $4.75), and Shady Grove, in Rockville, (parking is $4.25) for the Red Line or Greenbelt (parking is $4.25) for the Green Line. For more information, including fares and departure times, visit the Metro Trip Planner at http://wmata.com. Up to two children age 4 and younger can travel free with a paying adult.
Once you’re in D.C., the Metro-sponsored D.C. Circulator (www.dccirculator.com) is a great way to get around the Smithsonian and National Mall area. It’s a bus that makes continuous loops around the National Mall everyday between 9:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. and costs just $1.
What to do in a day
The museums in Washington, D.C. are one of the biggest draws.
“The museums are huge and one can take an entire day,” says Lori Herringa of Middletown. “But they are full of interactive activities for all ages.”
Herringa has been taking her three children, Duncan, 11, Donald, 15, and Danielle, 20, to D.C. for years. She suggests only attempting to visit two museums per day trip and having a relaxing lunch in between. Tours of monuments are a little quicker, so families could easily fit in three or four of those in a day (or combine a museum with one or two monuments).
Some of the most popular museums for kids are listed below. Be prepared for security checks at all museum entrances.
The Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History
Sometimes referred to as “America’s Attic,” this museum offers displays of such artifacts as the Star Spangled Banner flag, Thomas Jefferson’s writing desk and Dorothy’s ruby slippers from “The Wizard of Oz.” There are also carts stationed throughout the museum that offer hands-on activities like using a printing press or peeking through a stereoscope..
14th Street and Constitution Avenue, N.W.
10 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
Free
Americanhistory.si.edu
The Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History
Where to go to see natural and cultural wonders. In Dinosaur Hall you’ll find a life-sized skeleton of triceratops, stegosaurus and other dinosaurs. See real fossils and visit the preparation station where visitors can watch fossil workers in action with real bones. You’ll also find an 8-ton, 14-foot-tall African bull elephant in a setting similar to its native habitat. Then visit the Discovery Room where kids can find fossils, skulls, shells and minerals, and enjoy hands-on activities. Don’t miss the Sant Ocean Hall with its full-scale model of a North Atlantic right whale, a 1,500-gallon aquarium featuring a live Indo-Pacific coral reef ecosystem, a 26-foot-long Northwest Coast canoe and two giant squid specimens.
10th Street and Constitution Avenue, NW
10 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
Free
www.mnh.si.edu/
The Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum
Hundreds of historic artifacts pertaining to air and space travel are on display including the Wright 1903 Flyer, the Spirit of St. Louis, the Apollo 11 command module and a lunar rock sample that visitors are allowed to touch. There’s also a planetarium with two shows daily, and the How Things Fly Gallery for kids with hands-on science demonstrations, over 50 interactive devices and paper airplane contests.
Independence Avenue at 6th Street, SW
10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. with extended hours until 7:30 p.m. through Sept. 6
Free
www.nasm.si.edu/
International Spy Museum
Examine over 200 spy gadgets, weapons, bugs, cameras and vehicles. Learn about bugging devices and recording systems, invisible ink and disguise techniques. Also look into Operation Spy, an hour-long interactive program where kids can be a spy for an extra charge. Plan to spend about two hours at the museum, located near Chinatown. Stay to visit Chinatown and enjoy a variety of foods and cultures.
800 F Street, N.W.
May-June, 9 a.m.-7 p.m.; other months, check Web site.
Ages 12 and up, $18; ages 5-11, $15; ages under 5, free; ages over 65 and active military/intelligence community, $17. Advance tickets recommended April-September, weekends and holidays.
Spymuseum.org
Washington Monument
Take a ride to the top of the prominent monument — built in honor of George Washington and shaped like an Egyptian obelisk — and see views of the entire city.
15th Street and Constitution Avenue, N.W.
9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Free tickets are available at 8:30 a.m. on a first-come, first served basis. However, it’s best to purchase advance tickets via the Web site for $1.50.
http://www.nps.gov/wamo/
Lincoln Memorial
In the center of the memorial chamber is a sculpture of Abraham Lincoln that overlooks the Reflecting Pond. The Gettysburg Address is inscribed on the south wall of the monument.
Independence Avenue & 23rd Street, S.W.
Free, no reservations required.
Open 24 hours a day. However rangers are on duty to answer questions from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. daily.
http://www.nps.gov/linc/
The National Zoo
Over 160 acres of animals and exhibits including Sumatran tigers, a rainforest and the Asia Trail — a quarter-mile path that leads past sloth bears, giant pandas and other native Asian animals.
“It’s free and really pretty big, so it’s lots of fun for all ages,” says Herringa. Plan this for a full day. She warns, however, that it is a few blocks — uphill — from the nearest Metro station. Parking is plentiful, so driving is an option. Arriving early is a must to beat the heat in the summer.
3001 Connecticut Ave., NW
April-October, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; November-March, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
http://nationalzoo.si.edu/default.cfm
Other Popular Attractions:
U.S. Capitol Tour: Tickets are only available through a U.S. Senator or U.S. Congressman, so plan well in advance.
National Cathedral: English Gothic style structure with wood carvings, gargoyles, mosaics and more than 200 stained glass windows. Free but donations accepted. www.nationalcathedral.org
The Newseum: Experience how and why news is made. For ages 6 and up. Admission ranges from $13 to 20. Located about five blocks from Smithsonian Metro stop. Newseum.org
Washington Walks: Walking tour featuring an “I’ve Got a Secret” kids’ tour. Washingtonwalks.com
DC Ducks: Ninety-minute narrated tour past museums and monuments in original World War II amphibious vehicles that ends by splashing into the Potomac River. Ages under 4, free; ages 4-12, $14.40; ages over 12, $28.80. www.dcducks.com
White House: Public tours of the White House have been temporarily suspended.
Some do’s and don’ts in Washington DC
Do:
> Check out free things to do at www.washington.org.
> Wear comfortable shoes.
> Show up at attractions early.
> Plan ahead. Some attractions need advance rester bottles along.
> Take a stroller for young ones — lots of walking can quickly tire little legs.
Don’t
> Plan to be outside too long on hot days.
> Plan too many activities for one day.
> Take anything that might not make it through security checkpoints such as sharp objects or mace. Bags and backpacks are permitted
Let’s eat:
Many of the museums have restaurants, but here are some other suggestions:
Union Station
If you’re looking for a taste of history while enjoying a unique meal, Union Station is one of the most visited sites in Washington, D.C. The structure — with its marble floors and coffered ceilings — is over 100 years old and was once the largest train station in the world. Now it’s home to a food court, two levels of concourses, a gift store, boutiques and restaurants.
50 Massachusetts Ave., NE (a few blocks from The National Mall)
www.unionstationdc.com
Picnic on the Mall
The National Mall is a two-mile stretch of monuments and museums and is a great place for a picnic. People often bring blankets to relax on while the children run around on the grass and burn off some energy. There are also food vendors offering everything from hot dogs to ice cream.
Ben’s Chili Bowl
Ben’s is the place where presidents traditionally make a stop to eat in Washington, D.C. once they are in office. Chili dogs and milk shakes are two of the most popular items on the menu. Ben’s is near the U Street Metro Station.
1213 U St. NW
www.benschilibowl.com