|
DC Travel
Jul 24, 2019 16:45:54 GMT -6
via mobile
Post by bunnyfungo on Jul 24, 2019 16:45:54 GMT -6
Okay, I know this isn’t really politics related, but so many of you are in DC that I figured this would be a good place to ask. DH and I are planning to take the older 2 girls (5 and 7) to DC this fall as a sort of homeschooling “field trip.” Can any of you recommend a good time? We were thinking October, but one thing we are trying to avoid is times when public schools are on break. We are trying to take advantage of that fact that people will be in school and hopefully have some more breathing room in the museums. So, should we maybe push it back to avoid fall breaks? Also, any advice on educational stuff outside of the Smithsonian museums? We’ll definitely go to the Library of Congress because it’s my most favorite place. What are some things that a normal tourist might not think of? dc2london notblanche PandaWatch Uncaripswife @everyone else I’m forgetting because there are too many of you!
|
|
|
Post by notblanche on Jul 24, 2019 16:57:35 GMT -6
October is a great time to visit! I can’t speak about school breaks but there’s not a better time to come weather-wise. The Smithsonian museums are all no cost to enter, and it’s hard to beat free, but we also love the National Building Museum for a different kind of fun and interactive experience.
|
|
|
Post by cakewench on Jul 24, 2019 17:04:51 GMT -6
If you can get out to Virginia, Mount Vernon in Alexandria is a must-see.
If you are interested in touring the Capitol, PM me. My H might be able to help.
|
|
|
DC Travel
Jul 24, 2019 17:09:12 GMT -6
via mobile
Post by bunnyfungo on Jul 24, 2019 17:09:12 GMT -6
If you can get out to Virginia, Mount Vernon in Alexandria is a must-see. If you are interested in touring the Capitol, PM me. My H might be able to help. Ooooh. I will probably PM you when we figure out dates! And I forgot about Mount Vernon. Good call.
|
|
Minerva
Ruby
Posts: 15,381 Likes: 67,036
|
Post by Minerva on Jul 24, 2019 17:12:18 GMT -6
If you can get out to Virginia, Mount Vernon in Alexandria is a must-see. Gunston Hall (home of George Mason) is right down the road from Mt. Vernon and great to visit with kids! Udvar-Hazy Air and space extension is near Dulles airport. They house the Space Shuttle Discovery, along with the Enola Gay. My kids love visiting. The museum is free, but parking is $15. Avoid Columbus/Indigenous People’s Day weekend and you should be good as far as crowds go.
|
|
Minerva
Ruby
Posts: 15,381 Likes: 67,036
|
Post by Minerva on Jul 24, 2019 17:13:25 GMT -6
Also, within DC, Ford Theater is one of my fav places to visit.
|
|
|
DC Travel
Jul 24, 2019 17:17:02 GMT -6
via mobile
Post by bunnyfungo on Jul 24, 2019 17:17:02 GMT -6
If you can get out to Virginia, Mount Vernon in Alexandria is a must-see. Gunston Hall (home of George Mason) is right down the road from Mt. Vernon and great to visit with kids! Udvar-Hazy Air and space extension is near Dulles airport. They house the Space Shuttle Discovery, along with the Enola Gay. My kids love visiting. The museum is free, but parking is $15. Avoid Columbus/Indigenous People’s Day weekend and you should be good as far as crowds go. Adding this to my list for my 5 year old who is obsessed with space and the moon.
|
|
dc2london
Admin
Press Secretary
Posts: 61,692 Likes: 419,642
|
Post by dc2london on Jul 24, 2019 17:21:15 GMT -6
October is some of our best weather! That's typically when I recommend people come bc the tourists and heat are gone.
The Natural History Museum just opened up a new dinosaur exhibit which, by all accounts, is amazing. The National Museum of African American History is amazing too.
We really like the national Botanical Gardens and the columns there from the remodel of the Capitol in the 1950's. There's a Bonsai museum on site, and in the autumn the whole place should be really picturesque.
My kids love the National Archives, as well as the International Spy Museum. The latter just upgraded to a bigger fancier new space.
Definitely check out what's on at the National Building Museum. This one's a bit off the beaten path and typically has really cool but not well-attended exhibits.
Mt Vernon often does expanded programs in October and November bc of the milder weather, often including things like cow milking demonstrations, glass blowing or butter churning.
Rock Creek Park has a planetarium. We have only been in the summer so you'd have to look at the hours but they do pretty cool shows for preschoolers and for elementary age kids.
|
|
dc2london
Admin
Press Secretary
Posts: 61,692 Likes: 419,642
|
Post by dc2london on Jul 24, 2019 17:36:27 GMT -6
Gunston Hall (home of George Mason) is right down the road from Mt. Vernon and great to visit with kids! Udvar-Hazy Air and space extension is near Dulles airport. They house the Space Shuttle Discovery, along with the Enola Gay. My kids love visiting. The museum is free, but parking is $15. Avoid Columbus/Indigenous People’s Day weekend and you should be good as far as crowds go. Adding this to my list for my 5 year old who is obsessed with space and the moon. Udvar Hazy is a schlep outside the city, just FYI. It's worth it, but I would only make the trip if you rent a car
|
|
Minerva
Ruby
Posts: 15,381 Likes: 67,036
|
Post by Minerva on Jul 24, 2019 17:39:22 GMT -6
October is some of our best weather! That's typically when I recommend people come bc the tourists and heat are gone. The Natural History Museum just opened up a new dinosaur exhibit which, by all accounts, is amazing. The National Museum of African American History is amazing too. We really like the national Botanical Gardens and the columns there from the remodel of the Capitol in the 1950's. There's a Bonsai museum on site, and in the autumn the whole place should be really picturesque. My kids love the National Archives, as well as the International Spy Museum. The latter just upgraded to a bigger fancier new space. Definitely check out what's on at the National Building Museum. This one's a bit off the beaten path and typically has really cool but not well-attended exhibits. Mt Vernon often does expanded programs in October and November bc of the milder weather, often including things like cow milking demonstrations, glass blowing or butter churning. Rock Creek Park has a planetarium. We have only been in the summer so you'd have to look at the hours but they do pretty cool shows for preschoolers and for elementary age kids. The Dinosaur exhibit at the NMNH is so freaking cool. I can’t wait to go back. They use climate change as an underlying theme and it is so well done. Plus, the way they mounted the dinosaur skeletons to show predation events is seriously awesome.
|
|
|
DC Travel
Jul 24, 2019 17:47:29 GMT -6
via mobile
Post by bunnyfungo on Jul 24, 2019 17:47:29 GMT -6
Thanks guys! Now...how do I escape my family vacation to meet you all for drinks? 🤔
|
|
|
Post by cakewench on Jul 24, 2019 17:59:04 GMT -6
Thanks guys! Now...how do I escape my family vacation to meet you all for drinks? 🤔 Get a hotel with a pool, get some pizza, then leave a Bunny-shaped cloud as you dash madly out the door 😂
|
|
|
DC Travel
Jul 24, 2019 18:01:43 GMT -6
via mobile
Post by enchanted on Jul 24, 2019 18:01:43 GMT -6
Thanks guys! Now...how do I escape my family vacation to meet you all for drinks? 🤔 Tell them you have to pick up tickets for something.
|
|
|
DC Travel
Jul 24, 2019 18:02:08 GMT -6
via mobile
Post by enchanted on Jul 24, 2019 18:02:08 GMT -6
And then tell them the metro broke down and that's why it took so long.
|
|
|
Post by notblanche on Jul 24, 2019 18:06:52 GMT -6
Adding this to my list for my 5 year old who is obsessed with space and the moon. Udvar Hazy is a schlep outside the city, just FYI. It's worth it, but I would only make the trip if you rent a car It's so far! But bunnyfungo you could make a day of it and visit the Bull Run battlefield park as well, and there's a winery there too.
|
|
dc2london
Admin
Press Secretary
Posts: 61,692 Likes: 419,642
|
Post by dc2london on Jul 24, 2019 18:09:30 GMT -6
Thanks guys! Now...how do I escape my family vacation to meet you all for drinks? 🤔 I mean I'm just saying my kids are similar ages to yours and I know where all the good playgrounds are I"M JUST SAYING. And I'm just saying we could smuggle mimosas into Yetis I"M JUST SAYING.
|
|
|
DC Travel
Jul 24, 2019 18:22:04 GMT -6
via mobile
Post by PandaWatch on Jul 24, 2019 18:22:04 GMT -6
Fall is perfect - schools here don’t have a fall break. Some may be off for Columbus Day, but otherwise, there’s no big week off like in the spring.
I haven’t read, so I may be repeating, but my favorites:
- the zoo - National Geographic - Renwick - Postal museum - Building museum - Capitol Visitors Center - Archives - Bureau of Engraving and Printing
|
|
|
DC Travel
Jul 24, 2019 18:24:41 GMT -6
via mobile
Post by bunnyfungo on Jul 24, 2019 18:24:41 GMT -6
Thanks guys! Now...how do I escape my family vacation to meet you all for drinks? 🤔 I mean I'm just saying my kids are similar ages to yours and I know where all the good playgrounds are I"M JUST SAYING. And I'm just saying we could smuggle mimosas into Yetis I"M JUST SAYING. I can make you snuggle my baby this time.
|
|
RajahMD
Amethyst
Posts: 6,973 Likes: 41,656
|
Post by RajahMD on Jul 24, 2019 18:26:06 GMT -6
I second the Zoo recommendation. It's so pretty and well done.
Keep in mind though, it's a tad hilly. You'll definitely get your exercise in.
|
|
|
DC Travel
Jul 24, 2019 18:29:05 GMT -6
via mobile
Post by bunnyfungo on Jul 24, 2019 18:29:05 GMT -6
I mean I'm just saying my kids are similar ages to yours and I know where all the good playgrounds are I"M JUST SAYING. And I'm just saying we could smuggle mimosas into Yetis I"M JUST SAYING. I can make you snuggle my baby this time. Oh, wait. I’m not bringing the baby 😂😂😂
|
|
dc2london
Admin
Press Secretary
Posts: 61,692 Likes: 419,642
|
Post by dc2london on Jul 24, 2019 19:03:31 GMT -6
I mean I'm just saying my kids are similar ages to yours and I know where all the good playgrounds are I"M JUST SAYING. And I'm just saying we could smuggle mimosas into Yetis I"M JUST SAYING. I can make you snuggle my baby this time. I can't believe the last time I saw you C was not even 6 months old 😭😭
|
|
|
Post by bunnyfungo on Jul 24, 2019 19:41:31 GMT -6
I can make you snuggle my baby this time. I can't believe the last time I saw you C was not even 6 months old 😭😭 PDQ: This was DD3 at the women’s march and now. They have gotten so big. **poof*
|
|
|
Post by Uncaripswife on Jul 24, 2019 19:59:57 GMT -6
If you can get out to Virginia, Mount Vernon in Alexandria is a must-see. Gunston Hall (home of George Mason) is right down the road from Mt. Vernon and great to visit with kids! Udvar-Hazy Air and space extension is near Dulles airport. They house the Space Shuttle Discovery, along with the Enola Gay. My kids love visiting. The museum is free, but parking is $15. Avoid Columbus/Indigenous People’s Day weekend and you should be good as far as crowds go. Yes! Udvar Hazy is so cool!
|
|
jkjacq
Ruby
Posts: 21,742 Likes: 94,334
|
DC Travel
Jul 24, 2019 20:38:54 GMT -6
via mobile
Post by jkjacq on Jul 24, 2019 20:38:54 GMT -6
Oh my gosh bunny so cute
|
|
|
DC Travel
Jul 24, 2019 22:38:06 GMT -6
via mobile
Post by tapdancer on Jul 24, 2019 22:38:06 GMT -6
I second the Zoo recommendation. It's so pretty and well done. Keep in mind though, it's a tad hilly. You'll definitely get your exercise in. If you do have a car and drive to the zoo park at the bottom of the giant hill Lot D or E. Then you go up the hill and then loop around and then turn back down. Your legs will thank you when you don’t have to walk up wh steep giant hill at the end. Also the zoo is lovely in the Fall since the temperatures are more mild.
|
|
|
DC Travel
Jul 24, 2019 22:41:30 GMT -6
via mobile
Post by tapdancer on Jul 24, 2019 22:41:30 GMT -6
Also if you are just staying in DC the air and space museum has always been a favorite. Really all the ones down on the mall are great. I’ve got Natural History on my bucket list for the fall to check out the dinosaurs. They also have a cool butterfly exhibit that is free on Tuesdays.
|
|
dc2london
Admin
Press Secretary
Posts: 61,692 Likes: 419,642
|
Post by dc2london on Jul 25, 2019 6:43:02 GMT -6
We really love the botanical gardens too!
|
|
byjove
Ruby
Posts: 15,339 Likes: 74,949
|
Post by byjove on Jul 29, 2019 9:00:57 GMT -6
I'm surprised there aren't more votes for the American History museum. But I guess I'd probably vote Air and Space or Natural History too for that demographic.
|
|
Minerva
Ruby
Posts: 15,381 Likes: 67,036
|
Post by Minerva on Jul 29, 2019 10:08:20 GMT -6
I'm surprised there aren't more votes for the American History museum. But I guess I'd probably vote Air and Space or Natural History too for that demographic. The kid spaces in the American History Museum are fantastic. A adores the Spark!Lab and the train exhibit.
|
|
sctiger
Platinum
Posts: 1,193 Likes: 9,281
|
DC Travel
Aug 7, 2019 20:21:21 GMT -6
via mobile
Post by sctiger on Aug 7, 2019 20:21:21 GMT -6
I was rereading this thread because we are talking about going in June but without the kids. They are 6 and 3 right now and I think it'll be a while before we can take them both and they'll appreciate it. I haven't been to DC since Bill Clinton was president (I've been a few times because my dad used to travel there on business) and I'm getting the itch to go again and don't want to wait for the kids to get older, plus we can have a grown up trip and enjoy good food and drinks. It's a 7-8 hour drive so we'll have our car but I found an airbnb within walking distance to a lot of places.
|
|