Recommendations for quick DC trip? About This Page:

[happyhedgehogs]

In October, we're going to visit my sister and her family in the DC area (Reston, VA, specifically). My husband and kids have never been to DC. I last spent any significant time there something close to 15 years ago, though I did get to visit a couple of the museums for a few hours each in 2007.

We'll have very little time in DC, but I want to at least hit some "high points" while we're there. On Saturday, we'll visit the Natural History Museum with sister and family. They'll leave after lunch to go back and take naps (they have very young kids), but I think we might stay a little longer that day before going back mid-afternoon. On Sunday they'll go to church, but we're going to be heathens and skip, and go back to DC for a few more hours. I'd say we'll have 6 hours including lunch on Sunday, and maybe 2-3 hours on Saturday (besides the Natural History Museum with the family).

In such a short time, what are the most important things for us to see? My kids are 6 and 8. DS is particularly interested in dinos and space, so I'm thinking if we can only see one other museum, we should go to the one with the airplanes and space pods. (Aeronautics Museum, or something like that?) I also thought maybe the art museum, since the kids are familiar with several things that can be found there, such as Degas' "Little Dancer". Should we stick with just one or two museums and spend a few hours in each, or should we see just a few things each in several different museums?

This is sort of like trying to plan a Disney trip with only 10 hours to spend in the parks!!!

[chezp]

The Air and Space Museum is the one you're thinking and that's definitely not to be missed.

[Colexis Mom]

I would definitely do the Air and Space museum. If you can fit in the Udvar-Hazy one at Dulles Airport, I'd highly recommend that one (not too far from Reston). I'd just see the highlights you want in each of the museums. We've bounced between a bunch of them in a day, and they're not too far apart!

[Carousel96]

I'd do Air and Space, too. It means you won't see any dinos, but dinosaurs are in museums all over the country -- Air and Space is one of a kind.
Definately find time to walk the mall and see the major monuments,too.

[Chelledun17]

We loved the International Spy Museum and I think your kids would too!

[DyanKJ130]

We went to DC for 2 days in July. We did a Hop-On, Hop-Off double decker bus tour (2 days - unlimited riding), Air & Space Museum, American History Museum, a small portion of the Natural History Museum (the butterfly experience was cool), but the absolute best part of our time there was the Tourmobile Twilight Tour. Not only did they get us to all of the monuments in a short amount of time, we had a fabulous tour guide, who taught us so much more!

[happyhedgehogs]

Originally Posted by Chelledun17

We loved the International Spy Museum and I think your kids would too!

Whoa, there's a spy museum??? Oh, we have to go see that! DS has planned for the last two years (a large percentage of his 8 short years!) that he'll be a spy when he grows up.

[minemoz1]

I would second an evening bus/trolley tour of the monuments. It was the highlight of our trip.

[chezp]

Originally Posted by minemoz1

I would second an evening bus/trolley tour of the monuments. It was the highlight of our trip.

Add my vote to that as well, the monuments beautiful at night.

[Chelledun17]

Originally Posted by happyhedgehogs

Whoa, there's a spy museum??? Oh, we have to go see that! DS has planned for the last two years (a large percentage of his 8 short years!) that he'll be a spy when he grows up.

It is SO FUN! You get to assume a fake identity. Here's the website - INTERNATIONAL SPY MUSEUM

And here's a write-up I did after we visited - The International Spy Museum: I Was Never There. - International Spy Museum - Epinions.com

PM me if you have any specific questions.

Michelle

[happyhedgehogs]

Awesome! Thanks, everyone! Great ideas!!

[emtpej]

Sounds like you got a lot of great advice!

[denwol]

My kids favorites were the Air and Space Museum and the American History Museum......I would choose these!

In the American History Museum they had workshops for the kids - cooking, science, etc - and they liked that they were seeing things that they had begun learning in school. Made it seem more real to them.....Something to think about.



You really can't go wrong - Enjoy!

[happyhedgehogs]

Has anyone seen Night at the Museum 2? We went to the drive-in last weekend to watch it. What a perfect way to get the kids excited about our upcoming trip!

[Papa Mouse]

Dinosaurs At The Smithsonian

Carnosauria - Bing Images

Dinosaurs pictures - Bing Images

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