DC off the beaten path About This Page:

[Carousel96]

I've gone to DC for a conference every year since 1990 and my roommates and I manage to fit in some sightseeing every year. So we've seen all the biggies.
I've taken my daughter for the week each of the last two years, so we've done the high points again fairly recently.

DD will probably be going with me again this year. We'll take one preconference day to go to Mt. Vernon. After that, my meetings will keep us in the District.

What are the often overlooked sites we should be sure to see? The things that are interesting or well done, but don't quite make the cut for a first trip, or a short trip, or a "must do" list? (DD has been to the National Cathedral, and the Spy Museum, both of which are on my 'really-nice-but-you-should-see-the-monuments-first" list)

[IdahoDisneyMom]

The Postal Museum is pretty cool, especially for younger kids (not sure how old your daughter is). It's directly across the street from Union Station, which is interesting too. They've been working on a remodel as well, so it should be even better than the last time we saw it. The Old Post Office Building is interesting, and if you take the elevator to the top the view is great.

[Carousel96]

maybe I should clarify.
DD will be 12 at the time of the trip.

I want to see the new MLK memorial and somehow we've missed the Vietnam Wall
we're planning to see the Pentagon 9-11 memorial this year too

Off the top of my head, I know she's seen (some more than once):
the Capital (tours and gallery passes)
the White House
The Supreme Court
Library of Congress
National Cathedral
Fords Theater/Peterson House
Washington Monument (and been to the top)
Lincoln, Jefferson, FDR Memorials
Arlington Cemetery, including Changing of the Guard and the Marine Memorial
WWII and Korean War Memorials
Monuments at Night tour, Duck Tour, Ghost Tour, Fords Theater McDevitt tour
Smithsonian museums -- Am Hist, Indian, Nat Hist, Air and Space
Portrait Gallery / Museum of American Art
Archives
Bureau of Engraving and Printing
Holocaust Museum (Daniel's Story and permanent exhibit)
Spy Museum
Newseum
breakfast with both our Senators
memorial to the Signers of the Declaration of Independence
DAR museum and period rooms

[Huntermom]

Will you have a car?

We were frequent DC visitors because we have family in Bethesda. My kids would go repeatedly to the Zoo, Air and Space Museum and Museum of Natural History. they were must do's on almost ever trip, including when they were young adults.

We also did things that were outside the city, but you would need a car. We often flew in and out of Baltimore and the kids enjoyed the Aquarium if we went when area schools were in session.

What time of year will you be there? Does you Dd like hiking?

We found that as the kids got older, they looked at different attractions differently and got different things out of them.

[Carousel96]

we won't have a car
We'll be there the last week of June -- the last couple of years it's been crazy hot
I know this is sacrilege, but I've never been impressed by the zoo in DC

[Huntermom]

Have you looked at the museum of African Art? An afternoon just roaming the mall (if it's not too hot)?

My kids liked the C&O Canal, too but I am not sure you can get to it without a car. http://www.nps.gov/choh/index.htm

[DawnK]

I know we visited Embassy Row, The Pentagon and The FBI Building.

[pago]

Thanks, I just posted a question today asking about good hotels. Our Dd just said today that she has always wanted to go to DC. Now, the sightseeing/attraction question has been answered - anyone care to weigh in on hotels?

[Carousel96]

Originally Posted by DawnK

I know we visited Embassy Row, The Pentagon and The FBI Building.

For the sake of other travelers looking at this thread --
FBI doesn't do tours anymore FBI — Headquarters Tour
I didn't know tours were an option at the Pentagon -- we'll have to look into that http://pentagon.osd.mil/tour-selection.html