A trip to D.C. About This Page:

[pago]

I would love any suggestions on where to stay in Washington DC with two kids ages 11 and 17.

Thanks in advance.

[Carousel96]

I go for a conference, so proximity to our headquarters and meetings is more important than proximity to the sights.
My roommates and I like the State Plaza because the rooms have small kitchens and there's a CVS next door to buy milk, OJ and cereal. We could also get good rates by going through some state delegations with our meetings.
We stayed at the Hotel Lombardy last year and liked it a lot, too.

Are you driving or flying? You can take the Metro from the airport to your hotel if you're close enough to a station. Metro access is nice, but many of the DC sights are in a "metro free zone" so you'll need to do some walking no matter what.
If you can get a good hotel rate in Arlington or Crystal City, it's easy to hop the Metro into the city for sightseeing.
If you're driving to DC, you can stay a bit farther out and get a better hotel rate -- but then access to a Metro stop is key. You'll want to Metro into the city for your sightseeing. DC is not exactly a driver-friendly town.

There are several threads in this forum and many trip reports regarding must-see DC sights. You'll want to look into those for reviews of museums and help prioritizing. My question is a little different because this will be DD's third trip in 3 years and my 20th in 22.

I'd start with
Must See Washington DC ??
Any Washington DC advice?
Washington DC - Where to stay????
Washington DC - Where to stay????
Recommendations for quick DC trip?

When are you going? Like Disney, and many other places, crowds are seasonal and will have a lot of impact on how much you can see.

[rmprhp]

We like the Savoy Suites in Georgetown. The hotel is clean, comfortable and very accommodating for families (we have kids between 7 - 22).

They have a free shuttle to the Metro which drops you off at the Metro stop on Connecticut Ave within an easy walk to the National Zoo. The hotel is within walking distance of the National Cathedral, which has some really fun activities for families including a Gargoyle Tour. And is also close to Embassy Row, which is worth checking out.

Because of the proximity to Georgetown, there are some great, and not too expensive dining options in the neighborhood.

[Huntermom]

If you have a car, I recommend the Marriott Suites Bethesda.

Bethesda, Maryland Hotels | North Bethesda Hotels | Bethesda Extended Stay Hotel

Lots of room and very reasonable.

[redkatrampant]

So glad I saw this! Hubby and I are going for a quick trip sometime this year ( Korean MIA Family Briefings) and then we are taking our daughter in March 2013.

[carters_mom]

We drove to DC last summer and stayed here: Washington DC Convention Center Hotels & Downtown Marriott Accommodations Near The Metro - Courtyard Washington Convention Center

We never used our vehicle until the day we left and we went to Arlington. Everything in DC was within walking distance, but we did do a lot of walking. We had our nine year old son with us and he never complained about the walking. It was a very nice room, we enjoyed our stay.

[Lemap760]

I stayed at the Washington Hilton last summer with DS who was 8. It's close to a metro stop and there are plenty of inexpensive places to eat around the hotel. There is also a drugstore at the end of the block. Great for grabbing a quick drink or snack. Although it's mainly a convention hotel, there is a pool area that DS liked.