SAMPLE ITINERARIES FOR YOUR VISIT TO WASHINGTON, D.C.
Here are some suggestions on what to do when visiting the Nation’s Capital.
TWO OR THREE DAY VISIT
If you’ve got two days, we suggest hitting a couple of highlights, but don’t try to see everything. You’ll end up rushing through things so fast that you’ll spend more time on the Metro than sightseeing. All of these suggestions assume that you’ll be staying downtown or will come downtown for the day.
Day 1:
Morning: Morning is a great time to try our Civil War Tour, as the path follows a route from the Capitol to the White House.
Before Lunch: After the tour, you may consider a White House Tour (www.whitehouse.gov). Tickets must be arranged in advance through your Congressional representative. Visit the White House Visitors Center (at 15th & E Streets) for information on the White House.
After the Washington Monument, you have a short walk to the Air & Space Museum (www.nasm.si.edu). The Holocaust Museum (www.ushmm.org) and the U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing (www.moneyfactory.gov) also are just down the block from the Monument, next to each other on 14th Street and Independence.
Day 2:
Morning: Try the National Building Museum (www.nbm.org) on F Street between 4th and 5th Streets. The museum features exhibits on architecture, design, and other subjects in the building arts.
After Lunch: Try another Smithsonian museum, such as the Museum of Natural History (www.mnh.si.edu), National Museum of the American Indian (www.nmai.si.edu) or the Hirshhorn Museum of Art and Sculpture Garden (www.hirshhorn.si.edu). Or take a tour of the U.S. Capitol building (www.house.gov or www.senate.gov)
Day 3:
Morning: Take our Pennsylvania Avenue Tour this morning. You’ll take a great walk down America’s Main Street. You’ll hear about the history behind The White House, some of the unique government buildings, and several of the statues that line this historic street.
After Lunch: Browse through the National Gallery of Art, East and West Buildings (www.nga.gov), on Constitution between 3rd and 7th streets.
Or catch the demonstration of a canal boat on the C&O Canal in Georgetown (1057 Thomas Jefferson Street). Stroll through Georgetown’s shops or visit the beautiful Georgetown University campus. Then take a short cab ride to Dupont Circle and poke through its funky shops and bookstores.
Or you may want to visit the National Zoo (www.nationalzoo.si.edu) in the Woodley Park neighborhood. Washington’s National Cathedral (www.cathedral.org/cathedral) is not far either.
FIVE DAY VISIT
With five days, you have a chance to see the city, and attractions outside Washington. You could even fit in a day trip to Baltimore or Annapolis, Maryland.
Day 1:
Morning: Try our Monument tour. This is a great time of day to see these major attractions on the National Mall before they get too crowded.
Before Lunch: Our Monument tour ends at the Smithsonian metro station. From there, you are a short walk to the Smithsonian’s Air & Space Museum (www.nasm.si.edu), one of the most popular museums in the world.
After Lunch: Try a tour of the U.S. Capitol (www.house.gov or www.senate.gov), and finish your day next to the Capitol at the U.S. Botanic Gardens (www.usbg.gov).
Day 2:
Morning: Try our Civil War tour. It takes you on a path from the U.S. Capitol to The White House. If you would like to continue your day with a tour of The White House (www.whitehouse.gov), tickets must be arranged in advance through your Congressional representative.
After Lunch: Try going up in the Washington Monument (www.nps.gov) for great views of the National Mall, Virginia and the Tidal Basin. You can get a ticket at the kiosk near the Monument on 15th Street.
Then, since you’re on the National Mall, check out the Smithsonian’s Museum of Natural History (www.mnh.si.edu), or the National Gallery of Art (www.nga.gov).
Day 3:
Spend the day away from Washington! In less than an hour, you can be in Baltimore or Annapolis, Maryland.
In Baltimore: Check out the Inner Harbor (www.baltimore.org/baltimore_inner_harbor.htm) and Baltimore’s famous Aquarium (www.aqua.org).
In Annapolis: Beautiful downtown Annapolis features the U.S. Naval Academy (www.usna.edu), the Maryland State House (www.msa.md.gov/msa/homepage/html/statehse.html), and great shopping and restaurants.
Day 4:
Morning: Take our Arlington Cemetery tour this morning. It features several of the well-known sites in the Cemetery, including the John F. Kennedy eternal flame, the Tomb of the Unknowns and Arlington House.
After the Tour: From the Cemetery, drive to Mt. Vernon (www.mountvernon.org), the estate of George Washington in Alexandria, Virginia, or drive to the Manassas National Battlefield (www.nps.gov/mana/home.htm) where the Battles of Bull Run were fought. Or, come back into Washington and visit the National Zoo in the Woodley Park neighborhood (www.nationalzoo.si.edu).
Day 5:
Morning: Take our Embassy Row and the National Cathedral tour. It features historic homes, the National Cathedral, and of course, embassies.
After Lunch: Take a short cab ride to end your visit in Georgetown for some shopping or a stroll through the Georgetown University campus
Links for Families Visiting Washington
Discovery Theater
is part of the Smithsonian Institution and is on the National Mall. It offers entertaining activities and performances for kids.
Imagination Stage
offers performances for kids in nearby Bethesda, Maryland.
Glen Echo Park in Maryland
offers all kinds of arts programs, an old-fashioned carousel, a puppet theater, a playground and more.
There are at least two theme parks near Washington:
Six Flags America is near Largo, Maryland, and
Kings Dominion is located in Doswell, Virginia, about 75 miles south of Washington.
Brookside Gardens
in Wheaton, Maryland offers a 50-acre garden with paved walkways for both parents and kids.
The National Zoo,
as mentioned above, is a great place for kids.
Mt. Vernon
is the estate of George Washington located in Alexandria, Virginia. It features beautiful grounds, historical exhibits, and plenty of space for kids to roam.