Interesting places to visit in DC
 

Hey fellow GCers,

I have a question for you. My Mom is going to be visiting my brother and his children this month. He lives about 10 minutes from DC. Do you know of any kid friendly (and possibly free) places that she can take the kids to go a visit. The children are ages 10, 7, 3, and 9 mo. old.

Any places that you list would be a great help to me.

Thanks for all of your help!:p

Of the Smithsonian museums (ALL FREE), the National Museum of American History is a winner. (http://americanhistory.si.edu/)

Here are some other suggestions from the Washington Post: http://www.washingtonpost.com/gog/dc...ctivities.html

Thank you Gamma -- I will pass this along to her!

For kids that age, I might choose Air and Space or Natural History of American History (even though the American History Museum is my favorite).

And remember that the National Zoo is part of the Smithsonian and, therefore, also free.

And there are the memorials along the Mall -- Lincoln, Jefferson, etc. I know my kids got a kick just out of going to the Lincoln Memorial and then looking at a penny (or $5 bill) and saying "that's where we are."

And it doesn't cost anything to walk by the White House.

Everyone overlooks this place- but it is SO cool, and the kids will love it.

http://www.spymuseum.org/

Yes, the tickets cost a bit, but the two youngest will be free.

I was going to mention the Newseum, but probably not with a toddler.

Paging ADQtiPiMel!

i *always* take out of towners to the Spy Museum. Tickets are definitely worth the price, and they just opened a new exhibit (villians of bond movies).

I love that Museum, and my kids did when they were 8 and 11. But I wondered if 3 and 7 was too young to appreciate it. I dunno.

Thank you all for your help. I will pass this along to my Mom. We have scheduled a tour for the Fredrick Douglass Museum and for Ford's Theater. I think she wants to do a tour of the city by bus (she's 67 years old (thank God) and she doesn't want to walk around so much).

I know that she wants to see the Smithsonian. I will pass along which one is the best for her and the kids. This will be her first big trip since 2004 (when she went out to LA for a cousins funeral). She's uber excited!

Me, I'll be at home with the dog (don't like to leave the farm with no one one it). Unemployment sometimes has it's kicks.

My brother hasn't lived in MD for too long, so he doesn't know all his way around the city.

But thanks for all of the suggestions and please keep them coming. She leaves on the 20th and will be there on the 21st through the 24th. Please keep the suggestions coming so that I can help her plan out some more of her trip.

Libramunoz

So sorry, Mystic Cat, Bluetang, Pheonix, and Honeychile--Thank you as well (soooo soorrry didn't give ya'll the individual shout outs)

LM

Hop on/hop off tours work great to get an overview of a city. I found 2 in Washington DC and the price seems good. If they're going to go into the city 2 days in a row, I'd really consider the 2 day pass. That way you can do the full circuit the first half day and do more hopping after that. But the rules generally require those 2 days to be consecutive.

Thanks Dubai Sis--my Mom just looked it up and found out about the trolley tour and she's thinking about taking them.

The Zoo in winter is not a winner.

Good point -- though if it stays as warm as it's been the last week or so . . . .

Truth! Make sure that you take the bus that goes into Arlington Cemetery, or connects to it. The changing of the guard is absolutely breath taking! We usually park at Union Station, and catch it right out front - no time for kids to cry that they're tired! If you take the Old Town Trolley tour, they have pop quizzes, and the winner gets an "Executive Decision Maker" - a large coin to toss. It does the northern end of DC, including Embassy Row. Either one gives you a HUGE overview of our Capital City.

If they do Ford's Theatre, go right across the street to the Petersen House, where Lincoln actually died. It's free, and if you're lucky, you'll be able to see the pillow where his head rested. It really personalizes history!