<p>The Washington Plaza hotel, on Thomas Circle, is reasonably priced and within walking distance of the Mall; it’s even quicker to take the metro.</p>
<p>There’s so much stuff right on the Mall that you can just walk to that you don’t really need a tour guide. Highlights for our family: at one end, the Capitol, the Native American museum, and the botanical part of the Smithsonian, the Vietnam and Korea war memorials at the other end.</p>
<p>During cherry-blossom season in March/April DC is full of tourists. If your vacation is at that time, book your hotel early.</p>