<p>Great suggestions. Two of our kids live in the DC metro area, and we’re looking forward to our annual visit next month. Excited this AM because I just read about a new exhibit at the Smithsonian’s American Art Museum: selections from the Steven Spielberg and George Lucas collections of Norman Rockwell paintings and illustrations. <a href=“http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/04/arts/design/04rockwell.html?ref=arts[/url]”>http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/04/arts/design/04rockwell.html?ref=arts</a></p>
<p>There are great rates at many city hotels on weekends (the same rooms are more than twice as much on weekdays), but we’d rather spend our money on great meals when we visit, so we usually stay at a suburban hotel close to a Metro station. </p>
<p>Dittoing the posters above on the Newseum - my dh has never enjoyed a museum more. Planning to try some of the other great tips on this thread - thanks, folks! :)</p>