<p>My daughter moved to DC last summer and we visited her last fall. We did the Segway tour with groupon discounts. A great deal, but it turned out to be a really cool evening (“Wow, this is the coldest it’s been this fall!”) and we were frozen sticks when we finally got back to the gathering place. The evening was great because there was no people traffic to avoid. I wish there was a way they could do it with touring at least a couple of museums instead of going for the number of monuments. Looks like there was just a Living Social discount for this one: [Segway</a> Tours | D.C. Sightseeing | City Segway Tours - Washington D.C.](<a href=“http://dc.citysegwaytours.com/]Segway”>http://dc.citysegwaytours.com/)</p>
<p>I vastly prefer the American Museum of Natural History in NYC; I think the curating is infinitely superior. The Air & Space Museum is always very crowded, so I would only venture there if I had a young person whom I knew would be interested. The National Gallery often has great shows. The Freer is very worthwhile, and the Sackler and the African Art Gallery are both gems (and always empty). The Hirshhorn sculpture garden and its sculpture collection inside are quite good; the paintings, not so much. And the American Indian Museum is great architecture and very interesting (each tribe has curated its own exhibit). The Castle used to have wonderful, weird Victorian collections, but alas, no longer.</p>
Picking up on this, one approach is to see the highlights of a number of museums–they’re close enough together to make this possible. (For example, you could go into the Freer Gallery just to see the Peacock Room designed by Whistler).</p>
<p>The two less popular places I enjoy (both near Union Station) are the library of congress and the postal museum. Favorite informal eating place is Nando’s (I think there may be 2-3 of them).</p>
<p>I agree with others who say the National Archives is a must see–that was my family’s favorite place when we visited three summers ago. We could hardly pull ourselves away. Other highlights were a tour of the Capitol (arranged through our representative’s office), the National Gallery and the Museum of American History. Of course, I think the memorials are well worth it too, especially the Lincoln Memorial and the Vietnam memorial. It’s too bad the Washington Monument is closed indefinitely because that was another highlight of our trip (especially after being at Arlington National Cemetery on a 100 degree July day). :)</p>
<p>I love going to DC and rather than get overwhelmed, I always focus on 1 or 2 major destinations for a weekend. Last time it was the American History Museum as I wanted to see Julia Child’s kitchen and hadn’t been to the museum in about 10 years. Also devoted a good part of that weekend to the Newseum. Not part of the Smithsonian so there is a charge but it is fantastic…so interesting and your pass covers two days. I also love the National Portrait Gallery, American Art Museum, the National Gallery, National Building Museum …
I also second the Old Ebbit Grill-one of my favorite DC locations.
Depending on when you are going, I would recommend either dinner or some time in Old Town Alexandria-so nice to walk around and plenty of nice restaurants… or even take in a Washington Nationals game…easy to get to the ballpark and the view of the monuments at night is an added bonus.</p>
<p>You can go up the Old Post Office tower for a city view. It’s a good alternative even when the Washington Monument is open. There is a food court in main section. </p>
<p>There is a small museum and dining in the Capitol Visitor Center that might be worth a stop if you don’t have tour tickets. You can take the tunnel from there to the Library of Congress. I probably wouldn’t do this on a single day visit though.</p>
<p>I have taken friends downtown for the day and done what I call my speed tour, which consists of hitting the highlights - Wright Brothers plane, Hope Diamond, Star Spangled Banner, monuments, etc. Start at the Castle and go around the mall and tidal basin.</p>
<p>I’m going to be in DC this April for the Cherry Blossom Run (as a spectator, not a participant, believe me). Do any of the DC experts here have advice on handling a particularly crowded weekend? We have hotel and dinner/brunch reservations already. But I would like to be able to zig when everyone else is zagging. Any suggestions for sights that are under the radar?</p>
<p>For sights under the radar, the following Smithsonian museums tend to be less crowded than others, but are still worth seeing: Freer, Sackler, and the Museum of American Art/National Portrait Gallery (which is a few blocks away from the Mall at Gallery Place). Also the Postal Museum, which is next to Union Station.</p>
<p>I’d be happy if I never ever have to go to Air and Space again. We used to go every single year. My favorite museum in DC area is the Phillips Gallery, private collection in an old house, not on the mall. I’ve always thought the Portrait Gallery was a lot of fun.</p>
<p>What is this “Newseum”? I’ll be there in May…maybe I need to go there!</p>
<p>This OP is traveling with an 8th grader. If he LOVES art work then by all means go to the National Gallery. Personally I think it’s the most boring museum there, and there are art museums near most folks’ homes. That American History Museum is by far my favorite. There is an excellent variety of exhibits in it.</p>
<p>The Holocaust Museum is one of two museums I’ve toured where it was silent…no one talking…all the way through. The Genocide Museum in Kigali, Rwanda was also silent. I thought the Holocaust Museum was extremely well done, but then my family fled Germany.</p>
<p>I personally think the air and space museum needs to be updated, but an 8th grader might love it.</p>
<p>The Air and Space Museum has been updated many times over the years, recently adding a large space shuttle area. Agree that the food is pure fast food, better to eat at food trucks on the mall for lunch.</p>
<p>Natural History has an insect zoo that is very fun for all ages, particularly when the staff bring out large specimens to crawl on willing arms. Check schedules for timing. My kids used to love the tarantula feedings.</p>
<p>The Air and Space Museum also recently updated another wing with a lot of interactive displays (that work, unlike all the electricity ones in American History(?)) that are pretty cool if you have a kid interested in science.</p>
<p>I’ll send visiting the Old Post Office. Both times I’ve been there was around a five minute wait to get up top, and you really do get a great view.</p>
<p>I’ve always enjoyed the opportunity to just walk around the mall. It seems to be beautiful no matter what time I’ve year I’ve visited.</p>
<p>With an 8th grader, I’d be cautious not to be too ambitious about how many museums in one day. Play it by ear. Agree with another poster- my all time favorite thing is Lincoln Memorial, late at night. Lots of people out. </p>
<p>What’s the deal on getting into the White House? As a kid, that impressed me.</p>
<p>My D finished a graduate program at Georgetown last year and she and a group of women in her program hosted a dinner at the restaurant below for parents/friends the night before graduation. Food was good and it was a nice setting–right near Capitol Hill.
[The</a> Monocle Restaurant](<a href=“http://themonocle.com/index.html]The”>http://themonocle.com/index.html)</p>
It is an interactive museum of news and journalism. That may sound dry, but it is one of my favorites in all of DC. I’m a local and always end up taking out of town guest there and it is always a hit. Look at the website [Newseum</a> | Newseum Home](<a href=“http://www.newseum.org%5DNewseum”>http://www.newseum.org) and also reviews on tripadvisor.com to get some other info and insights. Well worth the price of admission. If you’ll be there in May, there is a new exhibit opening in April focusing on the 50th anniversary of JFK’s assassination.</p>