<p>We’re somewhat unexpectedly going to be spending about three days in D.C. on the way to a family reunion in North Carolina in July.</p>
<p>I know that people have made hotel suggestions…I’m looking for nice-but-modest, tilting a bit towards “nice,” in Northwest D.C. (reasonable access to the Hill and Foggy Bottom) or Arlington/Alexandria. “Champagne TheDad” is one of my nicknames but we have to keep an eye on the meter running this trip.</p>
<p>I’ve lived in D.C. and have some ideas of things TheMom and I may want to do while kicking around: the Smithsonians and the National Gallery are already on my agenda. We saw the Holocaust Museum when we were all there during a college search trip four years ago. </p>
<p>Day trips, including to Civil War sites in Virginia I’m game for. When I lived in D.C. I didn’t have a car, so I didn’t get very far out.</p>
<p>Interested in history, science, politics. We’ll be there in July, oh joyjoyjoy.</p>
<p>We just got back from a terrific DC trip. We stayed at the Washington Suites, Georgetown, which was a fantastic suites hotel (if you have a whole family, too pricey probably for a couple), perfectly located two blocks from Foggy Bottom and two blocks from Georgetown. We ended up walking almost everywhere, so loved the location.</p>
<p>It was the first time we took our kids, so did the Smithsonians, Holocaust Museum, G-town, and the monuments, and that pretty well filled up our days. We never got to Virginia at all.</p>
<p>Have fun! Only bad part about July would be the heat. It was perfect in April!</p>
<p>I’m in D.C. a lot, and this is where I stay. No better location (15th and Pennsylvania Ave) and the price ($175-$225) is a bargain for the location, service, and ambiance. It also has a wonderful roof-top terrace bar/restaurant with open-air seating and amazing views of the city. Easy walk to Nat. Gallery, Smithsonian, FBI, Nat. Archives, Capitol, and right across the street from the White House. They are also very nice to my dog.
<a href=“http://www.hotelwashington.com/[/url]”>http://www.hotelwashington.com/</a></p>
<p>It was conveniently located near the Crystal City mall, with access to the Metro. With two teenage boys, we always try to stay in a suites-style hotel. We spent time at the Smithsonian, and also took a trolley tour from Union Station, which allowed us to get on and off as we stopped at different spots. We especially enjoyed the Lincoln Memorial and WWII memorial. But I’d NEVER go again in August – it was incredibly hot and humid! It was the only time we could make the trip, and seeing the sites with our kids was one of those things I always wanted to do before they left home. The other trip is Hawaii, but D.C. was considerably less expensive! Have fun!</p>
<p>I second the Washington Suites Georgetown. Very expensive most of the year, but reasonable during summer (which was the only time----oh, was it hot outside!----we could do the Baltimore and DC college tour). We had a bedroom with 2 double beds, living room with sofa bed and dining table, full kitchen with all supplies. You get an expanded continental breakfast every morning and that saves you a lot of money in DC. Only complaint is that you can’t control the room temperature and they had the AC cranked way up. Location was wonderful. Metro station within a block and right on a busline, too.</p>
<p>I am just back from a week in DC chaperoning D’s We The People team at nationals. So much to see, so much to do! We saw every museum and monument but I would not miss the Holocaust museum (allow at least two hours) and of course the Smithsonian. I also enjoyed Arlington cemetary. Mount Vernon could be skipped b/c it is off the beat and path. The tour on Capitol Hill by our state Congressman was also more fun than I anticipated.</p>
<p>I’m presuming you’ve already visited the Vietnam Memorial. As a Washington, DC born-and-raised, who loves all the museums and monuments and truly loves the city, I found that unbelievably moving.</p>
<p>Try and contact your congressperson or senator, there is a chance you can get a behind the scenes tour depends on the timing, etc…they usually want lots of notice, but never hurts to check</p>
<p>TheDad, this sounds like a job for Priceline! If you look at amenities of the ones that interest you, you can get your preferred area and likely the exact hotel. </p>
<p>Gettysburg is the best battlefield to tour if you haven’t already done it -about 1 1/2 hour drive north from DC, north of Frederick, right off 15 - you can spend days there, it is wonderful. Richmond Civil War bus tour is excellent, about 1 1/2 hour south. If you want some VA historical ambience, drive out Route 50 to Middleburg and Upperville to experience the world of the landed gentry. Almost every numbered state road off 50 in that location leads to unbelievable estates - it could make you ill with greed. Another lovely side trip is to Annapolis - walking tour is interesting, lovely views of sailboats and so on.</p>
<p>Driver, thanks for that link. I always stay at the University Club, but it requires reciprocity from another city club where one has membership so I didn’t suggest it to TheDad. But when I looked at your link, the price is equal to what I pay, and the location is better for me - University Club is a four block walk to the Metro.</p>
<p>Check out the Spy Museum. Great for history buffs and people who enjoy hands0on stuff. </p>
<p>Check out the Newseum. I don’t know if the new one on Pennsylvania Ave has opened yet, but the old one is fascinating, too.</p>
<p>When you go to the Smithsonian, make sure to leave lots of time for the American Indian Museum, which is gorgeous and fascinating.</p>
<p>I lived there 10 years, and last went there last summer. Feel free to PM me if there’s anything in particular you want to know about.</p>
<p>Oh-- unless you love hunting for parking spaces and dealing with one-way streets that become one-way at rush hour, stay in a hotel near the metro and don’t drive!</p>
<p>I like to stay at the Residence Inn on Wisconsin Ave. in Bethesda. Rooms are suites with kitchens and the prices are reasonable.</p>
<p>Its location is great –> right across the street from the Bethesda stop on the Metro red line, which makes it easy to get anywhere in DC. Also right across the street are two movie theaters - one mainline and one art/indie; a restaurant row with many fine choices; a big Barnes and Noble; and a grocery store.</p>
<p>Coureur - I love the Residence Inn in Bethesda! I stayed there for ten days straight, before I figured out to use my club membership. The restaurants nearby are awesome, and it’s a three blocks to the grocery store. And the rooms are HUGE, and dinner (buffet) is free every night.</p>
<p>If you happen to do a tour of the FBI facility, here’s a tip, especially if you have younger ones going with you. Asssuming they still do it this way, at the end of the tour they take you to the firing range. they seat you and the agent demonatrates his skills in target practice. They use one of those full size black silhouette-of-a-person targets. You know what I mean… Anyway, when he (or she)'s done, (s)he comes out and asks if you have any questions. raise your hand wuickly-- the first one to ask for the tareget gets it. The agent signs it and puts this big official seal on it. Neat souvenir. Its still hanging on my older s’s wall…</p>
<p>coureur, the U.S. Mint has several facilities across the country, including D.C. and Philadelphia. The headquarters is in D.C., the actual coin engraving takes place in Philly, and other locations. I’m not sure if the D.C. facility has tours open to the public or not, but I don’t think so.</p>
<p>OKay I almost forgot!!! The SPY MUSEUM was the coolest place!!</p>
<p>History, espinoge!!1</p>
<p>But you need to buy tickets ahead of time, and its off the usual area, but we took the train or metro or whatever it was easy and so much fun!!!</p>
<p>The great thing about Smithsonians is that they are free. So all that $ you are “saving” in admissions can be put to lodging. </p>
<p>A relatively new museum is the Museum of the American Indian. It is very close to the Hill on the southern side of the Mall. It profiles many tribes from the Arctic to the tip of South America.</p>
<p>I also believe that it’s important to visit the Arlington National Cemetary and see more than the JFK Memorial. Walk around with your family to see all the sacrifices that have been made for our country by these brave service members.</p>
<p>The Manassas battlefields (northerners tend to refer to it as Bull Run) are a straight shot on I-66 west from DC.</p>
<p>If you have Base access, Ft Myer has a museum dedicated to the Old Guard. You can also tour the stables where the horses are kept.</p>
<p>Actually the U.S. mint has locations in Philly, San francisco, Denver, West Point (and some others). No coin minting in D.C as far as I now.</p>
<p>Paper money (as well as postage stamps, naturalization certificates, and some official White House docs.) all done at 2 locations only: The Bureau of Engraving and Printing, BEP, in Washington D.C. and Fort Worth. They do not mint coins.</p>