Over dinner with friends, our conversation turned to our past travels and in particular the travels we had made with our children. We found that the important part of travel was in spending the time, not in visiting exotic locations. Those magical moments were just as likely to happen camping an hour away from home as they were in an expensive hotel halfway across the country.
Washington DC – A Learning Trip
It did get me thinking about the places we’ve been as a family. Over the years we were privileged to take not one, but two, trips to Washington DC And no, I don’t think it was necessary for my children to make that trip in order to understand the function of government in our country.
Actually, I don’t think their understanding of the process was in anyway enhanced by our trip. I was happy though that they were able to get a sense of history and the sacrifices that went into making our country what it is today.
And let me first say, this is definitely a trip, not a vacation. Vacations are relaxing. Trips are about traveling and experiencing new things. Trips are a lot of work.
Washington DC – Planning Your Trip
Where you stay and what you do has a lot to do with your families interests and ages. The first time we visited Washington D.C. our girls were small, probably ages five through ten.
Rather than spend an entire week in the capitol, we opted to stay at Massanutten resort in the Shenandoah Valley. While it was two and a half hours away, it allowed us to day trip into the city for one complete day of site seeing.
The rest of the week was spent at the resort’s water park, hiking Shenandoah National Park and visiting Luray Caverns. We didn’t get to see much of the city and therefore relegated our time to the major monuments. Though our time was short, it was about right for their limited attention spans. Also, DC is a lot of walking so they were fairly exhausted after just the one day.
The next time we visited they were older, all in high school or college. This time we rented a place with on-street parking for about $1700 for three nights. Staying in DC is not an especially cost effective option, but the good news is most everything you want to do is free.
The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
Our first stop on our second trip was the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. I highly recommend this stop, especially if your children are old enough to truly absorb the experience.
Having studied the Holocaust in both high school and college, I thought I knew a considerable amount of information on the subject. The museum, however, was a different level experience. It was both somber and personal. I felt attached to the people and the experience beyond just the academic.
We were especially moved by the shoes of the victims of the gas chambers. It just really drove it home to us that this was a human tragedy, these were real people just like us. The survivor stories, where survivors of the Holocaust spoke of their stories and of losing their families, was especially emotional as well.
Though admission to the museum is free, you’ll need to go on the website to get a timed ticket. There is currently a $1 transaction fee per ticket. If you plan to go, spend some time browsing the website to decide which exhibits you’d like to visit.
Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery is a must stop for me. You’ll want to visit the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and witness the changing of the guard. Read a bit of information before you go to learn what is required of these sentinels that guard the tomb.
Make a point to visit the John F. Kennedy gravesite and the Memorial Amphitheater as well. The Welcome Center holds a wealth of information. They will be able to point you in the right direction and will also let you know if there are any funerals planned for the day.
The White House, Lincoln, Washington and Jefferson
The next day, we decided to take in the major monuments and tourist spots. We took photos in front of the White House and the US Capitol building. We visited the Jefferson Memorial, Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument.
If you are interested in touring the White House, public tour requests must be made through your member of Congress between 21 days and three months prior to your trip. We opted to pass on the tour as it just didn’t seem to be a priority for our group.
The War Memorials
Surprisingly, I particularly enjoyed visiting the war memorials. The World War II Memorial is the most grand.
Oval in shape, it consists of 56 pillars and two arches surrounding a pool and fountains. The arches are labeled for the Atlantic and Pacific theaters of war and the pillars are representative of the US states and territories.
The Vietnam War Memorial “The Wall” and the Korean War Veterans Memorial were both very emotional tributes to those who died in the wars. At the Vietnam War Memorial the girls did a crayon rubbing of the name of a family member who was lost in the war.
If you don’t have a personal connection to anyone on the Wall, you could research before you go and find the name of a local fallen hero. Be sure to take a piece of white paper and a crayon to make your rubbing.
The Smithsonian
The Smithsonian museums are free and there are several of them. To make it through the entire collection would take much longer than a week. We choose just a few: the National Museum of the American Indian, the National Museum of Natural History and the Smithsonian Institution Building. Honestly, we would have loved to spend more time in even these few.
It is worth noting that we had lunch at the Mitsitam Cafe in the National Museum of the American Indian. My oldest daughter was a college history major at the time and it was recommended by one of her professors. The cuisine is divided into five specific regions. It was certainly an interesting presentation. Unfortunately, the cafe is currently closed. Hopefully it will open again after the COVID crisis has passed us.
Plan Ahead for the Best Washington DC Experience
Washington DC is definitely an action packed and educational trip. I could write additional articles on all the wonderful food we had and some of the best people watching anywhere.
There is plenty to see and do in Washington DC. Make sure you plan ahead, pack your best walking shoes because you’ll be doing a lot of walking. You’ll want to consider the ages and interests of everyone in your party. Check the websites ahead of time. Are timed tickets necessary? Are there COVID restrictions?
You’ll also find a little research will enhance your visit. You’ll get so much more out of visiting the monuments and memorials if you know a little of their background stories. And reading about the museums ahead of time will give you some guidance on their current exhibits. (Although it’s not accurate, I would recommend watching Night at the Museum 2. Again, not accurate, but all in fun.)
FindingOhio
Thanks for FindingOhio and beyond with us. Are you looking for adventures closer to home? Check out our day trips section for plenty of adventures inside of the Buckeye State. And as always, we appreciate you sharing our content on social media. Check back soon for more adventures.
