This week I’m ping-ponging along I-95 in SC. So far, we’ve been South of the Border, on a NASCAR track, trying pecans from a massive sampling counter, running around with kids chasing giant swans and noisy ducks, climbing an ancient mound, and walking through a black swamp. Yesterday, I ate lunch at a place that specializes in casseroles – when was the last time you ordered a sampler plate of JUST casseroles and, Tomato Pie. Today, we sampled a bunch of low country foods – shrimp and cheese grits, quail, pecan pie. . . i’m having a piece right now…
I tell you all this to remind you there are so many adventures just minutes off the highway on your roadtrips to anywhere USA.
DAY TWO – the next day, put on your walking shoes.
Although Washington, D.C. is a very concentrated town with lots of buildings, most museums and memorials are near grassy, wide-open park spaces. Devote an entire day to the FREE Smithsonian Museums & National Mall buildings (Smithsonian.org).
DC by Foot, a walking tour company, gives FREE, kid-friendly tours (gratuity recommended) infused with games, fun facts and trivia. Or, just wander from one building to the next. Be sure to go online first and print off any “Hunts” (scavenger hunts) that interest you.
Play pilot in a mock cockpit at America by Air, an exhibition on permanent display at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum.
Teach kids about history at the newly renovated National Museum of American History for a rare look at the original “Star-Spangled Banner,” the flag that inspired Francis Scott Key to write the national anthem. The museum’s Spark!Lab uses fun activities to help kids and families learn about the history and process of invention through games and conducting experiments plus there’s an Under 5 Zone just for pre-schoolers.
Walk among the butterflies or witness a view of the blinding Hope Diamond at the National Museum of Natural History.
See the original Declaration of Independence, U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights at the National Archives, then stick around to research your own family’s immigration records.
Whatever memorials you didn’t get to view, fill in after 5pm, when most museums in the national Mall close.
How To Do Attractions in Washington, D.C. – every family is different but honestly you can “do” as many as your family desires if you work the 10am-7pm full day.
DAY ONE – We came into the area on a Tuesday afternoon and started mid-day, after lunch. Our teen-age daughter had just studied WWII so she had interest in the Holocaust Memorial Museum (ushmm.org).
Daniel’s Story @ Holocaust Museum (for the tender-hearted)
The museum is FREE but they stress that kids under 12 may not enjoy this attraction. There are two “exhibit tracks” to follow: the General Exhibit and Daniel’s Story (a softer version for tender hearts and kids). We’d recommend walking through Daniel’s Story to everyone BEFOREHAND to prepare you for the intensity to follow in the main exhibit.
After this, grab a bite to eat and then, instead of getting caught in rush hour, opt to visit the Memorials of your choice all the way to dusk. The Washington Monument requires FREE timed tickets so do that first (or save it to sneak in another day). Ranger talks at the Lincoln Memorial are best to catch before 4:30pm.
FDR Memorial with Fala (the dog)
As the sun started setting, we especially enjoyed walking the perimeter of the Tidal Basin in Potomac Park with a view of the FDR Memorial & the Jefferson Memorial, as they are backlit towards nightfall. (nps.gov/nama)
One of the most visited cities in the country, Washington, D.C. is a huge attraction. But, many big attractions come with a big price tag. Here’s how we suggest doing this must see American attraction on a budget:
Overnight in nearby Virginia suburbs close to a Metro Station so once you get up in the morning – you can easily navigate the Metro or highway into town. The Holiday Inn Chantilly Dulles-Expo is one choice. It is located near the Udvar-Hazy Center, just minutes from Dulles International Airport. The hotel features spacious guest rooms with free wireless high speed internet, free airport shuttles 24/7 and even a free drop off to Udvar-Hazy Air & Space Museum. In general, travelers find the best hotel rates on weekends and in late summer or winter. Rates start at $189.
Meals – try to plan it so that you only eat one paid meal out each day. Base that “one meal” on the time of day when your family can get the most value or volume of food. The hotel offers Kids Eat Free at Bob O’s Restaurant with a daily continental breakfast buffet, a full a la carte breakfast and dinner menu. Their appetizers are actually my favorite – especially the mini crab cakes! Another option, if you don’t mind fast food, is one of six chain restaurants right across the street (Wendys, Arbys, Chick-fil-A, etc.).
Cheap Meals (continued): For the remaining meals of the day, pack a backpack full of non-perishable PB&J sandwiches, apples, breakfast bars and water bottles or juice boxes to drink. If you like to picnic, the National Mall and West Or East Potomac Park have cheap parking spaces (if you can find one) and dozens of lawn sites to spread out a picnic blanket. You’ll be dining, al fresco, by a view of famous monuments. Also, surrounding the White House are oodles of vendors offering the best prices in town on souvenirs and sandwiches. It’s a block or two walk to lawn space between the Lincoln & Washington Monuments.
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