When in DC, take in memorials and monuments. It seems like a no brainer: These places represent so much American history for anyone visiting our capital. E and K, however, would still like to share our recommendations from the wonderful National Mall and Memorial Parks.
First, our biggest "risk" was our greatest gain: We took in a few of these sites at dusk/early evening. E wanted to see the exterior of the White House, so we hopped on the Metro. The Washington Monument was in sight, so we took off towards it. We wound up ambling down by the World War II Memorial and Reflecting Pool before reaching the Lincoln Memorial right at nightfall--and a pretty spectacular lightening storm. So, why do we say it was a "risk?" Well, while the National Mall is a reasonably safe area, you need to walk with overall city safety in mind. We wouldn't recommend a late, late night, but through 9 or 10 PM, there were many school groups and families out enjoying the lights and the cool of the evening. It helps if you know the landmarks of the Mall well, particularly the locations of Metro stations, and are mindful of the time--some Metro station doors begin to close around 10 PM even though trains really stop around 12 AM.
Next, we went with our gut on a particular combination: After visiting the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, E was in the mood to see more of the sacred--and we headed to Arlington Cemetery. He has seen similar cemeteries before, including in Gettysburg, but there is nothing quite like the expanse of Arlington. E has enough understanding of American History to be mindful of the significance of the Kennedy graves, and we took in a Changing of the Guard ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
We took our final morning in DC, a Sunday, to enjoy the bulk of the monuments and memorials. We took our time at the Vietnam, Korea, and Lincoln Memorials and then crossed over to the Tidal Basin to visit King, FDR, and Jefferson. This path looped right back towards the Smithsonian Metro Station. Get your National Parks Service Passport stamped at a whole host of monument and memorial locations, and earn a Junior Ranger designation or two if you are so inclined. Walk carefully on the Tidal Basin with young kids--there is no barrier between the water and the sidewalk. Our walk was complimented by the presence of the George Washington University commencement at the Washington Monument--pretty impressive.
Yes, some walking distances are deceptively long, particularly between the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial, but you can do it. Get out early and make it happen. We saw two veterans' groups have ceremonies--one involved with the Changing of the Guard and one making an early morning stop at the Vietnam Memorial. If you go, keep a look out for them--especially relatively early in the day. Visit the small gift shops in and near the memorials--we actually found some of our best souvenir deals at the Jefferson--the rest were primarily found at Union Station's Union General shop and the Union Station Walgreen's. If you didn't know this already, always check Walgreen's in tourist areas for souvenirs--we are often impressed. (A quick note on Union Station: It's beautiful, but it is also an active train station. Keep young kids close. As you may know, Union Station has a nice food court during the business day and several outlets open at later times, particularly upstairs. We recommend Pizzeria Uno--great views of the lobby complete with its own bathrooms.)
Notice we keep mentioning the Metro--which means it is always our preference to have a Metro-convenient hotel. A friend helped us find the Courtyard by Marriott in Dunn Loring. Less expensive than most by DC standards, this hotel's real win is its fabulous location. In a residential section easy to find traveling "up" to DC from US 29/I-66, the hotel is simple (and well-lit) steps from an orange line Metro station (Dunn Loring-Merrifield), making everything convenient. It's also steps from a handful of casual restaurants and a 24-hour Harris Teeter, which is awesome traveling with a kid. For example, we stayed out relatively late two nights, and dinner was easy because we could go grab some Lunchables--something E thought was wonderful. Plus, there is free parking, a hotel pool with a lifeguard (it's small, but it's a pool), and an overall safe feel. The only concern about selecting a Metro-convenient hotel is that the DC Metro is undergoing extensive upgrades, making some stations and sections of track construction areas with alternate shuttles and the like. Check WMATA for updates.
