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Washington DC with kids: When you have an hour or less

October 1, 2014 By Amy Hagstrom

There’s so much to do in Washington DC with kids, families cannot possibly do it all in one visit. However, sometimes, you may find yourself with an hour or so free on our around the Mall. Here’s what we recommend:

National Archives:

Unless you plan to do some serious research on your family tree or a historical event, the main attraction in the National Archives is the original Declaration of Independence, Constitution, and Bill of Rights, all located in the Rotunda. Tickets are free, but run with timed entry, and should be reserved in advance. Reserve your time here. Be advised there is a $1.50 service charge, and no refunds. If you’re rather skip the charge, you can get timed tickets at the archives on the day of your visit (but may need to wait).

Once inside (past security) at the time of your visit, there will—depending on the season—be a wait to see the Charters of Independence (the documents listed above). We waited about 25 minutes for our turn. Was it worth it? Yes, absolutely. Adjacent to the charters is a small museum that shows how the archives work to store so much information, and includes some fun exhibits like letters to the president that have been archived. The museum is worth about 20 more minutes of your time.
Location: The archives are located at Constitution Ave between 7th and 9th streets, and open from 10 am to 5:30 pm.

Ford Theater:

Ford Theater, where Lincoln was shot, and the adjacent home where he died, take about an hour to tour, depending on the season. It requires a free timed ticket, but even in peak season, we were able to get one the day-of, at the time we wanted, without a problem. Once you have your ticket, you go right in at the time designated, and sit in the theater, looking directly at Lincoln’s presidential box. Tip: for the best view, sit on the left-hand side. A park ranger gives a 15 minute presentation, describing what happened that night—John Wilkes Booth’s plan, how he accessed the box, and the timeline of the president’s evening. It’s very interesting.

Afterward, your ticket also allows entry to the house across the street where Lincoln died. Unlike in the theater, where every ticket-holder is allowed in en masse, ticket-holders are allowed into the home in smaller numbers. This means waiting in line outside. During our visit, we decided to skip this stop, because of the heat. If you wait to do it, allow closer to two hours to tour the whole Ford Theater site. There’s also a small but good museum to tour (also free, and included in some timed tickets…if you want it, your times are more limited.)
Location: Ford Theater is located at 511 10th Street NW, about three blocks up from the Mall.

Festivals on the Mall:

During most times of the year, the National Mall hosts ongoing outdoor festivals and street fairs. The Smithsonian institute runs several, including the Folk Festival in June and July. These festivals are free, educational, and colorful. They make for a good break from museum touring while in the area. During our most recent visit, we explored booths and checked out artisans from China and Kenya.

We were told the National Park Service has begun to limit permits for Mall festivals, so catch one while you can!

What’s your favorite pit stop in Washington DC?

Wondering where to stay in DC? Check out our review of Grand Hyatt Washington.

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Washington DC with kids: How to take a White House tour

September 29, 2014 By Amy Hagstrom

Going into the White House was one of the highlights of our Washington DC trip. Many families are unsure how to take a White House tour. It’s not as complicated as most think! The tour is self-guided, and takes about one hour door-to-door. (In DC, ‘door-to-door’ to us means security check through exit.)

The tour takes guests through a visitor entrance on the side, through a ground floor corridor. Families see 8-10 rooms, some of which can be entered (others are roped off). Rooms include the East Room, which is used for press conferences, among other things; the Green Room, used for receptions; the Red Room, famous as the First Lady’s place of reception and meetings; and the State Dining Room. The oval-shaped Blue Room is the closest visitors come to that better-known circular-shaped room upstairs, but it’s still very cool to see these ground floor rooms that are very much still in use.

In each room, Secret Service agents are on-hand to answer any questions. Definitely take advantage of their knowledge; you can practically make this a guided tour if you ask lots of questions and listen to the answers to others’ questions. They may be reluctant to tell stories of events they’ve seen recently in each room, but will be able to say what type of events take place. At the end of the tour, you go out on the South Portico overlooking the lawn, which is fun, too.

How to book:

Booking a White House tour is not complicated; however, it does take significant planning. Here’s what you need to do:

Six months before your trip (yes, really), start by deciding the exact day you want to tour. Go to this White House tour page to see which days of the week the building is open for tours (and if they’re even offering tours at all). You’ll need this information for the next step.
Go to the homepage of one of your members of Congress. (If this takes a Google search of representatives, don’t feel bad…) On the homepage, there will be the option of ‘requesting a White House tour’ on the member’s contact page. Email the Congressman or woman, listing the date you want.
A staffer of your representative will email you back with further instructions. You’ll need to submit the Social Security numbers and full names of everyone in your group.
Wait. You’ll be notified that your tour request has been submitted fairly quickly, but you won’t know whether you got your tour until two weeks before the tour date.
5. When you get notice you’ve been approved for your tour, print the attached form with your reservation number.

What to expect the day of your tour:

Be at the tour start location—15th Street and Alexander Hamilton Place—15 minutes before your tour. Tours can be cancelled at a moments’ notice, so call this number the day before, to make sure your tour is planned to go as scheduled: 202-456-7041. We got there 30 minutes before our tour start time, and were glad we did; the only restrooms are a block away at the White House Visitor’s Center, so we used the extra time to make that stop.

At your tour start time, you’ll be led in a line through two security check points. At both, you’ll need to give your name and show ID (age 18 and older). Kids don’t need ID, but ours were questioned casually by the Secret Service agents. They asked their names, then singled one out (the youngest) and asked him to list his brothers’ names (also touring). It was done in a friendly way, but was clearly to ensure the kids were who I said they were.

Do not bring a backpack or even a purse on your tour. You won’t be allowed in, and there’s no place to store them. You are also not allowed any food or drink, including water bottles, nor cameras. I brought my cell phone and my wallet, and that’s it. (Cell phones are ok, but cannot be used.) Bring your confirmation number, but once we give the guards our name, they looked up our reservation and we didn’t need the paper.

Do not try to bring other people: only the people on your reservation will be permitted in, without exception. Also: don’t let your kids pet the guard dogs. The security experience is serious, but conducted in a causal way; my kids were not alarmed.

Tip: The White House tours are conducted by the National Parks Service. When in line, kids are offered a Junior Ranger booklet. We didn’t try to fill it out while on tour—there’s too much to see!—but right afterward, we took the booklet to the Visitor’s Center on the Ellipse, and earned Junior Ranger badges. It was a novelty to have a badge from the White House!

No photos are permitted inside (nor social media), so forgive the lack of photos in this post. Guess you’ll have to go yourself to know what it looks like up close!

Wondering where to stay in DC? Check out our review of Grand Hyatt Washington.

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Photo credit: Flickr commons.

Washington DC Bike ’n Roll Monuments at Nite Tour

September 26, 2014 By Amy Hagstrom

We love patronizing Bike ’N Roll whenever we’re in major cities (and want to save our feet from lots of walking). We’ve reviewed Bike ’N Roll in NYC, and didn’t hesitate to book a tour with Bike N Roll DC during our trip to Washington DC with kids.

We opted for the Monuments@Nite tour, because we visited DC in the heat of the summer, and hoped for a cooler ride. We also got a prettier one: the monuments lit up at night are fabulous! We booked our tour for our first evening in the city, which was perfect timing:’biking the sites’ gave us a nice orientation to the area, and allowed us to see all the major monuments in one evening. After biking them, I am convinced we could not (read: would not) have walked to them all in one day, let alone in three hours.

The Monuments@Nite tour took us from Bike ’N Roll’s location at L’Enfant Plaza (an easy Metro ride from almost anywhere) to the Tidal Basin, Jefferson Memorial, FDR memorial, the new MLK Jr memorial, all the war memorials (including the new WWII one), and of course, the Lincoln memorial and Washington monument. We saw the White House from a distance, as well as the Capitol. About half of the three hour tour was in daylight; we switched on our bike lights around the halfway mark at the Lincoln memorial.

Our guide—without exception—was the best tour guide we had in DC. This includes all the official guides we had in the Capitol, White House, and Mt. Vernon. He was great with kids, engaging them in the conversation constantly, and had a wealth of information. He impressed me right off the bat by remembering every kid’s name on the tour, and ensuring they were all safe on their bikes. I learned so much about the monuments that I never would have guessed from just looking at them myself.

Our guide also had lots of tips for how to spend the rest of our trip, making us doubly glad to have booked the tour at the beginning of our stay in DC. He had lots of info about the city in general, the various controversies about each monument, and general historical trivia.

Our tour ran from 7 pm to 10 pm, but we actually went overtime, and were not back to the Bike ’N Roll kiosk until almost 10:30 pm. Because of this, and the nature of the tour (on bikes), I’d recommend it for kids 6 and up. DC is very flat, so it’s not strenuous, but kids definitely have to be able to follow directions. We were given a water bottle and a snack en route.

A few tips: If arriving via Metro, head up the stairs to your left the moment you come out of the station to the street. The kiosk is at the top of those steps. We made the mistake of continuing out to the sidewalk and walked around the building…making us late. Gratuities are nice at the end; we always recommend tipping 10% of the cost of the tour.

Date last visited:

June 2014

Cost:

Adults are $45 and kids are $35. And it’s worth every penny. Families can book other types of tours as well, or rent bikes without a guide.

Directions:

L’Enfant Plaza is just past Independence Ave (on the far side of the Mall). Take the Metro to the L’Enfant station. If you can’t find the kiosk, give them a call…they answer right away and can guide you there.

Wondering where to stay in DC? Check out our review of Grand Hyatt Washington.

Get more Washington DC itinerary picks.

Washington DC with kids: Touring the US Capitol

September 24, 2014 By Amy Hagstrom

I always promise honest reviews here at Pit Stops for Kids, but this one will be brutally honest…and maybe a tad unpatriotic. While vacationing in Washington DC with kids, it’s hard to skip a tour of the Capitol Building. It’s iconic, right? It’s full of history. It’s the site of our ongoing democracy. But in my opinion, touring the US Capitol is mediocre at best and most the stops along it are boring to kids.

washington-dc-with-kids

I’ve toured the Capitol twice, and both times, I’ve been disappointed. Not by the building itself: if I’ve been impressed walking up to it (and I always am), I’m doubly impressed looking up from the floor of the cavernous Rotunda. However, both times I’ve visited, our guide has been uninspired and many of the points-of-interest offered have not been what I’d select. Still, if I had my itinerary to do over again, I’d book a Capitol tour yet again. Why? It’s the Capitol, and it does have things I want my kids to see. I just wish they were presented differently.

us-capitol-tour

On our most recent visit, the Rotunda was actually closed, due to an unnamed emergency. This didn’t help matters, of course, as the Rotunda is the most dramatic stop on the tour. And the omission of it left our guide scrambling to fill the 30 minute tour time. He was good with kids, but seemed a bit at a loss as to what to show us.

Confined to the first floor, we toured the crypt and talked extensively about the statues erected by each state. (We didn’t discuss the statue subjects, per se, but only that the statues existed, and why.) We saw the bust of Lincoln missing his ear (a mistake of the sculptor), and historic court chambers. And that was about it.

Because the Rotunda was closed, our guide presented us with admission passes to the House of Representatives floor. This proved to be the most interesting part of our tour. (To my recollection, this was included in the standard tour in past, but perhaps it’s not now.) Congress was not in session, but we were still able to sit at the top of the gallery and observe where everyone sits and votes, and check out the C-SPAN cameras. This stop required an extra security checkpoint, and we had to check our backpacks, but was well-worth doing. I’d ask the tour guide for admission at the end of any tour.

The other attraction open to the public in the Capitol is the Capitol Museum, located in an underground section attached to the Capitol. Again, uninspired. Compared the the Smithsonian museums or even the various historical museums we toured throughout our trip on the East Coast, the Capitol Museum was downright drab. There’s a replica of the Rotunda (but you’ll be seeing that anyway, at least in theory) and explanations for various bills made into law, but the best thing about it during our trip was definitely the free air conditioning. Harsh? Yes, but fair.

us-capitol-tour

Date last visited:

July 2014

Admission:

Admission is free. You do need a timed ticket, which can be obtained when you arrive, or in advance online. We reserved online, as recommended for a summer visit. We brought our printed receipt to the ticket agent who issued us tickets. Easy-peasy.

Directions:

The Capitol is located at the far end of the Mall, off Constitution Ave. To access the Visitor’s Center (where you get tickets and start your tour, and where the museum is located), proceed to the back of the building (or rather, the side not facing the Mall), and go down the stairs.

Wondering where to stay in DC? Check out our review of Grand Hyatt Washington.

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Washington DC with kids: National Air and Space Museum

September 22, 2014 By Amy Hagstrom

There are many worthy museums along the Mall, and it can be hard to know which to see while visiting Washington DC with kids. If yours are airplane, science, or space fans, you’ll want to make the National Air and Space Museum a priority. Like the other museums, the Air and Space is massive, and will require at least half of your day. We recommend hitting this (and any major museum) early in the day, to avoid lengthy security lines.

Right when you enter from the Mall side, you’ll be able to touch a moon rock. Start here for the first ‘wow’ from the kids. The capsule from Apollo 11 is here in the main hall as well, and numerous other impressive space artifacts. The downstairs exhibit halls seemed more committed to hands-on science, with almost a science museum feel, with several rooms devoted just to kids. Ours enjoyed participating in scheduled programs in this area, such as a paper airplane making contest. We learned quite a bit about balance and stability in the process! Young kids will want to spend a good deal of time in these halls.

Upstairs, the larger planes and the Apollo 11 Skylab are available for touring; definitely check out the interior of the Skylab to see where astronauts went to the bathroom, slept, and ate. Numerous planes grace this level, and exhibit halls include aviation during WWI and WWII, military unmanned vehicles, and a space exhibit on exploring planets. There’s a section on the Wright Brothers upstairs, and another on the early history of flight downstairs. It seemed like these two exhibit halls could have been combined or at least next to each other.

Overall, the Air and Space museum looked a bit more worn than the other Mall museums; I’d love to see it get an overhaul. There’s an IMAX theater, and we were very intrigued by all the movie selections. We saw one, but the IMAX broke down before we could see a second. There’s a planetarium that we didn’t get to as well.

Date last visited:

July 2014

Distance from the interstate:

Minutes from I-66 and I-395. Close to I-95.

Admission:

Free. IMAX movies and Planetarium are extra ($9 and $7 for adults and kids, approximately).

Hours of operation:

10 am to 5:30 pm daily, except Christmas Day. Extended hours are possible in summer.

Dining:

There’s a museum cafe, but also a nice food court across the Mall underground between the two wings of the art museums. If you have the time and patience to go through another security check, it may be worth the effort. Tip: No matter what we do, we always bring water bottles and refill them at water stations. We save $10-15 per meal by not purchasing drinks, and save from adding to the plastic bottles piling up, too.

Directions:

The museum is located at Independence Avenue at 6th Street, Washington DC. Get off at the Smithsonian Metro stop, or walk from most points on the Mall.

Wondering where to stay in DC? Check out our review of Grand Hyatt Washington.

Get more Washington DC itinerary picks.

Top reasons why Breckenridge is a perfect family ski vacation

September 22, 2014 By Sharlene Earnshaw

Pit Stops for Kids is happy to take part in the third annual Back to Ski Week, which includes tips on planning a family ski vacation as well as chances to win prizes. To learn more visit the Back to Ski site and sign up for the newsletter, follow @back2ski on Twitter, or like it on Facebook.

Today we hear from inveterate outdoorswoman and lover of the Rockies Amber Johnson of The Mile High Mama about why a visit to Breckenridge, Colorado is perfect for families interested in fun on the slopes. We were compensated for writing this post; all opinions are the author’s.

From our perch atop Breckenridge Ski Resort’s Peak 6, our senses were in overdrive—first, the sound of silence, followed by the wind clinking through patches of hoarfrost crystals. My husband and I eased off the chairlift as our ski tips sliced through our powder playground, tracing hourglasses down the mountain.

Coloradoans are spoiled with 25 ski resorts but if you’re looking for the perfect winter vacation, look no further than Breckenridge. This authentic mining town 1.5 hours from Denver has it all: a world-class ski resort, the Blue River (a tributary of the raging Colorado River), an idyllic Main Street, gourmet dining, and glittering boutiques. It is also part of an 80-mile network of paved, motorized bike paths that connect other Summit County resorts like Dillon, Keystone, Copper Mountain, and Vail.

Here are just a few more reasons why this upscale yet laid-back resort is one of the best for families.

Ski Bums:

Breckenridge Ski Area sprawls across the southern sector of Summit County’s Tenmile Range and is consistently ranked as one of the most visited ski areas in the country. But with an impressive 2,908 acres and 34 lifts, the crowds dissipate the higher you go as you carve out your own private Colorado.

After dropping our kids off at ski school, my husband and I did the “freedom” shout and warmed up on groomer Duke’s Run before heading over to Peak 6. As Breck’s new 543-acre addition, it features high-alpine, intermediate bowl skiing (a true rarity).

Peak 6 lives up to its hype so long as you are attempting this timberline-topping terrain on a bluebird day. If there is any trace of wind or snow, you’ll feel like you are trapped inside a snow globe. Fortunately with a resort this size, there are plenty of other areas to take cover or fly high, including four award-winning terrain parks and a 22-foot superpipe.

At the end of an exhausting day, we picked the kids up from ski school and were later able to track their progress via the EpicMix app’s newest feature, EpicMix Academy. Though the wind kept us from the Golden Runner Alpine Coaster, the kids are already begging to take us back to their favorite haunts that included Trygve’s small terrain park with moderate jumps and boxes.

Tip: There’s no parking at the base so park for free in the Gondola parking lots in town and take the BreckConnection Gondola to the base of Peak 8. A complimentary shuttle also runs throughout town and delivered us right in front of Pine Ridge Condos where we proceeded to soak in the hot tub and then burrow up to a fire and a movie while a storm raged outside. That, my friends, is what a ski vacation is all about.

Good Times Dog Sledding:

TripAdvisor ranks dog sledding as the No. 1 activity in Breckenridge so you’d better believe it is epic. Good Times Adventures is the only snowmobile and dog sledding tour operator in Summit County and offers a 6-mile tour that is perfect for families (adults are $75; children ages 4-8 are $40).

We became acquainted with our team of Siberian Huskies and learned how they are attached to the sled with a series of lines called rigging that includes the tow line (or gang line), tug lines and neck lines. Each sled had a basket where gear or a passenger was carried and were outfitted with a braking device.

Good Times offers various levels of dog sledding and we chose the tamer “Disney” experience. I was thrilled when our guide announced the kids would get to drive the team during our slow and steady uphill climbs (many dog sledding operators only let their clients sit in the basket). They were in their element; rosy-cheeked, their “MUSH” commands echoing through the trees as the pitter-patter of husky paws on snow distilled Colorado’s Swan River Valley to its purest incarnation.

After my son’s turn, he moved to the basket while I drove him for the first time. Notoriously cautious when faced with new challenges, he lectured me, “Now, Mom. Lean into your turns and remember…have a good time!”

With Good Times Adventures, it’s tough to do otherwise.

More Breck fun:

Cross-country skiing. Breckenridge may be known for its ample snow and giant halfpipes, but the resort also has more than 30 miles of cross-country trails, plus an additional 25 trails in the surrounding White River National Forest.

Skating. Children of all ages love the Stephen C. West Ice Arena, which offers both an indoor and outdoor ice rink. Located on Boreas Pass Road, it is open for public skating seven days a week.

Sledding. Grab your tube and join the locals over at Carter Park, one of the few places to sled in town. The hill is located at the south end of High Street and adjacent to Breckenridge Elementary School.

Main Street. This charming Historic District is dotted with boutiques, eateries and galleries. My kids are huge fans of the unique Peak a Boo Toys (and the big indoor play area is a bonus on cold days). The town’s Arts District recently showcased seven new buildings and will offer expanded workshops for travelers, especially kids. If you stop at the Welcome Center, head upstairs for some cool old ski exhibits and a great view of the slopes. Also check-out the Mountain Top Children’s Museum, which is perfect for younger kids with out-of-the-box, imaginative exhibits.

Events. Breckenridge has an awesome line-up of events but our favorites include Ullr Fest (In 2015 from January 11-17), where the community plays tribute to the Norse God of Snow. Also in January, the International Snow Sculpture Championships hosts snow artists from across the globe transform 20-ton blocks of snow into an outdoor art gallery.

Want help planning your Breckenridge trip? Be sure to visit the GoBreck website.

Washington DC with kids: National Museum of American History

September 19, 2014 By Amy Hagstrom

After touring history museums from Gettysburg to Williamsburg, I wasn’t sure how enthusiastic my kids would be to check out the National Museum of American History in DC. As usual, they surprised me. As did this museum. It should definitely be on your itinerary while in Washington DC with kids.

Think of the National Museum of American History is part history museum, but also part pop culture museum and part attic, storing all of America’s eclectic treasures. There’s too many exhibits to list here, but among our favorites in the permanent exhibits were America on the Move, chronicling the history of transportation in the States, and On the Water, highlighting Americans’ use of waterways and nautical history. The food exhibition on the first floor also surprised us: it documents various trends and historical markers with the way Americans eat and get and produce food, from Julia Childs to the school lunch system.

We came specifically to see the Star Spangled Banner, the very flag that inspired Francis Scott Key’s anthem, and it didn’t disappoint. The size of this flag may be what makes it impressive at first sight, but the degree of weathering and the accompanying exhibits on Key add to the overall impression a great deal. We also sought out Dorothy’s ruby red slippers and I was happy to see Ferlinghetti’s typewriter from the Beatnik era, too.

The American Presidency section is worth seeing, especially after a tour of the White House, and some may enjoy the collection of First Ladies’ dresses. Upcoming exhibits that will open in the next few years include Within these Walls, a replica of a real home in MA, showing 200 years of inhabitants and how they lived, their stories, etc.

Date last visited:

July 2014

Distance from the interstate:

Close to I-66 and I-395. Within 45 minutes to I-95.

Admission:

Free.

Hours of operation:

Daily from 10 am to 5:30 pm, with extended summer hours.

Dining:

Two cafes are on-site. We did not eat at either on this visit. There is also a food court in the tunnel between the two art museums nearby on the Mall.

Directions:

The museum is located at 14th Street and Constitution Avenue, DC. Stop at the Smithsonian station on the Metro, or walk from most points on the Mall.

Wondering where to stay in DC? Check out our review of Grand Hyatt Washington.

Get more Washington DC itinerary picks.

Washington DC with kids: Smithsonian Museum of Natural History

September 17, 2014 By Amy Hagstrom

We love, love, love the free Smithsonian museums to visit while in Washington DC with kids. The granddaddy of them all is the National Museum of Natural History, which is definitely worth half a day of your time. While planning our DC trip, I doubted whether we’d want to make the stop; I knew the museum was great, but reasoned that we have toured numerous museums of natural history in the US, from Atlanta’s Fernbank Museum to San Diego’s The Nat. But at the insistence of my son, we went, and we’re so glad we did.

There’s so much going on in this museum. The first level (actually called Level 2; the ground floor houses the IMAX and cafe) houses the permanent Mammals Halland Ocean Hall, each excellent in their own right, but what wowed us most was the Hall of Human Origins. This exhibit documents the ‘birth’ of homo sapiens from their ancestors and follows the path from earliest man to present day, including adaptations and population changes. It concludes with impacts of humans throughout the ages, both good and bad. It made all of us think, from the youngest to oldest.

Upstairs (Level 3), their dinosaur wing (called the National Fossil Hall) is under renovation until 2019, but in the meantime, the Rex Room downstairs by Mammals offers a window into the work ongoing by museum staffers. During our visit, we watched their 3-D printers create model triceratops.

The Minerals and Gems Hall houses to the Hope Diamond, definitely worth checking out (though my kids thought it would be bigger!), and adjacent, the live Butterfly pavilion (extra fee) and live bug zoo (included) lead to the Eternal Life in Ancient Egypt exhibit (on indefinitely display). This may have been our second-favorite stop, where we learned the ancient Egyptians sometimes mummified animals like cats and even bulls in addition to humans. There are actual mummies here (one of which is a small child), so sensitive children may need to be warned (or skip it).

We spent three hours touring exhibits and another hour eating at the cafe, and still didn’t see everything. When you arrive, expect a short delay at the security point.

Date last visited:

July 2014

Distance from the interstate:

Minutes from I-66 and I-395. Close to I-95.

Admission:

Free. IMAX movies are extra. Butterfly exhibit is approximately $6 per person, and requires timed ticket in summer.

Hours of operation:

10 am to 5:30 pm daily, except Christmas Day. Extended hours are possible in summer.

Dining:

There are two cafes in the museum. The main one is a large cafeteria with the usual: burgers, fries, pizza, sandwiches, grab-and-go items, and snack foods. Expect to pay premium prices. The second is a natural cafe with healthier options, located one floor up. It’s much smaller, but also seemed to be less crowded. Tip: No matter what we do, we always bring water bottles and refill them at water stations. We save $10-15 per meal by not purchasing drinks, and save from adding to the plastic bottles piling up, too.

Directions:

The museum is located at 1000 Constitution Avenue, Washington DC. Get off at the Smithsonian Metro stop, or walk from most points on the Mall.

Wondering where to stay in DC? Check out our review of Grand Hyatt Washington.

Get more Washington DC itinerary picks.

Where to stay in DC: Grand Hyatt Washington

September 12, 2014 By Amy Hagstrom

Wondering where to stay in DC? We love Grand Hyatt hotels. When budget allows, the Grand Hyatt option ensures great service and even better amenities. (Check out our additional Grand Hyatt reviews for Seattle, San Diego, and Kauai.)

Grand Hyatt Washington is no exception. With a great location on H Street (five blocks from the Mall and four from the White House), a Metro stop in the building, and a pool, it’s excellent for families visiting Washington DC with kids.

Room amenities:

I don’t know what it is about them, but Grand Hyatt beds are amazingly comfortable. We stayed in a standard double room, which included a mini-fridge, large flat-screen TV, shower and bath, and free wifi. We had an iPod docking station and a work desk with multiple charging docks/plug-ins, which was very welcome. We had a view of H street and free wifi, but it’s the little touches I love most: the bedside reading lights, the illuminating glow of the bed stand light panels, and the killer in-room coffee (that’s unusual!).

Hyatt Grand Club:

For approximately $75 per day, families can upgrade their room to include Grand Club access (or book a 12th floor club room). We had club access during our stay, and it worked very well for us. What’s included: the Grand Club is located on the 12th floor, and accessible only if your keycard is activated. In the club, a private dining area includes iPads and TVs, plus a computer station and printer and newspapers. Cold and hot drinks, including soda, waters, coffee, tea, and hot chocolate are available at all times. During breakfast hours, a full continental breakfast, including lox, cheeses, oatmeal, quiche, cereals, danish, breads, and juices, is on offer. During lunch, expect a full lunch spread with sandwich makings, etc. Between lunch and dinner, a trail mix station, cold drinks, and homemade cookies are available, plus fresh fruit. At dinner, appetizers include cheese plates, crab cakes, small salads, sushi, and the like (it’s different every night). Can you make a full meal of it? We do! During dinner, wine, beer, and liquor are also on-hand, paid by an honor system. In the late evening, desserts are set out.

If you’re at the club during these meal hours, the upgrade is absolutely worth the price, especially if you’re feeding the whole family. Before deciding, take a hard look at your itinerary to decide where you’ll be during meals. We’ve found that it’s worth it to us if we eat breakfast there, plus one other meal, eating the other out on the town. It’s also wonderful to grab cold water bottles or juice every day before heading out. In DC, there’s lots of walking and it can be hot, so we returned to the room daily for a break, allowing us to take advantage of the club.

Hotel amenities:

The Hyatt uses the on-site FIT club for its guests, which includes a full fitness center and indoor pool. There’s a sauna in the locker rooms (for adults only). The pool is small and can get crowded, but is still an luxury to have in a downtown city hotel.

We appreciated the free wifi throughout the hotel, and the bellman service. There is valet parking (I believe it was $40 per day), and the Metro’s Center Station is located below the lobby. We didn’t need a car at all: we either walked, took a taxi, or took the Metro everywhere in the city center. (For reference, a cab ride to or from nearly all points along the Mall cost about $6. In the summer heat, it was worth it.)

The hotel has a concierge on-hand during daytime hours, available in the hotel lobby. Definitely take advantage of his or her expertise.

Dining:

We dined in the Grand Club, but there are numerous restaurants onsite, including a Starbucks, deli, casual ‘Grand Slam’ restaurant, the upscale Grand Cafe, and local favorite Cure bistro. Room service is also available. In short, you won’t need to leave the hotel for food if you don’t want to. If you do venture out, Five Guys is located two blocks away, and Shake Shack is four blocks away on 9th.

Date last visited:

July 2014

Distance from the interstate:

Close to I-95, I-66, and I-395.

Rates:

Rate vary widely, depending on the season. During the time of our 4th of July visit, rates were above $400 per night, but can be as low as $159 per night. Don’t assume any hotel is out of your price range until you’ve checked the current rates.

Directions:

The Grand Hyatt is located at 1000 H Street, only blocks from just about everything. Take the Metro to the Metro Center station from the airport, or take a cab if you don’t have a car.

As I disclose whenever applicable, we were guests of the Grand Hyatt during our stay. All opinions are our own.

Top 5 family-friendly Washington DC hotels

September 9, 2014 By Amy Hagstrom

Washington DC and Disney World have something in common: both destinations require a lot of walking. And I mean, a lot. But here’s where they differ (aside from the obvious): approximately 90% of kid-friendly attractions in Washington DC are free. Try getting that deal at Disney! Why do I make this unlikely comparison? To emphasize the importance of picking the right Washington DC hotel. Without a doubt, your DC lodging will be the most expensive part of your trip. Many families decide to book hotels outside the city, as far away as Maryland or Virginia, and take the Metro in to see the sights. While this can save money, it will not save your tired feet, and it will take away from your touring time.

Do yourself a favor and stay at one of the following DC hotels in the heart of the action. You’ll spend more, but if you book through TripAdvisor ShopAtHome.com, you can get some pretty good deals, plus you’ll save on museums, tours, and entertainment your entire visit! Note: parking fees will be high at all the below locations. We highly advise not renting a car.

1. Grand Hyatt Washington DC

We spent four lovely nights at the Grand Hyatt DC Washington DC while exploring the sights last July. What makes the Hyatt our top pick? It’s only four blocks from the Mall and five blocks from the White House, it has numerous dining options on-site and nearby, and…wait for it…it has a the Central Metro station in the lobby. Grand Hyatt guests have access to a fitness club and indoor pool located in the same building (though the pool is small, it’s a nice amenity), and it offers the Hyatt Grand Club. If you’re not familiar, Hyatt Grand Clubs are absolutely worth the upgrade (it will cost you approximately $75 extra per day). The Grand Club is open all day, and puts out a full breakfast, full lunch, snacks, and dinner appetizers (that can work as a full dinner, depending on what your kids will eat). Desserts come out at night! Of course, you won’t be in the hotel to take advantage of each meal, but it can pay for itself with breakfast and bottled waters alone.

2. Embassy Suites Chevy Chase Pavilion

Renovations are currently underway at Chevy Chase Pavilion, but even while construction is ongoing, this hotel is a great pick for families. It’s located directly on the Red Line at the Friendship Heights Metro stop, and no one does a free breakfast better than Embassy Suites. There’s an indoor pool and exercise facility, and while it’s further off the beaten path than the Grand Hyatt (you won’t be walking to the Mall), you’ll get big bang for your buck in the large rooms with sleeping areas separate from living areas.

3. The Hay-Adams

If you want to go the luxury route, or simply want the best DC location money can buy, head to the Hay-Adams. The first time we stayed here, I was a young girl, and gullible enough to believe the staff member who convinced me the hotel got its name because Jefferson would look out his White House window and yell, ‘Hey! Adams!’. Ok, not true at all, but the Hay-Adams is within shouting distance of the White House. The views are fantastic, the hotel is charmingly historic, and you’ll feel like royalty…American style.

4. Hilton Garden Inn Washington (downtown)

The Hilton Garden Inn is located on 14th, within walking distance of the Mall, Capitol, and White House (though not as close as the Grand Hyatt or Hay-Adams). You do get one big perk, however: free WIFI, which is rare in downtown hotels. Also excellent for families: refrigerators and microwaves in the rooms. Go ahead and make your own breakfast or evening snacks in-house! An indoor pool rounds out the family-friendly amenities.

5. Marriott Residence Inn Washington

We love Marriott Residence Inns! The downtown Washington location is in the Federal Building area, only two blocks from the Mall and one block from the Metro. You’ll get a free hot breakfast every day, and lower rates for longer stays. You’re half a mile from the Smithsonian museums, and suites are the norm, allowing families to spread out. We walked past this Residence Inn as we walked back and forth to the Mall from the Grand Hyatt, and looked at it a bit longingly!

Wherever you decide to stay in Washington DC, be sure to take advantage of the many Smithsonian museums, take a day to tour the national monuments, take in a festival or two on the Mall, and tour the US Capitol and White House. Yes, all the above are free of charge! Now, go save 25% on your hotel when you book through TripAdvisor ShopAtHome.com.