Making Memories in Washington, D.C.

Here is how we spent our time in Washington, D.C., so our teen kids (and I) were never bored with too much history.

Once we booked our hotel, we marked our calendar three months before our arrival to schedule the tours we were interested in. Many of the most popular tours open reservations 90 days in advance, so timing matters.

We arrived on April 18, so we put February 18 on our calendar to book tours.

Because we were flexible with days and times, we were able to get tickets for everything we wanted:
The White House Tour
The Library of Congress
The U.S. Capitol Building

Going to the top of the Washington Monument opens 30 days in advance, so we booked that separately.

Once we knew the dates and times for those tours, we filled in the rest of the schedule and added The Lincoln Assassination Walking Tour.

Day 1

Check into the Willard InterContinental, an iconic luxury hotel in the perfect location. Dripping with history and often referred to as the “Residence of Presidents,” The Willard has welcomed presidents, foreign dignitaries, and celebrities since the 1800s.

Willard InterContinental

Inside Willard InterContinental

Because of its prime location near the White House and the National Mall, spend whatever time you have left in the day exploring the area and seeing the monuments lit up at night. Seeing the Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument, and the World War II Memorial illuminated after dark was one of my favorite parts of the trip.

Day 2

First up was The White House Tour.

White House Tour

Security is similar to airport security, but once inside, it’s fascinating to walk through rooms you’ve seen in history books and on television.

After the tour, we walked to CityCenterDC and shopped the surrounding blocks.

From there, we headed to The Wharf for lunch at Hank’s Oyster Bar, which was excellent.

If you want dinner at Gordon Ramsay’s Hell’s Kitchen at The Wharf, make a reservation well in advance.

That night, we took the Lincoln Assassination Walking Tour, and we loved every minute of it. The guide walked us through the events of the night Lincoln was shot and pointed out the locations connected to the story.

One of the tour stops was actually our hotel, The Willard, which made it even more interesting.

Day 3

Up to the top of the Washington Monument.

One View From The Top Of Mount Washington

All four views are impressive:

• The U.S. Capitol Building
• The Jefferson Memorial
• The Lincoln Memorial and Reflecting Pool
• And a bird’s-eye view of The White House

Seeing the city's layout from above made navigating the city much easier. I also learned several interesting facts about the monument that I would have never known otherwise.

Afterward, we grabbed a cab and headed to Georgetown’s M Street for some shopping and exploring.

Then another cab ride brought us to the U.S. Capitol Building for our tour. Walking through the Rotunda and hearing the stories behind the artwork and statues was really impressive.

U.S. Capital Building

Day 4

We started the morning with our Library of Congress Tour. Even if you’re not a history buff, the architecture alone is stunning.

From there, we did a little museum hopping. This really depends on your personal interests.

Two places we especially enjoyed were:

• U.S. Botanic Garden
  • Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden

Museums require timed passes, and we did reserve some, but we also walked into others without passes.

We also bought tickets in advance for The International Spy Museum.

After a few hours of museums, we took a cab to Union Market for dinner. The drive over takes you through several charming neighborhoods you might not otherwise see.

A Few Final Tips

Throughout our time in D.C., we squeezed in other monuments and sites we happened to walk past, but the places above were the highlights we planned ahead for.

Many of the tours are self-guided, and one thing we learned is that it’s worth asking the staff inside the buildings questions. Once the conversation starts, they often share fascinating stories and details you wouldn’t get otherwise.

Washington, D.C., is one of those trips that combines history, architecture, and amazing museums, and it’s surprisingly easy to get there from New England.