How about the National Gallery? The Museum of Natural History? The Air and Space Museum?

We didn't find Old Town Alexandria to be among our top sights.

I forgot a hot newer one, the Newseum.

FYI, the White House tour, if it comes through for you, is very short. Even if you dawdle, I don't see how you could spend an hour inside; I'd say an hour total, including the standing in line and waiting to get through security. Since you only have half days or less open, skip Old Town, it will take too long. Arlington Cemetery is a good choice if the weather is good, but if not, I'd suggest another museum. Underhill's ideas are great--I love the Newseum, and the National Gallery of Art may be my single favorite art museum that I've seen. The Phillips Collection is another gem, in Dupont Circle, which gives you a chance to see another nice DC neighborhood.

The Newseum is wonderful! One could spend hours there. The National Potrait Gallery is nice and I like the AMerican Arts Museum. Boating Party is at the Phillips and its a great museum though not free. For Asian Art the Freer is lovely. It really depends upon your interests which museums to choose.

"I'm a bit worried about rain" Hope it doesn't snow. Crowds are certainly lighter in February, but museums still can draw crowds.

I wouldn't take the time to go to Alexandria...just shopping and nothing particularly unique about it.

Have a great trip!

Forgot to mention -- I am always puzzled abut why people go to Georgetown. It's really just a bunch of chain stores with a few independent stores thrown in.

> BUREAU OF ENGRAVING AND PRINTING
> are the lines long there?

The two times I went to visit, the lines were so long that I didn't even bother to try and wait. Unless visiting this is a must-see, I can't imagine using up precious time during a first visit to DC. I skipped it on my EIGHTH visit to DC!

I'm confused by your plan for Monday morning - you seem to be doing two things at the same time.

So yes -- the NEWSEUM is what I forgot. I have been there and love it.

Think we'll skip Alexandria based on advice.

Monday mornng was going to be the White House, and if we don't get in, the Bureau of Engraving and Printing.

Will definitely add another museum or two, especially if weather is bad -- will let my parent pick. Have always wanted to do the Phillips, but not sure that would be best for them if they haven't been to the National Gallery of Art or the Air and Space.

Does any one know anything about the National Arboretum -- I think it's indoors?
Or a nice place to have a cocktail with a view?

Thanks!
dina

I was referring to the library of congress and Capitol bldg!

oh yes, SF. i can see i didn't leave enough time -- maybe i'm overlapping. But if we can't get into the reading room, we can go to the Library of Congress earlier in order to make it to the capitol buiding tour on time! you're right!

More questions:

1. Need a good place to eat after the Capitol Building on Monday. Just a made a 2:15 timed entry resrevation to the Natl Archives.

2. Does any one know anything about the National Arboretum -- I think it's indoors?

3. Or a nice place to have a cocktai in the eveningl with a view?

Thanks!!

The National Arboretum is a big park like area in NE, not right downtown. It is outside. The United States Botantic Gardens is on Maryland Ave SW is inside and has some beautiful displays.

Ok, I was thinking of the place right next to the Capitol Building -- which I guess is the US Botanic Gardens. Thanks for clarifying!!

We've lived in DC for 20 years and have never visited the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. It's only open on Federal workdays, and the lines have always been long. I would tour any of the other museums instead.

I would skip Georgetown, as well. Little charm, lots of chain stores. Old Town has that same feeling to me, just my opinion though.

I would add the American History Museum to Day 1 in the morning if you can. It's close to the Old Post Office Pavilion and would save backtracking.

On Day 2, I might suggest spending time after the Capitol tour at the Library of Congress. There is more to the library than the reading room. Since you'll be in the general area, if you have time after the Botanic Garden you may like the Postal Museum and Union Station. The Postal Museum doesn't take much time and is more interesting than you might think. Union Station is pretty on the inside, and there are several places for a coffee break.

Unfortunately, you can not get advance tickets for Archives. However, if someone in your group is Military, retired or active, you can usually jump to the front of the line by going around to the group entrance and presenting ID.

Guys, read the OP. I assume dina's daughter is a student at Georgetown and will show her parents and grandparents the campus and neighborhood, not the chain stores. Besides, saying that Georgetown is all chain stores is plain wrong. It's a historic neighborhood that is home to a historic university and many historic homes, some of which, like Tudor Place and Dumbarton Oaks, are open to the public. A walking tour of Georgetown would reveal its many charms.

NATIONAL ARCHIVES (can you get tickets for this? last time I went the lines were REALLY long)
http://www.recreation.gov/tourSearchResult.do?parkId=79052&contractCode=NRSO

I doubt the lines will be long in February anyway. Did you read someplace that Feb is particuarly rainy?

Not to mention, I guess you CAN get an advance timed reservation for the Archives!

For a good (not great, and very pricey) cocktail in a fantastic setting with a great view, you can't beat the roof terrace atop the W next to the Willard. I don't know if it's as good in winter as in summer.

The Phillips Collection is closed Mondays, so plan accordingly. Just about everything else is open every day.

Georgetown does have much to offer outside the main drag of Wisconsin Ave and M St. However, when most say "they are going to Georgetown" I think that is what they are referring to unless they mention Dumbarton Oaks or some of the other various sites. Georgetown has a great Home & Garden Tour in the Spring and I've done various other tours there and certainly agree that there is much to learn about historic Georgetown if that is what is planned.

I have been to various special exhibits of museums in Feb and they can get rather crowded. People obviously head indoors during the colder weather that Feb usually has. If you are not here on a weekend that would help.

>>3. Or a nice place to have a cocktai in the eveningl with a view?<<

Rooftop of the W Hotel on 15th Street close to the White House.

DC will not be that busy over Pres Day weekend.

For places to eat after your Capital tour, I suggest Good Eats just around the corner from the Library of Congress or PAUL on Penn Ave across the street from the Archives.

Keep in mind www.goldstar.com for half price of many venues.

Just scroll to the bottom and click on D.C.

You may just miss restaurant week as it ends on the 10th of February.

Hi, Dina,

We took our family of five this summer, so totally different weather. A couple of things that come to mind:

1. It is possible to get "museumed out."

2. I hope your White House tour works out. I love museums, but just going to a place and wandering through and absorbing it changes the pace of your days.

We went to Mount Vernon and you do not mention a car, so maybe that is not a good choice. Also if the weather is poor, you may not enjoy it. I regretted that we didn't make it to Ford's Theater--perhaps that is another alternative.

3. On your Capitol Tour, is it through the Capitol Website or through your representative/senator? We did the tour through the official Capitol Site. We were suprised to find out that tour does NOT include the actual Senate or House floor. You can request passes from your senator or representative. I would highly recommend adding that piece.

4. At some point, just "pop in" to the Library of Congress, but you need to be at your Capitol tour easily a half hour early, so I'm not sure you can do it before. The security line can be slow. Read my report for how that worked out for us

Here is a link to the DC part of my trip report:

http://www.fodors.com/community/united-states/epic-east-coast-vacation-for-family-of-5.cfm#comment-7843317

5ALIVE -
thanks. i will read your trip report tonight. and yes, i did book through the capitol website. can we still do that and ask for "passes" from our senator? how does that work? you show your pass and go on your own? thanks...

thanks everyone for the restaurant and bar tips -- i'll check them out.

and yes, our daughter is going to georgetown univ and my parents want to see the charming neighborhood, do a campus tour, and eat at some of her favorite places, etc.
**i have been dying to go to dunbarton oaks, but didn't think it would be very lovely in the dead of winter -- am i wrong?

thanks again,
dina

Dumbarton Oaks musuem is nice anytime of the year. the gardens are not at their best obviously in the winter.

I think my parents are now putting Arlington Cemetery at the top of their list, so we will definitely go and take the bus tour there. Does anyone know if it's necessary to book in advance (president's day weekend) and, more importantly, how long it takes to do the tour and all the stops?
thanks so much for all your help!!
dina

Under the prior tour operator (and I'm guessing that the current one, Martz Grayline, does also) it was a hop-on-hop-off, so if you were to get off at three stops (tomb of the unknowns, Kennedy gravesite, Arlington House), with 20 minutes between buses, allow maybe 2 hours total. You might stay longer at one or more of the stops, especially if you want to see the changing of the guard but you reach there 40 minutes before the next ceremony (on the hour).

I would assume 3 hours. Could be a little less or a little more. I don't see any benefit of booking early but it wouldn't hurt.

ok, that's very helpful!
thanks so much.

If you are considering the Hop on Hop off bus tour, remember this site sells half off tickets. This was one of our purchases from this site. www.goldstar.com/washington-dc/events