Do's and Don'ts for a Family Vacation to DC

We had the funnest spring break. I think I'm ready for school to be over... but we still have two months left. We took a road trip up to Washington, DC for a long weekend. Here's what we learned.

DO visit the Lincoln Memorial.

It is one of my favorite spots in DC.
There is a reverent feeling there that even my kids pick up on.
Very cool.

DO go in the spring when there are SO many GORGEOUS

flowers in bloom.

Tulips galore!

Trees in bloom.
(But not the cherry blossoms. We missed those.)

National Tulip Library.
Who even knew such a thing existed?

DO get at least one family photo
with everyone in it.

(Be happy if four of the five family members
are looking at the camera.)

DO visit with multiple friends if possible.

It helps if there are girls for your daughter to play with

AND plenty of boys for your son to wrestle with.

DO ride the Metro.
DON'T try to get everyone through on the same ticket.
Each person needs their own.
(We were afraid Andrew was going to get arrested
for a while because we accidentally went turnstile hopping.)

DON'T drop your sunglasses while waiting for the Metro.
They may never be the same.

DO play Duck-Duck-Goose in the National Mall.

The kids enjoyed this as much as any of the museums.

They didn't have to wait in line.

And they could be LOUD and not get shushed.

DO visit the National Zoo.

It's free. Did you know this? FREE!
(But they did charge TWO whole dollars for a map.)

DO hang out at the Gorilla exhibit and hope for
a chance to see the baby gorilla.

Because she is the cutest animal. Ever!

DO visit the Giant Panda exhibit, too.

Preferably when the pandas are eating.

I had no idea they could chew through bamboo this thick.

Impressive. And a little scary.

But DON'T drive to the zoo.
Especially on a Saturday.
Especially if you've slept in.
There will be no place to park.
You'll spend over an hour in traffic.
And then end up walking a mile and a half
with your six little munchkins to the entrance.
They'll be tired before they even get to see
their first animal. Not a great start to the day.

DO visit the National Museum of American History.
While there:

DO visit the Abraham Lincoln exhibit.
(Even better if your friend agrees to watch
five of the six kids for you, so the other adults
can actually enjoy it. Thanks, Christian!)

DO visit the first level "Invention at Play."
The kids LOVED that part.

DO check out the gowns of the First Ladies.

Even if your daughter, the Queen of dress-up,
gets bored waiting in line.

It was cool to see the different styles and sizes.

But DON'T eat lunch in the basement cafeteria.
The food costs a fortune and isn't that good.

And DON'T waste your money on the ride simulators
down there either. Andrew and Brandon tried the Grand
Prix racing one. Andrew said it felt like he was playing a
video game from several years ago. Not worth it.

DO visit the Air and Space Museum.
Also free. Was I the only person who didn't know this?
Lots of cool exhibits, some of them hands-on.

DON'T get overly excited about touching the moon rock.
It was actually just a teeny wedge of what felt like metal.
But we can say we've touched a piece of the moon!
Can you?

DO take cool pictures with lots of flags
and monuments in the background.

It makes you feel patriotic.
And that's a good feeling.

Overall, we HIGHLY recommend DC as a family vacation spot. We spent 2 1/2 days there, but would've loved to spend more time. There is so much to see! And almost everything is free. My vacation budget was loving that. Just make sure you bring your walking shoes. You'll need 'em.