Family Trip to Washington Dc on a Budget

Planning a trip to Washington, DC can seem daunting. In that location are and then many things to do in Washington, DC. How practise y'all decide where to begin planning your Washington, DC itinerary?

If that'south you, y'all've come to the right place! This post includes everything needed when planning a trip to Washington, DC. Nosotros volition answer:

• What are the best places to stay in Washington, DC?
• Which are the best places to meet in Washington, DC?
• What are some things to do near Washington, DC?
• How can I visit Washington, DC on a budget?

We answer each question below. Then, let's start planning a trip to Washington, DC with kids (or without!).

What are the all-time places to stay in Washington, DC?

When you consider the best places to stay in Washington, DC, the commencement affair you should know is in that location are arable Washington, DC hotels for families.

I've stayed in hotel suites, Washington, DC, which offering more space than standard hotels. Those who need pet friendly accommodations, might consider motels in Washington, DC. Some of the best places to stay in Washington, DC are in the suburbs nearby.

Washington, DC Hotels – Search hundreds of travel sites at one time!

To help you decide which Washington, DC hotels for families are best for you, consider these factors:

1. Book one of the dozens of Washington, DC hotels most metro stations.

The best places to stay in Washington, D.C. are located near metro stations, helping you salvage both fourth dimension and coin! Parking in DC is expensive, and traffic congestion makes it hard to bulldoze in the city. Select Washington, DC hotels about the metro to make getting around the city easy (and affordable).

>> Read our guide on how to utilise the Washington, DC Metro! <<

ii. Some of the best places to stay in Washington, DC are in the suburbs!

Some of the best places to stay in Washington, D.C. are in the suburbs, where overall costs are lower and parking is often complimentary.

For case, if you bulldoze to Washington, DC, hotels in the urban center usually accuse upwardly of $40/nighttime for your auto. That's not valet parking! In nearby Arlington , virtually hotels provide FREE cocky-parking. Hotel rack rates tend to be cheaper, too! Come across? hotels outside of Washington, DC are worth a look!

3. Await for Washington, DC vacation packages.

Holiday packages to Washington, DC tin assistance yous cut costs.

I use 2 websites to search for vacation packages: Kayak and Momondo. Both offer packet deals to help you save on travel by bundling airfare, hotel, car rental and/or attraction passes.

• Click here to explore vacation packages on Kayak.
• Click here to explore vacation packages on Momondo.

Area visitors' bureaus, which work with local businesses to promote tourism, offer Washington, DC vacation packages that help you lot save money — and make planning piece of cake!

• Stay Arlington Vacation Packages — summertime packages include bike rentals, admission discounts, shopping discounts and more at a variety of participating hotels.
• Extraordinary Alexandria Vacation Packages — summer packages include Gratuitous PARKING and attraction passes, as well every bit discounts for Mountain Vernon at a number of hotels.
• Loudon County, "Lakeway to the Smokies" — This region, westward of Washington, DC, has affordable hotel options and great lake business firm getaways.
• Prince William Canton — Dwelling house to the National Museum of the Marine Corps, shopping and the countryside southwest of the Washington, DC, has easy access from I-95 and offers affordable lodging options. Check the website for seasonal specials.
• Fairfax County — Just across the Potomac from Washington, DC, family unit friendly Fairfax County is but a short metro ride away. Check their website for specials and deals on lodging, dining and attractions.

What are the best places to see in Washington, DC?

There are so many Washington, DC activities, it'southward almost hard to narrow them downwardly. Some of the all-time places to run into in Washington, DC are free — which makes Washington, DC on a budget a very easy thing to plan. Of grade, these are just some of the best places to visit in Washington, DC. There are many other Washington, DC activities to consider, also as things to do nearly Washington, DC. To assistance you plan your Washington, DC itinerary, here's a list of Washington, DC activities — first the things to practice in Washington, DC for costless, and then the other Washington, DC activities (including my all-fourth dimension favorite!) and finally, things to practice near Washington, DC — which you'll find in the nearby suburbs. Since near of the region is easily accessible through the Washington, DC metro, you can see a lot without much hassle!

1. Washington, DC activities that are free (yay, budget)

The Smithsonian Institution

The Smithsonian Institution, a collective of 19 museums, galleries, gardens and the National Zoo, is gratuitous to the public. Many of the individual museums are located almost the National Mall and easy to reach past metro. Two of my favorites are the Natural History Museum (perchance because I've long been a fan of Teddy Roosevelt) and the Air & Space Museum (because as an Ohio native and Due north Carolina transplant, air and space are part of my Deoxyribonucleic acid). Another spot not to miss, especially if traveling with kids age 3-10 is the National Gallery Sculpture Garden on the mall.

The DEA Museum & Visitors Centre

(Airtight for refurbishment until Autumn, 2020) The DEA Museum exists to educate the American public on the history of drug employ, drug addiction and DEA law enforcement. Using exhibits, interactive displays and educational tools, the history of drug use is laid out — and to exist honest, it's heart breaking. The role federal police enforcement plays to curtail drug apply is too explained. Every bit more people are impacted past drug use and abuse in the United States, the museum hopes to make a positive affect through education going forward. Note: I visited this museum with my college age son. I do not recommend this museum to immature families (under age 10). When yous visit, exist sure to have data pamphlets abode for farther, guided discussion with your kids.

The National Museum of the Marine Corps

If you lot bulldoze I-95, you've seen the imposing steel and glass structure near Quantico, just south of Washington, DC. The National Museum of the Marine Corps offers gratuitous parking, free admission and free tours! Guests are invited to explore and learn the important function our Us Marine Corps has played through three centuries — and continues to practise today. Children'southward exhibits, onsite restaurants and free wheelchair scooters make this a museum the whole family unit can visit.

Celebrated parks in Washington, DC

Washington, DC might be known as a political hub, but the region has a lot of green space, too. You're probably family with the Washington, DC Mall area — and its monuments, cerise blossoms and museums. Just, in that location are many other parks in the area to consider. Some of my favorites are:

• Theodore Roosevelt Island in Arlington (well-nigh the Rosslyn Station). The island includes 91 wooded acres and a memorial, plumbing equipment for the begetter of our national parks.
• Kenilworth Park & Aquatic Gardens at 1550 Anacostia Ave, NE in Washington, DC (near the Deanwood Station). This national park, which opened in 1926, is dedicated to h2o plants and animals. Raised boardwalks have visitors along trails to run into h2o lilies, hyacinths, lotuses and bluish heron (and more) at this oasis in the metropolis.
• Great Falls Park at 9200 Erstwhile Dominion Dr., McLean, VA (non accessible by metro — you'll need a car for this ane).  This park presents the Potomac River in stunning fashion. I've seen the river from many vantage points, similar Mountain Vernon, and it appears to be a wide, lazy river that meanders through a decorated city. At Slap-up Falls Park, you'll experience the other face of the river — with water crashing over rocks and cliffs at Mather Gorge. It'southward not Niagara Falls, but it is impressive! The park features six different hiking trails. Visitors can likewise go kayaking or explore the park'south company center. Hiking tip: The River Trail offers the best views of Mather Gorge. Admission is $10 per private vehicle, or $5 per person. NPS pass holders go in free.

Tour a authorities building

Go behind the scenes in Washington to get a glimpse into the day-to-mean solar day life of our regime officials. Most of them are free! You can tour the The Us Capitol, the Supreme Courtroom Edifice (no advance reservations required), and the White House (advance tickets required). At the Pentagon, allow extra time to visit the Pentagon Memorial, which remembered the tragedy of September 11, 2001.

Read near my tour of the Pentagon and how to schedule your trip (you have to plan in advance).

2. Other places to run into in Washington, DC

You lot could plan a whole vacation effectually free places to see in Washington, DC. But, at that place are and so many other Washington, DC activities to consider! These are the best places to visit in Washington, DC — even if they do have a fee!

But, but because these Washington, DC activities have a fee doesn't mean yous take to pay full price! (I avert full price whenever I can!!!)

⇒ Get the Washington, DC Explorer Laissez passer to SAVE! ⇐

The Washington D.C. Explorer Pass lets you choose from a list of 28 attractions in Washington, DC to create your own vacation bundle. You save up to 47% on attractions you already want to see. Some of my favorites, similar the International Spy Museum, DC Bike rentals and Mount Vernon are included options (at the time of this post).

Private listing of places to see in Washington, DC

If you don't want to become a Washington, DC Explorer Pass, you lot can too save on admission to a number of individual Washington, DC activities by purchasing in advance. These are my personal favorites, with links to purchase money saving tickets online.

• The International Spy Museum — Located at 700 Fifty'Enfant Plaza SW Washington, DC, this is the only public museum in the globe to provide a global perspective on the history of intelligence and espionage, showing how it has changed with the times and its bear upon on world affairs. Interactive exhibits make this one of my all-time favorite museums for family unit travelers.

• George Washington's Mountain Vernon — Located at 3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Highway Mount Vernon, VA near Alexandria, a visit to George Washington'southward family unit estate transports visitors back to Colonial America. Discover what life was like for George and Martha Washington, learn about life in the late 1700s and how Washington's legacy shaped our nation. Permit a minimum of three hours to visit, though yous can easily spend a whole day here. Onsite restaurants are available.

• Arlington National Cemetery — Located at 1 Memorial Ave, Fort Myer, VA, is where President John F. Kennedy is cached. Many others are buried or honored here, including the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. While it is gratis to visit the cemetery, it is very large — with many places of historic significance to see. The best way to visit is with a hop on/hop off guided trolley bout. Let 2-4 hours to visit depending on your involvement in history. Walking shoes are recommended.
• Monuments by Moonlight — Departure from Union Station at fifty Massachusetts Ave, this is my all-time favorite Washington,  They're great to visit during the twenty-four hours, but a nighttime tour makes them come to life in a whole new way. Tours sell out, especially during schoolhouse breaks and the holidays, so purchase in advance!

• Prince William Wood Park —Located at 18170 Park Entrance Rd, Triangle, VA about thirty minutes south of Washington, DC, this park charges a $20 admission per vehicle, and it's worth every penny. Explore this wilderness where Earth War II spies were trained, hike the trails, savour a picnic lunch and acquire about the park'southward function in improving the health of inner city kids from the city. It'south easy to get to from I-95 and provides a welcome intermission from the hustle and bustle of city life.

This is by no means an exhaustive list of all the places to visit in and effectually Washington, DC, just they are some of the all-time. I hope highlighting my favorites volition help y'all programme your Washington, DC family unit trip more easily.

How tin I visit Washington, DC on a budget?

I said at the first, Washington, DC is a budget friendly family vacation destination. To save the most on your Washington, DC holiday, follow these tips:

1. Stay outside the city and use the METRO during your vacation. Our Beginner'southward Guide to the DC Metro shows you just how like shooting fish in a barrel it is!
2. Book vacation packages through Kayak or Momondo. These websites offer discounts on hotels, airfare, rental cars and vacation packages so you tin can do more than while spending less. That's my favorite way to travel!
3. Consider bike rentals as a fun, inexpensive style to get around the metropolis. Rentals include helmets, locks, handlebar purse and tire pump for emergencies. At that place are bike trails all the way to Mount Vernon that active travelers will savor.

Planning a trip to Washington, DC with kids is a surprisingly affordable holiday choice. When planning a trip to Washington, DC, look outside the city for better prices on hotels (and free parking). Include visits to some gratuitous attractions like the Smithsonian Establishment Museums, the National Gallery and the monuments. And, purchase Washington, DC activities tickets in advance to save coin on admission ticket prices!

To learn more near Washington, DC activites and surrounding areas, read these posts:

• Monuments by Moonlight, a total review.
• Historic Occoquan, a Washington, DC day trip for arts, history and culture.
• The best nutrient in Northern Virginia, the Washington, DC Suburbs.
• Visiting the ix/11 Memorial at the Pentagon: Things to know before yous go.
• X best things to do in One-time Town Alexandria.

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Source: https://familytravelsonabudget.com/destinations/usa/washington-dc/washington-dc-with-kids/

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