Washington DC with teens - is it fun?

[Rollingdownland]

I've got the chance of a v cheap holiday to Washington DC through work with my teen DC and am wondering if it's worth it. I'd have to pay for two flights, and food and drink over there.

I've never been - is it fun and worth crossing the Atlantic for? All opinions very welcome!

It's got loads of museums and galleries if they like that sort of thing. We loved it but my DDs were 18 and 23 when we went.

The museums and monuments are interesting. Take in a sports game, depending on the season.

Very much so - it is awesome for them to see. Everything is on a grand scale and the memorials are amazing. We went in Oct half term.

A bit of organising goes a long way

Capitol building - book a free tour online in advance
Washington memorial - book the $1 entrance online 30 days in advance.

All the world-class smithsonian museums are free including both air and space museums and the zoo - some might need free booking in advance so check.

Use the $1 National mall bus if legs get tired.

Go and see a Wizards NBA home game.

The metro is nice and safe.

We came from NYC and the train one-way was only $90 for 4 of us - so that may also be an option.

Oh this is good to know everyone, thank you!

Thank you @Fellsbluemist for all your amazing suggestions. Great idea re: Wizards NBA game - they would love that. And a train to NYC is such a good one - makes flying all that way really worth it if we see that, too, even though it would be a long day.

We are wondering whether to go late August or October half-term.

Thank you all so much.

I went a few years back, not with teens, but it really was one of the best trips I've done. You wouldn't struggle for things to do. There is an area called Georgetown which is quite trendy and has some shops and cafes your DC might like. There are loads of museums and monuments to explore around the national mall. The African American history museum is really good. We hired bikes and cycled round the mall at night, a lot of people do it. That was one of the highlights of the trip. You can do a free tour of the Capitol if you just turn up and queue. It's cool seeing the White House in person too. If you cross the river, Arlington cemetery is worth a visit. It's very sad but peaceful and insightful. You can watch the changing of the guard at the tomb of the unknown soldier and visit the eternal flame at JFK's grave.

It does get VERY humid in the summer, so October might be better!

We went last autumn with 14 yo and 10 yo. It was brilliant. They loved it. 'Best holiday ever' apparently.

I love DC and there is so much to do there for every age group. However, it is essentially a southern city and, as such, gets very hot, humid and muggy in August. Also the NBA doesn't play in August. That is baseball season. I think basketball season starts sometime in mid-October.

We are wondering whether to go late August or October half-term

We went in October. It was still t-shirt weather. I wouldn't fancy it in august. Far too hot.

OK thank you all, I shall ask for October.

Love all these suggestions. I'm really grateful - googling 'Washington DC with teens' has got me absolutely nowhere.

Georgetown sounds really fun, as does Arlington. And I def want to see the White House and the Capitol, too. Thank you all!

i went in august many years ago with DC were 19 and 17 . August is really hot and humid and I wouldn’t recommend going then . There’s lots to do and it’s walkable. Lots of museums and monuments. We did the duck tour . I don’t know if it’s still available. We had 4 days in Washington and then took the train to New York for 4 days .

In my opinion, the White House is a must-see. OP, you will need to apply to the British Embassy in Washington DC (assuming you're a British) for the White House tour.

Sorry one last question - how many nights is optimum?

Sadly tours of the White House are no longer arranged by embassies for international visitors.

However, you can visit the White House Visitor centre on Pennsylvania Avenue and it’s free.

The NASM is open but currently timed free entry passes are required to enter. The Capitol is free to enter too and is worth a visit.

If you like hot dogs you need to visit Bens Chili Bowl restaurant on U street.

One of my favourite cities, I went when I was 12 and fell in love.

A week is good.

We did

Most of the Smithsonians
The Zoo
Hope on hop off bus
Mount Vernon tour
Monuments during day and again at night
Washington monument
Potomac boat tour and got off at each stop
Georgetown
Pentagon City Shopping Mall
Arlington
Roosevelt Island

and Ice hockey tickets - that was a huge hit

Best place to eat - The Cheesecake Factory

It's absolutely brilliant you will love it!

NBA and NHL games both brilliant and take place in the same stadium thats really central. All the different memorials, museums etc on the mall are brilliant - the national history type museum was one of the best places ive been to.
Washington Monument and Capitol building tours are well worth booking.

Theres an fbi spy museum thing i think that could be good for teens

Arlington and all the different presidents memorials plus the war ones are all so interesting , id go back in a shot if i could

October is definitely the time to go. 3/4 days is enough to see the highlights. My Ds were slightly disappointed/surprised there were no skyscrapers! I should have prepared them.

The botanic gardens (just along from the Smithsonian museums) was brilliant - a huge glass house with tropical gardens like a jungle inside. I loved it.

My other favourite was the Library of Congress. I had no idea what to expect, but I was blown away by how beautiful it was. And you can get there through a tunnel from the Capitol which is cool.

October will be lovely because they go all out for Halloween out there, so the decorations will be everywhere

Washington is fabulous. I went as a nine year old with my aunt and returned with my family when I was 18 and my brother was 16. There’s lots to do. I’d grab the opportunity.

Yes, although the White House website says that tours can be arranged through the embassy, the British embassy website says that they are not doing it at present. There is more detail as to why on the website.

As for dining, I would recommend a visit to the Old Ebbitt Grill, which is the oldest continuously operating restaurant in DC (1856). It can be a bit touristy at times, but it has great atmosphere, and the last time we went there the food was excellent.

Hi @Rollingdownland me, my sister and brother went when we were kids, it was great, i still think back now and remember what a great holiday it was 😊👍

Yes! Took DD when she was about 13 - she loved it - there is loads to do for them!

Our DD found the best ice cream shop - Thomas Sweet Ice cream Shop in Georgetown