anyone from DC area, or familiar with it?

lindac1

We're planning a trip this summer to VA.  We are thinking of driving as far as DC on day one, spending the afternoon doing a little sightseeing and then finishing up the drive the next day.

Since I'm totally unfamiliar w/the area, I wondered if there are any DC area moms or anyone familiar w/the area that could recommend a hotel for a night, preferably w/in walking distance to sights.  DD will be a week from 7 when we go, DS will be 2.5 and while I know it'll be hard to entertain them both equally, DD seems to be interested in "seeing where the President lives and stuff like that"

Thanks in advance for any suggestions!

shouldbworkin

I would stay in Arlington/Alexandria/etc.  Hotels are very reasonable there and if you find one right by the metro, it is a very easy train ride to the mall  where all of the museums and sights are.  DH and I stayed at a Marriott or Holiday Inn in Arlington years ago and did that and it was great. 

ak1234

I would recommend staying somewhere like Crystal City, which is right over the bridge from DC - right at the Metro and cheaper than the hotels in DC

jnicks19

I was going to say Crystal City as well.  

JenGK

VA is much cheaper, and it is easy to get into the city by Metro.  If you really want downtown, there is the J.W. Marriott at 14th and Penn NW; the Hotel Monaco at 7the and F, NW.; the Metro Center Marriott at 12th and G, NW, or the Grand Hyatt at 10th and H.  The Mandarin Oriental is also nice but very pricey (13th and Maryland, SW).  I am sure there are a bunch of others -- those are just the ones we recommend to clients. 

The thing to keep in mind is that the north side of the Mall is on Constitution Ave.  The letter streets move north from there.  The Capitol is near First Street, and the Lincoln Memorial is to the west at about 24th (with the White House at 16th).  And to make things exta confusing, you throw in the state streets, which are on diagonals.  So when you are thinking proximity, the higher letter streets will move you further from the Mall, and the higher numbers will move you west along its length.   ,

GinandTonic

jnicks19:

I was going to say Crystal City as well.  

This.

Or you could use Priceline and probably get a pretty good deal on something downtown. 

lindac1

Thanks for the tips, everyone! 

p1nklemonade

ditto the others.  i would stay in old town alexandria, along king street right near the metro station.

hmckeown

We are going in 2 weeks for spring break and we are staying at the Embassy Suites Crystal City. I will update when we are back about our experience.

Reid is 6 1/2 Grace will be 5 in June and Owen is 5 months.

 

Heather