Christmas in DC

[MWB]

I'll be spending a few days before Christmas in DC with the wife and kids this year. Planning to see the Christmas trees and the zoo lights. Any other holiday themed stuff we should do? Or other general recommendations?

[MRandall25]

Smithsonian. Any one of them (I was partial to the Air and Space museum while I was in DC 6 or 7 years ago) is a great place, especially if your kids are at the age where they are easily amused by museum things (dinosaurs, history, etc.).

[PensFanInDC]

I'll be spending a few days before Christmas in DC with the wife and kids this year. Planning to see the Christmas trees and the zoo lights. Any other holiday themed stuff we should do? Or other general recommendations?

Pour House on capitol hill if you're in town during a Steelers game

Botanical Gardens

Any Smithsonian museum but I love American history best

Are you staying in dc or just outside?

[MWB]

Yeah, we'll do Smithsonians. We were there a couple years ago and did quite a bit including Air and Space out by the airport. It was great, but will probably stay in town the whole time. Adding the Spy Museum this year. We are staying in DC, not far from the Mall.

[pittsoccer33]

Pour House on capitol hill if you're in town during a Steelers game

i cant second this enough. i watched the steelers beat the ravens in the 2011 playoffs there and it was wild. get there early!

[MWB]

Not a Steelers' fan and won't be there on Sunday, so Pour House is out unless they've got a very good selection.

[mac5155]

If i think i went to the same pour house not really kid friendly is it?

[npv708]

I'm a little exhausted tonight, but if you don't mind I can give you a pretty decent list of stuff, depending on what you're looking for.

[60sixx]

You can do a National Mall Segway tour. We did it a couple years ago and it was AWESOME. I just noticed on their webpage that they've moved....they used to be right next door to Ella's Wood Fired Pizza......some of the best pizza I've ever had.

http://citysegwaytours.com/washington-dc/

We did the Spy Museum too---pretty cool.

[mac5155]

Ben's Chili Bowl is very good.

[Fire0nice228]

The Spy museum isn't really worth the money IMO.. I mean there is some cool stuff but some of the stuff is presented as genuine but in the fine print or the wording on the plaques it will say 'just like XYZ used' or this item is very similiar to what was used in ABC historical event..

The holocaust musem is great but depends on your kids age I guess..

[PensFanInDC]

Agree about the spy museum but there is a pretty cool Bond villain exhibit there right now.

IMO the botanical garden is totally worth the visit. The old post office building is a hidden gem. It's the second tallest building in DC and with the Washington memorial closed its the best way to get a sky view of the city. Old Ebbit Grill for a fancier but not too fancy dinner. Good beers there. Spend some time at the WWII memorial as well. Not much for Christmas themed stuff.

[columbia]

The zoo!

[mac5155]

I loved the holocaust museum. Probably not great for kids.. but I could have spent a whole day in there reading everything.

[60sixx]

I loved the holocaust museum. Probably not great for kids.. but I could have spent a whole day in there reading everything.

Agreed. Absolutely incredible. Time well spent.

[PensFanInDC]

I loved the holocaust

You're a sick man...

[MRandall25]

That's terrible, but I laughed.

[MWB]

Thanks for all the feedback. I definitely want to do the Holocaust Museum, but one of my daughters is too young, so that's going to be out. My wife made reservations for some restaurant and it might be Old Ebbet Grill. Are the botanical gardens easily accessible by metro?

[mac5155]

Old Ebbet Grill is phenomenal. I ate breakfast there to beat the lunch/dinner crowds. It's right near the White House.

Blue or orange line, Federal Center stop for the Botanical gardens, about a 4 block walk

[MWB]

Just confirmed that we do have reservations for Old Ebbet Grill for dinner. Nice.
Gardens look good too. Think that will be added to the itinerary.

[mac5155]

They are at the top of the "mall", right below the capitol.. If I remember correctly, they close ridiculously early. Everything closes early, but they shut down at like 3.

[PensFanInDC]

Just confirmed that we do have reservations for Old Ebbet Grill for dinner. Nice.
Gardens look good too. Think that will be added to the itinerary.

Enjoy. It's a common stomping ground of politicians.

[Gaucho]

That's terrible, but I laughed.

[DelPen]

http://www.mountvernon.org/calendar/vie ... 11-25/4546

I haven't been to Mt Vernon in winter but it's a pretty cool visit any other time. Not too far a drive outside DC.