In the Company of Grandchildren

A Vacation Adventure in the U.S. Capital

By Carol Greenberg

As luck would have it, the travel section of the local newspaper featured an article about Washington, D.C., advising me to write to the D.C. Chamber of Commerce for information. I was soon deluged with pamphlets about hotels, maps and sightseeing information. They also told me to contact my congressman for tickets to the White House and Capitol tours well in advance of our trip. We would be traveling during July and I called my congressman in April to be assured of tickets. My congressman's office also advised me of the best hotels for children.

There is a hotel for almost every street in Washington but I wanted one within reasonable walking distance to the main attractions and a Metro station. I also wanted a suite – or two connecting bedrooms – at a reasonable price, and since I expected the weather to be hot, I wanted a pool to cool off in after a long day of touring.

My list of packing essentials included Band-Aids, sunblock and children's pain reliever and anti-itch cream. I also packed bathing suits and hats, necessary clothing, travel games and a book for each child and myself. There was a lot of walking, so in addition to sandals, I'd recommend packing sneakers. And, don't forget the camera!

Our points of interest were the National Museum of American History, the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum, the White House, the Lincoln Memorial, the Jefferson Memorial and the J. Edgar Hoover FBI building. Tickets to the White House and FBI building are required from mid-March to mid-September. A daily allotment is available on a first-come basis, starting at 6 a.m., but you can order them in advance from your senator or congressman.

Want to see more?

• A Presidential Getaway: Celebrate Presidents' Day with a Family Trip
• Long-distance Grandparents: Creative and Fun Ways to Stay in Touch
• Capitalizing on Fun in D.C.: What to Do and See in Washington, D.C.
• Grandtravel: Grandparents Traveling with Grandchildren
• Check out our Article Library.
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