Our trip isn’t likely to happen before December '04/January '05 at the earliest, so we’re in the very very preliminary stages of planning right now. It sounds like DC at New Year’s isn’t such a dumb idea, so our working plan looks like this:
Christmas with the flodfamily in Pennsylvania
several days around New Year’s in DC - setting aside one day each for the National Air and Space Museum and the Museum of Natural History
then on to Orlando for x days so the boys can do the Disney Thang
and finally to New York City for mumble days
before leaving, presumably from a NYC-area airport, for home
Now you see why we have to wait until '04 to do this, we have some serious saving up to do But if we can pull it off, it’ll be a vacation to remember!
I can say that usually the kids are bored and the adults really enjoy almost everything that is on the mall like the Smithsonians, etc. I live pretty close to DC and my younger cousins, three of them aged 16, 15, and 10, were all bored after about 2 hours in the Natural History Museum. There are lots of exhibits and lots of reading, that is not as engaging as kids are more used to these days, at least here in the States. Although there are more than there used to be, there are not many interactive exhibits at the museums in general. Usually the ones that are interactive are packed with kids and other kids who are whining because they can’t get a turn on the thing. Trust me, my cousins were the ones whining!
Anyway, like many have said, DC is usually much less crowded in winter. The White House Christmas Tree is usually packed with people driving around and walking to see it and you can only get a glimse from afar of it that way. Also, I never thought it was all that impressive. The one you want to see is the one on the grounds of the Capitol, much larger and better decorated. Even if there is a big crowd, you can see most of it very well since it is so large. This may have changed since the last time I was there was maybe 5-7 years ago, but I doubt it. So that is my two cents, hope you enjoy your trip to the States
We went to DC the week between Christmas and New Years, just a few years ago. It was a nice time to be there. The National Christmas tree (there are actual several versions of this, slightly different names) were still up.
We stayed at (and would recommend) a Holiday Inn that was just a few blocks off the mall. It was very near the Air and Space museum (two blocks at the most). Easy to walk to the Mall and metro stops, and not ghastly expensive.
It can be cold in DC that time of year (even though many Americans think of it as “southern”) but I don’t think I need to offer a Norwegian advice on dressing warmly.
I’ve only toured in DC once, but the two things that have stuck with me the strongest is Mr. Lincoln’s monument, and the Vietnam monument. Mr. Lincoln, sitting there in his massive chair, looking out over the Mall, made the trip worthwhile all by itself - the Vietnam monument just added to it.
I have nothing to add, but when I was around 10 or so my family went to DC for February vacation one year (both my parents are teachers) and I will always remember that as the coolest vacation we’ve ever taken. We did the Smithsonians, all the monuments, etc… I think another one of the things I thought was the coolest was taking the Metro. Didn’t have that in the 'burbs!
Our zoo was designed by M.C. Escher. No matter which direction you walk, it’s always uphill.
Mid-winter is actually the best time to visit the zoo; there’s very rarely a crowd, except on sunny Saturdays - but even a 60-degree day can leave you panting after climbing those heights.
But if we can pull it off, it’ll be a vacation to remember!