Originally Posted by rtobe 
Hi, you're coming to my home town. Wigdoutdismom suggested I add my two cents.
Embassy Suites in Vienna -- is this the one near Tyson's Corner on Leesburg Pike? You definately need to drive to Metro from here or get the shuttle from hotel. Dunn Loring is near the end of the Orange line so you should get a seat. It is probably a 30-40 minute ride in to DC once you get on the train. Tyson's Corner Mall has a great food court (lots of options), and good restaurants (mostly chains). I stayed there last year when my air conditioning died (in June) and it was nice.
Yes, that's the one. Another DISer (janlotz?) stayed there and said it was very nice. She said the shuttle was hit or miss so I'm thinking I'll just get a SmarTrip card to pay for parking, etc. She also was kind enough to send me local restaurant info they got from the hotel as well as a map of the Galleria. I'm thinking of SmarTrip cards for everyone else too since you can also use them on the buses. What do you think? The shuttle probably works leaving hotel but not as well when you are stuck at Metro at end of long day. The SmarTrip cards are Metro's more permanent farecard than the paper ones. I think they may have a minimum amount to get one - check website. Yes you can use SmarTrip on bus but if you are not using the bus and only using Metro one day it may make not make sense to get SmarTrip cards for everyone, it could be cheaper to just pay bus fare and use a normal paper Metro farecard (try to put the exact amount on the card since you don't get a refund on unused money)
Parking at Metro can fill up on weekdays - even in August. Check Metro's website for details on parking at Metro Stations. http://www.wmata.com especially payment.
I requested information from them and got a nice packet of route maps, train times, etc. from them. I'll probably do their trip planner on the website too so I can figure out how much money we'll need for tickets.
One thing I did with out of town friends who wanted to see Arlington Cemetary and the monuments was get Tourmobile Tickets. This is like the Old Town Trolley, you get on and off around town and you can listen to the tour guide. http://www.tourmobile.com/ This may be a good option since DC is a swamp and there is a reason the locals leave in August (not much difference between DC and Orlando weather that time of year). This may be a good option for after the Spy Museum.
I'm definitely going to do get Tourmobile tickets for Arlington Cemetery. It will be nice to get off and on wherever we want; not to mention will save us from lots of walking! I'm going to bring the handheld fans we used on our WDW trip last year. The heat and humidity is pretty high where we live so we know what to expect. I'm on the fence about Tourmobile for everything else since it's so expensive. I don't know if they do multi-day ticket but it sounds like it would be worth it for at least one day since you get on and off all day for that price.
The Spy Museum is near the Verizon Center (basketball, ice hockey arena) there is a Gordon Biersch across the street, a Fuddruckers up the street, Clydes near Verizon Center (good variety). I think I would start with Spy Museum, then lunch then get on Tour Mobile and you will see all the monuments and can get on/off as you wish. If you do the tour with Arlington Cemetary you see it (maybe not as long as you like depending on schedules but you can get more in this way). The Spy Museum is cool. Have not been in years but really liked it.
Did the Verizon Center used to be called MCI Center? Yes I was looking at the map I got in the information from the Smithsonian and it shows MCI Center but no Verizon Center. It doesn't show the Spy Museum on the map
but I was able to figure out approximately where it's located; looks like it's close to the National Archives (?) Spy Museum is closer to Verizon Center than Archives. Archives are on the Mall (Constitution Ave.). If that's the case I may rearrange the itinerary to do Spy Museum the day we do the National Archives. That would work. Thanks for the tips on the nearby restaurants! Looks like we could hop on the Red Line to Union Station and grab a bite to eat there as well as check out Union Station. Unless you are heading that way (Union Station is near the Capitol), you may be better off time wise finding food near spy museum. I'm thinking that since the Spy Museum is high on DD list, do it in the morning so you have time there.
Your Monday schedule may be too many things. The Zoo is on the Red line - Woodley Park. From downtown about 15 minutes by train - a little less if you are on Red line train. National Explorer's Hall is roughly 17th and M St, and Connecticut NW The Zoo is around 30th and Connecticut (would not recommend walking too far) the you are heading to the White House Visitor Center and the Mall (Natural History is at 10th and Constitution). The Zoo can be a whole day although I think about half a day should do it. There may be some food options around the Zoo that are kid friendly (don't know - have not needed to think about that).
I thought Friday was the busy day! LOL I'd really like to get to the Zoo early, before it gets too hot and the animals are more active. What's your opinion on us driving to the Zoo, checking out the Zoo and then taking the Metro from there for other attractions? I don't know about parking at or near the zoo. I think there is a lot but not sure how much parking space there is and the cost if any. From where your hotel is located driving to the zoo on a Monday could mean you have to deal with tail end of rush hour traffic in the morning or at the end of your day getting back to hotel. The zoo is on Metro Red line (same one as Union Station although the opposite direction). We'll probably be there for 1/2 day as Hannah is a HUGE animal lover. The biggest issue with planning is not knowing how long we'll be at each attraction. Depending on the interest level it could be anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours; plus I'm looking at the approximate touring times the UG lists for the attractions. Saturday and Sunday may be a lighter days so maybe I can add one or two for each of those days.
Sunday - Air and Space has a cafeteria which should have kid friendly options. The Museum of the American Indian could be interesting. Which sculpture garden did you want to see - there is one near the Hirschorn which is next to Air and Space. The other one I can think of is near Natural History.
We're going to the sculpture garden near the Hirschhorn. Maybe it would make more sense to do the Air and Space Museum after that? Yes, they are next to each other.
Hope that helps
Hi, you're coming to my home town. Wigdoutdismom suggested I add my two cents.
Embassy Suites in Vienna -- is this the one near Tyson's Corner on Leesburg Pike? You definately need to drive to Metro from here or get the shuttle from hotel. Dunn Loring is near the end of the Orange line so you should get a seat. It is probably a 30-40 minute ride in to DC once you get on the train. Tyson's Corner Mall has a great food court (lots of options), and good restaurants (mostly chains). I stayed there last year when my air conditioning died (in June) and it was nice.
Yes, that's the one. Another DISer (janlotz?) stayed there and said it was very nice. She said the shuttle was hit or miss so I'm thinking I'll just get a SmarTrip card to pay for parking, etc. She also was kind enough to send me local restaurant info they got from the hotel as well as a map of the Galleria. I'm thinking of SmarTrip cards for everyone else too since you can also use them on the buses. What do you think? The shuttle probably works leaving hotel but not as well when you are stuck at Metro at end of long day. The SmarTrip cards are Metro's more permanent farecard than the paper ones. I think they may have a minimum amount to get one - check website. Yes you can use SmarTrip on bus but if you are not using the bus and only using Metro one day it may make not make sense to get SmarTrip cards for everyone, it could be cheaper to just pay bus fare and use a normal paper Metro farecard (try to put the exact amount on the card since you don't get a refund on unused money)
Parking at Metro can fill up on weekdays - even in August. Check Metro's website for details on parking at Metro Stations. http://www.wmata.com especially payment.
I requested information from them and got a nice packet of route maps, train times, etc. from them. I'll probably do their trip planner on the website too so I can figure out how much money we'll need for tickets.
One thing I did with out of town friends who wanted to see Arlington Cemetary and the monuments was get Tourmobile Tickets. This is like the Old Town Trolley, you get on and off around town and you can listen to the tour guide. http://www.tourmobile.com/ This may be a good option since DC is a swamp and there is a reason the locals leave in August (not much difference between DC and Orlando weather that time of year). This may be a good option for after the Spy Museum.
I'm definitely going to do get Tourmobile tickets for Arlington Cemetery. It will be nice to get off and on wherever we want; not to mention will save us from lots of walking! I'm going to bring the handheld fans we used on our WDW trip last year. The heat and humidity is pretty high where we live so we know what to expect. I'm on the fence about Tourmobile for everything else since it's so expensive. I don't know if they do multi-day ticket but it sounds like it would be worth it for at least one day since you get on and off all day for that price.
The Spy Museum is near the Verizon Center (basketball, ice hockey arena) there is a Gordon Biersch across the street, a Fuddruckers up the street, Clydes near Verizon Center (good variety). I think I would start with Spy Museum, then lunch then get on Tour Mobile and you will see all the monuments and can get on/off as you wish. If you do the tour with Arlington Cemetary you see it (maybe not as long as you like depending on schedules but you can get more in this way). The Spy Museum is cool. Have not been in years but really liked it.
Did the Verizon Center used to be called MCI Center? Yes I was looking at the map I got in the information from the Smithsonian and it shows MCI Center but no Verizon Center. It doesn't show the Spy Museum on the map
but I was able to figure out approximately where it's located; looks like it's close to the National Archives (?) Spy Museum is closer to Verizon Center than Archives. Archives are on the Mall (Constitution Ave.). If that's the case I may rearrange the itinerary to do Spy Museum the day we do the National Archives. That would work. Thanks for the tips on the nearby restaurants! Looks like we could hop on the Red Line to Union Station and grab a bite to eat there as well as check out Union Station. Unless you are heading that way (Union Station is near the Capitol), you may be better off time wise finding food near spy museum. I'm thinking that since the Spy Museum is high on DD list, do it in the morning so you have time there.Your Monday schedule may be too many things. The Zoo is on the Red line - Woodley Park. From downtown about 15 minutes by train - a little less if you are on Red line train. National Explorer's Hall is roughly 17th and M St, and Connecticut NW The Zoo is around 30th and Connecticut (would not recommend walking too far) the you are heading to the White House Visitor Center and the Mall (Natural History is at 10th and Constitution). The Zoo can be a whole day although I think about half a day should do it. There may be some food options around the Zoo that are kid friendly (don't know - have not needed to think about that).
I thought Friday was the busy day! LOL I'd really like to get to the Zoo early, before it gets too hot and the animals are more active. What's your opinion on us driving to the Zoo, checking out the Zoo and then taking the Metro from there for other attractions? I don't know about parking at or near the zoo. I think there is a lot but not sure how much parking space there is and the cost if any. From where your hotel is located driving to the zoo on a Monday could mean you have to deal with tail end of rush hour traffic in the morning or at the end of your day getting back to hotel. The zoo is on Metro Red line (same one as Union Station although the opposite direction). We'll probably be there for 1/2 day as Hannah is a HUGE animal lover. The biggest issue with planning is not knowing how long we'll be at each attraction. Depending on the interest level it could be anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours; plus I'm looking at the approximate touring times the UG lists for the attractions. Saturday and Sunday may be a lighter days so maybe I can add one or two for each of those days.
Sunday - Air and Space has a cafeteria which should have kid friendly options. The Museum of the American Indian could be interesting. Which sculpture garden did you want to see - there is one near the Hirschorn which is next to Air and Space. The other one I can think of is near Natural History.
We're going to the sculpture garden near the Hirschhorn. Maybe it would make more sense to do the Air and Space Museum after that? Yes, they are next to each other.
Hope that helps
I was on the websites for Air and Space, Natural History and American History museums last night and thinking "I could spend the entire day here!"
I am following along very eagerly and taking mental notes though because I want to take the kids to DC at some point. 
We're very excited about the trip!
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