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Tweens and teens in DC- More things to do

 

 

 

 

 

DC is great for kids, but it's especially wonderful for tweens and teens.

 

The 8^th grade social studies curriculum (Civics) inspires many wonderful excursion to "the District".

 

Some of the best bets are:

 

The US Capital Building- What better way to see our democracy in action. You must have a ticket to tour this magnificent structure. I'm happy to report that the ticketing process seems to have been much improved. Now, instead of having to arrive at the outdoor ticket kiosk hours in advance, you may either arrange your individual, family or group tour through the Capital Visitors Center, or through your US Senator or Congresspersons office. If you like to gamble, you can take a chance at the kiosks located on the East and West fronts, for a same day ticket. The official tour lasts approximately one hour.  After a hugely interesting tour under the Capital dome, where you will be treated to some of the world’s most incredible historical paintings and relief sculptures,plaques, tiles and statuary, you’ll be permitted to ascend to the visitors gallery, where you can watch the House or Senate in action. Be prepared to leave items at the security desk. You’ll be given a tag to retrieve your items. Check out the Capital website for a detailed list of what is permissible to bring.

 

The National Archives- This was wonderful. As my son and I waited behind the velvet ropes to view for ourselves the articles of freedom (Magna Carta, Constitution, Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights, in a heavily darkened anteroom (this will be explained to you), we could not help but feel thrilled.  The docent intoned in a deep, sonorous voice, what the rules would be and the consequences for not following them. It was all well worth it. To see these documents in person, rather than viewing them in a textbook, was an incredible opportunity, and to learn some of the inside scoop on some of the signatories, was great. Don't hesitate to chat up the guides. They're very friendly and willing to share historic tidbits they've picked up over the years. The line can be very long, especially if you don't have a pre-arranged entry ticket. Visit the website to request an on line reservation which will allow you to go into a priority line. But, we lucked out and skipped right in.

 

The Supreme Court- The tour is brief, and consists of a short lecture while sitting in the courtroom and, alas, no our of the Justices chambers is permitted. However, it really was astonishing to sit inside the courtroom and soak in the atmosphere of that room. You might be lucky enough to hear oral arguments if you can arrange your tour on a Monday-Wednesday, at 10am or 11am, which is when cases are presented. Lines for each session start forming quite early. Visit the Court's website for more visitor information.There's also a cafeteria, portraiture, a visitors film and a public lecture in the courtroom each hour on the half-hour when court is not in session.

 

OK, the next one may not seem educational on the face of it, but it will make a day of absorbing history a heck of a lot of fun for everyone in the family, even if it contains a moody teenager or two.  We’ve been riding Segways at the beach for a few years now, but you can take a Segway tour of downtown DC to see the sights and landmarks without wrecking your tootsies.

 

Another option is to take a tour on Olde Town Trolley. It’s comfortable and convenient, and you’ll see all the sights. It's a great way to get to all of the main monuments without wilting from exhaustion. You can get on and off as you wish, and the drivers are very helpful in terms of guiding you which direction to go. They also point out interesting tidbits . For example, we learned  that the flag would fly at the Capital if the House was in session so the wives would know whether their husbands would be working late. If it was on one side, the House was in session, and if it was on the other, the Senate was in session.I usually park at Union Station and pick up the trolley tour there. This is also a great way to avoid having to deal with finding street parking so you can relax and enjoy your day in DC.