This year, we wanted to stay within North America for the summer, so once summer break began, we ventured to a few national parks in California and then onwards to San Diego.
Then, at the end of summer, I had a bit of cabin fever, so I looked for a short trip we could take as a family, and landed upon Washington, DC.
How to Get There: Driving vs. Flying
Washington, DC is located on the east coast of the United States and should not be mistaken with the state of Washington, which is on the west coast.
As we were planning our trip, my husband and I noted that because of work commitments, we would have to limit our travels to four days. Given this, flying would have logically helped us make the most of our time; however, driving instead would save us money, plus we think road trips can be a lot of fun as well!
We weighed these factors and the fact that the drive from Toronto to Washington, DC. is a lengthy nine-hour adventure versus the minimal one and a half hours it takes to fly.
Our solution? We opted to drive one way and fly the other.
Flying round-trip from Toronto to Washington, DC during the summer and fall months will cost between $500–650 (all figures in CAD) per person. So for our family of five, it would have cost at least $2,500 round-trip.
Conversely, a one-way one day car rental only cost $222, a significant cost savings when compared to the cost of flying both directions.
We chose the car rental options since if we drove our own car, that would have meant an 18-hour round-trip drive, putting mileage on our leased car and having to pay the daily hotel parking fee at our accommodation.
For our flight back to Toronto, we found a decent points redemption on Air Canada for 7,700 Aeroplan points per person plus $38.10 in taxes and fees, for a total of 38,500 Aeroplan points and $190.50 in taxes and fees for our family of five.
Choosing to drive one way also gave us the opportunity to stop enroute in Hershey, Pennsylvania, the birthplace of the famous chocolate brand. Several attractions inspired by the company exist here, including a museum, amusement park, and Hershey’s Chocolate World.
At Hershey’s Chocolate World, you’ll find activities like chocolate tastings and a create your own chocolate bar session. If you’re heading to the area, I recommend that you book these activities in advance as they do sell out.
We chose to spend a night in town to break up the drive, and for the shopaholics in the crowd, I should point out that there is a Tanger Outlets shopping centre in town, and on top of that, many of the items are tax-exempt in the state of Pennsylvania.
Where We Stayed in Washington, DC
For our short time in Washington, DC, we stayed at the Washington Marriott at Metro Center, which is conveniently located downtown and within a 15-minute walking distance of the White House and the National Mall, around which many of the city’s monuments and museums can be found.
The rooms are standard for the brand, with either one king or two queen beds. For amenities, it has a nice pool for the kids to enjoy after a day of exploring the city.
While we were at the hotel, we explored the new M-Club lounge for Marriott Bonvoy members with Platinum Elite status and above. Although it was a smaller space, it provided a good selection of hors d’oeuvres in the early evenings and great snacks for the kids before we headed out for the day.
I was also a big fan of there being an on-site Starbucks at the hotel.
The Washington Marriott at Metro Center can be booked for $149–600+ (USD) per night or by redeeming 30,000–59,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night. This means that on some days you can even redeem an annual Free Night Award worth 35,000 points that comes with the Canadian Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card and Marriott Bonvoy Business American Express Card, and with the US-issued Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card and Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card.
Why We Loved Washington, DC
There are over 50 free attractions to visit in Washington, DC! It’s a clean city, with a variety of dining options, and it offers this without the typical traffic and congestion seen in bigger American cities. Also, if you are staying downtown, most things are conveniently located within walking distance.
If you’re looking to get around the National Mall vicinity, a great option using the city’s own bus system is the DC Circulator. It only costs $1 (USD) per person per ride, and children under five are free. Take note, however, that while regular strollers are allowed, larger ones like jogging strollers and wagon carts are not.
Also, if you want to take advantage of free or reduced transfers between routes or the metro system, then you’ll need to pick up a SmarTrip Card from a metro station or other select venues.
For attractions located further away, you can order an Uber and make use of your monthly Uber credits from the US-issued American Express® Gold Card or The Platinum Card® by American Express.
What to Do in Washington, DC
With only three days, we had to be selective about which attractions we explored. We visited a few monuments of past presidents, a few free museums, and also a couple of paid ones (which we found to be well worth the money).
Be aware that many of the free attractions have timed entry and require advanced booking. Booking typically opens up 30–60 days prior to your planned visit day so be sure to check the booking calendar for your attractions.
If you aren’t able to snatch tickets beforehand, a limited number of same-day tickets for entrance times throughout the day are available first thing in the morning for many of the attractions on a first-come, first-served basis.
There are many monuments in Washington, but unless your kids are well-versed in American history, most probably won’t understand the significance of many of the presidents that the monuments pay tribute to. To get them prepped for your trip, here is a cool website I found that gives quick one-minute video intros to these famous American figures.
The Washington Monument is one that can be fun regardless of your kid’s interest in politics, as you can ascend up 500 feet in 70 seconds for great views of Washington below.
Some of the most popular attractions are part of the Smithsonian Institution, a world-renowned museum and research complex that features 17 museums and galleries, plus a zoo. We only had time to visit one museum here, and it was a toss up between the National Museum of Natural History and the National Air and Space Museum. Since half the exhibits were inaccessible at the National Air and Space Museum due to ongoing renovations, we opted for the former.
The kids had a great time in the Ocean Hall and the dinosaur exhibit, while I enjoyed marveling at the 45.5-carat Hope Diamond that’s on display there.
Another great museum to check out if you have time is the National Museum of African American History & Culture, which came highly recommended by many visitors. If you have older children who can stomach the history of WWII and its atrocities, then the Holocaust Memorial Museum should also be on your list.
Want to see a crate of uncut $100 bills? Or see how tall you are against a stack of bills? If any of your kids are interested about how money is made and safeguarded, then visit the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. They have a strict no photo and video policy, so if your kids have devices, advise them to put them away or they may never see them again.
Also, Planet Word Museum was a very interactive and interesting free museum that looked at the origin and impact of language and words, and appealed to all my kids.
We also visited a couple of paid museums. The notable advantage of paid museums being that they tend to be less busy than the free ones.
Enter the world of espionage at the International Spy Museum. This was a highly interactive experience that was entertaining for the whole family. As you move through exhibits featuring collections of espionage artifacts, you’ll learn about what it takes to be a spy, including the gadgets they used and the skills they needed to break codes and sometimes escape persecution.
The Museum of the Bible provided a very well done immersive experience of the Bible. This includes a life-size reconstructed part of a village that illustrates life during the time of Jesus, and an award-winning, narrated walkthrough story of the Old Testament. Published ticket prices aren’t cheap, but there are frequent promo codes that provide significant discounts so do a Google search before you head here.
If you want to visit the White House, you’ll have to do a bit of work beforehand. Public tour requests must be submitted up to three months but no less than 21 days in advance. Unfortunately, I wasn’t aware of this until we arrived in Washington, so there was no White House tour for us this time around.
The FBI Experience is one attraction that I wanted to visit to learn about how the agency operates but unfortunately, visitors must be American citizens or valid Green Card holders.
If you need a more relaxing day, consider renting bikes to take a ride around the National Mall or Tidal Basin. You can end off your day at The Wharf, Washington’s southwest waterfront featuring a lively neighbourhood with a number of shops and restaurants, including a local seafood market.
Conclusion
Washington, DC is a wonderful city to explore. While flying may seem like the most convenient option, driving to your destination has its advantages and can save you a significant amount of money depending on where you’re based.
Three days in the city passes quickly, but it’s enough time to see several key attractions. However, if you want to experience everything, you might want to plan for a week or more, and be sure to book your experiences in advance to avoid missing out.