So, my sons dad is in the army. He has been stationed in S. Korea for 12 months possibly more. Left in April. He has leave approved for next April to come home and get married to his fiance. We haven't been together for most of my sons life but are great friends. Never married. I have not met the fiance. They met just before he left and have done really good with the whole long distance relationship. I have spoken on the phone and facebook with her, seen pictures. She seems very nice and normal.
My sons Dad, Allen, qualified for a race in Oct. in Washington DC. He will not have time to come home to Cinci. So if Gage, and his 4 y/o half brother (yes a third, rather physco women in the mix, Allen's ex wife) want to see him, someone has to take them to DC. Allen asked me, before qualifing, if I would bring the boys to see him if he qualified. My son adores his dad, they had a good relationship before they left and him being gone brings worries to my 8 year old daily. We email, skype and call as often as we can but the time difference and Allen's job there doesn't always allow for the communication. I may, or may not be taking the 4 y/o. I have taken him camping with us in the past and he has spent the night at our house for a weekend and such, but never out of state. His mom is undecided b/c she feels Allen doesn't deserve to see the boys. (He pays child support and takes them more than 2 days a week when home. They felt it was best he joined the army when they were married so she had a say in all this in the beginning!! She's crazy, I tell ya). Allen's fiance has contacted me and wants to ride with me....so this trip COULD BE me, my son, his half brother and the fiance. Allen's parents are undecided about going. I'm close to them and have been for more than 12 years now...but not sure that would be a better car ride than the fiance for other reasons. lol (Yes, drama!! I came first!! ;))
Anyways, now that I have the background out of the way, my questions:
One: Does anyone know of an affordable place to stay around DC. I don't have to be right in DC or anything. Something kid friendly possibly? My son getting to see his dad is the most important part of this to me and the two of us will definitely be in a car and going. But I don't want to break the pocket book for his dad either. I am going to TRY to get extra money out of his dad to pay for the trip, but that could be a challenge.
Two: My son will really enjoy the whole DC area as he loves history and museums and that sorta thing but I have never been there in my life. Do you have any hints and tips and such??
Three: Any suggestions?
He is running in the army 10 mile. Thank you for all the advice! Keep it coming! I think we are making a 5 day stay out of it, so we can visit lots if stuff! I'm getting excited about seeing the sites myself. Thank you again!
Well I've never been to DC, but I really wanted to tell you just how awesome you are! So many women wouldn't be half as willing to go about things the way you are.
With the dad in the army, his son is a dependent of is... so he should be getting BAH for him. You aren't being unreasonable to at least ask, but I don't know what he gives for child support. That's silly that the ex wife doesn't think he "deserves" to see them, he sounds (from your post) like a great dad. Can you see if dad can get you on base? The hotels on base are a LOT cheaper but come on a first come first serve basis. He could get you on with his ID (if he's in the car), but I don't know the whole process anymore... it seems to have shifted the past 2 years. If he loves history you definitely have to hit up the smithsonian museum, lincoln memorial, basically all the historical stuff in DC. We went to DC when my dad was TDY (on a 2 week job trip) for the Air Force when I was 15. A&W is really good there. I believe we went to the smithsonian national zoological park. Ride the metros! They are so fun and not as dirty as other big cities lol. I'd just keep an eye on them, the crowds at certain times gets big and they can be easy to lose.
http://www.military.com/benefits/military-pay/basic-allow...
If you didn't know how much his BAH is, there is a chart. It's based on state and cities within them. Just sayin :) He sounds like a good dad though.
I'm not overly familiar with off base hotels but check reviews for them on google. That's what I do. Don't go too far out.... traffic there SUCKS!
We are going to DC in a couple of weeks, so I have done some serious reading. When you start calling hotels, find out what/if they charge a fee for parking the car. I understand the public transportation is very good, but DO NOT drive in DC. If you can figure out where the race is, make sure to get a hotel that is easily accessable by metro to the race.
October should be a great time to go! Get a tour book or two and start planning. The books often give suggestions for what to do if you have three days and have kids, for example. Don't forget the zoo! Your kiddos are going to be pretty young to spend much time looking at museums and memorials, but the air and space museum would probably appeal. There is a small aquarium,and lots of places have kid-interacctive areas. I would head in those directions rather than trying to get 8 yo and younger to appreciate the history. I do agree with the post that says to do the monuments at night-that could be a fun experience for the kids. Right now though, the big reflecting pool you always see picts of is under major construction. Hopefully it will be done when you get there. good luck!
I was just there in April. I saved over 1,000 by staying four miles out in Virginia at a motel - I believe it was a days Inn - the rooms were not fancy but nice - two large beds cable fridge close to a McDonalds and Subway - free conteniental breakfast. Could take the buss and metro or I found it just as reasonable to take the taxi directly to downtown DC
So much to see and do many things free
I paid and took the kids to the CSI museum of crime and pushment and the spy museum but don't eat in the museums or you will go broke.
Must sees the first may sound really boring but I could not get my kid out of was the National catherdral
The Zoo - Panda's
Air and Space museum (smithsoniam)
If you want to tour the pentagon you must have a minimum of 9days advanced notice and no more than 90 days. I did not plan a head on that and missed it
See if Andrews AF Base has an Air Force Inn. He can book a room, they are very nice and very inexpensive.
Is he running the Marine Corps Marathon? If he is, the day is very long. He will be there at 6ish am and not finish until after 2. It is exhausting for him and for those who go to see. I won't even go near DC on race weekend.
But I would stay near Springfield and take the METRO into the city.
My hubby runs the marathon and takes METRO in so as not to drive.
Our favorites
The Natural History Museum
The Air and Space museum
Do not take a small child into the Holocaust Museum. It's really geared for adults, it is very intense.
THe Marine Copr museum at exit 150 on I-95S is pretty cool. THe kids will get a look at what he kinda went though in boot camp. THey have the yellow feet adn the Drill Instructor voice yelling from the bus. My kids enjoy the MC Museum.
GW's Mount Vernon
Jefferson's Monticello
The monuments
Pick a couple things to do and leave the rest for another time.
When I went to DC, I stayed in VA.
Besides the museums, Mt Vernon, Geo Washington's home is a must see. I also love going to see the monuments at night.
Ok, I can suggest to look for places in Bethesda Md ... that is where we stayed when I went to DC in highschool. It was beautiful! We went in April and it was lovely. I enjoyed the Smithsonian and the National Cathedral, get the tour! Otherwise, I got nothing for you but nice thoughts.
We stayed at a Holiday Inn (WASHINGTON-CAPITOL
550 C STREET SW WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 20024
Hotel Front Desk: ###-###-#### Hotel Fax: ###-###-####). It is very near (walking distance) to the Air and Space and other Smithsonian museums and only a block away from a Metro station, so we could get a lot of places very quickly.
