No Matter Your Politics, Washington D.C. is a Must Do Family Vacation
By: Pete Monfre
Tags: Travel, Vacation, Family Travel, Washington DC

Last summer my family witnessed a piece of history. We were taking a walk from our hotel around the Tidal Basin.

Inside the Jefferson Memorial

We stopped at the Jefferson Memorial, took a brief glimpse at the George Mason Memorial, and continued on to the The Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial. As we strolled past statues of President Roosevelt and his wife Eleanor, we saw a series of blue helicopters flying overhead, clearly government owned. Of course they caught our attention with how low they seemed to be flying, but we shrugged and continued our walk. We stopped at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial and then proceeded to cross Independence Ave to head towards the National Mall.

Senator McCain’s Motorcade (Our Video)

As we made it to the median, we saw a police motorcycle heading down the street with lights and sirens blaring. It caught our attention and then as we watched it pass we noticed another one heading down the road. And then another, and another. We knew something was up so we stopped and watched as a series of black suvs followed. It was when I saw the hearse that I realized what we were seeing. This was shortly after Senator John McCain had passed away, and he was going to be brought to the U.S. Capitol building to lay in state. Without any planning or expectation we had witnessed the helicopters bringing the Senator’s family and remains to the Capital, and the police motorcade bringing them to Capitol building itself.

Inside the Lincoln Memorial

We couldn’t have planned it any better if we had tried. It was one of those moments where you don’t truly understand what you’ve witnessed until it’s over, and it’s something you won’t ever forget. My kids won’t forget it either. That day continued with the Korean War Memorial, the Lincoln Memorial, the Vietnam memorial, and finally the World War 2 Memorial. It was hot and our feet were tired after, but the amount of history we saw in only one morning would be hard to match anywhere else. We ate lunch at Hamilton’s Bar and Grill, and it was the perfect place for us Wisconsinites, because it was a Packer Bar right off the National Mall! We finished the day by heading back to our hotel, Ubering instead of walking this time, and relaxed in the pool.

Panda at the National Zoo

We were only in Washington for 3 days, but we packed in so much! We visited the Air and Space Museum, the Museum of American History, and the Museum of Natural History. Our kids loved the hands on exhibits and seeing so many new and interesting things. We went to the National Zoo and saw Pandas. We had contacted our local U.S. Representative and got tours of the U.S. Capitol and the White House. We went to Nationals Park and saw the Brewers defeat the Nationals. The best part besides all of the history and animals? Besides the baseball game, it was all free! This makes Washington D.C. one of the most budget friendly family vacations, you have so many options that won’t cost you anything! With everything we saw and did, there was even more that we didn’t have time for. With how much fun we had, a return trip is definitely on our list.

Our Daughter at the White House

Bonfire near our Hotel at the Wharf

Summer vacation is an excellent time to bring your family on a D.C. trip. Although the weather can be hot and humid, there are plenty of ways to beat the heat and keep your family happy. We stayed by the Wharf which had a free air conditioned bus that dropped you off right at the National Mall. By planning your destinations right, you can find yourself making stops in air conditioned museums as you walk from location to location. We made frequent use of Uber/Lyft while there, with rides often costing no more than $5-$10. There is also the metro subway system that is affordable and easy to use. Because of the many transportation options, there was no reason for us to take on the added expense of a rental car or the hassle of finding parking. The Wharf district itself where we stayed is being built up with restaurants and shops, and is becoming a destination in itself. If you’re interested in your family having an awesome summer vacation, please reach out and I’ll be happy to help you make arrangements to make your trip both memorable and affordable. Who knows what history you might stumble across on your journey!

Pete Monfre is the founder of Midwest Travel Club. If you are interested in visiting Washington D.C. with your family, or anywhere else, please contact him at www.midwesttravelclub.com