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I am leaving this weekend for a trip to D.C. with the wife and kids (8 & 2 yrs old). I have never been there. Any suggestions or dos and donts? We will be driving but are staying in Alexadria. We are across the street from the metro. Thank you.

We are headed up there this weekend too with 3 kids a little older than yours, and we are staying in Alexandria too (DC hotels are ~$500/night). The weather is not looking real good. We are planning on hitting as much as possible: night tour of monuments (Washington monument is supposedly closed); Smithsonian museums - free and when weather is bad; Capitol tour; word has it that White House tours just announced to be reopened but need 21 days notice so we may miss that; Arlington and changing of the guard is a must; Spy Museum; Holocost Museum (which may be a little much for your youngsters); dinner in Georgetown; some suggest Nationals game; Mount Vernon and Jamestown and lots more. I think we are actually planning to iron out the plan on the trip up.

I believe next to last public change of the day at Arlington includes taps...

Mount Vernon is great if you like colonial/revolutionary history

If the weather turns bad one day, and you or the kids are interested in airplanes, the Air and Space Museum out at the Dulles Airport would be pretty good. It's inside a huge hanger with everything from the Wright Flyer to the Space Shuttle in it. May be a little much for the wife though.

They have an IMAX theater there too.

The Smithsonians have something for everyone.

Mount Vernon for you Wingman. I believe you would love it.

I was trying to get my older Trail Life boys to go for a summer trip. If I go back, I'll have to see Mt Vernon.