Planning a day trip to Washington, DC, will take time and preparation in order to get the most out of your day. Washington is full of historic sites, museums and parks that you can visit. It would take weeks to visit all of the museums and monuments, so it is important to decide what you want to see first. Washington has many attractions that are free or inexpensive so your day trip does not have to empty your wallet.
Visit thedistrict.com to view a large list of Washington, DC, attractions. You will see several tabs near the top of the page which will help you find specific types of attractions such as museums, day trips and parks. Create a list of the attractions you wish to see most. Include the address and hours of operations for the selected attractions.
Keep in mind the personalities and ages of those you will be traveling with when selecting your attractions. There are many attractions in Washington that young children may not be prepared to visit, like the Smithsonian Museum, and attractions that may spark intense emotions for others, like the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall.
Map out the attractions and determine which locations are closest to each other. Develop a plan that starts your day at one location and ends at another. Plan additional stops in sequential order based on location. Pay careful attention to hours of operation when planning your trip.
Schedule time for breaks and meals. Carry snacks for young children and make sure you have plenty of water. Washington can be very hot and humid in the summer and certain attractions will require a lot of walking.
