When summer hits, the kids are off, your spouse’s PTO is saved up and the promise of a fun adventure is on the horizon. A trip to Washington DC could serve to be a rewarding experience for the whole family. Not only do you get to feel the heartbeat of America, but you can also dive into its deep history.
Before booking your trip, here’s what you need to know and some spots to put on your itinerary.
Planning your trip
DC has a lot to offer the common traveler. From the White House and Capitol to the presidential and military memorials. With so many attractions and potentially not a lot of time to see them, it’s important to narrow your choices and focus on a specific aspect of the city. Let’s get down to how to plan your trip.
“The appearance of the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement.”AFBA travel benefits
If you’re an AFBA member, you have certain travel benefits you should take advantage of before booking anything.
- Car rental discounts: While DC is notoriously easy to walk through and shared rides are abundant, you may consider booking a car rental. This can be helpful if you want to stay somewhere outside the city and visit surrounding sites, want to make DC more accessible on your own time or have specific travel needs like wheelchair access.
- Armed Forces vacation club: From hotels to exclusive discounts, any member of AFBA can benefit from starting their itinerary with this one-stop-shop website.
- Wholesale hotel rates: Receive wholesale rates at over 600,000 hotels around the country — that’s 60% of any hotel on the list!
All of these advantages can put your trip on the right foot.
What to bring and not bring
Traveling comes with it a host of decisions, but here’s what to bring and leave behind on your trip.
Summer in DC is known for its humidity and average temperatures falling between the high 80s and low 90s. These two weather conditions combined make for summer storms as well. So, pack your raincoat, a good pair of walking shoes and your favorite breezy summer clothes to make this trip the best one yet.
DC is also a fairly large city, and it could get confusing if you’re not familiar with the area. Map out where each site and attraction is beforehand so you’re not wasting your time zig-zagging across town. If you book a tour, be sure to mark where the guide will meet you.
The top museums and locations to visit
Along with the main attractions like the National Mall and the Lincoln Memorial, here are the best places to see if you’re a military history enthusiast:
- The Korean War Veterans Memorial.
- National World War II Memorial.
- Smithsonian National Museum of American History.
- National Museum of the United States Army.
- Vietnam Veterans Memorial.
- National Museum of the United States Navy.
There is a lot to do and see when you visit Washington DC. Once you have your itinerary planned out, enjoy the music, food, art and culture of the area.