Trip Recap, Part 2: Washington D.C. Through New Eyes
Missed Part 1? We covered Arlington National Cemetery, the Smithsonian, the National Zoo, the Library of Congress, and a Georgetown ghost tour. Start there → Washington, D.C. with Kids, Part 1.
In this recap, we will cover:
Day Three- The White House, National Archives, and Museum of the Bible, and a Ghost Tour
The White House
Our final morning was reserved for the White House. Tours a not very easy to get, so we were all very excited. After all, it is the most famous house in the world!
Currently, Lafayette Park, the green space in front of the White House, is currently under renovation as they prepare for the 250th Anniversary celebration. While this tainted the iconic curb appeal, once we set foot inside, it was just as beautiful as one would expect. The checkered marble tile of the grand entryway is stunning and
the staircase the winds upstairs to the left to the residential quarters. Famous portraits of Washington, Lincoln, and Kennedy seem to stand guard over the rooms in which they preside. Unlike the austere aesthetic of most government buildings, the grandeur of the White House pays due respect to the office it holds.
While there are not guides for individual groups, there are docents in each room to tell you about the history of the room, what it is used for presently and the stories behind some of the portraits. You get to walk through the East Room, Green Room, Red Room, and Blue Room, all named for the decor chosen by first ladies throughout the years. There is also a place for where you can snap a great photo in front of the presidential seal before he leave.
INSIDER TIP White House tours are free for U.S. citizens but must be arranged through your Congressman or Senator’s office 21-90 days in advance on a first-come, first-served basis. Tours typically run Tuesday through Saturday but are subject to the White House’s schedule and security requirements. Don’t wait until the last minute.
If you are not able to go inside the White House, the visitor center is located nearby, across the street from the Eisenhower Building. It is fantastic and has a detailed model of the White House and Oval Office. It is worth a bit of your time, even if you were lucky enough to secure a tour of the real thing.
Lunch at Old Ebbitt Grill
After our White House tour, we stopped in for lunch at Old Ebbitt Grill. Established in 1856, it is one of DC’s oldest and most iconic restaurants and has a definite classic, old-school Washington DC vibe. It’s not trendy or modern, but somehow still feels like the place to be. Famous for their traditional Maryland-style crab cakes, this is a go-to for locals and tourists alike. The food did not disappoint and the service was top notch.
INSIDER TIP Old Ebbitt fills up fast at peak lunch hours. If you’re coming after a morning White House tour, aim to arrive by 11:30 a.m. or expect a wait. You can also make reservations online.
National Archives: The Founding Documents
After lunch, I told my son that we could not leave DC before he saw the founding documents of our country: The Declaration of Independence, Constitution, and Bill of Rights. Less than enthused, he followed me to the National Archives Building where the documents are housed in the rotunda. Upstairs, the gallery is formed in a circle so visitors can move from one display to the next in an orderly fashion. As it’s the most popular exhibit in the museum, there is often a crowd and the line moves slowly as people study the words and signatures on the pages.
I was anticipating a very reluctant, disinterested attitude from my son, but to my surprise, when he saw the first case which housed the Declaration of Independence, I could see the “ah-ha” moment on his face. “Is this really the REAL one? THE Declaration of Independence?” His mouth gaped a bit wider with every signature he recognized from his history class. The awe increased as we made our way around the room to see each document, ending with the Emancipation Proclamation. “Is that Abraham Lincoln’s actual signature?!” Again, yep! Even to a teenager who might have had other ideas for how to spend his birthday, the gravity of seeing these things was undeniable. It’s one thing to know that we’re lucky to live in a free, democratic society. But to actually see the documents that made it so, the documents that outline the ideals that many have died to protect- it’s another thing entirely. And it’s an experience that won’t soon be forgotten.
Museum of the Bible
Earlier in the trip, we had struck up a conversation with a fellow visitor who told us the Museum of the Bible was the single best museum she had visited in the city and highlight exhibit was the selection of Dead Sea Scrolls they have on display. This piqued the curiosity of both me and my son, so with the 45 minutes we had left in the day before the museums closed, we ran (literally!) to the museum.
We made it and she was not wrong.
Coming directly from the National Archives where the documents are roughly 250 years old to seeing fragments of text that are more than 2,000 years old creates a in interesting shift in perspective. The founding of the United States, which feels ancient to a 13-year-old, is suddenly very recent. These scrolls predate it by two millennia. They outline a different set of ideals, followed by a different set of people across a very different span of history, yet the parallels in human devotion and sacrifice are hard to miss.
Needless to say, my son and I had a great conversation on the way back to the hotel.
INSIDER TIP The Dead Sea Scrolls exhibit is temporary and runs through September 7, 2026 — check the museum’s website for current availability. Unlike the Smithsonian museums, the Museum of the Bible charges admission ($25–$35). Tickets can be purchased here.
Dinner at La Grande Boucherie
After a brief rest, we regrouped and headed to dinner at La Grande Boucherie. Walking into this restaurant feels like stepping back in time to Paris in the 1920s. The space is big, dramatic, and very Art Nouveau with its curved archways, dark wood and brass accents. The standout feature is the large, curved, Parisian-style bar that anchors the main dining room and acts as the focal point when you walk in. If you’re looking for a “wow” restaurant experience, this is it! Plus, the food is as delicious as the restaurant is beautiful.
Nighttime Monumernt Tour
After dinner, we closed the day and our trip, with an nighttime monument tour. The monuments are impressive by day, but by night, with the glow of soft lights, they become almost majestic. Many operators provide car or trolley tours and, at a minimum, typically include the Lincoln Memorial, the Vietnam memorial, WWII, Washington Monument and MLK memorial. Some may also include the memorials for FDR, the Korean War and Thomas Jefferson. A nighttime highlights tour is a top activity for all ages and should not be missed. I recommend this one.
The Takeaway
And that was it. Our flight left the next morning and we headed back Texas grateful for the opportunity to share some of our cultural history with our son, but mostly thankful for the chance to spend one-on-one time together. If you’ve never taken your kids on a solo trip, I highly recommend it. The dedicated time together build bonds and strengthens the lines of communication that get truncated in the daily grind.
We did not see everything. We never do. But that is the best reason to come back.
What to Know Before You GO
Washington, D.C. rewards visitors who arrive with just enough of a plan and the flexibility to abandon it. A few practical notes across both days:
- Fly into Reagan National (DCA), not Dulles. The proximity to the city is worth any nominal price difference — and the early morning flight could save you thousands.
- Rideshare is the path of least resistance for families with luggage. The Metro is excellent for older kids and solo travelers but adds complexity with bags and tired legs.
- All Smithsonian museums on the National Mall are free. Plan for two to three hours per museum and accept that you will not see everything.
- Book White House tours 21–90 days in advance through your congressional representative’s office. They go fast.
- The National Archives is free and requires no advance booking — but go early or mid-morning to avoid the longest lines at the rotunda.
- The Museum of the Bible is not part of the Smithsonian and charges admission ($25–$35). The Dead Sea Scrolls exhibit runs through September 7, 2026.
- Old Ebbitt Grill and La Grande Boucherie are both worth reservations — especially for dinner.
- A nighttime monument tour is one of the best things you can do in D.C. at any age. Don’t save it as an afterthought.
- Book a hotel near the Mall or in Georgetown. The walkability between sites matters enormously when you are traveling with a teenager who has opinions about Uber wait times.
Journey Well!
-Erica
