Hilton Head Monthly Magazine

Touring the nation’s capital doesn’t have to break the bank

I t’s undeniable that our first family, the Obamas, make an attractive foursome.

And with two school-aged girls in the White House, families all over the United States are touring Washington, D.C., hoping to catch a glimpse of the Obama clan. It’s not very likely you’ll meet them, but you can witness history in many other ways.

For Lowountry residents, a short vacation to our nation’s capital is not only doable in terms of logistics, but it’s also affordable with careful planning and budgeting.

First stop is the Visitor Information Center at Smithsonian Castle to map your course through 16 museums and galleries and the National Zoo. The favorite museums with families are the National Space and Air Museum, the National Museum of American History and the National Museum of Natural History. All of the Smithsonian museums are free. Check into some of the free events, including docent tours, concerts, puppet shows and dance performances.

However, if you have children in tow, plan to spend some money at the vast gift shops, where children will want to buy everything in sight. A family-friendly tip: set a souvenir allowance, in advance, for each child.

Topping the destination list is a tour of the White House, which is available if you contact your congressional representative. (Our representatives are Joe Wilson in the House and Jim DeMint and Lindsey Graham in the Senate.)

To tour the newly opened Capitol Visitor Center, your best bet is to book online in advance of your visit. In fact, the key to having a pleasant, safe and affordable family vacation in our nation’s capital is planning.

When is the best time to visit Washington for a value-packed vacation?

Most savvy travelers will tell you it’s late summer or winter, with hotel deals aplenty if you plan your stay over a weekend. Knowledgeable visitors should visit Washington.org for special attractions and pre-purchased tickets to events going on in the district.

Since families around Hilton Head Island need to travel more than 500 miles to reach our nation’s capital, transportation costs become a major factor in making the trip.

Airline costs from Savannah-Hilton Head International Airport are high, running more than $350 a person for a round-trip ticket.

However, an Amtrak train journey from the Savannah depot cuts the cost of flying in half. Most families from our area may decide it’s worth the more than 10-hour drive, which is the least costly transportation alternative. Make it a fun road trip and plan the route around scenic stops, rest breaks and nourishing food in local restaurants or family-packed picnic baskets. Most of the large chain hotels, including Best Western, Holiday Inn and Marriott, have accommodations in, or near, the Beltway.

If you’ve signed up for one of their frequent traveler plans, you may be eligible for a discounted rate. But be aware of the high cost of parking your car in Washington. Hotels may add on as much as $35 per day to the cost of your lodging. The alternative may be to book a hotel outside central Washington, and use the very efficient metro system available in most locations in Maryland or Virginia.

Remember to take a break from touring all the museums and monuments in the capital by exploring the outdoors. Rock Creek Park, in the northwest part of the district, offers a 1,754-acre retreat for your children to hike, bike, horseback ride and picnic.

Another favorite picnic spot is the National Arboretum, where you can see 400 acres of trees and shrubs, famed azaleas and other seasonal blooms. Children love the tram ride through the park or the full-moon hikes once a month.

Encourage your children to take photos of some of the best-known places: the Washington monument, the Lincoln Memorial, the Thomas Jefferson Memorial, Vietnam Veterans Memorial and the African-American Civil War Memorial. When they return home, they’ll want to trace the history of these monuments and talk about it with you, their friends and their teachers. Perhaps the trip will reinforce their pride in our country.