Our Family Visits Washington, D.C. - The U.S. Capitol

One of my absolute favorite things to do as mom is to introduce my kids to awesome experiences.  Seeing their awe upon viewing our nation's capitol for the first time definitely falls into that category!

Planning a Capitol visit isn't difficult, but it is important that you follow the guidelines found here.
I did A LOT of research before this vacation for several reasons.  Being in a large, unfamiliar city with a family of six, on a budget, with a limited amount of time, can be frustrating without adequate knowledge of potential problems.

One of those problems is parking.  Almost all street parking is either mostly unavailable or completely non-existent.  We did not want to have to worry about parking tickets (the rules are almost unbelievable), and we did not want to have to feed parking meters.  Once you visit, you will completely understand.  The best options are to either park in a large parking garage and walk, or ride public transportation from your hotel (or from a parking garage).

Being unfamiliar with said systems, we didn't want to worry with passes and catching the metro or a bus, so we decided to park at Union Station.  It is located near the Capitol, and has a daily rate of around $25.  We could access our van to get drinks from the cooler, which helped save money.  Union Station is a busy, working transportation hub, and our kids loved the experience.  It houses many restaurants, stores, and souvenir shops.  There are lots of pan handlers and homeless near the perimeter.  We did not find anyone to be aggressive, but that may not always be the case, so just be aware and be safe.  Once inside Union Station, you are sure to be impressed.  There are food courts with affordable menu options inside the station, as well as nice restrooms and areas just to sit and soak up the air conditioning and the atmosphere.  The architecture is amazing.

Now back to the Capitol...

• You must contact your Representative and request tickets.  You will be given a date and time, and I suggest you show up a little early.  
• Follow the guidelines completely!  The website linked above tells you what you can and cannot bring in (which is one reason it was nice to park relatively close).  Security will be sure you are following the guidelines, so do them and yourself a favor, and save the embarrassment of thinking you can sneak even an untouched piece of fruit stuffed into your backpack.  I watched people have to reluctantly give up their stuff because they didn't take the guidelines seriously.  Even the size of your backpack or purse matters, so read up and be ready.
• Make sure your kids understand the importance of listening and being respectful.  Capitol employees get aggravated by having to repeat instructions.  Things are pretty fast paced.  The kids have to be attentive and stay engaged with what is happening.  With multiple groups touring, they can easily get mixed in with another crowd.

The guided Capitol tour provides headsets since there are many
groups touring at once.

The Capitol Rotunda

U.S. Capitol Visitor's Center

Our visit coincided with remodeling of the House of Representatives chamber, so we were unable to view it, but we did visit the Senate Chamber (no photography allowed), and were able to engage with staff to learn more details about this legislative body and the room in which they assemble.  If your visit coincides with either the House or Senate being in session, do your best to sit in on some of that.  Our family was able to do it when I was a teenager, and I haven't forgotten it.

We also spent some time in National Statuary Hall during the tour.  It was enlightening for us to see the statues that have been donated by different states.  There are several gift shops in the Capitol, and there are restaurants in the lower level.  As a teenager, I ate at one of the restaurants with my family, but due to time and budget (and the fact that the kids wanted to), we ate at Union Station.

Another walk to Union Station!

A visit to D.C. is not complete without a U.S. Capitol tour, so be sure to request your tickets early, and look forward to an unforgettable experience!