Conflicted about traveling to DC this summer

[Anonymous]

It’s a non issue. The government is open until October at least. Come this summer. Your kids will love it.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thank you for sharing. I forgot to mention that my spouse hates hot weather and can make it hard for everyone when it’s very hot. So after hearing all the comments about the weather it might be best for us to visit not in late July which is when we were available to go.

Our recent past summer vacations were to cooler spots like Rocky Mountain National Park, Toronto, The Netherlands, South Dakota.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thank you for sharing. I forgot to mention that my spouse hates hot weather and can make it hard for everyone when it’s very hot. So after hearing all the comments about the weather it might be best for us to visit not in late July which is when we were available to go.

Our recent past summer vacations were to cooler spots like Rocky Mountain National Park, Toronto, The Netherlands, South Dakota.

Hmm. I was going to say the DC summer thing is so overblown. Yes it is hot and humid but museums and metro and everywhere inside is air conditioned and its the city of trees - plenty of shade, and you have to work around kids' vacations. But if this is a thing for your spouse, maybe a long weekend in the fall or winter break? I am not a fan of visiting in the spring as that is THE most crowded time for tourists (big school groups)

[Anonymous]

If you are OK with walking around and standing in lines outside in the hot sun, you SHOULD come. I don't think this summer will be any different, in terms of tourism, than any other.

Personally, I hate DC summers. I have a reaction to mosquito bites and it's hard for me to sustain that much heat and humidity. I grew up in a northern European country! We live in DC, and just stay in the A/C all day. We live for our vacation (usually in the Alps, or somewhere colder).

[Anonymous]

We such major cuts to the National Park Service, including a bunch of DOGE layoffs, this summer is probably the best things will be for 5+ years. I expect NPS sites like the National Mall to get progressively more run down and less cared for over this administration given the intentional underfunding and understaffing. And even if the next administration restores funding, it will take a long while for things to be fixed.

[Anonymous]

They already passed a 1 year CR so things won't get shutdown

[Anonymous]

On one hand, this might be the best time to visit DC for the next 4 years. The cuts are going to have a serious impact on this city. It is going to be devastated by unemployment, losing federal funds/contract cutting, and the bizarre DC provision in the CR, but the most severe effects are not going to be seen for at least 6 months. Bad times are ahead here (for no reason), and it's extremely sad.

On the other hand, DC summers are awful. We try to be outside as little as possible from mid-June until mid-August. The idea of standing outside a museum in the heat just makes me want to faint. The mosquitoes are vicious. And then we have weird freak storms late in the day.

Is there any possibility to come in September/October on a break? That would be my vote. The weather can be lovely around then, though the mosquitoes do linger.

[Anonymous]

Given the Republicans are trying to keep DC from spending our own tax money the city both needs tourists and absolutely will be worse to travel to if the Senate passed bipartisan bill on DC's budget doesn't get taken up and passed by the House.

Currently there will be significant cuts to police, fire, schooling, and even our municipal water.

If you want to travel here I would avoid August and call your House rep and make sure the bill passes. I would also keep apprised of the situation generally. DC always has protest activities but at the current moment there is a lot of tension nationwide simmering up.

DC is hot in the summer but it's usually not that miserable. Kids are outside all summer at day camps. My kids spend hours and hours outside every day during the summer. Just bring sunscreen, bug spray, and stay hydrated. And expect not to care about your hair.

[Anonymous]

Contact your Congresspeople about your concerns. Seriously. Let them know that a public Smithsonian and cared for national Mall is important.

[Anonymous]

The tourist sights will hopefully be normal. But yeah, it is very humid here in the summer, and you tend to be on your feet all day as a tourist.

If that is not an issue for you, come on over.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The Smithsonian has more autonomy because it's not officially part of any branch. So unless the government actually shuts down the Smithsonian stays open.

Smithsonian is part of Dept. of Interior.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Smithsonian has more autonomy because it's not officially part of any branch. So unless the government actually shuts down the Smithsonian stays open.

Nope
They have some funds to stay open but not indefinitely. In the 2018 shutdown they had enough to stay open in a limited way for 11 days.

What are you basing your comment on? Random hunch?

I think you're misreading the comment. The government has to shut down for the Smithsonian to change policy. The likelihood of DOGE being able to demand the Smithsonian charge entry fees is extremely low.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:From a tourist perspective, this summer is unlikely to be any worse than previous summers. You might even want to join a protest!

I mean there are always protests in DC. Sometimes for causes you have never heard of.

I can’t imagine how going to museums and monuments would be affected by what’s going on in the WH. Govt shutdowns are the only thing that really affect the tourist sites.

Jan 6?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Smithsonian has more autonomy because it's not officially part of any branch. So unless the government actually shuts down the Smithsonian stays open.

Smithsonian is part of Dept. of Interior.

No.

https://www.si.edu/ogc/legalhistory#:~:text=Legal%20Nature%20of%20the%20Smithsonian&text=The%20Smithsonian%20Institution%20is%20considered,its%20own%20buildings%20and%20grounds.

"The Smithsonian Institution is considered unique in the Federal establishment. The Smithsonian is not an executive branch agency and does not exercise regulatory powers, except over its own buildings and grounds. "

[Anonymous]

Of course, you should come. Get your husband one of those handheld fans that blows cool water. They also have cooling towels you can buy at sporting goods stores. Freeze overnight and he can wear it around his neck during the day. It'll be fine.