Conflicted about traveling to DC this summer

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Originally we were thinking of traveling to DC this summer. We plan on driving there with our two kids 10 and 12 from our Midwest city. My oldest loves history and current events. With the election and everything that has happened since I am feeling conflicted about going and not sure if now is the right time to visit.

On one hand if all the museums would get privatized or charge admission I would regret not going. On the other hand I don’t know what things will be like by summer.

Do you think that now is a good time to visit DC?

There is a good chance Trump declares a state of emergency in DC. This will have security personnel on the streets looking to incite reactions. If no protest rise up you will still have to go through security checkpoints. The security personnel will not be held to any law and you could be beaten, arrested, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Originally we were thinking of traveling to DC this summer. We plan on driving there with our two kids 10 and 12 from our Midwest city. My oldest loves history and current events. With the election and everything that has happened since I am feeling conflicted about going and not sure if now is the right time to visit.

On one hand if all the museums would get privatized or charge admission I would regret not going. On the other hand I don’t know what things will be like by summer.

Do you think that now is a good time to visit DC?

There is a good chance Trump declares a state of emergency in DC. This will have security personnel on the streets looking to incite reactions. If no protest rise up you will still have to go through security checkpoints. The security personnel will not be held to any law and you could be beaten, arrested, etc.

A “good chance” of this? Come on. But if you’re worried, OP, stay across the river near a metro stop. If there are large protests (or whatever) in DC, you can always visit Mt Vernon, Dulles air & space museum, Great Falls, etc.

[Anonymous]

We visited DC recently. Completely safe. One small protest. Summer heat and humidity are tough.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Originally we were thinking of traveling to DC this summer. We plan on driving there with our two kids 10 and 12 from our Midwest city. My oldest loves history and current events. With the election and everything that has happened since I am feeling conflicted about going and not sure if now is the right time to visit.

On one hand if all the museums would get privatized or charge admission I would regret not going. On the other hand I don’t know what things will be like by summer.

Do you think that now is a good time to visit DC?

There is a good chance Trump declares a state of emergency in DC. This will have security personnel on the streets looking to incite reactions. If no protest rise up you will still have to go through security checkpoints. The security personnel will not be held to any law and you could be beaten, arrested, etc.

A “good chance” of this? Come on. But if you’re worried, OP, stay across the river near a metro stop. If there are large protests (or whatever) in DC, you can always visit Mt Vernon, Dulles air & space museum, Great Falls, etc.

The problem is not protesters. It will be law enforcement.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Originally we were thinking of traveling to DC this summer. We plan on driving there with our two kids 10 and 12 from our Midwest city. My oldest loves history and current events. With the election and everything that has happened since I am feeling conflicted about going and not sure if now is the right time to visit.

On one hand if all the museums would get privatized or charge admission I would regret not going. On the other hand I don’t know what things will be like by summer.

Do you think that now is a good time to visit DC?

There is a good chance Trump declares a state of emergency in DC. This will have security personnel on the streets looking to incite reactions. If no protest rise up you will still have to go through security checkpoints. The security personnel will not be held to any law and you could be beaten, arrested, etc.

A “good chance” of this? Come on. But if you’re worried, OP, stay across the river near a metro stop. If there are large protests (or whatever) in DC, you can always visit Mt Vernon, Dulles air & space museum, Great Falls, etc.

The problem is not protesters. It will be law enforcement.

This. Protestors are peaceful. The law enforcement crack down may very well be violent.

[Anonymous]

You're not missing that much not being in DC over summer LOL as someone from the MW who resides in DC now.

Summer will be gross weather FYI. You may consider a Spring Break or long weekend into town. To answer your question, it's not like there's shit going on in town but if it were me, I wouldn't really make our capital a priority visit for longer than 3- 4 days. Trust me, the museums are not all that. Chicago museums are like 500% better.

[Anonymous]

I'm PP above - I would actually choose NYC or Philly if I were you NOT DC. Even Boston. DC has 5 things for you: The Washington Monument, White House/Congress tours, Smithsonian/Mall area to explore and I suppose a couple other museums like Spy and maybe MT. Vernon if you are such a diehard history person. Other than that, there is zero reason to explore Arlington/Alexandria/Shenandoah and really I can't think of anywhere in MD unless you were interested in going out aways. In VA, you could do better taking day trips to Gettysburg/Harpers Ferry. To me, you would have a MUCH better time exploring NYC/Philly and even Boston. It's all very notable here but the reality of it is it's also truly a boring experience. And with Trump in office, not sure if it's really fun now.

[Anonymous]

Late July is the hottest time of the year. Last year was nuts, but it was high 90s for lots of days in a row. You couldn't pay me to walk around the city in that weather.

As to the current state of things, I think literally no one knows what it will be like in a few months. Now- it's fine. Stuff is open, it's as safe as(or not safe) as it always was. But given the rate of change lately, it's very hard to predict. I do think the reduction of National Park staff might cause problems, as they do a lot (all?) of the maintenance and cleanup of the monuments. But I don't personally know how staffing is/will be.

[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.

Guess you didn’t read page 16 of the CR.

[Anonymous]

Things to go consider:

The homeless keep getting moved and only place left is national mall which is now severely understaffed due to DOgE cuts. They are setting up there and no one to move them or clean up.

Doge coming after metro, wants it reduced.

1B lost that was to pay for police, roadwork,
Safety.

Generally very unhappy and angry people. Many lost careers and healthcare.

CR lets trumpet use Smithsonian and archives for their own gain. Who knows what they will loot or charge $ for by summer? China will take away the pandas.

Nat gallery should be fine, though

[Anonymous]

I've lived here for 35 years and love this city. I've heard the Planet Word museum is really cool, especially with kids. The Spy Museum was a big hit with my son, niece, and nephew (ages 8, 10, 11 at the time) a couple of years ago. They are both private museums so unaffected by government stuff (and I would buy tickets in advance at that time of year). Yes, it will be very hot and humid in late July. However if you plan and time it properly with stops in air-conditioning it should be doable. (Like, don't decide to walk from the Lincoln Memorial to The Capitol at 3:00 in the afternoon). And so many good restaurants! Plus if your kids like sports, there is live baseball, soccer, or women's basketball to see (basketball being indoors and air conditioned). Our city is not perfect but it's not a crime-filled hell hole...it's a place filled with good people just living their lives, some of whose families have been here generations.

[Anonymous]

Please stay home and do not visit us.

[Anonymous]

Also there are so many homeless encampments now...I've seen sprawling ones in DC near the mall, then out towards Springfield/Franconia, Burke, Fairfax/Fairfax City, and of course all through Chantilly/Herndon/Sterling/Reston/Centreville and Manassas. Of course Woodbridge. I think Tysons has one somewhere in Mclean.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

I did misread it. I apologize.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Originally we were thinking of traveling to DC this summer. We plan on driving there with our two kids 10 and 12 from our Midwest city. My oldest loves history and current events. With the election and everything that has happened since I am feeling conflicted about going and not sure if now is the right time to visit.

On one hand if all the museums would get privatized or charge admission I would regret not going. On the other hand I don’t know what things will be like by summer.

Do you think that now is a good time to visit DC?

There is a good chance Trump declares a state of emergency in DC. This will have security personnel on the streets looking to incite reactions. If no protest rise up you will still have to go through security checkpoints. The security personnel will not be held to any law and you could be beaten, arrested, etc.

While pp is making things up, it does sound like what Fauci tried to do with COVID. Thank goodness we had a free press and thoughtful leaders that stood up to him.