Is the Smithsonian very crowded this week?

[Anonymous]

We want to take our five year old to the botanical gardens and the Native American museum. But we are wondering if the crowds will be unbearable. Does anyone have experience with the Smithsonian this week?

[Anonymous]

I'm in town this week (DC proper) and have found it to be very quiet. Traffic has been a breeze, places are in general less crowded. Tourists aren't really here en masse this week. I'd go for it. But do it tomorrow or Friday, not on the long weekend.

[Anonymous]

I was at the national mall today (Wed. 12/28). Very crowded around 2 PM. Lines of about 60 people going out of the American History, Air &Space, and Nat. History museums. No line for National Gallery. Parking was difficult. It took DH about 1 hour to find a spot.

[Anonymous]

I was at the botanical garden today a few minutes after it opened. Total shitshow. Waited an hour in the cold.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was at the botanical garden today a few minutes after it opened. Total shitshow. Waited an hour in the cold.

Me too. Saw crazy lines at air&space too

[Anonymous]

Was there yesterday. Lines out the door.

[Anonymous]

Waited for 45 minutes to get into Natural History Museum at 11am today.

[Anonymous]

We can't tell you if "The Smithsonian" is busy. There's tons of Smithsonian museums. Any of them might be busier than others depending. It's not one big museum.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We can't tell you if "The Smithsonian" is busy. There's tons of Smithsonian museums. Any of them might be busier than others depending. It's not one big museum.

Had you bothered to read the post instead of just the title, you'd see that op clarified which museums he/she was interested in.

[Anonymous]

Monday it was very crowded at the Botanical Gardens. Crowded at the Native American museum too but not as bad as the gardens

[Anonymous]

The city is empty, EXCEPT for the Mall, which is horrible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We can't tell you if "The Smithsonian" is busy. There's tons of Smithsonian museums. Any of them might be busier than others depending. It's not one big museum.

Had you bothered to read the post instead of just the title, you'd see that op clarified which museums he/she was interested in.

I did read that. It's just a pet peeve when people refer to The Smithsonian like all these different museums are one entity. Especially people who live here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We can't tell you if "The Smithsonian" is busy. There's tons of Smithsonian museums. Any of them might be busier than others depending. It's not one big museum.

Had you bothered to read the post instead of just the title, you'd see that op clarified which museums he/she was interested in.

I did read that. It's just a pet peeve when people refer to The Smithsonian like all these different museums are one entity. Especially people who live here.

In PP's defense, "the Smithsonian" was also referred to in the actual post, not just the title.

"We want to take our five year old to the botanical gardens and the Native American museum. But we are wondering if the crowds will be unbearable. Does anyone have experience with the Smithsonian this week?"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm in town this week (DC proper) and have found it to be very quiet. Traffic has been a breeze, places are in general less crowded. Tourists aren't really here en masse this week. I'd go for it. But do it tomorrow or Friday, not on the long weekend.

What the heck is "DC proper"?!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm in town this week (DC proper) and have found it to be very quiet. Traffic has been a breeze, places are in general less crowded. Tourists aren't really here en masse this week. I'd go for it. But do it tomorrow or Friday, not on the long weekend.

What the heck is "DC proper"?!

It's a pretty common term to denote that you are in the actual place, not just nearby. Many folks might say they're visiting or living in DC, but really they're in Arlington or Silver Spring. When PP said s/he was in "DC proper" that meant they were actually staying in and spending time inside the District of Columbia, not just driving in to go to dinner or a museum for a few hours.