After posing for a photo in front of
Michael Keaton’s Batmobile and my lit-
tle one’s jaw hitting the fl oor at the sight
of Captain America’s shield, we wandered
the museum for about an hour and a half
before hopping back on the Metro and
returning to the Shoreham. There were
still a few more activities to accomplish
on our staycation agenda, including a dip
in the pool, room service for dinner and a
movie in bed. Plus, the hotel had one more
surprise for the boys — complementary
milk and cookies delivered to the room for
an evening snack. A nice touch.

The next morning we stuff ed ourselves
with omelets, Belgium waffl es and assorted
pastries at the breakfast buff et and then let
the kids lead us on the Shoreham Scavenger
Hunt, a kid-friendly way to explore the
hotel’s interesting history. An older prop-
erty, the hotel is elegantly appointed and
boasts an array of artifacts from signifi -
cant political and cultural events that had
taken place at the property over the years.

My boys were less than impressed that
the Beatles stayed at the Shoreham before
their fi rst performance in America (they
scribbled their setlist on a piece of hotel
stationery!), but were very excited to win
a branded Frisbee for answering all of the
questions on the form.

Staying close to home allowed us to not
only save money on travel expenses but
also to make the most of our weekend. We
crammed quite a few adventures into our
24-hour staycation, and the boys had an amaz-
ing time. How do I know? They’re already
asking when we can stay at a hotel again.

Wanting to plan your own D.C. stay-
cation this fall? Check out these hotels
and activities:
PHOTOS PROVIDED
qHOTELS The Madison is celebrating the 50th anni-
versary of the moon landing with out-
of-this-world activities for kids through
December 31, 2019. With their D.C.overy
Family Package, kids get a backpack fi lled
with space-themed swag, such as a plush
astronaut bear, moon landing activity
book and colored pencils — and parents
get free parking at the hotel.

Add the Dinosaur D.C. Package to your
reservation at the Capitol Hill Hotel and
make it a dino-themed staycation. Kids
receive a dinosaur coloring book, colored
pencils and a stuff ed dinosaur at check-in
and refreshing dino drinks (plus cock-
tails for adults!) after visiting the new Hall
of Fossils at the Smithsonian Museum of
Natural History.

Thoughtfully planned by the hotel’s his-
torian, The Jeff erson’s complementary
walking guide for guests takes families on a
q The History Gallery at
The Willard Hotel
tour of local landmarks dedicated to “Kids
Who Made American History,” including
Sheyann Webb, Martin Luther King, Jr.’s
“Smallest Freedom Fighter;” Sacagawea,
the young Lewis and Clark expedition
leader; and Gavin Grimm, the transgender
student who brought his fi ght over school
restrooms to the Supreme Court.

Guests at The Willard InterContinental
have access to the hotel’s Kids Concierge,
which off ers complementary age-ap-
propriate amenities like in-room des-
sert, board games and toys to borrow,
and an adventure map. Young guests can
earn “Duck Bucks” throughout their stay
(named after the program’s mascot, Millie
the Mallard) and redeem them at the
property’s ice cream cart.

While staying at The Darcy, kids can
check out complimentary backpacks
that include everything needed for a fun
adventure out in the District. There are
few themes to choose from such as “Wild
in the City,” a spotlight on animals, which
includes resources like “First Animals”
in the White House and a guided map of
Smithsonian’s National Zoo.

Have a big family and don’t want to
feel cramped? Georgetown Suites off er
ultra-spacious apartment-style suites with
a fully-equipped in-room kitchen so that
your family can have tons of legroom and
get a good night’s rest after a long day in
the city. While typical hotel rooms are
about 350 square feet, Georgetown Suite’s
room are about 600 square feet at a similar
standard hotel cost.

qACTIVITIES See more sights in less time on a day
bike tour with Fat Tire Tours. Departing
twice a day, each three-hour tour takes
you to the White House, the Capitol, the
National Mall, various war memorials and
other famous sites. Best of all, bikers of all
ages and experience are welcome: Parents
qFat Tire Bike Tours
can rent baby seats, tandem bikes, tod-
dler trailers and smaller city bikes for kids
ages six to 11.

“My Computing Devices,” a new
exhibit at the Smithsonian’s National
Museum of American History, features
more than 30 devices dating back to 1840,
including a 1901 cash register and Google
Glass smart glasses. STEM-loving kids
can take a look at notebooks from famous
programmers and participate in an
interactive photo opportunity.

At the recently relocated Spy Museum,
now at L’Enfant Plaza, children collect
intelligence at digital interactive kiosks,
crawl through air ducts, and test their
sleuthing skills by participating in the
museum’s Undercover Mission activ-
ity. (FYI, kids younger than seven will
likely need an adult’s help to complete
the missions.) A full debrief, along with
your child’s disguise photo and scores, is
available online after your visit.

Sightseeing not your thing? Skip the
museums and monuments and head to
Rock Creek Park, where families can
golf; ride horses; or rent kayaks, canoes,
stand-up paddle boards and other boats.

There are also more than 32 miles of trails
to explore, so help your little ones lace up
their hiking boots and grab a free trail map
at the park’s Nature Center. ■
PJ Feinstein a writer and the content
editor of Wolf + Friends, an app that
connects moms raising kids with
special needs. She lives in Potomac
with her family and would love to have
a staycation with just her husband one
of these days.

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