Daleks, Davros, The Doctor and more: The Dr Who Festival (by Daniel)

[caption id="attachment_1989" align="alignnone" width="655"] Robert and Daniel outside the Tardis[/caption]

We're really delighted that another member of the family is writing on Family Travel Times today. This time it's my nephew, Daniel, who's 12, and who is a big Dr Who fan....

"The Doctor Who Festival took place at London Excel. It was a three day celebration of all things Doctor Who including a chance to “Meet the Cast” and interact with monsters, special effects and try out costumes.

We were lucky enough to visit the the event on the second day where special guests included Peter Capaldi (The Doctor), Jenna Coleman (Clara) Michelle Gomez (Missy) and Ingrid Oliver (Osgood).  The event had started a day earlier when Peter Capaldi himself opened the doors at Excel.

One of my favourite parts of the day was having the opportunity to go behind the scenes of Doctor Who and see the actual set used in Series 9, where Davros confronted the Doctor.

[caption id="attachment_1991" align="alignnone" width="667"] Daniel wearing the Sychorax mask[/caption]

We also really enjoyed being able to try on masks and costumes. Examples included the "Mire" from the current series and wearing the mask which the Sycorax wore in an earlier series. The team from Millennium FX were there to help explain how the costumes were made.

Also, there were demonstrations showing us how fake snow was made and we then saw "snow" machines make it snow indoors (this is how it is made to seem as though it is snowing during filming). We had great fun shooting Daleks in the snow. We were also able to see the TARDIS.

Another room had loads of costumes worn by different actors in the TV show as well as props like the inside of a Dalek and the Osgood boxes from the current series.

As part of the festival there were 3 different live theatre shows.  We saw the first 2 of these shows.

[caption id="attachment_1994" align="alignnone" width="856"] Peter Capaldi and the Dr Who cast on stage[/caption]

1. Meet the Cast – here the audience was invited to quiz their favourite actors. The panel included all the main characters, as well as chief writer Steven Moffat.  They were all extremely funny. Michelle Gomez said that Peter Capaldi was one of the best actors to play the doctor across the 50 years it has been on TV and wouldn’t hear of a female Doctor. Capaldi himself suggested that toy manufacturers would be hoping for the return of the sonic screwdriver as this always made great Christmas gifts!

2. Special FX show - Mark Gatiss (the writer and actor) and staff from Millennium FX (who create many of the monsters in the TV show) talked us through the Doctor Who monsters. A real highlight was when an unsuspecting audience member had the chance to dress up as a monster called The Ice Warrior. Gatiss himself voiced the creature who processed to parade across the stage under the direction of an actor who had played the monster on screen.  We even were shown a sneak peek of that evening’s episode and got a visit from the monster that appeared in it, The Sandman

3. Meet the Writers - Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss were also on part of the third show (which we didn’t see) where they talked about being writers on the show.

There was so much to do at the festival that we couldn't fit everything in, but other highlights included:

• Lots of merchandise opportunities


• A drama school


• Horror Channel viewings of classic Doctor Who episodes


• Doctor Who fan challenge quiz


• On the Sunday, the first ever live audience recording of “Doctor Who: The Fan Show” took place with celebrity fans such as Carrie Hope Fletcher taking part to discuss and review the previous days TV episode.


• There was a chance to have photos with some cast members and these had very long queues!

[caption id="attachment_1992" align="alignnone" width="940"] Robert meets Davros[/caption]

The whole Festival was amazing for Doctor Who fans and there were loads of people dressed up as their favourite characters.  We had a wonderful day and if the BBC ran the event again, we would highly recommend it (and want to come along)."

Disclosure: Daniel, his dad and Robert were given complimentary entry to the Dr Who Festival in order to write about it for the blog. Family Tickets for two adults and two children are £42.75 each. The festival has just travelled to Sydney, where Australian fans got to see it last weekend.

Read about Finn's visit to the Dr Who Experience in Cardiff.

Becoming Super Sleuths: A Visit to the Spy Museum in Washington DC

[caption id="attachment_1982" align="alignnone" width="940"] Killer lipstick courtesy of the KGB[/caption]

Jess, aged 13, writes: Over the half term, our family became spies at The International Spy Museum in Washington DC. As we had heard that this was the best museum in DC, we were really looking forward to visiting the museum and learning all about the world of spies. Our hopes were very high, and luckily, we were not disappointed! In fact, we all think that the Spy Museum is the best museum that we have ever visited...

Upon entry to the museum, we found ourselves in a room which had lots of different profiles on the walls. Our mission: assume one of the identities of these people, remember all the details about their personal life, and get them all correct when we were tested on them. I became Sandra Miller, a 62 year old female clothes store owner from Chatsworth, Illinois. While mum, Robert, and I had remembered all of the details about our characters, dad couldn't even remember his name (Dmitri Ivanov)!

Next, we watched a film, which told us all about what it takes to be a spy. It asked us if we were ready to become spies and sleuths, and we certainly were. We had our cover story memorised, and couldn't wait to go into action.

After the film ended, we found ourselves in a really large room, which was the main part of the museum. This was absolutely massive, and there was so much to see and do. First of all, we went through "border control", where we answered questions on the screen about our character. Some of the questions were about information that we had not been told, so we had to work hard to come up with the most believable answer. We all passed, and were given more information to memorise about the purpose of our visit, who we were meeting, and where we were going. This was lots of fun.

Mum, dad, Robert, and I all played a game where you had to assess if a situation was being monitored by a security system, hostile surveillance, or if you just happened to come across an unlucky break. We had to press the button we thought it was as quickly as we could, and Robert and I got very competitive! It was very exciting, and interesting to see how many obstacles a spy has to face to get around a place unnoticed.

We learnt about different spy techniques, such as swapping identical bags in a busy street, letting fellow spies know important information by leaving inconspicuous objects in public (such as gum or a cigarette packet), and leaving important documents in hidden places. We looked at pictures to try and find examples of these things, and mum and I spent a lot of time trying to find the right answers.

[caption id="attachment_1979" align="alignnone" width="940"] This object of destruction seemed very British[/caption]

There was so much to do that I really don't think I can list it all! Robert and I crawled through a ventilation shaft, and saw people standing around downstairs where we had been standing before. We learnt about how inventions in James Bond influenced real life spy tools, and saw the famous Kiss of Death lipstick-gun used by the KGB from the Cold War; it looked like something straight from a spy film! Other highlights were seeing a Bulgarian umbrella (just like the umbrella used by the KGB in 1978 to assassinate Georgi Markov with a poisoned pellet), and the postbox that notorious CIA double agent Aldrich Ames used to secretly communicate with the KGB. You can see some of these in the video we made of our trip in DC (below).

[kad_youtube url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GW13vZlCLtM" width=200 height=100 ]

Another highlight was two videos showing how effective disguise can be. We were shown two people, and had to spot and arrest them when they were among other people. The first video we watched was set in an underground station, and we didn't manage to get the correct person the first time. We chose the right person the second time, but this was after clicking on every possible person and consequently arresting everyone in the station! This was amazing - the man we chose looked nothing like the man with the large brown beard that we were trying to find. Mum and I also enjoyed the video afterwards that showed us how these people had been made up to look entirely different. We must have spent over an hour in this room, watching videos, listening to audio clips, and being shocked and fascinated

Next, we walked through an exhibit all about spies and codebreaking in the olden times. We learnt about how it played a part in the American Civil War, and how Mary, Queen of Scots, wrote in code about her plan to assassinate Queen Elizabeth I. We found out about spies in Berlin during the Cold War, and I was particularly fascinated by the story of Joan Pujol Garcia, a double agent for the Allies who gave Germany false information during World War II.

[caption id="attachment_1981" align="alignnone" width="940"] Jess passed the test with flying colours (unlike her parents!)[/caption]

When this exhibit was finished, we were tested again on our secret personas. While mum and dad failed completely and were caught, Robert got out of the country but "needed some extra training". I, on the other hand, passed with flying colours, and may have gloated a bit too much to the rest of the family...

The museum's temporary exhibition entitled: "Fifty Years of Bond Villains" was amazing. I loved watching the videos, and thought that the parallels between the first Bond film (Dr. No) and the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962 were astonishing. We saw lots of props from the Bond films, entered Blofeld's lair, and laughed at mum when she screamed (remarkably loudly) at a "shark" that came through a screen. There were lots of games to play, including defusing a "bomb" (only dad succeeded), holding onto a bar for as long as possible, and trying to stop your opponent from working out a secret code. This was brilliant, and I definitely want to see Spectre now!

[caption id="attachment_1980" align="alignnone" width="940"] Only Brian could safely defuse the bomb...[/caption]

One of my favourite parts of the museum was found in the James Bond exhibit. It was a collection of films, entitled "My Bond Moment". These were films narrated by retired spies, recalling times when they found themselves in a situation that could have been a scene in a 007 blockbuster. It was so interesting and unbelievable to think that they attempted these things, and mum had to drag me out afterwards. You can watch the videos here, and I highly recommend you do so.

We rushed through the end of the museum as we had to meet family, but it was still fascinating. The last part was centred around the 21st century, and we learnt about what would happen to America if the electric grids went down. Next came the massive shop which was packed with cool games and memorabilia, and before we knew it, it was time to go.

We must have spent over three and a half hours in the museum, and we definitely could have stayed for longer. I genuinely don't have a bad thing to say about it, as it was so unique, there was so much to do and see, and it was perfect for all the family. I thing that it is a must do if you are in Washington DC, and I would happily go back again!

Disclosure: The Spy Museum is free for under 6s and costs $14.95 for ages 7-11. Over 12s cost $21.95 each. We were fortunate to be gifted tickets in order to write about our experience. However, there was no input or suggestions about what we should write.

Read about our trip to Washington

We flew to Washington via First Class - read what it was like.

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Luxury: flying first-class on British Airways from London to Washington DC

[caption id="attachment_1952" align="alignnone" width="940"] Robert gets some attention on board![/caption]

How often have you dreamed of going left, instead of right when getting onto an aeroplane? When we went from London to Washington DC we were lucky enough to do just that, and have to say that flying first-class is pretty much as good as you might have imagined....

Let’s start at the beginning. We are not hugely rich, nor were we fortunate enough to be upgraded. Instead we became avid Avios collectors, culminating in enough points (and two for one vouchers) to fly across the Atlantic in style with British Airways.

[caption id="attachment_1953" align="alignnone" width="940"] The dedicated first class check in desk at Heathrow[/caption]

The experience begins at check-in. When you fly first class, there’s no need to stand in a long queue. Instead you have your own dedicated check-in desks.

Following this, you can go through a quicker security check – although we were disappointed to find that ours was full of other people flying in club or first class (who are these people?!). The check-in desk is right next to this fast-track security and it didn’t really take very long at all, so we can’t complain.

Before we knew it, we had headed through an innocent looking white door into the Concorde Lounge. This is a treat for those flying from Terminal 5 at Heathrow and it already brings back great memories!

[caption id="attachment_1954" align="alignnone" width="940"] Enjoying breakfast in the Concorde Lounge[/caption]

The Concorde Lounge is for first-class passengers only (those in club have their own lounge) and is a lovely place to relax before your flight. You can have a drink at the bar, read a paper, have a shower or even have a massage or facial (you can turn up and ask for this on the day at the Elemis spa). We didn’t try these out, but we did have some breakfast (free of course), consisting of poached eggs, toast, pastries, juice and more, in a private booth. All the staff were extremely friendly.

We went from the lounge to our flight and, because the plane was huge (it was an A380) we actually went on to the place through a dedicated entrance. This made us feel extremely important.

You can book first class seats way in advance, so we knew where we were sitting (near the back). We had also booked food for Robert in advance (he has food allergies), but have to say that they had mucked this up unfortunately as I had specifically asked if the vegan food contained soya (which he can’t eat) and was told it was all soya free. He was then given a dish with tofu  - which is...soya!

Anyway, that was actually a minor thing which he was not too concerned about, especially when there was so much more to be excited about, including unlimited soft drinks. Plus, all the staff were incredibly sweet with him (and kept telling us how sweet he was!)

[caption id="attachment_1955" align="alignnone" width="940"] Robert had a lot of soft drinks![/caption]

Once we were on board there was no rush to put luggage away in overhead lockers before others jostled around you for space: in first class you all get a little cupboard for your belongings and it even includes a hook for your coat or jacket. You also get an extremely comfortable chair plus instructions on how to use it, from increasing your lumbar support to making it recline. If you want to go to sleep, the staff will show you just how to go about turning it into a bed and give you a duvet (no scrappy thin blankets here) to keep you warm.

The screen and headphones in first class are excellent – as you would expect. The whole experience is also extremely comfortable and relaxing and almost feels as if you’re not flying (I am not sure how I will ever go back to economy, but go back I will...).

We were offered a drink pretty much as soon as we arrived and these were on offer throughout the flight, along with snacks (crisps, sweets etc). We were also given a delicious lunch and later tea (with scones and jam no less). I chose from the a la carte menu which had meat, fish and veggie options, plus wine, although you can also have a set five course tasting menu.

[caption id="attachment_1956" align="alignnone" width="940"] I enjoyed my lunch - note the silver cutlery and white tablecloth![/caption]

My choice was fish with a delicious cauliflower puree, followed by chocolate bread and butter pudding and I loved the fact that, when you are given a meal, your table is covered with a mini tablecloth and you are given silver cutlery. There is also no trolley service – everything is given to you from a tray.

Each passenger is also given a washbag, with different ones for men and women. Both contained the ubiquitous socks, eye mask, earplugs, toothbrush and paste, while mine also had a mini hairbrush and mirror, mini deodorant stick, hand lotion, eye serum, rose moisturiser, lipbalm and cleanser courtesy of Aromatherapy Associates . Robert and Brian’s extras were some shaving gel from the Refinery, lipbalm, a pen, comb, moisturiser and mini deodorant. Even better, we were given a pair of black pyjamas, emblazoned with the words “first class” so we could feel important at home too...

One of the joys of first-class is the space. You can lie back and not feel someone else’s presence anywhere near you. But if you do want to chat to a neighbour, you can push down your window and do so – as Brian and I did.

The flight went quickly and smoothly and set us up perfectly for our holiday. It was a real treat to be able to set off on our trip not just with no hassles, but to actually be spoilt. Now we need to start saving up those air miles again.....

READ OUR POST ON WHAT TO DO IN WASHINGTON DC - AND WATCH OUR VIDEO!

Read how British Airways describe first class

What to do in Washington DC with kids (by the whole family)

[caption id="attachment_1925" align="alignnone" width="940"] Us standing in front of the Capitol Building on a beautiful Autumn day[/caption]

Jess, aged 13 writes: Last week, our family visited Washington DC for three days. Although we had a very busy time, we definitely managed to narrow down the best things to do in that time period and really loved it. The city itself is unusual: as it is a purpose built capital it is mainly composed of museums, memorials, lawyers and lobbyists! However, this does make it very good for sightseeing. There is so much to do, especially for kids, and we would have been happy to stay for longer.

Robert made a video of our stay - the first he's done by himself - so please take a look for our highlights.

[kad_youtube url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GW13vZlCLtM" width=200 height=100 ]

Where to Stay

Our hotel was the famous Willard Hotel, which used to be the thriving centre of DC's social life. Today, it is not as busy as it was in the 1900s, but we could definitely imagine how the extravagant lobby would have looked back then, full of the most important people in the city.

The hotel is full of history; Martin Luther King stayed there when he wrote the famous "I have a dream" speech, and it is where President Ulysses S. Grant coined the phrase "lobbyists", from all the people pestering him in the lobby when he was trying to have a drink! In fact, there is a lovely museum-style room near the back of the hotel. This tells you about the significant events that happened there, and we found it very interesting.

The room we had was big and spacious, with two double beds and a sofa. As Robert and I didn't want to sleep in the same bed, one of us slept in the fold out bed from the sofa. Even with this folded out, there was still lots of space to walk around and sit down. The TV was massive, and it was really cool to see the streets of DC from our window. However, it was quite noisy with the noise from all the cars.

[caption id="attachment_1929" align="alignnone" width="940"] It was great to stay just a few minutes walk from The White House[/caption]

Breakfast was one of the best I've ever been to, with lots of delicious fresh fruit and scrumptious pastries. I loved the glass full of granola, berries, and yoghurt, and ate loads of potatoes. There were also American sticky buns and mum had pancakes.

The Willard is in a brilliant location for getting around and very near the White House.

[caption id="attachment_1940" align="alignnone" width="940"] We did have a good breakfast at the Cafe du Parc at the Willard[/caption]

What to See

[caption id="attachment_1927" align="alignnone" width="940"] We love this picture of the Washington Monument and its reflection![/caption]

Sarah says: Washington is full of monuments and the most noticeable is the Washington Monument itself, which was built in honour of the country's first President. It stands at 555 feet and is located right in the centre of the National Mall (in between the Lincoln Memorial and the Capitol). The Washington Monument is the largest stone structure in the world, made of marble, granite and bluestone gneiss and is very impressive (as well as being rather gorgeous). It's surrounded by 50 flags, one representing each of the states of America and you can also go up it in a lift, but we didn't have time to do that (we hadn't booked tickets in advance).

[caption id="attachment_1931" align="alignnone" width="940"] The very impressive Lincoln Memorial[/caption]

We also visited the stunning Lincoln Memorial which is unbelievably grand and really moving. It is a must-see when you go to Washington and will make you stop and think.

[caption id="attachment_1930" align="alignnone" width="940"] A plaque at the World War II Memorial[/caption]

The Second World War memorial is another one we were glad to have visited, but I'm afraid we missed out on a proper visit to the Martin Luther King memorial and the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial as we simply ran out of time, and to some extent energy. We (the adults) have seen the Roosevelt Memorial before and it really is worth a trip. We saw the beautiful Jefferson memorial from the tour bus we took.

If you are with children, I simply don't think you can happily visit all the monuments in Washington as younger members of the family may not appreciate their historical value as much as you do! They are also all spaced out - Washington is a trip where you walk and walk...

Our tips would be do to the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial as these are the most iconic. If you want to go to the top of the Monument, you can queue up on the day at a booth adjacent to the Monument or book in advance (there's a $.150 service charge per ticket). Each trip is timed and lasts around half an hour in total.

Brian writes: We visited the National Archives Museum, and headed straight for the Rotunda to see the original copies of the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution of the United States and the Bill of Rights.

We were there relatively late in the afternoon, so the queues were not too long. All the documents are in secure cases, but you can look down at them very closely (although you can't take any photographs). The lights are kept very dim, so the documents don’t fade any more - the Declaration of Independence was particularly faded.

The Constitution with its opening “We the people” in large letters makes a big impression and is also interesting because of its mistakes – some words needed to be inserted between lines, and Benjamin Franklin signs for “Pensylvania” (with only one “n”, instead of “Pennsylvania”).

There are two armed guards, one on either side of the Constitution, so there is no chance of it being stolen (as Nicholas Cage impressively managed in “National Treasure”).

The rotunda is huge and incredibly imposing. There are also two large-scale murals on the walls depicting scenes of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution being presented. There are two signs which helpfully identify the signatories depicted in the murals. This makes it more obvious that George Washington only signed the Constitution, while Benjamin Franklin signed both.

We probably spent about 45 minutes in the Rotunda, but I am really pleased that we took the opportunity to visit - you don't see documents like this every day and I think the children felt that too. We also looked round the temporary exhibition on the history of alcohol in the US. This mainly focussed on the Prohibition era (during the 1920s, and early 1930s) and was very interesting.

The museum closed at 5.30pm and there was lots we had not managed to see, including its copy of The Magna Carta. But we had already seen two copies a few months ago in Lincoln, so gave this one a miss.

We pre-booked our visit to the National Archives Museum in advance, so we beat the queue to get through security at the main entrance. This cost $1.50 per person. Entrance itself is free.

[caption id="attachment_1932" align="alignnone" width="940"] By the Lincoln Memorial, on the Big Bus Tour[/caption]

Jess says: We took the Washington DC Big Bus Tour around the city, which was very convenient as one of the stops was right outside our hotel! Every other bus has an actual person speaking, and the ones in between had recorded audio that you heard through headphones. As our hotel was one of the last stops on the tour, we took a bus with the recording to get to the first stop: Union Station. The recording wasn't great - it didn't give you a lot of information and just kept playing Sousa's Washington Post March over and over!

However, the bus tour with a "live" guide is a very good way to see the city. Our guide, Tom, was funny and exciting, and we saw lots of interesting landmarks. I definitely do recommend it and I think it is good for kids too, as Tom told jokes, asked us questions and was very willing to answer them too. We saw so many different Washington attractions and learnt a lot, but the full tour is quite long, and we got off the bus after two hours as we were cold. In better weather, it would have been absolutely perfect.

The Best Museums

[caption id="attachment_1934" align="alignnone" width="940"] Spy glasses[/caption]

Robert, who is 10, writes: The International Spy Museum is probably the best museum we’ve ever been to (and we have been to a lot!) as it was so unique and cleverly thought out. First we chose an identity and had to memorise various facts about “ourselves” like our age, job and name. Afterwards we walked into the main exhibition where we got tested on who we were and learnt some more crucial facts. We could also watch videos about real life spy missions, learn about disguise and weaponry, do spy activities on interactive screens and see some amazing real life weapons. There was a lipstick that shot bullets, a shoe with a hidden knife and loads of other everyday objects used by the secret service. After a section on the history of spies we came to a brilliant James Bond exhibition. We spent more than three hours there, and could have been there longer.

Unlike the Smithsonian Museums (see below...) which are free, the Spy Museum costs $21.95 per adult and $14.95 for kids aged 7 to 11. It's free for 6 and under and perfect for any age from around 6+.

Sarah writes: The Smithsonian Institution is the world's largest museum and research grouping, consisting of 19 museums and galleries, plus the Washington Zoo. Most of them are free, and they cover such a lot of different topics, from art to American history, air and space to the wonderful Hirshhorn Sculpture Garden (worth walking through at the very least). We saw the newest being built (it won't be open for a while yet), but it sounds fascinating - it's to be a museum of African American history.

[caption id="attachment_1935" align="alignnone" width="940"] We loved this Roy Lichenstein house which we saw in the Hirshhorn sculpture gardens[/caption]

Unless you are in Washington for a long time, it would be almost impossible to visit all these museums. We limited ourselves to just one in-depth visit, to the Air and Space Museum (we have a budding astronaut in the family). I (but not the kids) have been to Washington a few times, and felt that this would be the best for us. Do look at what the museums offer before you travel, as there are often special exhibits or activities which might be perfect for your family.

[caption id="attachment_1936" align="alignnone" width="940"] The Spirit of St Louis - flown across the Atlantic by Charles Lindbergh in 1927[/caption]

The Air and Space Museum is the most visited museum in the world and is absolutely amazing - but you need time to explore it properly. We split up, with Brian and Robert trying out the simulator (which Robert loved) and seeing an IMAX film, plus enjoying lots of the interactive displays. Jess enjoyed a show in the Planetarium and we both liked an old-style exhibit about the birth of flying, which included some brilliant old film and commentary. We all found the Wright brothers section impressive, and couldn't believe that Charles Lindbergh managed to fly across the Atlantic in the Spirit of St Louis (which you can see, right in front of your eyes!).

The Air and Space Museum is free to enter, but the simulator and films do cost extra. Films are shown at different times of the day, so book in advance if you really fancy seeing one of them. IMAX and Planetarium films cost $9 for adults (over 13) and $7.50 for aged 2-12. The shop is also incredible, so be prepared to spend some money there! If you are baffled by the amount of things on offer, you can take a guided tour (these are free).

Jess says: We popped into the Natural History Museum, to see if the entrance looked anything like it did in Night of the Museum 2. If it did, we definitely didn't recognise it! However, we stayed for about an hour until closing time, and I was amazed by how much there was to do. Robert wanted to go to the section about mammals, and he, mum, and dad enjoyed it and thought that it was really well done. I didn't enjoy this as much, as I knew all of the information from science lessons at school. As soon as we went to another part of the museum, I started to have a really good time. I learnt about cells and bacteria, created my own country, and marvelled at how fast the world's population was growing. I wish that we could have stayed for longer to see some of the exhibits as it was really exciting and fascinating. There was so much to do that it was perfect for all the family, including Q?rius, which is especially created for tweens and teens.

[caption id="attachment_1937" align="alignnone" width="768"] Becoming a reporter at the Newseum[/caption]

Robert says: The Newseum was fantastic. It had so many different things from all around the world dating back for many years. There were some amazing things to see like part of the Berlin Wall or the antenna which had stood at the top of the Twin Towers. It had interactive games to play and many boards to read about wars and people. The range of subjects was so big as there was everything from the president’s pets to the history of news on the TV and radio. I loved being a reporter in one section and seeing every Pulitzer Prize winning photograph in another. There were so many different things to do and so many things to learn that we will write more about the Newseum in a separate post!

The Newseum is probably best for around age 7 plus. It costs $22.95 for adults (19+ in this case), and $13.95 for children aged 7-18. All tickets are valid for two days and as there is so much to see, it is well worth a return visit, if you have time.

Where to Eat?

Sarah writes: There are so many places to eat in Washington, but that won't surprise you! As we weren't there for very long, we could only try out a few, but we enjoyed a supper at Clydes in gorgeous Georgetown and were very grateful that our hotel was opposite the Corner Bakery which was just perfect for breakfast and light snacks (and cakes!).

[caption id="attachment_1938" align="alignnone" width="940"] Enjoying lunch at the Native Foods Cafe[/caption]

We visited the Native Foods Cafe twice in three days for lunch! It's a vegan cafe with lots of choice, very friendly staff and reasonable prices too. Brian and I loved the (fake) steak sandwich, Jess enjoyed some meatballs and Robert was extremely happy to munch through a chicken sandwich. The desserts were also yummy!

Is Three Days Enough?

Jess says: Not really! There are a lot of other places we would have loved to visit, but we did manage to fit in pretty much everything we wanted to do. I loved walking up to the imposing Lincoln Memorial, assuming the identity of a 62 year old woman named Sandra Miller in the Spy Museum, marvelling at the films and photos in the Newseum, and being very surprised that they serve sugar on bread for breakfast...

I definitely recommend Washington DC to families of all, although perhaps for a longer stay than three days!

We stayed in the Willard Hotel thanks largely to the IHG points we have gathered on other trips to Holiday Inns! It costs upwards of $299 per night. Our Big Bus Tour, visit to the Newseum and to the International Spy Museum were all complimentary. However, our opinions and views are entirely our own.

More about the fabulous Spy Museum (Don't miss it!)

More about the terrific Air and Space Museum

For more on America, read about Robert's time at Space Camp at the Kennedy Space Centre, and the day we opened the park at the Magic Kingdom in Orlando.

With thanks to the Capital Region USA who helped us to set up this trip and gave us inspiration!

We love writing this blog as a family and would love it if you would please vote for us in the UK Blog Awards. You can vote up to December 19th 2016 and it literally only takes 30 seconds. Just follow this link. And thank you!!