VERO BEACH — Breeze Airways managed to surprise me once more.
When my family searched for a spring break destination in March, we explored various options such as Arizona, California, and Colorado. We hadn’t initially thought about the northeastern states. However, when Breeze announced in September that they were adding service to Washington, D.C., through Washington Dulles International Airport from Vero Beach, this shifted our consideration.
A swift comparison of airfare prices from Orlando, Melbourne, and West Palm Beach airports, along with the significant advantages of departing from Vero Beach Regional Airport, simplified our choice.
It was our fourth roundtrip flight with Breeze from Vero Beach since the airline launched commercial flights here in 2023. We saved thousands of dollars on this roundtrip flight with our family of five, but we didn’t realize just how inexpensive this trip would be.
Residents of the Treasure Coast can visit Washington D.C. at a significantly lower cost than other locations when departing from Vero Beach. Additionally, numerous free museums and monuments are available. It’s important to start planning well ahead of time.
D.C.'s museums are free, but secure your tickets ahead of time.
I had been to D.C. two times previously, however, this trip included my spouse and children who hadn’t gone with me before. My pair of 13-year-old twins were just the right age to explore America’s capital city following their civic education classes during middle school. Even our 6-year-old derived significant value from the journey.
Once we had secured the basics like our flight, rental car, and condominium, the next step was deciding which museums we were keen on visiting.
People who have visited Washington D.C. probably know that many of its museums offer free admission. However, getting the most out of your museum trips requires some planning, such as reserving tickets—often with designated entrance times—as early as possible. This applies to places like the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, Zoo Atlanta, and the Air and Space Museum, amongst others.
Even though entry is free, the National Archive Museum and others charge a $1 fee for making an advanced reservation online. Usually, this small expense is worthwhile.
Contact your representative immediately
The officials you've chosen might help you obtain entry to information that isn't open to the general public.
I reached out to Representative Mike Haridopolos’s office since he represents both Indian River County, where I reside, and Brevard County.
Sadly, we were unable to enter the White House due to very restricted access. However, his team promptly arranged a private tour of the Capitol, along with some of the underground passages linking adjacent structures.
The staff also provided us with access to the House and Senate floors, which was incredible to experience in person.
Haridopolos, who previously worked as a history teacher, along with his team reported giving over 60 guided tours from January through March, anticipating around 300 such excursions for the entire year.
After my visit, Haridopolos shared with me, 'I aim for people to genuinely immerse themselves in the city and grasp our origins, recognizing that we owe much to those who paved the way.' He added, 'It might astonish you—the level of access available.'
He recommends reaching out to your congressional representatives right after booking your D.C. visit to secure the highly coveted free tickets before they run out.
The top method to view Washington, D.C.'s monuments.
Visiting D.C. isn't considered complete without exploring some of the most recognizable landmarks in the U.S., all located at the National Mall.
A variety of official guided tours can provide insight into the deep history and backstory behind each landmark. Certain experiences, like several walking tours, come at no cost. During past trips, I found pleasure in absorbing the detailed narratives shared by local history students who led these tours. Feeling appreciative of their expertise and voluntary service, I made sure to reward them with generous tips.
The aim of our family vacation this time was to explore the monuments along with delving into their historical background, particularly for the children's benefit. I strongly suggest borrowing bikes, as we did, to easily visit the main sites within the Mall area.
In just half a day, we visited the Lincoln Memorial, White House, Reflecting Pool, Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, Washington Monument, Capitol Hill, and more. Cycling through the National Mall is straightforward since vehicular traffic frequently bypasses the green spaces.
What expenses occur in Washington, D.C.?
Other than our lodgings, transportation cost us the most money.
Taking advantage of the city’s Metrorail offers a budget-friendly and fairly straightforward way to get around. It links up with the airport and spares you from having to search for parking in the downtown area, where spaces can be hard to come by.
Even though Washington D.C. is quite pedestrian-friendly, we decided to rent a vehicle since our condominium was approximately 8 miles away from downtown and we intended to visit several national parks.
This is where parking expenses contributed significantly to our overall costs.
Even though using public transport would have been more economical, we chose to make the most of our time at every location—especially since we had children—with direct drives to our destinations. Parking fees ranged from $20 to $30 daily per garage without in/out access, so we carefully planned visits to attractions that were clustered closely together, allowing us to park once for the entire day.
Several locations such as the National Children’s Museum charge around $20 per person. However, we chose to focus mainly on free museums and exhibitions to keep costs down.
Additional suggestions for exploring Washington, D.C., affordably
When visiting D.C. affordably, planning is essential. Explore areas beyond just the National Mall.
One standout experience for my family was visiting the free Smithsonian National Zoological Park, located approximately 4 miles (or 20 minutes) northwest of the western end of the Mall.
There are also numerous free festivals and events available in D.C.
We had the good fortune to visit D.C. during the Cherry Blossom Festival and the beginning of the yearly cherry blossom blooming season when numerous lush trees burst into vibrant shades of pink and white blossoms.
One last piece of guidance from Haridopolos: Take your time during your visit.
Allocate time to get it done correctly. There's always an errand to run," he remarked. "This is their governance. They have funded it, and it's quite a sum they've invested.
Adam L. Neal serves as the executive editor and news director for TCPalm.com and Treasure Coast Newspapers, which encompasses publications such as the Indian River Press Journal, St. Lucie News Tribune, and Stuart News. You can reach out to him through social media using @TCPalmAdamNeal.
The piece initially appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers. Is Breeze a reliable airline? Here’s what I discovered when traveling from Vero Beach to Washington, D.C., as shared in an opinion piece.