Washington DC during Mardi Gras week

Took my daughter at Mardi Gras a few years ago. Go to mount Vernon. House was neat, but grounds were beautiful and George and Martha are entombed there. We did that then hit Arrington on the way back. All very sobering.

We also went to China town which we enjoyed. Kid loved Chinese food back then.

+1 on Mount Vernon, especially if the weather is nice. The grounds are extensive, with lots of interesting things to see scattered around. If the gristmill is running, go see that too. You can get there cheaply by taking the yellow line metro to Huntington station, then getting the Fairfax Connector bus #101 just outside the metro station. It will drop you off directly in front of the Mount Vernon entrance.

Of the museums on the Mall, the Native American museum has the better/more interesting food. It's cafeteria, but it's not quite as basic/kid-centric as Air&Space or National History. There's an underground walkway between the two halves of the National Gallery of Art with a gelato counter, which makes a nice pit stop, esp if the weather is very cold or wet.

Also on the Mall is the temporary ice rink in the Sculpture Garden, which also has an outdoor cafe. It stays open late (9 pm/11pm some days), so it's a good, kid-friendly evening activity. The Mall monuments are beautifully lit at night, so you can stroll, sightsee, then go ice skating. Hours, etc here: LINK

Yes. When you take the tour of the Capitol, make sure you go to the Library of Congress which can be accessed by walking through a tunnel from inside the Capitol building. That is one of the most impressive interiors this side of a European palace.