Thinking about visiting Washington, D.C.?  Now is the time!

Here's a little tidbit to get you going ....

First thing you should know ... I am a Washington, D.C. phanatic and think everyone should visit our Nation's capital at least once.  I lived in Alexandria, VA for 10 years and when I retired I bought a condo in Alexandria, VA so that I could visit at will. What you read below probably has a twist toward where my condo is located.

 

Some basics first:

• Wear comfortable shoes - I can't stress this enough! There is a lot of walking.  Keep band-aids with you for blisters!
• Ensure that you have a plentiful amount of $1 bills, $5 bills, quarters, and dimes.  You need exact change for a number of things.
• Invest in one [or two] of the lite plastic raincovers - about $.75 and found in most sports departments - keep it with you.
• Plan on bringing a bag with you each day if you pick up brochures on various sites you visit. Having a bag to store them away makes it much more manageable than juggling loose papers all day. 
• Some places do not allow backpacks, even daypacks - anything that has the straps across the shoulder like a backpack.

Some basics on getting around:

• Washington, D.C. has a phenomenal MetroRail system that expands into Virginia and Maryland.
• Some MetroRail stations are equipped to take credit cards if you purchase a large fare card - like for $20.  I lose mine too often so I stay with $5 purchases.
• Riding MetroRail: Each person must purchase their own rail fare card.  When you exit at your destination station, your fare will be deducted from your fare card and if anything is left, your fare card will be returned to you.
• You can add to a fare card that has a small amount left on it.  You may need to do this the next time you try to enter a station.  MetroRail requires a minimum amount to be on a fare card to enter a station; if you get to your destination station and don't have enough on your card to exit at that station, use the fare card machines inside the gates to add to your fare card.  You must have loose correct change.
• Day MetroRail passes are available for about $7.50 but cannot be used until after 9:30 a.m.
• At each MetroRail station there are MetroRail maps outside the attendant's booth.  There are small MetroRail maps and large MetroRail maps.  Help yourself to one of each!  You will be glad you did! The large map lists which tourist attractions are at each MetroRail station and the small one is easy to use.
• The locals will be really pleased with you if you stand on the right side of the escalator when entering/exiting MetroRail stations so they can run up or down the left side of the escalator. 
• Bicycles cannot be brought on the MetroRail during rush-hour and cannot be brought thru the center doors.
• There is an extensive bus system.  Many buses leave from a number of MetroRail stations.  You need correct change to ride the buses.  MetroBus with a MetroRail transfer is $.45; without a MetroRail transfer is $1.35; Fairfax Connector with a MetroRail transfer is $.35; without a MetroRail transfer is $1.  Always get a MetroRail transfer at the station where you board the train to get discounted bus fares; and always ask the bus driver for a transfer if you pay full fare and you can ride [get on and off] until the transfer expires.

Getting there - Planes vs trains vs cars

 

  Plane:

• Plan your trip so that your travel days are flexible; i.e., you have several days on which you can elect to travel and you are flexible in the number of days you stay.  Then when you make your reservations, enter the flexible information.  Sometimes you can save $100 or more by travelling a day earlier or a day later or staying a day longer or shorter.
• Ronald Reagan National Airport [DCA] is closer to most visitor sites but it is cheaper to fly into Baltimore/Washington Airport [BWI] or Dulles International Airport [IAD] than to fly into Ronald Reagan National Airport [DCA].  Sometimes it is a couple hundred dollars cheaper! But allow extra hours to get to and from BWI and IAD.
• If you decide to fly into BWI or IAD and return via these airports, when making reservations, take into account that it will take a little while to get to and from these airports.  I usually make reservations to arrive in the morning or early afternoon when I am flying in and reservations to depart in the afternoon when I am leaving.
• If you fly into BWI, you can catch Metrobus B30 which will take you to Washington Metro's GreenBelt Station [green line].  The cost for the bus ride is $3.10; request a bus transfer.  Then you need to get on MetroRail - I usually buy a $5 MetroRail ticket - mainly because it will cover the cost of my trip and I don't have to worry with juggling change and my luggage, etc.  When you reach your MetroRail location, you can use the bus transfer to ride the bus free to your final destination.
• When you leave to go back home, reverse the procedure except get a MetroRail transfer in the rail station where you board the train and your return bus fare from Greenbelt MetroRail station [via B30] to BWI will be $2.20.  If you need to catch a bus to the MetroRail station from your starting location, you will have to pay full bus fare and a bus transfer is not good on riding MetroRail.
• There is also MetroBus service [5A] from IAD which takes you to the Rosslyn [orange/blue line] MetroRail station.  I have never ridden this bus but it probably works the same as the one from BWI. 
• When you first fly into BWI, you can also catch a shuttle bus [free] to go to the BWI train station to catch a train into D.C Union Station and then catch MetroRail from there.  Amtrak and local train fares range from $8 to $22 one-way.  I find riding the B30 bus to Greenbelt MetroRail station is the best.
• One last little tidbit - if you do fly into or leave from DCA [Ronald Reagan National Airport], when making your reservations for flying in, select a seat assignment on the left side of the plane; and for departing, select a seat assignment on the right side of the plane.  When the plane takes off or lands, you might get an excellent aerial view of Washington, D.C. [the Capitol, White House, and all the monuments], depending on which way take-offs and landings are at the time.

  Train:

• Ride Amtrak to Washington, D.C. Union Station and take MetroRail from there to your destination.

  Car:

• Plan your arrival so that you don't get into the D.C. area around morning or afternoon rush hours.  I suggest you park your car and stay off the main thoroughfares around rush hour.

Best time to visit:

• Without any hesitation, I would say the best time to visit the Washington, D.C. area is in the fall.  In the winter months, it is cold; in the spring months, there are school field trips and senior trips; in the summer months, there are oodles and oodles of tourists. 
• Of course, there are some happenings which you may want to attend so going at a different time of the year would probably suit you better.  The cherry blossoms are out in late March til mid April; inaugurations are in January; Christmas festivities are in December; 4th of July celebrations and fireworks are in July; etc.

Motels - if you are looking for accommodations:

• As you probably are aware, lodging in the DC area is very expensive.  There are several motels on Route 1 in Alexandria [Fairfax County], VA that have reasonable rates if you are not picky.  I have stayed at the Days Inn on Route 1 for about $65 a night using a AAA discount.  My experience, it was clean and didn't smell; I saw no roaches or such, bathroom was clean and no mildew, but it is far from being fancy - shampoo and soap are provided but that's about it.  I don't think it had a refrigerator or iron. The elevator, which was outside, was a little [maybe a lot] creepy. There is no restaurant but they do have a lite continental breakfast in the morning.  Fairfax Connector bus #171 runs in front of it [walk to the nearest busstop]; northbound [across Rte 1 from Days Inn] will take you to Huntington Metro and southbound [same side of street as Days Inn] will take you to other stores and restaurants on Route 1. 
• When exiting Huntington MetroRail to go to Days Inn, ensure you exit to Huntington North - not South - to catch Bus #171. Remember to request a bus transfer if you pay $1 and you can ride on it til it expires.
• One tidbit - the area along Route 1 is not the best.  People who ride Bus #171 aren't of the highest social scale.  I have never had any problems.  So, if you are trying to save a few bucks and aren't picky, this might be ideal for you.

 

MetroRail - Huntington

• When you leave Huntington rail station, ensure you exit to Huntington North.  If you exit to Huntington South, you have to go back through the station to get to Huntington North to where Fairfax Connector Bus #171 leaves.
• If you got a transfer at the MetroRail station where you boarded, bus fare is $.35; without a transfer, bus fare is $1.  If you pay $1, remember to ask bus driver for a transfer that you can use until it expires.  Remember - you need exact change to ride buses.

Stores:

• There are grocery stores on Route 1.  Take Bus #171 [southbound].
• There are drug stores on Route 1.  Take Bus #171 [southbound].
• There are a number of restaurants on Route 1.  There is a Chilli's, Wendy's, Pandera Bread, Fridays, my favorite - Dave's Barbecue, plus other restaurants.  Take Bus #171 [southbound].
• There is a Walmart on Route 1.  Take Bus #171 [southbound].
• There are small shopping centers on Route 1; and a larger one that has a Bed, Bath & Beyond, TJMaxx, Michaels, Home Depot, and other stores.  Take Bus #171 [southbound].

If you are staying at my place:

• Although you can catch Bus #171, instead catch Bus #101 at Huntington MetroRail - North.  You can also catch Metro Bus 9A.  All three of these buses stop in front of my condo.
• I usually ride Bus #101 to the Safeway store at Fort Hunt and Belle Haven.  Don't get confused with the #51 and #52 buses running around there - you don't want to get on them.
• Metro Bus 9A will take you into Old Town Alexandria.
• Fairfax Connector bus #101 will take you to Mount Vernon.
• You need to catch Fairfax Connector bus #171 to go to stores and restaurants on Route 1.
• Don't forget to get transfers when you board bus!  If you are on MetroRail, don't forget to get transfer at station where you board.  To ride buses, you have to have correct change.  If you have a transfer from MetroRail, the FairFax Connector bus fare is $.35; the Metro bus fare [9A] is $.45.  Without a transfer, the Fairfax Connector bus fare is $1; the Metro bus fare is $1.35.   

Sites in the itenararies listed below are grouped based on their proximity to each other and whether a car is needed. 

 

My  DC Tour Guide

 

One day: 

• Capitol –  but need to get advance tickets earlier in the day.  You can get passes from your Congressman to sit in on senate and house sessions.
• Supreme Court -  At one time you could sit in on Court sessions as a visitor - not sure if you can still do this.
• Library of Congress -  Books ... books ... books - AMAZING!
• Archives -  where the Declaration of Independence, Constitution, and Bill of Rights are on display. The Magna Carta used to be on display but it is no longer here.  You can also get passes to use the research facilities - enter on Constitution.
• Union Station -  near the Supreme Court/Library of Congress -- I liked it better before it was made into a food court!
• If time permits, Smithsonian Natural History Museum -  - Hope diamond is here!

 

Another day:

• Lincoln Memorial –  At one time the National Parks Service did tours underneath the memorial - it is really neat, especially the stalagmites and stalagtites under the steps.
• Korean Memorial –
• VietNam Memorial –  Visit the Wall, the soldiers memorial and the nurses memorial. There are catalogs for looking up names on the Wall. You can take rubbings of names on the Wall.
• Signers of the Declaration of Independence Memorial  –
• World War II Memorial –
• Washington Monument – but you need to get advance tickets earlier in the day

 

Another day – rent a car [Enterprise is right around corner; can make reservations on-line for about $35 a day – small car; half price on weekends]:

 

• Arlington Cemetery – Tomb of Unknown Soldier; changing of the guard; JFK gravesite; Robert Kennedy gravesite – but parking costs $3, I think – lot of walking to the sites but you can buy shuttle tickets [You don't need to rent a car as there is a Metro stop for Arlington Cemetery but another hike]
• Women’s Military Memorial – – right at entrance to Arlington Cemetery - reasonable walk from Arlington Metro station; I have Aunt Rose registered here.
• Iwo Jima –  - hike from Arlington or Rosslyn Metro stations; parking is free and is generally available throughout year except when Marine concerts are held.
• Netherlands Carillion – – near Iwo Jima; find out schedule for bell ringing
• Jefferson Memorial –  - parking is problem during festivals; good hike from Smithsonian Metro station; really spectacular when cherry blossoms are blooming
• FDR Memorial -  impressive! Exit is moderate hike from Jefferson Memorial - walk around to get to entrance.

• Pentagon -  - visitor center opens on 9-11-08; tours of Pentagon are no longer offered; there is a Pentagon Metro [orange/blue] station but center is a good walk around the Pentagon from station; be ready to see a lot of AK47’s – this place is an armed fortress since 9-11

 

If you have a car, go down to the Mall after dark – Capitol, White House, & monuments are spectacular.

 

Another day – rent a car, although I use public transportation; just need to know your way around:

• National Cathedral – but buckets for donations – beautiful stained glass – where national religious services are held – what you see on TV
• National Zoo – - pandas are neat - but due to time constraints may not want to do on first trip
• Naval Observatory – – official residence of vice president; due to time constraints may not want to do on first trip. At one time you could make reservations to look through their telescopes at night

• National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception – but buckets for donations – has catacombs; inscriptions in walls are impressive
• Franciscan Monastery – but buckets for donations – interesting

 

If you have a car go down to the Mall after dark – Capitol, White House, & monuments are spectacular.

 

Another day:

• Bureau of Printing and Engraving -  - but need to get tickets; makes paper money – no samples
• Holocaust Museum -  - very gripping ...
• Original Smithsonian or Castle -

• Smithsonian Natural History Museum, Smithsonian American History Museum, or one of the art museums –

 

 

Another day or days:

• Air & Space Museum – - but 3 different "motion" films that have admission charges
• Smithsonian Indian Museum – – very interesting
• National Arboretum -
• Smithsonian Natural History Museum – – hope diamond
• Smithsonian American History Museum – – first lady gowns – currently being renovated
• Smithsonian Art Museums –  - several of them –

Another day:

Tour the White House – but requires advance tickets – like a month or so in advance – if can’t get tickets, view from Pennsylvania Ave

Go up to the top of the Old Post Office Tower [most amazing to me is looking out over the FBI building & seeing all of their radar] -

Visit Ford’s Theater where Lincoln was shot – free – currently being renovated

Visit the room of the house in which he died –

Visit the Spy Museum - $12 or $18

Visit Kennedy Center -

Take the canal ride down the Potomac – Maryland side - $?

Another day:

Spend time in Olde Alexandria – historical landmarks – where George & his buddies hung out – nice visitor’s center - neat old church and cemetery; also Alexandria National Cemetery; Potomac River

Another day:

Visit Mount Vernon - $13 – best to take 101 bus outside condo – lot of walking

Another day - rent a car:

Visit Great Falls Park – Virginia side - $5 a car [falls & partially restored canals from GW’s days]

 Visit George’s Old Grist Mill - $? – can ride 152 or 151 bus – need to transfer from 101 or 171

Visit Woodlawn Plantation - $? – can ride 171 bus

Visit Teddy Roosevelt Island - free

Go down to the Mall after dark – Capitol, White House, & monuments are spectacular

 

 

 

Another day – rent a car:

Visit Annapolis

Or visit Baltimore Harbor

Or visit Fort Washington

Or visit one of the many civil war battlefields

Go down to the Mall after dark – Capitol, White House, & monuments are spectacular

 

As you can tell, there is so much to do – most of it is sponsored by the National Park Service so you’ve been paying for it and not using it! That’s the way I always look at it.  And I think it is all so moving …

                                          Charlotte

P.S. Lot of places won’t let backpacks in.

 

The Awakening – - see http://www.senate.gov/visiting/common/image/The-Awakening.htm  - it’s moving to Maryland