Baltimore to DC help!

[sadiebug]

Hi!

My DD and I are travelling to Baltimore in August with her youth group. We are planning to travel into DC on one of the weekdays that she has free. Can anyone give me some suggestions as to the best way to get there from Baltimore?

Also, what things do you recommend that we see and do while we are there? If I am understanding correctly, I think most everything is pretty accessible using public transportation. One of the things that is really high on my list of things to see is Arlington Cemetery. Any suggestions on the best way to get there from DC?

Any help is greatly appreciated!

 

[Madison'smommy]

I would take the MARC train from Penn station in Baltimore to Metro center in DC...... There is tons that area available along the metro lines!

 

[JLitfin]

Hi!

My DD and I are travelling to Baltimore in August with her youth group. We are planning to travel into DC on one of the weekdays that she has free. Can anyone give me some suggestions as to the best way to get there from Baltimore?

Also, what things do you recommend that we see and do while we are there? If I am understanding correctly, I think most everything is pretty accessible using public transportation. One of the things that is really high on my list of things to see is Arlington Cemetery. Any suggestions on the best way to get there from DC?

Any help is greatly appreciated!

If you are planning on going up the Washington Monument, tour the White House or visit the spy museum get your tickets ahead of time or you might be out of luck. Tickets go fast.

 

[lovemygoofy]

The easiest way is to take the MARC into Union Station in DC and there you can get onto the metro lines.

You will want the Blue line to Arlington Cemetary. Go down the escalator and across the street. I recommend paying the 8 dollars a person for the tram ride around the cemetary. It is a hop off and on so you can see the different areas. Make sure to see changing of the guard. It's a beautiful service.

 

[clutter]

The easiest way is to take the MARC into Union Station in DC and there you can get onto the metro lines.

You will want the Blue line to Arlington Cemetary. Go down the escalator and across the street. I recommend paying the 8 dollars a person for the tram ride around the cemetary. It is a hop off and on so you can see the different areas. Make sure to see changing of the guard. It's a beautiful service.

Yes, look up the Metro map. You can catch the red line at Union Station, then you will have to transfer to a blue line train at Metro Center to go to Arlington Cemetary.

 

[DisneyWitch]

I live in the Baltimore area and we often visit DC on the weekends. Whatever you do - DON'T DRIVE. The traffic is murder, there's very little parking, and the stress of trying to find your way on those one way streets will drive you straight to the nut house! Most natives I know won't drive.

I agree with previous posters - MARC is your best bet...you can hook up with the DC Metro pretty easily at Union Station. Please note that one of the Metro's stops is called Smithsonian - and the escalators bring you right out to the National Mall. As you walk out, on one side you see the Capitol, the other side is the Washington Monument, and you're right near the bulk of the Smithsonian museums. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smithsonian_(Washington_Metro)

If you have the time and can book transportation to Virginia - I'd take the family to see the Air and Space Museums (the main one is in DC and the newer one near Dulles Airport - not sure if there's a Metro stop that far out). But...the Smithsonian museums in DC are awesome and best of all, they're free!

Here's the official website, and they have a mobile app too!

http://www.si.edu/

Enjoy your trip out here!

 

[valee]

FYI, the Washington Monument is closed, and projected to stay closed, for over a year (maybe two) to repair the damage from last year's earthquake. The view from the tower of the Old Post Office at 12th and Pennsylvania Ave N.W. is fairly comparable, and far easier. You have to go through a security screening to enter the building, but there's a food court inside with all sorts of teen tourist friendly foods (pizza, gyros, ice cream), and the tower's free.
I STRONGLY advise against taking the Tourmobile - it's very expensive, runs infrequently, and during peak tourist time is usually packed, so you may be standing in the sun waiting for 45 minutes for a bus with open seats to take you 3/4 of a mile down the Mall.
Check out the DC Circulator Bus routes, which is $1 a trip or $3 for all day. They're far cheaper than the DC Metro buses or subway trips, and link up to Metro (subway) stops, so you can travel up to the zoo and see some scenery on the way.

 

[JLitfin]

FYI, the Washington Monument is closed, and projected to stay closed, for over a year (maybe two) to repair the damage from last year's earthquake. The view from the tower of the Old Post Office at 12th and Pennsylvania Ave N.W. is fairly comparable, and far easier. You have to go through a security screening to enter the building, but there's a food court inside with all sorts of teen tourist friendly foods (pizza, gyros, ice cream), and the tower's free.
I STRONGLY advise against taking the Tourmobile - it's very expensive, runs infrequently, and during peak tourist time is usually packed, so you may be standing in the sun waiting for 45 minutes for a bus with open seats to take you 3/4 of a mile down the Mall.
Check out the DC Circulator Bus routes, which is $1 a trip or $3 for all day. They're far cheaper than the DC Metro buses or subway trips, and link up to Metro (subway) stops, so you can travel up to the zoo and see some scenery on the way.

That's right I forgot the Washington Monument was damaged during the earthquake last year. We've also been in the Old Post Office tower very nice view also.