??? For Those Went to The White House Easter Egg Roll

[My2BabiesLexis&Dill]

We are gettin very excited about our trip there but I am wondering, where do you park? I heard that is suppose to be 20-30,000 peeps there. There is not that many parkin spots near the white house, is it? How early do you have to arrive for your timeframe? Anything we should know BEFORE we get there? What should we take with us?

TIA....

 

[lovemygoofy]

Don't drive! You'll have to take the metro and walk. I doubt you'll be able to get a parking spot within miles of the White House.

Here is the link to what you can and can't take in. Be prepared to for a search.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/easterEggRoll

 

[bnhasak]

We are staying at a nearby hotel and just leaving the car parked in whatever garage they use. i can't imagine getting a space anywhere nearby. I've never gone before but it sounds like a lot of people will be there.

I'm actually a bit nervous thinking about the crowds and crowds of people.

 

[My2BabiesLexis&Dill]

Well, I guess I need more help than I think. LOL Where do you park to get on the metro? I can see I better be leaving early as possible so I can find out where I'm going.

I was watching that video in the link provided, do we need to bring our own easter baskets for the egg hunt? I'm sooo clueless.

 

[prncess674]

Are you local? Probably the easiest driving would be to park at Pentagon City Mall and then metro in to the city.

 

[My2BabiesLexis&Dill]

I'm somewhat local. LOL. It's going to take 3 hrs to get there from home.

 

[My2BabiesLexis&Dill]

....bumpin for the mornin crew....

 

[lovemygoofy]

Well, I guess I need more help than I think. LOL Where do you park to get on the metro? I can see I better be leaving early as possible so I can find out where I'm going.

I was watching that video in the link provided, do we need to bring our own easter baskets for the egg hunt? I'm sooo clueless.

I'm not sure where you live direction wise but you can park on the outside of the city at the Springfield metro or try to drive further in to the King Street or the Pentgon City Mall as mentioned unless you are closer to things on I66.

Make sure if you park at a metro to have the $4.50 for parking on a smart trip card or look for the specific credit card exit when coming out of the station.

I don't know about the basket thing but I'm pretty sure you can bring a easter basket.

 

[prncess674]

If the Orange line is closer you can also park at Ballston Mall and metro. There are food courts at both Ballston Mall and Pentagon City mall if you want to eat lunch before metroing in to the city. Parking is expensive during the week and will be mobbed on that day.

 

[auralia]

if you live north i always prefered to park in new carilton (spelling might be wrong). I found it to just feel safer... there were other closer stops when comming from the north but new carolton was just cleaner and newer (of course this was 5 years ago).

 

[thebeesknees]

I lived in the D.C. area for a couple of years. Go online and look at the metro station map. It will show which stations have parking available (not all of them do). You can also plan your trip on there and figure out which line to take and what time you will have to leave in order to get to the White House on time for your tickets. Have fun!

 

[prncess674]

Well I had no idea where Stuart's Draft is but I consulted google maps and you will be coming in on 66. I would drive as far as Ballston Mall. You can park at the mall and eat at the food court if you would like.

With regard to safety, I wouldn't worry at all about safety in Ballston, unless of course yuppie DINKs in half million dollar condos scare you.

http://www.ballston-common.com/

 

[bnhasak]

Is this event just madness and not very fun? I'm so nervous for us to drive down the 5 hours, pay for the hotel, and have it be just us standing in a mob of people. We've had a string of health problems as of late and I'm so hesitant to go. I know it is a once in a lifetime experience but I am just a nervous Momma after the last few weeks.

Anyone else been to the event in the past?
We are staying at the Beacon so I "think" we can walk to the Eclipse/White House from there?

 

[My2BabiesLexis&Dill]

Well I had no idea where Stuart's Draft is but I consulted google maps and you will be coming in on 66. I would drive as far as Ballston Mall. You can park at the mall and eat at the food court if you would like.

With regard to safety, I wouldn't worry at all about safety in Ballston, unless of course yuppie DINKs in half million dollar condos scare you.

http://www.ballston-common.com/

Thanks soo much for the information. We are sooo clueless really about DC. Been there on a bus for school, didn't have to worry about directions or nothing. LOL.

 

[kydisneyfans]

For those going for the first time this year, you are in luck. The White House has determined that all other egg hunts that have too many eggs had to give those to the White House to redistribute among all the kids there. No worries as there will be plenty for everyone, even if 25,000 show up.

 

[princessmorgan]

I did not go last year, but I went the year before and the year before that. We had a time around 12:00, I think and we just parked at a parking garage around the area. There are a lot of garages. They are around $20 to park, but it was worth it for me. We had to walk about a quarter of a mile. By the time you pay for parking at the Metro, then the Metro, it wasn't worth it for me. I'm not a huge fan of the Metro in general.

It was fun to go, but my friends who went last year said it wasn't nearly as organized or fun as the years before. Hopefully the Obamas worked out the first year kinks. Would I drive 3 hours and pay for a hotel? No. But it's something you need to experience for yourself to see if it's worth it. If the weather is anything like it's been today and for the weekend, then it'll make the experience more enjoyable! When I went it was pretty cold.

It's not an egg hunt; at least the 2 years I went there was no hunting for eggs. The main activity is rolling an egg they provide for you across the lawn with a spoon. Then on your way out, you usually get a bag that has a commemorative wooden egg. Last year they did not provide food, so I would eat something before and bring some fruit snacks or pretzels. They say no food, but nobody said anything when I brought it when they saw the ages of my kids. The worst they can do is trash it at the entrance.

 

[My2BabiesLexis&Dill]

Whats the best way to find the parking garages BEFORE we get there? Were going to use a GPS to get us there but besides that, were clueless. But we are getting very excited. The last time I checked the weather it's suppose to be like 70+.

 

[princessmorgan]

Honestly I don't know the best way to find the garages before the event. We just got near the Ellipse and started driving in a direction we thought we'd know the way back to the car, then kept our eyes out. If you have a later time of entrance, then the garages super close will probably be filled. But there seemed to be a garage on every block. We ended up parking around the National Theatre or the Warner Theatre. Sorry I can't remember which one. With the beautiful weather and the Cherry Blossoms it's going to be pretty crowded downtown. One of my friends went into the city yesterday and said she parked at the Pentagon City Mall and took the Metro. It was only a couple of stops to the Monuments and National Mall.

 

[delmar411]

Whats the best way to find the parking garages BEFORE we get there? Were going to use a GPS to get us there but besides that, were clueless. But we are getting very excited. The last time I checked the weather it's suppose to be like 70+.

Don't drive into DC if you don't know where you are headed. I mean that in the nicest way possible. Take 66 to Pentagon City mall. Coming up 66 you just stay right on it until you are just about into the city and you'll see the exits for Pentagon City mall. It's huge and on the right hand side of the road so you'll exit right off 66 and be directly in front of the parking garage for the mall. Park and make your way to the bottom level (food court) and the metro entrance is right there back left corner if you are standing at the bottom of the escalator.

 

[bluesaturn]

Don't drive into DC if you don't know where you are headed. I mean that in the nicest way possible. Take 66 to Pentagon City mall. Coming up 66 you just stay right on it until you are just about into the city and you'll see the exits for Pentagon City mall. It's huge and on the right hand side of the road so you'll exit right off 66 and be directly in front of the parking garage for the mall. Park and make your way to the bottom level (food court) and the metro entrance is right there back left corner if you are standing at the bottom of the escalator.

Agreed, don't try to drive if you aren't familiar with the city. It's easier to navigate metro than trying to navigate DC streets.