Need More DC advice...anyone been when there is a large rally?

[Crazy4mandms]

Okay, so, despite there being a huge pro-choice rally going on in DC I've decided to spend the night there and do some sightseeing on our way back from Fla to NY (thank you caitycaity for all your great advice!!)....Here's the deal....

The rally will gather at 10 am on Sunday near the smithsonian and march to the mall starting at noon where they will rally from 1-4. Now, my question(s)....

Who has been and knows how these things go timewise? I'm debating on two different 'plans':

Plan A: pull into DC around 1 pm (second night from Orlando) on Saturday, see the memorials (lincoln, washington, vietnam, korea and hopefully the new WWII if its unveiled yet!). Then on Sunday when the rally is going on head to the Smithsonian when it opens at 10:30 and leave at around 2 out of town before the rally is officially done at 4.

OR

Plan B: take my time heading back from Orlando and pull into DC mid-morning Sunday...head to the smithsonian then do the memorials later that evening around 6..which would be 2 hours after the official rally end time.


I already have a hotel booked for saturday but every avail room is booked that night cuz of the rally, whereas Sunday there are plenty of hotels meaning less crowds! I'd appreciate any advice from anyone who has attended a DC rally or has been in DC while there has been one going on to let me know about which plan would be less crowded!

 

[daughter_of_amid_chaos]

I was there the week war was declared against Iraq and there were a lot of people around everywhere.

I didn;'t have too many problems but I was also in a government program.

 

[CarolA]

I was in DC for a huge Girl Scout Event. I have a feeling we did not effect much except public transport at the beginning and the end. So just try to stay off the Metro around those times.

You have to figure the group will stay together and not go sightseeing. I would probably go with Plan A, but I am not an expert.

 

[Manda1219]

Can't help, just wondering if this is the same rally my friends from work are going to...hmmm...
I'm actually going down that (?) Sunday to see the US Supreme Court in action the next day, with school!

 

[ibouncetoo]

I was vacationing in DC the same weekend as a HUGH gay rights rally and it didn't impact our touring in any way. The hotel was full, but we didn't have any trouble getting around and getting into the various museums etc. What was really interesting was seeing the mall right after the crowds left (trashed) and the next morning it was spotless......kind of like Disney magic!

 

[kadaten]

There always seems to be some gathering or another so it shouldn't affect you too much. We were local (N. Va) and would do the museums on the weekend. Went to town during the HUGE gay rights march....only noticed it because we had to walk through the marchers to get to the museum....metro stop is on one side of the mall, the museum we were visiting on the other. They were marching up the mall at the time....we just walked with/across the crowd to get to our museum.....noticed nothing else all day.

The city is really used to these kinds of things and they don't impact too badly....

I think either of your plans will work fine. I'd gauge it more on the weather! Head inside at the Smithsonian on the least pleasant day (too cold/hot/rainy) and do the monuments on the nicest day

Have fun! Wish I was there this week to see the Cherry Blossoms. We had such beautiful pictures of DD when they were in bloom, but never got to do some with DS before we moved.

 

[jfulcer]

We've been on the mall for the 4th of July and if that's not a large crowd, I don't know what is. I think the last one I was at they estimated 450,000+ people.

The good thing about DC is most everything is pretty much walking distance from each other, and the Metro is pretty good about moving people around.

The one caveat that I would have is try not to stray off the 'beaten path'. Too far off and you're in some - shall we say - interesting neighborhoods in DC. If you stay with the mall and surrounding neighborhood you should be ok.

Oh, and if it's still open you should go UNDERNEATH the Lincoln Memorial. It's pretty interesting!

 

[Grog]

I accidentally wandered into the area of the Mall on Earth Day a few years ago. Talk about crowded. One thing that was kind of funny, considering what the occasion was, I've never seen that much trash and litter on the ground in my life

 

[Crazy4mandms]

Thanks for the advice! I guess crowds aren't the issue...TRASH is the issue, which I can deal with a little better than crowds! So now its just more if I want to take my time returning from FLA (use 3 nights instead of 2)......which, with just me and 3 kids it looks more appealing!! I'll pay the extra $$, too to stay in the heart of the tourist district so I avoid those 'shady' areas

 

[lrmillen]

I was there for the pro-life march. and I'd have to say the same as everyone else...DC handles crowds well, it's meant too. Traffic is usually a pain on those days though with all the buses and vans and people who don't know where they're going. the memorials at night are beautiful, don't forget the Vietnam War Memorial, even if you do just a walk by.

 

[DisneyObsessed]

We were there last June, and there was a huge gay/tranvestite/cross dressing *celebration* going on down one whole street. There were all kinds of booths set up. There was loud music playing, and my kids saw more than they've ever seen , but it didn't impact our touring in any way. We just kept walking, and everything was fine.