OT: Washington DC help needed...

[Soupermom]

I have several questions regarding our family trip to DC in March. I'm hoping one of you budget-minded DISers who live in that area and can help me!

Cast includes myself, DH, DD13 and DS10. We are staying near Union Station at the Hyatt Regency (driving from Illinois). I've already contacted congressman for tix to White House, Capitol, Supreme Court and the Mint; maybe Pentagon, too.

~We will have four full days in DC and I plan to use the Metro for 2-3 days; we'll use the Tourmobile and/or Trolley the other day/s. What is my best option for getting Metro fares? We'll need to leave early some mornings to get to our tours on time and it seems the fares change during the day? Should we buy daily passes or a week pass, or the all-access week pass?

~I know you cannot bring most everything into the White House; what should we do with our stuff? Are there lockers to rent anywhere nearby? I guess we could ride back to the hotel, but if we could rent a locker for a few hours (at a train station?), that would be great!

~I believe I can order tix for the Spy Museum and Washinton Monument in advance, correct? Anything else I've missed to order ahead of time?

Thanks for any help you can give!!!

 

[disykat]

We're going in June, so I'll be watching your thread with interest. How did you contact your rep? I haven't looked yet, I assume all that info is on line?

 

[MrsPete]

We are staying near Union Station at the Hyatt Regency (driving from Illinois).

If memory serves, the Hyatt Regency is INSIDE Union Station. Though I haven't stayed there myself, I think it'd be a good location. In the basement of Union Station is a Metro Station and a large food court (with some of the best prices in DC -- we found food to be extremely expensive).

~We will have four full days in DC and I plan to use the Metro for 2-3 days; we'll use the Tourmobile and/or Trolley the other day/s. What is my best option for getting Metro fares? We'll need to leave early some mornings to get to our tours on time and it seems the fares change during the day? Should we buy daily passes or a week pass, or the all-access week pass?

I'd buy the all-access weekly pass; you'll probably use the Metro even on Tourmobile days.

We had the Tourmobile one day, and it was okay. No other mode of transportation is really convenient for visiting the monuments (which are spaced VERY far apart). However, the busses aren't always fast about coming around. We waited a full hour outside the Jefferson Memorial, and then when the bus arrived, it was already full. Still, I'm not aware of any better option.

Buy both your Tourmobile and your Metro tickets ahead of time through the internet, and you can save a few dollars.

~I know you cannot bring most everything into the White House; what should we do with our stuff?

I didn't take anything with me. No problem. Expect to go through scanners and to be searched EVERYWHERE. It's the nature of the world in which we live.

 

[rflorek]

We had the Tourmobile one day, and it was okay. No other mode of transportation is really convenient for visiting the monuments (which are spaced VERY far apart). However, the busses aren't always fast about coming around. We waited a full hour outside the Jefferson Memorial, and then when the bus arrived, it was already full. Still, I'm not aware of any better option.

Buy both your Tourmobile and your Metro tickets ahead of time through the internet, and you can save a few dollars.I didn't take anything with me. No problem. Expect to go through scanners and to be searched EVERYWHERE. It's the nature of the world in which we live.

I was just in DC for a short stay. We actually walked to many locations - even the monuments. Of course, we didn't have younger kids with us (we actually found walking around the City much easier than walking around the Zoo!). We rarely used the Metro - only to get to & from Dulles, Arlington Cemetary, and to go to the Zoo. There is actually a bus called the Circulator that is $1 per ride (may be cheaper for kids or for an all-day pass). It has 3 different loops including one that circles the National Mall with the monuments & museums. You may want to check that out as an inexpensive alternative to the Tourmobile.

 

[Soupermom]

disykat~ you should contact your congressman/woman at least 6 months out. I found numbers in the phone book and online. If the first person you call seems less than helpful, call someone else's office. When I first called they said they couldn't do anything until much later; the next office took my info and processed it right away. Be sure to follow up a month or so later just to be sure though. I found it best to contact the local office and get the direct number for the office in DC. You may need to supply your birthdates and SSN's for some of the tours. They should be able to take all of your info 6 months out at least; you won't find out which tours you are able to attend until about one month before your visit though. I won't know until February...

MrsPete~I usually have money, cc's, phone and a camera with me at the least....so, does anyone know what you can do with these if you visit Mr. President's house?

rflorek~The Circulator sounds interesting...I'll have to check that out! Thanks!

 

[Green Tea]

You can order the Spy Museum tickets ahead of time. The Monument tickets are free and timed, but unless something has changed you can't get them until that morning when they are distributed from a kiosk near the monument. It has been a few years since we did that one, so it might have changed. But, buy ahead of time the Spy tickets and if you are doing the Holocaust museum, get them early as well.

I love the daily passes for the Metro but they are only for all day on weekends and non rush hours on weekdays, so I think after 9:30. You buy whatever tickets you want from automated vending machines inside the Metro stations.

 

[Soupermom]

disykat~I forgot to mention that we got a great deal on our hotel through Priceline. $80/night plus parking--which is now $45/night .Still, we saved over 1/2 on the hotel rate so I am rather pleased with that.
Also, I highly recommend the UG for Washington DC by Frommers (like the UG for WDW).



Everything I've read says you can order Washington Monument tix ahead of time for a small service fee; they are usually free but well worth my few $$ not to have to wait in line early in the morning.

 

[scouthawkk]

If you plan on being up and out early, the daily pass will do you no good. They can not be used before 9:30am. Here is a link to the a page that lists fares:
http://www.wmata.com/riding/hours_fares.cfm
And one for the types of passes available: http://www.wmata.com/riding/passes.cfm#Metrorail

I would also rule out the 7 day fast pass, keeping in mind that you are staying in DC, and assuming you are only using Metro to get around in the city, you will probably not need more than $1.35 each ride (although, prices will most likely be going up by then, but they will adjust the passes accordingly). I don't figure any single trip (even during rush hour) will cost you more than the $2.20 each (or whatever the new price designation will be), and that would be the only advantage to the 7 day fast pass (would be the better option if you are staying outside the city and traveling in further every day).

The 7 day short trip is a great option, but only if you think you will spend $22 or more each on Metro fare. If you do end up with a trip during rush hour that is over $2.20, you add the extra to the card at the exit fare machine. Not that big of a deal, but also not likely to be needed.

However, if you are only using the train for a couple of days, you may be better off just buying a a regular fare card based on what you think you will use. Put like $10-$15 on everyone's card/ticket. If you use it all, you can add to it, or get a new card. After each trip, it will print out on the ticket how much you have left. There are machines at the entrance of every station. With the fancy ones, you can use a credit card to pay for everyone's card at one time. The others, you just walk up, put in your cash, hit a button, and out pops the pass.

Metro stations do not have lockers at them, so you are best off to minimize anything you need to carry. And plan on a lot of walking.

March is a great time to visit, and it is very popular because of the cherry blossoms. They haven't released dates for the festival yet, but if you are here during it, there is a lot of extra stuff to do.

If you have any other questions, let me know. I'll try to help if i can.

 

[Soupermom]

Thanks for the info! Just what I needed.

Actually, they have released the Cherry Blossom Dates for next year, but I can't tell you where I saw them--it was so long ago. I do know they begin the day we leave, March 29th. I hoping we beat the crowds and still see some blossoms!

Thanks for your help. I hope to post my full itinerary for comments when I get the time, so maybe you can check that out.

 

[DebMcDonald]

I'm interested this in thread also. We;re going to try to visit DC for two or three days on our way back from Myrtle Beach. I e.mailed senator Kennedy today, but I'm not sure if I should have called instead and I wonder if I should contact another rep also.

What is the spy museum?

 

[scouthawkk]

Actually, they have released the Cherry Blossom Dates for next year, but I can't tell you where I saw them--it was so long ago. I do know they begin the day we leave, March 29th. I hoping we beat the crowds and still see some blossoms!

Wow, you're right http://www.nationalcherryblossomfestival.org/cms/index.php?id=390
I didn't think the had been out yet. Good to know! You will still hit some heavy crowds, but they are workable (and really not much harder to navigate than Disney in the summer, that's for sure...unless you have to drive in the city, then there may be problems).

 

[disykat]

disykat~I forgot to mention that we got a great deal on our hotel through Priceline. $80/night plus parking--which is now $45/night .Still, we saved over 1/2 on the hotel rate so I am rather pleased with that.
Also, I highly recommend the UG for Washington DC by Frommers (like the UG for WDW).



Everything I've read says you can order Washington Monument tix ahead of time for a small service fee; they are usually free but well worth my few $$ not to have to wait in line early in the morning.

Thanks for all the info! I'm afraid of Priceline for parties of four. How do you know you'll get two beds? I'd love to try it, but I'm chicken! At this point, we've got reservations at an Embassy Suites in Chevy Chase, MD. It's attached to a mall that sits on a metro line - but it'd be way cooler to be right at Union Station!

 

[MrsPete]

We actually walked to many locations - even the monuments.

If it'd been just DH and I, we might've done the same thing, but we had two kids in tow.

MrsPete~I usually have money, cc's, phone and a camera with me at the least....so, does anyone know what you can do with these if you visit Mr. President's house?

I can put the money, credit cards, and phone in my pockets. DH can carry our small camera (the one I'd tote around DC anyway) in his shirt pocket. About the White House: Be sure you realize that there's the White House itself, and there's the White House visitor's center -- oddly enough, they are not adjacent.

disykat~I forgot to mention that we got a great deal on our hotel through Priceline. $80/night plus parking--which is now $45/night .Still, we saved over 1/2 on the hotel rate so I am rather pleased with that.

We also used Priceline for DC. We "won" the Residence Inn on Vermont Avenue for $50/night, which also included a free breakfast. Congress was not in session when we visited, and I wonder if that had to do with winning such a great price. It was an older hotel with no pool, but it suited me fine!

Since this is the budget board, don't forget to check the cost of parking your car in DC. It's outrageous! I think the Residence Inn charged something like $20/night. We flew and didn't rent a car, so I don't remember for certain. And forget driving around town! Both parking and traffic are insane!

Off topic: Just last night I "won" the JW Marriott in downtown New Orleans for $60/night. The lowest rack room price for our scheduled trip is $249/night. I LOVE Priceline! I also reserved a mid-sized rental car (first time doing that) for $30/day.

Thanks for all the info! I'm afraid of Priceline for parties of four. How do you know you'll get two beds? I'd love to try it, but I'm chicken!

That's always a concern with Priceline. Our Residence Inn suite had a queen sized bed for DH and I, and it had the strangest pull-out sofa I've ever seen: it was an L-shaped sofa with a large twin-sized pull-out bed. We ended up putting our oldest child on the pull-out area and requesting extra sheets for the other end of the "L", which was plenty big for our youngest child (if she'd been just a little bigger, we'd have had to order a roll-away).

In general, after you win a Priceline hotel, you can call the hotel directly and place any requests you might have (like two doubles instead of one king). Of course, they're just that: requests. You may or may not get them. Also, you can request TWO rooms on the same price bid; we don't do that, of course, because our kids aren't old enough that we're comfortable with the idea that they could be in a non-adjoining room.

 

[Soupermom]

disykat~I was very leary about Priceline too, but for the savings I thought I'd try it this time. I called the hotel right away and made my request for two beds. I was told that although they couldn't "guarantee" my request, he didn't think it would be a problem at all. From what I was told, this hotel has lots of King beds to serve business travelers, so they are happy to give families the two beds. I also joined their gold passport club for free and may get some perks from that. (free paper maybe)

MrsPete~ I'm aware of the White House and the visitors center; I thought they screened you at the WH though, and wouldn't even let a camera in. Is that not the case?

Also, all hotels are smokefree now...bonus!

 

[Soupermom]

Anyone care to comment on my tentative itinerary? Of course a lot of this depends on which days we get the tours through our congressman.

Arrive Monday, March 24th ~ 7pm

Tuesday--Tourmobile?
Bureau of Engraving (we'll have to use Metro to get here early in a.m. I think)
Holocaust museum
Washington Monument (should have tix ahead of time)
Jefferson Memorial
FDR Memorial
Arlington Cemetary

Wednesday--Metro
Space Museum
Am. Indian Museum
Capitol?
Supreme court ?(eat here?)
*may ride on Metro to the Pentagon just to have a look*

Thursday--Metro
White House
Ford's Theatre
Old PO (lunch?)
National Archives
Nat. History Museum (after 4pm)

Friday--Old Towne Trolley?
National Cathederal
Lincoln/Vietnam memorial
Korean/WW II Memorial

zoo maybe????
PO Museum

We are early risers so I hope to get up and going by 8am or so. I picked the Tourmobile/Trolley because they seemed the best method of travel for these destinations. I need to get more info on the Circulator though..that has some potential, too.

Have I planned too much/little on any given day? Any recommendations for places to eat? We'll have breakfast in our room, and don't need anything fancy. Good sandwich shops, mexican and italian restaurants would be great. I've read that the old PO, Am. Indian Museum, and Supreme Court have great food for little $$$.

Has anyone gone on a White House tour recently?

TIA for any comments!

 

[Green Tea]

Natural History & Spy Museum are both pretty long events. You'll want a lot of time to tour. I don't think any of the Smithsonian's open until 10 am, do they?

 

[MrsPete]

MrsPete~ I'm aware of the White House and the visitors center; I thought they screened you at the WH though, and wouldn't even let a camera in. Is that not the case?

They'll search you EVERYWHERE, not just at the White House. You are allowed to HAVE a camera on your person, but you are not allowed to take pictures inside the White House. Of course, you're somewhat on your honor, but who's going to risk it with the secret service everywhere?

A story: In the Museum of American History (my personal favorite Smithsonian Museum), we saw the original Star Spangled Banner, which was being refurbished at the time. It was in a darkened room, and we only looked at it through a window. Very prominant signs read NO PICTURES (with symbols for the illiterate). I would not have dared to take out my camera. A kid walked by and snapped a picture. About 30 seconds later, two guards DESCENDED UPON HIM and took him and his father aside. I don't know what they said to him, but I'd not like to have been him at that moment!

Anyone care to comment on my tentative itinerary? Of course a lot of this depends on which days we get the tours through our congressman.

Arrive Monday, March 24th ~ 7pm

Tuesday--Tourmobile?
Bureau of Engraving (we'll have to use Metro to get here early in a.m. I think)
Washington Monument (should have tix ahead of time)
Jefferson Memorial
FDR Memorial
Arlington Cemetary

Wednesday--Metro
Space Museum
Am. Indian Museum
Capitol
Supreme court (eat here?)
*may ride on Metro to the Pentagon just to have a look*

Thursday--Metro
White House
FBI
Ford's Theatre
Old PO (lunch?)
National Archives
Nat. History Museum (after 4pm)
Spy Museum (after 5pm)

Friday--Old Towne Trolley?
Natgion Geographic Society
National Cathederal
Lincoln/Vietnam memorial
Korean/WW II Memorial

zoo maybe????


We are early risers so I hope to get up and going by 8am or so. I picked the Tourmobile/Trolley because they seemed the best method of travel for these destinations. I need to get more info on the Circulator though..that has some potential, too.

Have I planned too much/little on any given day? Any recommendations for places to eat? We'll have breakfast in our room, and don't need anything fancy. Good sandwich shops, mexican and italian restaurants would be great. I've read that the old PO, Am. Indian Museum, and Supreme Court have great food for little $$$.

Has anyone gone on a White House tour recently?

TIA for any comments!

Are you sure you want to do the Bureau of Engraving on the same day you have the Tourmobile tickets? The Bureau is cutting into your Tourmobile time. Why not move the other memorials to the same day? It's more efficient, and doesn't feel repetative.

Good plan to hit the Space Museum early; it was -- by far -- the most crowded museum we visited.

The Hard Rock Cafe is next door to Ford's Theater (yeah, I think that's odd, but that's DC). It's not cheap, but it was our favorite DC meal.

National Archives -- yawn.
Naural History -- my kids' ultra-favorite museum; I don't think you've allowed enough time.

We also enjoyed the Sculpture Garden -- it's a quick walk-through place -- and that National Botanical Gardens. The American History museum is simply not to be missed! And don't forget the small butterfly garden outside; it's a perfect spot for a rest. And there's a Subway restaurant in the basement; it'll be one of the cheapest lunches in town, especially if you bring coupons from home. How about the Holocaust museum? We didn't go because I didn't think my youngest was ready for that visit, but I really want to go!

The zoo was lots of fun, though it was a bit far from the "main drag" in DC. You can take the Metro and walk a couple blocks.

 

[Soupermom]

Yes, I think the museums open at 10am. I believe the American History Museum is closed for refurb? Hopefully I'm wrong! Thanks for the input; I'll do a little tweaking with my schedule.

DH and I are teachers and I've done a lot of reading about the Holocaust...It is very upsetting to me and I don't think I could handle the museum very well. I did consider it though. I'm not planning on spending much time at the Archives, but we love the movie National Treasure, so I thought it would be a fun place to stop and visit.

I wasn't allowing 1 hour for the Nat. History museum, I just made a note to go there later to aviod the crowds; same with Spy Museum--I think it's open until 8pm or so, too.

I originally put the Mint (bureau of engraving) on the tourmobile because I thought it would take us there, but they don't operate early enough. I also thought all those memorials in one day might be boring for the kids, so I tried to break them up a bit. I think the Tourmobile is one of the only ways to get to the FDR Memorial and Arlington Cemetary w/o a car, so that's why I put them there. I picked the Trolley because it goes to the 4 places I listed, and again, I don't think you can get to the Cathederal any other way really. Nat. Geo Society is close.

Keep the suggestions coming and I'll keep tweaking my schedule. So glad I'm planning ahead!

 

[MrsPete]

Yes, I think the museums open at 10am. I believe the American History Museum is closed for refurb? Hopefully I'm wrong! Thanks for the input; I'll do a little tweaking with my schedule.

Bummer. But that's just a good reason to return later. Our trip just served to whet my girls' appetite for Washington DC. They've both asked several times for a return trip.

 

[4Seasons]

If you will be staying in the area for any length of time, and are a history buff (or just want to go someplace different), visit Old Town Alexandria (VA).
The yellow line of the Metro goes there (get off at King Street stop), and there is so much to see. Lots of great shops and restaurants (we love the Warehouse Bar & Grill), we like to visit the Torpedo Factory too. There is a nice park just off N. Lee Street, and there are river cruises from there too. It's right on the river and the planes take off and land from DCA just north (you'll see them go by over the river).

http://dc.about.com/cs/sightseeing/a/oldtown.htm

We live about 45 miles south of DC, and visit Old Town Alexandria probably about once a month. We went this past Tuesday night, and as we were crossing the street, I see this man in colonial dress, LOL, I thought I was seeing a ghost or something!