Washington DC help?

[tyniknate]

Would you stay in Maryland and take the metro to Washington DC?

We are looking to stay outside the DC area and take the metro into the city this summer. We are looking at Maryland so we can maybe visit the aquarium and not have to move hotels. Is it just too far and a waste of time to stay that far out?

Any other suggestions?

 

[mikehn]

Are you talking about visiting the aquarium in Baltimore? The metro does not service Baltimore so I dont necessarily think that staying in Maryland provides all that much benefit for visiting Baltimore. You could stay in DC or northern VA and still drive to Baltimore all the same. I personally think you'll have a better experience if you stay in a hotel in DC or northern VA along the metro's orange or blue line.

 

[tyniknate]

Are you talking about visiting the aquarium in Baltimore? The metro does not service Baltimore so I dont necessarily think that staying in Maryland provides all that much benefit for visiting Baltimore. You could stay in DC or northern VA and still drive to Baltimore all the same. I personally think you'll have a better experience if you stay in a hotel in DC or northern VA along the metro's orange or blue line.

Yes. I did know there is no metro service to Baltimore. We live in PA and wanted to visit Annapolis and the Baltimore aquarium during the time we are in the area. I HATE packing up and moving while we are on vacation. We don't mind a long metro ride, as it seems to decompress us before we get back to the hotel at night.

Is this not a good choice? Should we plan the trip in two different parts and just plan on having to pack up and move?

 

[lovemygoofy]

Yes. I did know there is no metro service to Baltimore. We live in PA and wanted to visit Annapolis and the Baltimore aquarium during the time we are in the area. I HATE packing up and moving while we are on vacation. We don't mind a long metro ride, as it seems to decompress us before we get back to the hotel at night.

Is this not a good choice? Should we plan the trip in two different parts and just plan on having to pack up and move?

You are going to have to plan on two different parts at least. There is no public transportation from Annapolis or Baltimore to D.C. There is no public transportation from Annapolis to Baltimore either. You are going to need car access. I would either do a day in Baltimore and then Annapolis and go on for a stay in DC or go backwards from DC, to Annapolis and Baltimore on your way out of town.

 

[capshockeygrl]

You can always take the MARC trains up to Baltimore if you're going up on a week day. Its the Maryland commuter train (as opposed to the VRE, which is the Virginia commuter train). I've not yet done it, but my understanding is you can metro to a station that serves MARC, then take the MARC to Camden Yards area of Baltimore.

The best I can offer about getting a hotel in MD is that you have to be careful where you are. There are a greater number of seedy metro stations in MD than there are in VA, so my recommendation would be to stay in VA on one of the lines (Blue, Orange & Yellow all serve VA) and metro in, then MARC up to Baltimore. If you stay along the Blue or Yellow lines, it'll be an easy jump onto 495 to drive to Annapolis.

If you're set on staying in MD, stay along the Red line in Bethesda/Silver Spring/Rockville area. I would not recommend staying on the Green Line or on the other side of the Red Line.

 

[tyniknate]

You are going to have to plan on two different parts at least. There is no public transportation from Annapolis or Baltimore to D.C. There is no public transportation from Annapolis to Baltimore either. You are going to need car access. I would either do a day in Baltimore and then Annapolis and go on for a stay in DC or go backwards from DC, to Annapolis and Baltimore on your way out of town.

We will have a car to drive to Baltimore/Annapolis, but I think we will plan the trip in two different parts. Thanks!

 

[tyniknate]

You can always take the MARC trains up to Baltimore if you're going up on a week day. Its the Maryland commuter train (as opposed to the VRE, which is the Virginia commuter train). I've not yet done it, but my understanding is you can metro to a station that serves MARC, then take the MARC to Camden Yards area of Baltimore.

The best I can offer about getting a hotel in MD is that you have to be careful where you are. There are a greater number of seedy metro stations in MD than there are in VA, so my recommendation would be to stay in VA on one of the lines (Blue, Orange & Yellow all serve VA) and metro in, then MARC up to Baltimore. If you stay along the Blue or Yellow lines, it'll be an easy jump onto 495 to drive to Annapolis.

If you're set on staying in MD, stay along the Red line in Bethesda/Silver Spring/Rockville area. I would not recommend staying on the Green Line or on the other side of the Red Line.

Thanks! We stayed in Virginia last year and I think we will plan on doing the same this year. I will just plan on staying in Annapolis for a night or two on our way home.

 

[lovemygoofy]

Thanks! We stayed in Virginia last year and I think we will plan on doing the same this year. I will just plan on staying in Annapolis for a night or two on our way home.

I love Annapolis. If you do go, try to tour the Naval Academy and be there for the lunch formation. It is very interesting to see ALL the students in formations and march into the mess hall.

Everything is very walkable in my opinion. We always parked in a garage and just walked around during the day or evening. Gorgeous town!

 

[Swimalie]

I love Annapolis. If you do go, try to tour the Naval Academy and be there for the lunch formation. It is very interesting to see ALL the students in formations and march into the mess hall.

Everything is very walkable in my opinion. We always parked in a garage and just walked around during the day or evening. Gorgeous town!

I agree. We are lucky enough to live close and go a few times. I have 2 kids I swim with that are there now. It's such a neat experience.

As for where to stay, I agree with the others who said to watch where in MD you stay. Parts are just not as safe or nice as others.

 

[nordkin]

You should be ok if you stay in Bethesda or Chevy Chase. I know both the Bethesda station and the Friendship Heights station have hotels on top of them. Not sure of the hotel at the Bethesda station, but Friendship Heights is an Embassy Suites.

 

[danygirl]

You are perfectly safe staying in Silver Spring, MD or Bethesda, MD. Just stay on the red line of Metro and you are fine. There are lots of great places to eat near both the Silver Spring and Bethesda Metros which would make either of those areas a great place to stay.

You can easily drive to Annapolis or Baltimore from Silver Spring, just go straight up 95 to Baltimore.

 

[tyniknate]

Thanks. We appreciate the info so we are not booking in a "bad" part of town.