What to see/do in DC?--adding trip reports, page 11 to start

[Green Tea]

There isn't a metro stop really close to Georgetown if Grandma has any mobility issues. But, once you exit the nearest Metro station, there is a Georgetown bus you catch on the street for $1.

 

[golfgal]

There isn't a metro stop really close to Georgetown if Grandma has any mobility issues. But, once you exit the nearest Metro station, there is a Georgetown bus you catch on the street for $1.

That is good to know, I couldn't find a metro stop for Georgetown so I was going to ask how to get there. No mobility issues for anyone so that is good.

 

[Green Tea]

Foggy Bottom is the metro stop to take.

 

[bluesaturn]

The Metro stops in NOVA are no problems on weekends! But also if you avoid the morning rush hour it wouldn't be too bad on weekdays. Even if you need to travel during prime times, you are still going on get on the train; it just might be more difficult to maneuver with smaller children. If you need to PARK at a station for the whole day during a weekday, I think that might be hard! Hotel shuttle to the entrance or walking to the station would be fine.

Metro parking can be very hard to find on a weekday. It fills up early with commuters. I think it's especially a problem for the farthest out stations because everyone farther out in the suburbs will go to the station to take the metro in.

 

[golfgal]

Foggy Bottom is the metro stop to take.

Thanks, I love that name "Foggy Bottom".

 

[pirateofthecarolinas]

Is it really true that you need a party of 10 to tour the White House? We are a family of 5 and that seems unfair. I certainly pay my fair share of taxes!

Also, has anyone done the trolley over the tourmobile? Thoughts?

Lori

 

[Tikitoi]

That's what I read too, about the party of 10. Yet when I made my "phone call" and told him we were a party of 4, nothing was said. Geuss I will find out for sure.

 

[torinsmom]

That's what I read too, about the party of 10. Yet when I made my "phone call" and told him we were a party of 4, nothing was said. Geuss I will find out for sure.

I think they just add parties together to make a tour. We tried to get a tour, but for our tour dates we were denied. I read that if the president is home, there are no tours. We just got back and were by the white house when three USA helicopters came in. One landed and it was presumed that that one was Obama's. That was kind of exciting, but I would have loved to tour!

Marsha

 

[pirateofthecarolinas]

Thanks! I will certainly try to get WH tickets. I've met our representative several times and I will go through his office first.

I think we will go in Nov. or early Dec. How are the crowds and heat now? We wouldn't be able to go until mid July because of baseball and football.

Lori

 

[smschex]

That's what I read too, about the party of 10. Yet when I made my "phone call" and told him we were a party of 4, nothing was said. Geuss I will find out for sure.

Be sure to call the "hotline" number the day of your tour. Apparently sometimes the tours for the day can be canceled on short notice due to last minute events. That said, I called the day before our tour and got an old message saying everything was canceled! We took a chance and sure enough everything went as scheduled. The tour was great!

 

[golfgal]

I think they just add parties together to make a tour. We tried to get a tour, but for our tour dates we were denied. I read that if the president is home, there are no tours. We just got back and were by the white house when three USA helicopters came in. One landed and it was presumed that that one was Obama's. That was kind of exciting, but I would have loved to tour!

Marsha

We were not able to get a tour either. I had my Dad try because he knows his Senator very well, did a lot of work on her campaign. Maybe this is why we didn't get one too.

So how was your trip-will you do a trip report, soon, like before we leave next weekend

 

[Nancy for Disney]

We decided to drive because otherwise we would have wasted the first day on the train. We are parking at the Ballston Garage in Arlington, because it is only $8 for each 24 hours vs. our hotel which is $32/day There is a skywalk that connects to the metro, so we will just take our rolling duffels on the the metro.

Marsha

Can you tell me more about this parking garage? We are going in a few weeks. Parking at the hotel is $24. Is there a web site? I am thinking DH could drop me and the kids off at our hotel in Alexandria and then go park the car while I check in. I don't think we will be using it at all. Our hotel is across the street from the metro.

Oh, nevermind. I found the web site. It looks to be very far away from our hotel and not on the same metro line. Bummer.

 

[golfgal]

Can you tell me more about this parking garage? We are going in a few weeks. Parking at the hotel is $24. Is there a web site? I am thinking DH could drop me and the kids off at our hotel in Alexandria and then go park the car while I check in. I don't think we will be using it at all. Our hotel is across the street from the metro.

Are you driving or flying? If you are flying in you don't need to rent a car, you can take the metro from the airport (Reagan) to your hotel via the metro. Which hotel are you staying at? We leave next weekend and are staying at the Westin in Alexandria.

 

[MoniqueU]

My son is there right now, the two things I am jealous of are a trip to the National Prese Club and a trip to old town Alexandria. There is a pub on King street called Murphys that is great. He did get t actually go on the floor in congress and a room they go to after they vote, I thought that was pretty cool.

 

[torinsmom]

Can you tell me more about this parking garage? We are going in a few weeks. Parking at the hotel is $24. Is there a web site? I am thinking DH could drop me and the kids off at our hotel in Alexandria and then go park the car while I check in. I don't think we will be using it at all. Our hotel is across the street from the metro.

Oh, nevermind. I found the web site. It looks to be very far away from our hotel and not on the same metro line. Bummer.

It is the parking garage of the Ballston Common Mall in Arlington. Here is the website.. http://www.arlingtonva.us/Departments/EnvironmentalServices/dot/traffic/parking/EnvironmentalServicesBallston.aspx

It is a really big mall too, so we ate breakfast there when we arrived and dinner before we left. There is a skyway to the metro, but you do have to walk through a bit of the mall and the lobby of the attached hotel. It is on the Orange line. If you are on a different line, you just take the Metro towards DC and then transfer at either Rosslyn or Metro Center. It is a matter of 15-20 minutes.

Marsha

 

[torinsmom]

We were not able to get a tour either. I had my Dad try because he knows his Senator very well, did a lot of work on her campaign. Maybe this is why we didn't get one too.

So how was your trip-will you do a trip report, soon, like before we leave next weekend

I can do a trip report tonight or tomorrow.

Marsha

 

[Nancy for Disney]

Ok, since we are on the subject I have a few questions too...

Every rider on Metro needs a card. I think you all should be able to get by with just a paper card, not the SmartTrip.


Mt Vernon and the Zoo should be done early. My favorite place in DC is the zoo at 8am. It's empty, and the day is just getting started. Kind of magical.

Would you suggest going with the daily rate of $7.80 or pay by the fare fore the metro? I am thinking that it will just depend on how much we go off our schedule.

Here is our itinerary:
Day 1 (Sat.)
Arrive in Alexandria around 4:30
We will either go down to the Nat'l Mall at night or
they are having a birthday celebration at a park in Alexandria that night. Right now I am leaning more towards going to the celebration in Alexandria.

Day 2 (Sun.)

See a Smithsonian Museum (probably air and space?)
lunch
2:00 Holocaust Museum (wll get tickets in advance)
5:30 Washington Monument (will get tickets in advance)
dinner in Alexandria

Day 3 (Mon)

Zoo
Right now I have the afternoon open with some of the following choices:
Explore Alexandria
See another Smithsonian Museum
See some more monuments

Day 4 (Tues)

Library of Congress
National Archives
2:00 Capitol Tour (We have already arranged this)
More Smithsonian (?)

Day 5 (Wed & Depature Day)

Arlington Cemetary (will see this on our way out of town)


Is there anything that I should move based on the location of the attraction? I welcome opinions.

I know the Holocaust Museum is recommended for children over the age of 11.
My youngest is 8.5. My husband has been before and doesn't think it will be a problem. I am a little worried. My current plan is to take her and if she gets upset then one of us will leave and take her to another place. Any suggestions as to where? I am also worried that she is going to find all the museums boring so some place with a little more activity would be nice.

what dates are you going to be here?? I live here in Alexandria and could tell you some of the local "going-ons" for your timeframe. I think a full day at Mt. Vernon is a little much...unless you rope it into a bike trip from Old Town to mt. VErnon.

Since we are staying in Alexandria I would love some tips. What are some must do restaruants for a family with picky eaters? We will have a car. As stated above I am thinking about attending the Alexandria and USA Birthday Celebration. Any tips for attending? I posted this question on Trip Advisor too but only got one response.

 

[Nancy for Disney]

Are you driving or flying? If you are flying in you don't need to rent a car, you can take the metro from the airport (Reagan) to your hotel via the metro. Which hotel are you staying at? We leave next weekend and are staying at the Westin in Alexandria.

We are driving and staying at Embassy Suites.

 

[golfgal]

Ok, since we are on the subject I have a few questions too...





Would you suggest going with the daily rate of $7.80 or pay by the fare fore the metro? I am thinking that it will just depend on how much we go off our schedule.

Here is our itinerary:
Day 1 (Sat.)
Arrive in Alexandria around 4:30
We will either go down to the Nat'l Mall at night or
they are having a birthday celebration at a park in Alexandria that night. Right now I am leaning more towards going to the celebration in Alexandria.

Day 2 (Sun.)

See a Smithsonian Museum (probably air and space?)
lunch
2:00 Holocaust Museum (wll get tickets in advance)
5:30 Washington Monument (will get tickets in advance)
dinner in Alexandria

Day 3 (Mon)

Zoo
Right now I have the afternoon open with some of the following choices:
Explore Alexandria
See another Smithsonian Museum
See some more monuments

Day 4 (Tues)

Library of Congress
National Archives
2:00 Capitol Tour (We have already arranged this)
More Smithsonian (?)

Day 5 (Wed & Depature Day)

Arlington Cemetary (will see this on our way out of town)


Is there anything that I should move based on the location of the attraction? I welcome opinions.

I know the Holocaust Museum is recommended for children over the age of 11.
My youngest is 8.5. My husband has been before and doesn't think it will be a problem. I am a little worried. My current plan is to take her and if she gets upset then one of us will leave and take her to another place. Any suggestions as to where? I am also worried that she is going to find all the museums boring so some place with a little more activity would be nice.



Since we are staying in Alexandria I would love some tips. What are some must do restaruants for a family with picky eaters? We will have a car. As stated above I am thinking about attending the Alexandria and USA Birthday Celebration. Any tips for attending? I posted this question on Trip Advisor too but only got one response.

I bought a tour book, Washington DC with kids and it has had a lot of great information, as well as maps. It might be worth buying-especially for the restaurant section-it has a lot of detail about what the food is like, cost, etc.

 

[Green Tea]

On the Metro card thing, I would just put a set amount on a card for each person, and buy more when you need it. You may find you are not traveling that much in one day. Put $10 on a fare card and see when you need more.