Washington D.C. Travel Forum

Hi to everyone,

We are visiting Washington DC just before Christmas for 2-3 days. We might hire a car to drive from Newark to Washington and back (not sure yet - trying to find out what's cheaper at the moment). I wanted to find out if there is any safe place we could leave our rented car for those days we're in Washington. Of course firstly we are interested in free parking :)) If such exists. Or if it's Pay and Display only, how much is it per day.

Thank you for the answers.

We are considering a trip to DC over the winter break-- Dec 24 thru Dec 31.

I luv DC and would like to share the sites with my kids ages 12 and 16. I am wondering about tours, weather, itinerary etc....

Your responses/feedback are most appreciated. Thank you in advance.

We will be visiting DC and Need a place to store valuables while we go on tours, such as the white house. any recommendations?

I am planning on stopping in DC on a Sunday to show my dad , a WWII vet, the WWII Memorial. Any advice on where to park nearby, or where to park near a Metro station/Metro bus stop so I can easily get him and my mom there without too much walking?
Thanks

Is this itinerary realistic? Is it too full? What would you change? How many hours do you recommend in each of the different places (just your own opinion, not necessarily a universal time)?

The itinerary is for November. Two fairly-fit girls in their 20's are the travellers.

Day One:
Smithsonian Castle (before everything opens)
Natural History Museum
American History Museum
Madame Tussaud’s (if time permits)
Monuments at Moonlight (after everything is closed)

Day Two:
Thomas Jefferson Building (before everything opens)
Botanical Garden
Air & Space Museum (just to see 4 particular galleries)
National Gallery of Art
Corcoran Museum (after everything is closed)

Day Three:
Ford Theatre & Petersen House (before everything opens)
Museum of Crime and Punishment
National Archives (Just to see the rotunda and the documents)
National Portrait Gallery

Day Four:
National Cathedral
Phillips Collection (Just to see The Boating Party)
National Zoo

Day Five:
National Museum of Health and Medicine
Holocaust Museum
National Postal Museum (Just to see two galleries in particular)
Union Station

Is it possible to visit The White House while we are in DC? If so, how do I go about it? Thanks.

How convenient is Alexandria area for visitors who plan to see most of the attractions in DC, including White House, memorials etc. Is Crystal City or Alexandria more easily accessible. How about safety around these areas? Thanks.

We are arriving at BWI and taking the train to Union Station. Our hotel is in Ballston area of Arlington, VA. We are thinking of taking a taxi instead of the metro because of our luggage.
Can anyone give us an idea of how much a taxi ride from Union Station to there would cost?
Also, we were wondering about restaurants in that area, if anyone knows of good places to eat.
Thanks!

Dear All,

We're in a fix. We'll be arriving at Dulles airport around 2pm on Nov 23 and have several luggages. I don't think it's convenient to roll it in and out of the metrostation. So...which is the nearest hotel near the airport that we could also easily get access to the metrostation to go visit the Mall? Besides, we are taking a coach back to NYC on the 24th...anyone knows where to board one of these? Are they near the airport as well? thanks

We will be in DC/Baltimore in December.
Any suggestions for hotels in these cities?
We plan to be based in Baltimore and would like to visit the surrounds : DC, Philly, NYC. Is it better to make day trips to DC or spend a couple of nights there?
Any suggestions of decent hotels in DC/ Baltimore? Anywhere bet $100-200 ?
What are the attractions here that we should not miss? Any dangerous areas/neighborhood we should not venture into?
Thanks!

We are a family of 6 (4 adults and 2 preteens) traveling for the first time to this part of the States from Singapore. We'll be doing a drive from NYC to washington DC then return from Nov 17-21 Need the following info and assistance:

1. Would there be any good chance of experiencing the gorgeous fall scenary this late in NOvember?

2. We want to stay as near as possible within walking distance to the Mall. Our price range is $90-110. Where can we park the rented car? or should we return the car and re-rent it again when we leave for NYC, thus, saving on cost?

Thanks.

I will be next New Years Eve in Washington DC. Is there any place where i can see fireworks? where is the best place to stay?

at what point can i access the metro line into union station if I am coming from Annapolis Maryland ?

Is there a shuttle service throughout Washington D.C. and what is the price for senior citizens (in October)?

Hi, I am attending a Convention and staying at the Gaylord National Convention and Hotel.. located I think a short distance from "Washington" I have read about the America Onboard tours http://www.onboarddctours.com/dc-it-all/
that start at the old post office from 10am until 3:30pm.. I will have to slip away from the convention for only 1 day... so I thought a tour was the best idea. Am I right or wrong, should I just self tour?

Hello there, my fiance and I are spending our honeymoon in DC. First off we will be there Halloween night and wanted to know the best thing to do! Haunted houses or parties? Best clubs? Also besides white house tour and The Smithsonian what are other TO DO's when you only have 4 days there? We want to see the momuments and what not but we would like to visit georgetown and possibly alexandria. Any romantic suggestions/places/restaurants?! We are huge history buffs so any advice would be so helpful. Thanks!

Hi there. I will be arriving in DC from Oct 10-14. I will be attending the National Equality March in DC at the Capitol. I have booked my hotel accomodations with Fairmont. Anyone know the area? Anything I should be concerned about?

Thanks!

We are going to be in DC for a week and taking the Metro in each day for our sightseeing. On one day we'll need to store our bags in a locker at the metro station (I checked and this station does have lockers) I need to know how big they are? Will they accomodate a carry-on bag or a backpack?

Also, any advice on using the Metro? We'll be coming in from the Takoma station. When we lived in Chicago we used the CTA and Chicago Metra trains very often so "big city" issues won't be a problem. Just want to know if there is anything peculiar to the DC trains we should know about.
Thanks. Jim

Hi people. I am suposed to spend with my work some 3,5 months in WDC, until the end of December. If there is anyone interested to share a room just let me know. I can pay 400 $ a month for a shared accomodation.


best regards

I will be attending this festival for the first time. Can anyone give me some advice on what to expect, do's and don't's, anything? Thanks!

Hi

We are visiting DC for a week in Sept and although we are planning to walk around alot of the main sites we would also like a tour in case we miss anything, would it be better to book tickets online via Viator etc or just purchase them when we arrive? Any thoughts

I remember DC as great for walking esp around Mall/Smithsonian. Which month would be easier to get around or are they much the same? ie December (pre Christmas) or early to mid January? Thanks.

I'm looking for a mid-range ($100-$160) hotel in DC for a couple nights. My primary concern is finding someplace safe. We need to be close to a metro stop and preferably within walking distance to the Mall museums and attractions. Right now I'm looking into Hilton Garden Inn Downtown (14th street NW), Hamilton Crowne Plaza (14th street NW), Holiday Inn Capitol (C Street SW), or L'Enfant Plaza Hotel (L'Enfant Plaza SW). Does anyone have experiences with these hotels or know of any others you would recommend? Any suggestions on which area would be better to stay in?

If you purchase an all day card for the metro rail does it also work on the buses?

What ways of transportation are available from union Station to your hotel?

In your website it says that admission is for free. Then it says that you need a pass?What is the pass needed for and how much would a pass be if you would purchase them at the museum? Also where is there parking near the Holocause Museum?

My wife and I are taking a long overdue trip to DC in October. We have from 5- We're AMTRAKing it from Colorado and spending 3-4 days in our hometoen of Chicago then on to DC. We've never been to DC. We must be the only two retired educators who have never been the our capitol! We plan to stay with friends and rely upon public transportation. Could rent car for day to get to some outlying sights.

Will 5-6 days be enough to see the major sights?

Any suggestions and advice would be appreciated. Thanks.

We are visiting DC late July early Aug. and will be attending a game at the yards Sun Aug 2nd. We understand that there have been changes to train etc. so what is the best way to get to the stadium and back on a Sunday?

I'm 24 and am going to the USA for the first time at the end of August. I am staying with a friend who lives in DC for two weeks. As it's my first time and I'm only there for two weeks how much do you think I'll b able to do? Is it possible to go up for a day to Baltimore, Philadelphia or maybe even New York. I know that looking around DC will take a few days, but are there any other major cities i can get to easily and cheaply?

Thanks for any help, and any suggestions of what i can do to get the most out of my two weeks will be really great

I will be coming into town between 4-6pm on Sunday July 19th, and staying till about 8pm Monday night. I was told that Greenbelt and two other stations allow over night parking, and the Green Belt is closest to the direction I am coming into town.

I was also informed it only had about 17 spaces for overnight.

My question is; how quick/often do these small spaces open up, and would Sunday night around those times be a better time for me to check, or another time?

I'm trying to save on parking, as much as I can.

Also, from the direction of Greenbelt, where the Green Line begins, are there CVSs that sell the rail cards, so I am not spending $10 for a $5 card?

Thanks.