Visiting Washington D.C.

This year, we chose to visit Washington D.C. for our family vacation. We had been looking forward to this visit for several years, and when it was time to plan, we had so much to learn. I've compiled some information here that I thought might be helpful to others.

(Please Note- Since our trip took place in 2010, some prices and information in this article may be outdated. Please refer to the included links for the most current information.)

Metro Rail

The Metro Rail is the easiest way to get around D.C. . You can choose to ride the Metro Rail, or Metro Bus, or a combination of the two.

Information
Map
Trip Planner
Fares

The Metro offers a variety of fare options, from single fares to daily and weekly passes. Metro Passes and SmarTrip cards are available to purchase at kiosks located within each Metro Station. When choosing your fare option, consider how many days you will need the pass and what times you will be riding, since some of the passes have time restrictions, while others are only good for short distance rides, which would require you to pay an exit fee if your travel distance exceeds the short distance limit.

Since we were there for a week we chose the 7-day Fast Pass (currently $59.25 per person), which allowed us unlimited uses with no time or distance restrictions. The cost of a 1-day Pass is currently $14.50 per person and provides unlimited usage for one day. SmarTrip Farecards are cards that you put money onto and can use with both the Metro Rail and Metro Bus.


Where to Stay
On the recommendation of a friend, we stayed in a hotel in Springfield, VA that was near one of the Metro Rail stations. This allowed us to have a cheaper hotel rate than staying in DC, but also gave us the convenience of taking the hotel shuttle to the Metro station.

Tours and Museums
Tours of the White House and Pentagon, must be arranged through your local congress person. They can also schedule your tours of the Capitol and Bureau of Engraving Printing, which can save you the time of waiting in line.You will need contact your congress person several months in advance of your trip to provide the dates of your visit, and tour times will be chosen for you. White House tours are confirmed approximately 2 weeks before your trip while other tours are usually confirmed sooner. Once these tours are scheduled, you can plan the rest of your free time for museums, etc. Some museums and monuments, such as the U.S. Holocaust Museum and Washington Monument, although free, require tickets. Some tickets may be reserved online, sometimes for a small fee. If you are not able to secure tickets online, you can wait in line the day of your visit (usually around beginning around 7-8am) and remaining timed tickets will be handed out for that day.

Dining
We chose to eat as affordably as possible for most of our stay. We ate at our hotel each morning because they offered a free hot breakfast. We also had a refrigerator in our room so we could have some food and drinks on hand for our time at the hotel.

While most museums offer dining, prices can be quite high.

One option is to take the Metro to the Pentagon City Mall, where they have a great food court with very reasonable prices, as well as several sit-down restaurants. Another place with a great food court and restaurants is Union Station.

There are several refreshment stands located along the National Mall, which extends from the Capitol to the Lincoln Memorial, and is also where the Smithsonian museums are situated. These refreshment stands offer hot dogs, pizza slices, snack items, and beverages. As an example, at the time of our trip, the price for a slice of pizza was $2.99.

You can also choose to pack a lunch to picnic at the National Mall, but be aware that some museums and government buildings do not allow any kind of food, beverage, and sometimes even gum, to be brought in. We saw many people that had to throw away water bottles, (even empty refillable ones) and food, because it was not allowed to come into the building they were waiting to tour. So be sure to plan your meals and what you will carry according to your itinerary.

Lockers
Several Smithsonian Museums offer lockers. While these lockers are for the use of museum patrons only while they visit the Smithsonian, I think it is allowable to keep your items stored at one museum, such as the American History, while you visit another, such as the Air and Space, which does not have lockers. Bag lunches, properly closed and secured, can be stored at these facilities.

· African Art Museum - lockers with keys

· American History Museum - lockers with keys
(various sizes) on 1st floor (Constitution Ave)

· Freer Gallery and Sackler - lockers with code lock

· Natural History Museum - lockers with keys (Const. Ave. & Mall)

· Reynolds Center for Art & Portraiture - lockers with digital locks (F & G Streets)

· Udvar-Hazy Center - lockers

Union Station has a baggage check service, called Tiburon Lockers, located near Gate A. Hours are 6am to 10pm daily. We used this service on the day of our White House tour to store our bags and cameras, which were not allowed on our tour.

The hourly rates are $2 for a small bag, $4 for a medium bag, $6 for a large bag, and $8 for multiple bags (up to 3)

Final Thoughts
Be sure to wear comfortable shoes with some cushion and arch support. Even if your plan is to only go to one museum or one tour each day, you will do a lot of walking and standing.

Remember to take the time to soak in as much as you can from each exhibit, monument, and tour. There is so much to see and learn, and for many this will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Oh, and don't forget to take lots of pictures where you are able to. Enjoy!


Monument & Museum Links

Bureau of Engraving and Printing

Ford’s Theatre
Guided and self guided tours available.

The Pentagon

Smithsonian MuseumsUnited States Holocaust Memorial Museum
Tickets are required for the Permanent exhibit, “The Holocaust” March-August. During September-February, tickets are not required. No photography or video recording is allowed in exhibits.

US Capitol
Our tour guide was a representative from our local congressman’s office. He was very knowledgeable and we enjoyed our tour. Be advised that no food, drinks, or empty water containers are allowed to be brought into this building. There is a restaurant located inside. Photography is allowed, except for in te gallery areas

Washington Monument

Line for tickets can form as early as 7am during the busy summer months.

The White House
Be advised that no cameras, bags or purses of any kind were allowed on this tour. See link for complete list of prohibited items.


Helpful Links:

Pentagon City Mall

Union Station
Offers Baggage check, shopping mall, food court, and restaurants.

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