Do I have to pay to get in to everything individually or is there some sort of ticket or something I can purchase. How about getting around in DC. Any tips about traveling and restaurants, would be great.
2007-01-25 08:12:33 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Travel ➔ United States ➔ Washington, D.C.
The good news is that most of the museums and monuments are free and they are within walking distance of the metro. The National Mall runs from the Lincoln Memorial to the U.S. Capitol, and in between you'll find the Viet Nam memorial, the Korean War Memorial, the Washington Monument, most of the Smithsonian museums, and the Botanical Gardens. The White House, Jefferson Memorial, FDR Memorial, National Archives, and other memorials and museums (Holocaust Museum, Bureau of Printing and Engraving -- money is printed here) are just a couple of blocks north or south of the mall. Just east of the Capitol are the Library of Congress and the Supreme Court.
Nearby metro stops include the Smithsonian, L'Enfant Plaza, Navy Memorial, and Capitol South. (http://www.wmata.com/metrorail/systemmap.cfm)
For information on the Smithsonian, go to www.si.edu. Note that the Museum of American History is closed for renovation.
Tip: Most of the museums open at 10 am. However, the grounds of the National Zoo (part of Smithsonian and free) is open at 7 am, and many animals are outside by 8 and this is when they are most active (and fewest crowds -- great time to see the Giant Pandas at their best). Nearest Metro: Woodley Park/Zoo or Cleveland Park on the Red line.
For information on what do see and do, where to eat, nightlife, etc. I recommend you look at the Washingtonian Magazine (http://www.washingtonian.com/).
If you are flying into Dulles or Regan National Airport, I highly recommend that you pick up a copy of The Washington Flyer magazine. It's free, and it has some great maps of the area.
There's a lot to see and do and a visit can be very economical, but very exhausting. Lot's of walking. I recommend that you look into taking the Tourmobile. (http://www.tourmobile.com/) These buses provide guided tours along the mall, stopping at most of the sites along the mall, plus the Capitol, White House, Jefferson Memorial, etc. You can ride it all day, getting on and off as much as you want. It also goes to Arlington National Cemetery. A single day pass is $20, or $30 for a 2-day pass.
Another Tip: Go to the museums, Capitol, Library of Congress, etc., during the day, and many close at 5 or 5:30 during the winter months. The Lincoln, Jefferson, FDR, and other memorials are open until midnight, and some, such as the Viet Nam Memorial and Iwo Jima Memorial, are open 24 hours.
Also, the Kennedy Center, which is open at night, has the Millennium Stage -- free shows in the main lobby area at 6 pm each evening. No tickets or reservations required. http://www.kennedy-center.org/programs/millennium/schedule.html Nearest metro is Foggy Bottom, with free shuttles to the Kennedy Center.
Do a little research and plan your attack. Good luck, and have fun!
I worked in DC for over 30 years and visitors usually stayed in hotels in Crystal City or Old Town, Alexandria. They are usually cheaper and are near Metro stations. The advantage to Old Town Alexandria is that there are a lot of great restaurants along King Street, many with nightly entertainment. Often, they have free shuttles to Regan National Airport and the Metro Stations.
2007-01-27 15:53:37 · answer #1 · answered by Pandagal 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most of the museums in DC are free as everyone has stated. I know there is a charge for the National Aquarium, but I can't think of anything else that there is a fee for.
The Metro is the way to go, but you will still do a lot of walking. It makes getting around easier and it is reasonably priced. The Metro Escalator is the second longest in the USA and worth seeing. And there are lots of shops and places to eat at the Metro's Union Station.
If you are interested in doing a little planning, you can obtain a tour of the White House if you write the elected officials of your state. And to go up into the Washington Monument visit: http://reservations.nps.gov One person can get up to six tickets per reservation. There may be a small service fee for this. It was only $1.50 a ticket when we scheduled two years ago.
2007-01-27 05:34:19 · answer #2 · answered by T W 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The good thing about Washington is that most of the major attractions are free. All of the Smithsonian museums, all of the monuments, the Capitol and Supreme Court ... all free.
http://www.si.edu/
http://www.nps.gov/archive/nama/monuments/monument.htm
DC is a fairly easy town to get around in. The Metro system will get you to most places, although you will do a fair amount of walking on the Mall. The Metro is extremely clean and quite safe, but does have an occasional break-down. If you are going to be there several days, I would recommend getting a weekly pass.
DC Metro Site: http://www.wmata.com/
Here is the DC tourism home page:
http://www.washington.org/index.cfm?blnNavView=True&idContentType=36&idCurrentPage=7
2007-01-25 08:34:29 · answer #3 · answered by parrotjohn2001 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
1. Visit the Smithsonian Institution
Start at the Smithsonian Institution Building where you can pick up a map and information on all of the museums. These national treasures cover a wide range of subjects from art to space exploration. Plan to explore those you are most interested in, but don’t try to see everything at once. Be sure to save time to see an IMAX movie at the Natural History Museum or the National Air and Space Museum.
2. Tour the Monuments
Our national monuments are truly spectacular. The best time to see them is at night when they are illuminated, less crowded and parking is easier. During daytime visits, take a tour bus. Listen to informative park ranger talks and you won’t have to negotiate congested city traffic.
3. Tour the Three Houses of Government
Explore the U. S. Capitol Building, the White House and the U. S. Supreme Court and you will gain a fuller understanding of the division of power within our democratic government. Plan ahead and note that some tours must be scheduled in advance through your Congressional Representative.
4. Take a walk through Georgetown
Georgetown is the capital’s historic waterfront that today is bustling with activity. The area is a shopper’s paradise and the streets are lined with restaurants of every nationality. Take a tour of historic sites, do some shopping and enjoy a meal at a local restaurant.
5. Ride a bike along the C & O Canal
The Washington DC region is lucky to have wonderful bike trails. Jump on a bicycle and you’ll quickly feel a relief from hectic city life. Take the whole family and explore the historic C & O Canal.
6. See a show or concert at the Kennedy Center
Live theatre productions at the John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts are entertainment at its finest. Purchase tickets in advance for performances ranging from musicals to concerts by the National Symphony.
7. Attend a concert at Wolftrap Farm Park
Listen to all types of music at this national park dedicated to the performing arts. Outdoor concerts are featured in the summer and indoor performances are held the rest of the year. The park is located in Vienna, Virginia, just 20 minutes from Washington, D.C.
8. Take a hike at Great Falls Park
Take a picnic and enjoy spectacular views of the Potomac River at this 800 acre park, located just 14 miles from Washington D.C.
9. Explore Mount Vernon
With the recent addition of the new museum and education center, Mount Vernon is now a full day excursion. Explore the state of the art galleries and theaters, visit the 500-acre estate of George Washington and his family, tour the 14-room mansion that is beautifully restored and furnished with original objects dating back to the 1740's. Be sure to plan enough time to tour the outbuildings, including the kitchen, slave quarters, smokehouse, coach house and stables. The estate is located in Northern Virginia, just minutes from Washington, DC.
10. Take a walking tour of Old Town, Alexandria
Explore a quaint historic town just over the Potomac River from Washington, DC. Visit colonial houses, churches, and museums and shop for antiques.
2007-01-25 14:32:27 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Normally, I would answer, "CityPass," but they don't cover Washington. However, maybe they will soon? It might be worth contacting them. It seems odd that they don't cover DC. Perhaps they're in the testing stage and want help?
Most major museums in the US and Canada have a membership that includes admission at other major museums. Check with your local museum.
Other than that, I always check out Lonely Planet. Their books are always pretty useful, but there is also a forum on their website.
Oh, and I found a tourism website advertising D.C. museums, including some free events.
2007-01-25 08:28:34 · answer #5 · answered by Jean Talon 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most things in DC are free (well, not all..but alot..such as the smithsonian, the holocaust museum, all of the monuments at the national mall, and the national zoo..which is fantastic by the way!) A good thing for you to do would be to go to their website. www.washington.org From there you can find SO many resources to plan your trip. You can get maps and information on tours, getting around town, etc.
There is alot to do in D.C, and you need to plan your trip accordingly. Spend as many days there as possible, as you will likely not be able to get into alot of the museums/attractions in one day. Most museums give out tickets for tour times, and sometimes you have to go early in the day to get them. Once they are gone, they're gone, and you have to come back the next day.
Plan on doing ALOT of walking. Driving there is hectic and parking is horrible. Your best bet would be to take the Metro. You can get day passes on the metro for a set fee..which will let you get on the metro (subway) at any time and for as many rides as you need. You will learn that the metro will be your best friend when you don't feel like hiking all over the place.
A good idea would also to be to stay outside of D.C its self. I visited two summers ago and we stayed in Rockville, MD. It's not far out of D.C and the metro lines run all the way out there. All we had to do was drive to the metro station, park the car, and take the metro to D.C. It saved us ALOT of trouble...alot of gas...and alot of money. Going to DC can get pricey, but you can save yourself alot if you plan ahead.
Get a map of d.c and all of it's attractions and plan out your day according to how much you want to do, and where you want to go. Like I said, ALOT of walking is involved!
Good luck and have fun. Don't forget a camera!
2007-01-27 02:59:14 · answer #6 · answered by Tiffany D 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yayz! My vote is New Hampshire, but I don't know, it could be some random state, like when Iowa legalized same sex marriage.
2016-03-29 02:26:10 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋