Getting to DC
Transportation
What to Do in DC
One of the great things about DC is that many of the museums, monuments, and other attractions are free. Unless otherwise noted, everything listed below falls into that category.
On the Mall: America's two mile long "front yard" stretches from the Capitol to the Lincoln Memorial - we've highlighted some of our favorites (in order from east to west) here
- By plane: DC is served by three major airports.
- Reagan National (DCA) is the closest airport to downtown. It takes about 20 minutes to get from the airport to DC via Metro.
- Dulles International (IAD) is located in Virginia. It takes about 60 minutes to get from the airport to DC via rental car, taxi, or bus.
- Baltimore Washington International (BWI) is located near Baltimore in Maryland. It takes about 60 minutes to get from the airport to DC via train (Amtrak or MARC), rental car, taxi, or bus.
- By train: Union Station (WAS) is a waypoint or terminus for many Amtrak trains along the Eastern seaboard and even a few that head toward Chicago. From Union Station, you can jump on the Metro to your destination in DC.
- By bus: You can take a bus from lots of different cities (mostly on the East Coast) to DC. Most of them stop very close to a metro station. If you book early, tickets can be really cheap. Bus Junction aggregates fares from lots of different companies.
- By automobile: DC has some of the worst traffic in the country, and a confusing circumurban highway called The Beltway. That shouldn't deter you if you want to drive here - just try to plan your trip to avoid morning (5 am - 9 am) and afternoon (3 pm - 7 pm) rush hours, if possible. Also, be aware that most hotels in DC charge an extra fee for parking, although hotels further out in the suburbs often do not.
Transportation
- Metro: Subway and bus transportation around the DC metro area
- Circulator: DC bus loops to some of the city's most popular destinations
- Capital Bikeshare: Join for a day, a few days, a month, or a year and use the cherry-red bikes all around town (just be sure to dock every half hour to avoid additional usage fees)
- Bike and Roll: Rent a bike for several hours or a whole day without being tied to the Capital Bikeshare docking requirements - Bike and Roll also offers
- Tandem and other specialty bikes
- Kid-sized bikes (and trailers)
- Wheelchairs
- Strollers
- Guided bicycle and Segway tours
What to Do in DC
One of the great things about DC is that many of the museums, monuments, and other attractions are free. Unless otherwise noted, everything listed below falls into that category.
On the Mall: America's two mile long "front yard" stretches from the Capitol to the Lincoln Memorial - we've highlighted some of our favorites (in order from east to west) here
- US Capitol Visitor Center
- US Botanic Garden
- National Museum of the American Indian: in addition to the galleries, the food at Mitsitam Cafe is among the best you'll find in the museum cafes
- National Gallery of Art
- Air & Space Museum: the most popular Smithsonian; if you have a car, you might want to check out the Udvar-Hazy Center near Dulles Airport (charge for parking)
- Girl Scouts Rock the Mall: 2012 is the 100th anniversary of Girl Scouting in the US, and on Saturday, June 9 there will be 200,000+ Girl Scouts on the National Mall participating in a giant sing-along
- National Museum of Natural History: be sure to check out the fossil collection in Ocean Hall, which Emily had a chance to work on with one of the curators
- National Museum of American History
- US Holocaust Memorial Museum: admission is free, but you'll need to get a timed pass in order to enter the permanent exhibition - passes are distributed each morning beginning at 10 am (get in line early) or are available online for $1.00 each
- Washington Monument
- World War II Memorial
- Constitution Gardens: bring a picnic lunch and relax at this "oasis within the bustling city"
- Lincoln Memorial
- Tidal Basin Paddle Boats: get there early to beat the heat (and the crowds) that come later in the day, boats rent for $12-$20/hour depending on the number of passengers
- Jefferson Memorial
- East Potomac Park: go for a jog, a bike ride, or a long walk down to Hains Point
- FDR Memorial
- Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial: even if you've been to DC before, this might be new to you - the memorial opened in late summer 2011
- National Zoo: only a short walk from either the Woodley Park or Cleveland Park Metro station
- Capital Pride: the annual celebration of the LGBT community in Washington, DC; parade on Saturday afternoon near Dupont Circle, festival on Sunday
- Kennedy Center: you'll have to buy tickets to see the National Symphony Orchestra, the Washington National Opera, or one of the many touring shows, but Millennium Stage has a free show every day at 6 pm
- National Portrait Gallery and American Art Museum share a space in Gallery Place / Chinatown, about a 10 minute walk north of the Mall
- Jack's Boathouse: if you are in Georgetown, walk down to Jack's to rent a kayak or canoe and see DC from a whole new angle, rentals are about $14/hour (per person)
