BS: Seeing Washington DC

Subject: BS: Seeing Washington DC
From: kendall
Date: 10 Mar 07 - 07:56 AM

Jacqui and I are planning a trip south in April, and she wants to see the sights in DC. I do not like driving in strange cities, especially Washington. Any suggestions on how to get around there?

Subject: RE: BS: Seeing Washington DC
From: eddie1
Date: 10 Mar 07 - 08:01 AM

Hi Kendall
There are (or used to be) tourist buses from Central Station. The driver gives a great - and amusing - commentary. You can get off where you want, have a look round, and get a later one.

Eddie

Subject: RE: BS: Seeing Washington DC
From: Severn
Date: 10 Mar 07 - 08:33 AM

How to get around in DC? I'll get the first round and I'm sure you have enough other friends down here that you probably won't have to buy too many of them.

Where will you be staying? Public transportation will take you to a lot of places, and friends can take you to others, but it would help to know where you'll be headquartered, as in which town, to help you with the transportation links. http://www.wamata.com will give you Metrobus and Metrorail subway information online and [phone] in the telephone information number.Subway maps should be available for printout, as well as bus line numbers for the routes you will need to use. If in Montgomery County Maryland, try http://www.rideonbus.com or call [phone] for the RideOn busses run by the county that link up with the Metrobus and Metrorail routes. PM me if you need more information.

Subject: RE: BS: Seeing Washington DC
From: Linda Goodman Zebooker
Date: 10 Mar 07 - 08:57 AM

Yes, Washington is a strange city.


Oh, and not a good place to try to drive around. You're right about that one, too. Took me three years here to figure out how to drive around Dupont Circle and actually get where I was trying to go.

You will be carried around by Mudcatters and other friends. Your feet will not touch the ground. WHEN ARE YOU COMING?

As far as public transportation-it's really wonderful here. What Severn said! Also there's a fairly new bus service called The Circulator. Beautiful red busses that run something like every 10 minutes and seem to go everywhere the sights are. There's also a free shuttle bus from the Foggy Bottom Metro stop to the Kennedy Center, and $1.00 busses from Dupont Circle Metro into Georgetown.

Yippee,
Linda

Subject: RE: BS: Seeing Washington DC
From: Rapparee
Date: 10 Mar 07 - 09:47 AM

Use Metro or other people. I tried to drive in DC once and spent four days and nights trying to get across an intersection. Finally I just turned around and drove the block back to the house.

Pennsylvania and Constituion Avenues are REALLY screwed up because of terrorist paranoia. Nor can you get near the Capitol unless you have a special permit. What I'm trying to say is, bring comfortable shoes, 'cause brother, you're gonna WALK!

Now -- stuff to see.

Arlington National Cemetery: there are little tour buses or you can walk. OR if you have a relative buried there you can drive in an a permit -- these are issued in advance, so you have to find someone who has one. While they are theoretically issued so you can go to the family gravesite, you can actually drive around without hinderance, including up to the graves of the "Unknowns" (you DO have to park and walk a short distance!). If you do go up there, you'll appreciate the fact that the mast sticking up is from the battleship "Maine", as are the cannon around it (I have it on good authority that if you loaded one of the cannons you could drop a shell in the middle of the Pentagon).

The Mall: is surrounded by Smithsonian museums. There is a metro stop, "Gallery Place" I think it is, near them.

The White House: contact your congressperson, you might be able to get a ticket permitting you to tour this joint. Well, actually only part of it, and you won't see Big George. But the East Room is quite nicely done, and the collection of dishes is also pleasant. Be aware that you will be THOROUGHLY checked, so don't take a gun or anything that might be vaguely construed as weapon-like. If you have metal implants, like an artificial hip, have a doctor's letter.

The Library of Congress: do.

The Folger Shakespeare Library: A cool place with its own scaled down version of the Globe Theatre where they put on plays. They won't let you flip through the First Folios, however.

Sunset Parade: at the Marine Corps barracks, but I don't know if it'll be on in April. Precision drill and all sorts of showing off. Ladies with reserved seats are "handed" to their seat by NCOs in dress blues wearing white gloves.

The Botanical Gardens: near the Capitol and a "must-see" if you like plants. It's a lot better than you might think!

Silver Hill: This is outside town, but it's where the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum stores and restores aircraft. I saw the Enola Gay, as well as other aircraft here. Tours are by reservation, but aircraft nuts guide you.

National Spy Museum: there are a couple of museums dealing with espionage. The Spy museum is downtown and I don't think it's associated with the Smithsonian. The Cryptologic Museum is in Laurel, near NSA (who runs it) and Ft. Meade and is definitely a visitable spot.

Fort Washinton: On the Maryland side of the Potomac, a star-shaped fort built too late for the War of 1812. It's across the river from

Mt. Vernon: GO! By all means, go!

Ford's Theatre: "Other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play?"

The Wall: The Vietnam Veteran's Memorial. Go. It's one of the most powerful, if not THE most powerful, memorials in town. It's also near the Lincoln Memorial (also powerful!), the Washington Monument, the Korean War Memorial, and the Mall.

WW2 Memorial: I haven't been there, but I hear that it's well worth a visit. Likewise the Roosevelt Memorial.

BRING AT LEAST TWO PAIRS OF COMFORTABLE SHOES and good socks. Tell Jacqui that this place is BIG and you'll both be walking A LOT.

Subject: RE: BS: Seeing Washington DC
From: Barry Finn
Date: 10 Mar 07 - 12:27 PM

Any music? Don't want them to go hungry. Enjoy!

Barry

Subject: RE: BS: Seeing Washington DC
From: kendall
Date: 10 Mar 07 - 12:27 PM

The l;ast time I was in Washington was many years ago. I was trying to get to the other side of a street but the traffic was bumper to bumper. I called to a guy on the other side, asked "How do you get to the other side?" He yelled back, "I was born here."

Plans are not firm yet, just looking ahead. All info is greatly appreciated.

Subject: RE: BS: Seeing Washington DC
From: Severn
Date: 10 Mar 07 - 12:37 PM

http://www.fsgw.org for on line access to the local folk newsletter. Fridays in the Washington Post they have The Weekender section that tells all the Music, Movies, Art amd Drama happenings for the week, with date time and location. In short, most all the culture in town that isn't in a petri dish. Probably available on line from The Post as well.

Subject: RE: BS: Seeing Washington DC
From: fretless
Date: 10 Mar 07 - 12:59 PM

Rapaire has good list. Smithsonian museums are best accessed from the Smithsonian Station on the Orange and Blue Metro lines, though. Unfortunately, the U.S. history museum is closed for renovations.

Another interesting museum: the new National Museum of the American Indian, on the Mall. It also has the best museum cafeteria food in DC.

For music, Capitol Area Bluegrass and OT Music Association holds jams on 2nd and 4th Sunday of the month in Arlington -- across the river from DC but the jams are in a park that's not easily accessible by public transit. Almost exclusively bluegrass the last time I went. http://www.caboma.org/

The Historical Society of Washngton DC published a Washington Beyond the Monuments map a few years ago. PM a mailing address if you think you will have time for some excursions to lesser-known sites.

And I agree with everyone else: Metro and walk. Avoid the in-town driving.

Subject: RE: BS: Seeing Washington DC
From: Ebbie
Date: 10 Mar 07 - 01:22 PM

I would love to spend a year in the Washington area. The sense of history is overwhelming and the downtown glows. Every time I have been there it makes me feel like signing up as a volunteer; the forms are on every desk.

I like the Metro but I haven't taken a free or even close to free tour bus. I think I have taken the line the that Eddie1 mentioned. It is $25.00, as I recall.

Subject: RE: BS: Seeing Washington DC
From: Rapparee
Date: 10 Mar 07 - 02:23 PM

The USS Constellation sits in Baltimore harbor. So does Ft. McHenry, but for some reason the Battle of Bladensburg isn't commenorated at all.

And don't forget the National Archives -- they've got a couple of old documents on display. Something about Independence and your Constitution or something. Old papers, you know. Like the ones at the bottom of the pile on your desk.

Subject: RE: BS: Seeing Washington DC
From: Ebbie
Date: 10 Mar 07 - 02:34 PM

Rapaire, you just reminded me: In the late-40s those 'old documents were sent by rail across the USA. Schoolkids were bused to certain points and we all got in long lines to see them, along with listening to orators. Exciting business.

Subject: RE: BS: Seeing Washington DC
From: Linda Goodman Zebooker
Date: 10 Mar 07 - 04:06 PM

Also boats, There are boat tours of the monuments, to Mt Vernon, to Old Town Alexandria, etc. Or you can rent a canoe or kayak from the National Park service and paddle around the Potomac yourself and see everything from the water. It's very safe in the monument area as there is very little boat traffic, and what there is has to go dead slow. I have a bunch of the relvant websites and brochures.

Linda

Subject: RE: BS: Seeing Washington DC
From: Rapparee
Date: 10 Mar 07 - 04:31 PM

Boat traffic? Around the Washington Monument? Yes, in the 33+ years I've been going to DC to visit the in-laws I've rarely seen boats around the monument. 8-)

Subject: RE: BS: Seeing Washington DC
From: Ebbie
Date: 10 Mar 07 - 04:52 PM

Easy, Rap. You just paddle back and forth and round and round in the Basin.

Subject: RE: BS: Seeing Washington DC
From: Sorcha
Date: 10 Mar 07 - 05:11 PM

Mt Vernon just at sun up is wonderful.

Subject: RE: BS: Seeing Washington DC
From: Donuel
Date: 11 Mar 07 - 08:45 AM

Yeah...ditto what Rapaire said.

Subject: RE: BS: Seeing Washington DC
From: artbrooks
Date: 11 Mar 07 - 11:49 AM

As has been said (more or less)...DON'T drive in DC - park someplace and take the Metro. Also, the museums that are part of the Smithsonian complex mostly close at 5:00 or 5:30...DC shuts down at night. Check with our good buddies at the Folklore Society of Greater Washington for events.

Subject: RE: BS: Seeing Washington DC
From: Bobert
Date: 11 Mar 07 - 05:14 PM

Well, if yer going to the touristy areas, take the Metro... I drive to Vienna and park for free and get on the subway and no fuss/no muss... yer where you wanta be in no time and cheap...

However, the subway ain't gonna get you to alot of places... I've been playing blues off and on up in NE at Archie Edwards barber shop and the drive is a piece of cake but I know how to avoid the touristy places where the traffic is bad...

...plus I know my way around DC purdy well seein' as I grew up 'round it...

Tell ya' what, Capt'n... If there's a Saturday in there where you can dump the ol' lady, ahhhh, give yer beautiful wife some time to do women's toutirtin' an' you'd like to just hang out at the barber shop with a lot of ol' bluesguys, let me know and we'll do it...

Bobert

Subject: RE: BS: Seeing Washington DC
From: mg
Date: 11 Mar 07 - 05:18 PM

I wouldn't drive there either..not just traffic but the roundabouts that put you in the wrong direction...taxis were quite cheap the last time I went but only took cash. The metro is great during the day but don't break the law and drink or eat on them..I was exhausted after an all night flight and had food with me and was drinkng some pop and all of a sudden a policeman was right in my face saying..what do you think you are doing? I had no idea what I was doing...must have looked sort of stunned.

Anyway, public transportation and taxis. There probably are some good tour buses. And a lot of place can be walked to. mg

Subject: RE: BS: Seeing Washington DC
From: Linda Goodman Zebooker
Date: 11 Mar 07 - 06:20 PM

Be careful crossing the streets. Most people here seem have no clue as to the meaning of red lights or "don't walk" signals, and busses are beginning not to respect people in crosswalks either.

(Andante)

Roving and Rambling and Walking Around

Chorus
Roving and rambling and walking around
This is the way I go through my town
I take the Metro, go up and go down
Roving and rambling and walking around!

Cherries and kites on the Mall in the spring
Summer brings Festivals where you can sing
The weather stays warm and I feel like a king!
Roving and rambling and walking around.

Cho:

Old Dupont Circle, the fountain so white
Pearly and splashy - all sparking and bright
Tots with their mommies go up and go down
its stairs when they're learning to first walk around.

Cho:

Warm summer nights at the Rumba Café
Have mojitos, moriscos and hear the band play
rumbas and sambas, we swing and we sway
dancing and singing the whole night away.

Cho:

I walk to the corner and stop at the light
I wait for the green, then I keep to the right
No one else does, but it's perfectly fine!
Roving and rambling and walking around.

Roving and rambling and walking around
This is the way I go through my town
I take the Metro, go up and go down
Roving and rambling and
Roving and rambling and,
Roving and rambling and walking around!

5/2/03

Linda

Subject: RE: BS: Seeing Washington DC
From: beardedbruce
Date: 12 Mar 07 - 09:38 AM

"Silver Hill: This is outside town, but it's where the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum stores and restores aircraft. I saw the Enola Gay, as well as other aircraft here. Tours are by reservation, but aircraft nuts guide you."

New annex out by Dulles, in VA. No reservation, but $12 to park ( per vehicle). They moved most of the contents of Silver Hill, and got the Shuttle Enterprise and a Pegasus.

College Park Airport has a nice little museum ( 1902 Wright glider, 1908 Wright Flyer, Jenny, 1 1/2 Ercoupes, and a few others. Oldest "active" comercial airport.

Subject: RE: BS: Seeing Washington DC
From: beardedbruce
Date: 12 Mar 07 - 10:28 AM

Oh, and the Smithsonian Udvar-Hazy Center ( found the spelling) has a Blackbird ( SR-71) and the 1st 707... as well as more different planes than you can imagine- Only Wright/Patterson AFB has more...

Subject: RE: BS: Seeing Washington DC
From: jacqui.c
Date: 31 Mar 07 - 08:05 AM

We won't have enough time on this trip to get into Washington but thanks for all the information. I'm going to put this thread on Trace and, at some point in the future, we WILL get there.

I'd like to do that trip in the spring, to see the blossoms, which I sorely miss this time of year.

Subject: RE: BS: Seeing Washington DC
From: Bobert
Date: 31 Mar 07 - 08:30 AM

Sorry you can't make it down, Jacqui... I was lookin' forward to takin' the Capt'n to the jam up at the barber shop an' turn him loose on them folks with a couple of his stories...

Next time...

Bobert

Subject: RE: BS: Seeing Washington DC
From: leeneia
Date: 31 Mar 07 - 10:50 AM

It was a long time ago, but when I visited Washington, I took the Grayline's evening bus ride around town. It was wonderful!

The next day I took a boat ride down to Mount Vernon. Not as magical, but still interesting.

Subject: RE: BS: Seeing Washington DC
From: Folkiedave
Date: 01 Apr 07 - 10:19 AM

If a UK catter might join in............

We spent two nights there just b4 Xmas and loved it all. We stayed at the Holiday Inn just at the back of the Air and Space Museum off the Mall.

We just did the sights and monuments on the Mall really, and ate at Philips Seafood restaurant which was brilliant if you are from UK, not sure how Americans might judge it.

We walked the whole of the Mall and just did the Air and Space museum. One of the main ones was shut, Natural History?

Wandering around the back of the White House we nearly got shot walking across a grassy area on the East Side...........

Apart from that nothing adventurous happened.

We walked from a restaurant at the back of Capitol Hill back to the hotel at night and never saw anyone else walking. but felt safe, never seen so many policemen!

Subject: RE: BS: Seeing Washington DC
From: Rapparee
Date: 01 Apr 07 - 11:32 AM

DC can be criminally interesting. In 1976, for the big Bicentennial celebration (I was in town, but avoided downtown like the plague!) it was reported that there was only ONE attempt at crime -- some idiot jumped a plain-clothes cop.

At other times, however....

DC is as safe as London or any other big city, and perhaps safer. There's the city cops, the National Park cops, the Capitol Cops, the White House cops (not the Secret Service), and I know I'm missing some. And the terrorist thing has made them even more omnipresent.

There are also the homeless.

Subject: RE: BS: Seeing Washington DC
From: Bobert
Date: 01 Apr 07 - 11:42 AM

Well, Rap... Yeah, most of DC is purdy safe but there are still some neighborhoods that ain't... Mostly in NE and some SE... NW, for the most part south of the Convention Center is safe but there are some areas up 'round Rhode Isalnd Ave. that are still tough...

But tourists generally don't go anywhere near the seedy areas unless they are on the way to the National Arboretum which is located in a terrible place but its been there going back to when things weren't as bad but if the folks who built it way back when had foreseen the future they wouldn't have placed it there...

B~

Subject: RE: BS: Seeing Washington DC
From: Rapparee
Date: 01 Apr 07 - 02:14 PM

Heck, Bobert, them places ain't so bad. Them's just ordinary thugs doin' their ordinary thug thing. Now, you take both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue -- THEM'S crooks!