Pleeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaassssseeee Help!D.C. Area About This Page:

[denwol]

[ QUOTE ]
Do you by chance know how much the trolley, or bus, is? My niece said you paid a one time fare which allows you on and off all day??


[/ QUOTE ]

All-day passes for the Metro Rail system are $6.00/per day/per person. You can get on and off as much as you'd like - wherever you'd like.

Some of the Metro stops have malls in them...a good place to stop and grab a quick bite to eat on your way to the sights!

Have fun!

[Wendyismyname]

That helps alot!! Now to get even more picky, is there a children's fare? Doesn't matter really, cause at $6 it's really affordable!!!

Thank you!!

Wendy

[denwol]

I don't think that there is a children's fare, but I'm not sure...

The website that was listed in one of the above posts is where I got my information. Also, Frommer's guidebook was very helpful. I got the "Washington D.C. with Kids" book.

[Love 2 Laugh]

Wendy,

As far as driving directions, if you want to avoid the DC traffic, Beltway, etc. (and trust me, you DO want to avoid it), take I-70 to I-81 South (around Hagerstown, MD, I think) to I-66 West (just south of Winchester, VA)to US 17 South (Marshall, VA) to Fredericksburg and I-95.

These are all good roads. You just have to make sure you make the left hand turn to stay on US 17 5 miles south of Warrenton, VA, but it is well marked.

Also, the new branch (Udvar-Hazy)of the Smithsonian's Air and Space Museum at Dulles airport is outstanding. It includes the Space Shuttle Enterprise, a concorde, and the SR-71 "Blackbird" among other displays. Parking is $12 but admission is free.

The Tourmobile may be a good way for you to get around. I believe this is the hop-on/hop-off trolley you heard about.

[shannie75]

<font color="purple"> Here is my .02:

Park the car, use the Metro and invest in a good map. You can get around to most things through walking (depending on how much you want to deal with your kids with strollers etc). And the Metro has a lot of stops at the major things, including Arlington. There are a lot of one way and diagnal streets and I found it very confusing. When we went, we just parked in one of the Metro lots in the subburbs and took the train in. As for maps, I found this great one that is the size of an index card that opens up and folds out that was easy to read and had all the touristy things on it. Fits in a pocket nicely. There is so much to see and do in DC, I know that you will all have a great and informative time!

Shannon </font>

[Wendyismyname]

Thanks!

Those were the kind of driving directions we were looking for! My dad recommended taking 17, said it was a real good road and he takes his semi that way. He passed thru Spotsylvania the other day and called me just to tell me that! He's a veteran truck driver(40+ years) but going to DC and NY makes him nervous!! Of course, I imagine that driving a truck in those areas could be nerve wracking!!

Also, does ANYBODY know why it is called Washington D.C? Why is it called District of Columbia in the first place???

Wendy

[Vellamint]

Do all the metro stations have parking lots.....I have a reservation at an Embassy Suite in Alexandria and if we drive to the station are we looking for trouble in finding a spot?

Thanks.

[AKLRULZ]

No, not every station has parking onsite - do you know which station you plan on using?

[denwol]

I would call your hotel and ask what they recommend. They will know which station is closest, and if it has parking.

Also, many hotels have shuttles to the nearest Metro stations, so you may want to check into that.