Day Trips from Washington DC
Mar 14th, 2005, 03:59 AM
#2
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Philadelphia is a 2 hr train ride.
Closer and even cheaper (less than $25 RT on Amtrak) is Harper's Ferry, WV.
http://www.nps.gov/hafe/home.htm
Baltimore is closest of all, and you could even take a commuter train if you go on a weekday (much chaeper than Amtrak)
www.Amtrak.com
and the commutewr lines:
http://www.mtamaryland.com/services/...lesSystemMaps/
Closer and even cheaper (less than $25 RT on Amtrak) is Harper's Ferry, WV.
http://www.nps.gov/hafe/home.htm
Baltimore is closest of all, and you could even take a commuter train if you go on a weekday (much chaeper than Amtrak)
www.Amtrak.com
and the commutewr lines:
http://www.mtamaryland.com/services/...lesSystemMaps/
Mar 14th, 2005, 04:13 AM
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I would probably look even closer in and spend a day in Old Town Alexandria - very easy to get to via metro from D.C. Torpedo Factory which houses art studios, historic buildings and churches, quaint shops...
Mar 14th, 2005, 04:33 AM
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I'd second Old Town Alexandria. In addition to what leah mentions, Old Town is on the Potomac River, and you can walk along the river through a few parks (if you go on a warm Sunday, you may see me on the beach volleyball court!). 
It's a great little town to walk around in.
When will you be here?
Karen
It's a great little town to walk around in.When will you be here?
Karen
Mar 14th, 2005, 04:45 AM
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How many days are you in Washington? There is a lot to see and do in the city itself as well as in nearby places like Arlington and Alexandria which you can reach via the Metro (subway). Also, Rock Creek Park in the city is a great place to bike, walk or horseback ride in, take a look at http://www.nps.gov/rocr/index.htm. You can hire kayaks and/or take guided kayak tours on the Potomac, take a look at the website www.atlantickayak.com/gangplank. Another fun thing would be to rent bicycles and go along the C&O towpath in Georgetown or through Rock Creek Park. You can also take a canal barge ride through the C&O canal, which is part of a park run by the National Park Service. Go to http://www.nps.gov/choh for information. There is a terrific zoo.
If you have more than 4 days in DC, then a day trip would be feasible, but public transport may be the only drawback here. You will be limited in where you can go and using pubic transport will take longer. There is limited rail service and limited private bus service (i.e., no long haul public bus service.)
Places to consider:
1. There are a number of US national parks in the area. Go to nps.gov and search by geographic location in DC, MD, VA and PA. Places like Great Falls Virginia offer great natural beauty and are close to DC. You could reach many by Metro or even on foot for parks in DC.
2. Mt Vernon, Virginia (George Washington’s home, go to http://www.mountvernon.org). This is about 20 miles south of Washington DC along the Potomac River, and is about half an hour by car from DC. According to the website, there are various ways to get there by public transport, including the metro (Subway), and a river cruise which would be scenic. There are also private day trips sponsored by Greyhound (a private bus company, go to Greyhound.com), and you can even ride a bicycle if you don’t mind the 18 mile journey each way. Go to http://www.mountvernon.org/visit/plan/index.cfm/pid/29/ for details on getting to Mt Vernon by public transport or private bus service.
3. Annapolis Maryland/US Naval Academy - Annapolis is about 40 miles east of DC on the Atlantic coast, and is about an hour by car. The city is the state capital of Maryland. In addition to a charming old town area and waterfront, you can visit the US Naval Academy, the officer training school for the US Navy. You can get there via a train and bus combination on Amtrak (amtrak.com) or MARC (mtmaryland.com) or by Greyhound private bus service (Greyhound.com). For info on visiting the US Naval Academy, take a look at http://www.nadn.navy.mil. For info on Annapolis, take a look at http://www.ci.annapolis.md.us/-
4. Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. This is about 50 miles north of DC, and is about 1.5 hours by car. This is the site of the bloodiest battle in the US Civil War, and the battlefields are preserved. This is also a very beautiful area of the country, and is great for biking and walking. Take a look at http://www.nps.gov/gett/
5. Williamsburg, Virginia (restored colonial town, go to http://www.colonialwilliamsburg.com). This is about 150 miles south of Washington, about a 2.5 hour drive. It is very interesting. You can take a train (amtrak.com) or a Greyhound bus. For info on transport options go to http://www.colonialwilliamsburg.com/.../howToGetHere/. There is a large amusement park in the area called Busch Gardens, go to http://www.buschgardens.com. This trip is better done over 2 days, IMO, as there s a lot to see and do and the journey is fairly long.
As mentioned above, Philadelphia is a possiblilty, but I think you might enjoy seeing the countryside rather than another city, and one that is not the nicest city in the US.
If you have more than 4 days in DC, then a day trip would be feasible, but public transport may be the only drawback here. You will be limited in where you can go and using pubic transport will take longer. There is limited rail service and limited private bus service (i.e., no long haul public bus service.)
Places to consider:
1. There are a number of US national parks in the area. Go to nps.gov and search by geographic location in DC, MD, VA and PA. Places like Great Falls Virginia offer great natural beauty and are close to DC. You could reach many by Metro or even on foot for parks in DC.
2. Mt Vernon, Virginia (George Washington’s home, go to http://www.mountvernon.org). This is about 20 miles south of Washington DC along the Potomac River, and is about half an hour by car from DC. According to the website, there are various ways to get there by public transport, including the metro (Subway), and a river cruise which would be scenic. There are also private day trips sponsored by Greyhound (a private bus company, go to Greyhound.com), and you can even ride a bicycle if you don’t mind the 18 mile journey each way. Go to http://www.mountvernon.org/visit/plan/index.cfm/pid/29/ for details on getting to Mt Vernon by public transport or private bus service.
3. Annapolis Maryland/US Naval Academy - Annapolis is about 40 miles east of DC on the Atlantic coast, and is about an hour by car. The city is the state capital of Maryland. In addition to a charming old town area and waterfront, you can visit the US Naval Academy, the officer training school for the US Navy. You can get there via a train and bus combination on Amtrak (amtrak.com) or MARC (mtmaryland.com) or by Greyhound private bus service (Greyhound.com). For info on visiting the US Naval Academy, take a look at http://www.nadn.navy.mil. For info on Annapolis, take a look at http://www.ci.annapolis.md.us/-
4. Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. This is about 50 miles north of DC, and is about 1.5 hours by car. This is the site of the bloodiest battle in the US Civil War, and the battlefields are preserved. This is also a very beautiful area of the country, and is great for biking and walking. Take a look at http://www.nps.gov/gett/
5. Williamsburg, Virginia (restored colonial town, go to http://www.colonialwilliamsburg.com). This is about 150 miles south of Washington, about a 2.5 hour drive. It is very interesting. You can take a train (amtrak.com) or a Greyhound bus. For info on transport options go to http://www.colonialwilliamsburg.com/.../howToGetHere/. There is a large amusement park in the area called Busch Gardens, go to http://www.buschgardens.com. This trip is better done over 2 days, IMO, as there s a lot to see and do and the journey is fairly long.
As mentioned above, Philadelphia is a possiblilty, but I think you might enjoy seeing the countryside rather than another city, and one that is not the nicest city in the US.
Mar 15th, 2005, 12:52 PM
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You can take VRE commuter rail from Union Station (and other locations) to Fredericksburg.
Did the Metro-bus connection to Mt Vernon .. a nice ride. Get a transfer pass at the Metro Station you BOARD the Metro at, take Yellow line to Huntington Station, and the bus will cost 35cents. $1 return -- see Mt Bernon website above.
I agree that there's a LOT to see in DC; maybe you won't want to leave for these other sights.
Did the Metro-bus connection to Mt Vernon .. a nice ride. Get a transfer pass at the Metro Station you BOARD the Metro at, take Yellow line to Huntington Station, and the bus will cost 35cents. $1 return -- see Mt Bernon website above.
I agree that there's a LOT to see in DC; maybe you won't want to leave for these other sights.
Mar 17th, 2005, 07:06 PM
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Hi Pete.
I consider Alexandria and Arlington to be part of DC in the general sense. They are in Virginia, but they are part of the DC Metro area.
Baltimore is another easy option. Its Inner Harbor and Fell's Point are worth checking out.
Depending upon how much time you have, you may find that there is enough to do in DC (and the Metro area) that you won't have time to go anywhere else.
Beware. August is the worst month to be in DC. It is very hot and humid. This will make public transit a bit less pleasant, too. The good news is that it is less crowded in August because of that.
Take Care,
Mark
I consider Alexandria and Arlington to be part of DC in the general sense. They are in Virginia, but they are part of the DC Metro area.
Baltimore is another easy option. Its Inner Harbor and Fell's Point are worth checking out.
Depending upon how much time you have, you may find that there is enough to do in DC (and the Metro area) that you won't have time to go anywhere else.
Beware. August is the worst month to be in DC. It is very hot and humid. This will make public transit a bit less pleasant, too. The good news is that it is less crowded in August because of that.
Take Care,
Mark
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