GYPSYSOULL

HELLO! I will be arriving via train to Washington DC this coming Thurs March 23. I arrive around 8am and I have a layover til 4pm. Id love to take a stroll and take in some of the sights. Any recommendations? Is it safe and easy to walk around the area where the station is?
Im hoping to experience some of the beautiful cherry blossom trees.. Thanks!

kja

The area is definitely safe, and you have a wealth of sightseeing options. You might want to click on "destinations" above (top row, near the middle) and then select Washington DC to learn more about those options. Or consult any decent guidebook.

DC's cherries have suffered under unexpected weather conditions of late, but should still be worth seeing. They're a bit of a trek from Union Station, though, so you might want to take public transportation for part / all of the way. Google maps should give you a sense of your options.

Enjoy!

marvelousmouse

The postal service museum is right across from the train station and it's awesome! You've time to do pretty much anything though- I'd probably go see the monuments and trees first before the museums open. Then choose whatever museum appeals to you. Don't try to do too much. The smithsonians are huge, and with that kind of layover, I'd hit the monuments and then maybe two museums tops.

tchoiniere

Another suggestion would be to take Metro to Arlington Cemetery and visit it (2-3 hours) then walk from there visiting the Monuments (Korean, Lincoln, Vietnam, WW2 and then a walk by of the Washington Monument. This would then allow a quick visit potentially at a museum before heading back to Union Station for your 2nd leg. You would be walking towards Union Station as you visit the Monuments.

k_marie

The DC Ciculator bus has several routes. The mall route begins at Union Station and follows a loop around the National Mall and the Tidal Basin. No commentary included, but you will see the museums on the mall, the major monuments and, yes, the cherry trees at the basin. Cost: $1.

http://nationalmall.dccirculator.com/

Daniel_Williams

Hi Gypsysoull, There are few things I enjoy in life as much as a train stopover. Sounds like you're coming from somewhere south and switching to a Chicago-bound train. If you're a sleeper car passenger, you have access to the comfortable Acela lounge (here there may be luggage storage while you explore; I've used the storage option while meandering around Chicago a few times) while you wait. DC gives you lots of options; I'd probably pick the museum in the Smithsonian that appealed to me most and walk around the Mall--the Capitol building at one end of the Mall is looming and a few blocks away as you walk out of Union Station--you could even walk to the Mall if the weather entices you to do so. Best wishes, Daniel

tomfuller

The only problem you may run into is storage of your luggage while you are away from the station. I did pay for luggage storage in a very disorganized storage room.
I walked down to the Capitol Building past the Senate office building.
Union station is on top of a Metro station. For my very first trip on Amtrak in October 2001, I took the Metro from outside the city and came up the escalator.

Christina

I don't suppose anyone wants to drag around luggage no matter what. IN fact, that area can be dicey right around the station, but that's mainly a problem late at night, not during day time.

Given the time, I would take the metro or bus somewhere else, whatever you want, rather than stroll around the station. There isn't really that much of interest right around it.

BigRuss

More than half the cherry blossoms were wiped out in the snowstorm DC had early last week. There are almost no cherry blossoms in bloom at the Jefferson Memorial (which is rife with the trees) and the path from it to the Lincoln Memorial. Any that you find in bloom will be a bonus.

doug_stallings

More than that, security in DC is such that you simply cannot haul your luggage with you even if you had a bag small enough to haul. You won't be able to get it through security in many sights. So luggage storage is actually a must-have.

That said, the Capitol is within fairly easy walking distance of Union Station, but there are also many places within easy reach by Metro.

Ackislander

There is an easy Metro connection to the National Gallery. You have to check big bags, so you may be able to check suitcases. You can spend all day ther and at the Smithsonian the weather is lousy or walk right out onto the Mall for a day outdoors.

Underhill

Union Station is in itself worth a visit, just for the architecture and the array of restaurants and shops.