Washington DC Metro

Old Mar 29th, 2014, 05:22 AM
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Washington DC Metro

We're staying close to the White House (Google maps lists it as a 7 minute walk).

The Blue Line of the Metro seems to go almost everywhere of interest from the Farragut West station (3 minute walk). Arlington, center of the Mall to the Capitol.

If we're brave we can even take the Blue Line to Reagan Airport (DCA) when we leave (is this a matter of being brave?).

The problem is that every time I read the Metro instructions there are so many options that it's quite confusing.

The only thing I can somehow make out is that the Senior rate is mostly half price.

What's a Paper Farecard, Smartrip card, etc.

Essentially we'll be in Washington for 3 days. Most of our time will be spent between Arlington on one end and the Library of Congress on the other end.

We may go to Georgetown or Alexandria (we haven't looked into this yet) but that's only time permitting and probably not of great importance.

If it makes a difference, we'll be there the very start of June.
= = = =
On a related topic. I looked at various maps and it appears we can get to Arlington Cemetary using the Blue Metro line. Is that Metro station really walkable into the cemetery and then around to the places of interest?.

Then, what's it like to walk across the bridge (or is there a bus to do that if we decide) and work our way along the Mall?

Thanks.


Thanks.
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Old Mar 29th, 2014, 05:41 AM
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I don't understand the bravery references. What makes you think a Metrorail station named Arlington Cemetery wouldn't be walkable to the cemetery? Have you looked at a real map?
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Old Mar 29th, 2014, 05:49 AM
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The bravery thing was just light-hearted. We did actually take a metro to an airport several years ago in Boston and that worked out well.

I see the metro station but is it within 10 minutes into the cemetary?
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Old Mar 29th, 2014, 06:01 AM
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What you need to know about Arlington: http://www.arlingtoncemetery.mil
Plan on using the Metro into the city from Reagan National.
The stop in between is the Pentagon.
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Old Mar 29th, 2014, 06:10 AM
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Easier than Boston to get to and from the airport.

Georgetown not well served ( served at all?) by Metro.

Can't answer other questions. There is a tram at Arlington National Cemetery. You might see if it goes to the cemetery station.
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Old Mar 29th, 2014, 06:14 AM
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we used the metro all over Washington DC..i even took it to zoo by myself when husband was in conference! and it was very easy to use. we took it to arlington and it was a walk up to the front from the station it was definitley within 10 minutes
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Old Mar 29th, 2014, 08:29 AM
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Both SmarTrip and paper cards are used to pay for travel with as much value as you want to load on them. With SmarTrip, the card costs $2 (you pay $10 and start with $8 trip value included) and is used indefinitely, adding value as needed. With paper cards there is a surcharge of $1 per trip and you toss the card when its value is used up.

For three days, neither the single-day nor the 7-day pass looks like good value, so you'll
probably do best with a SmarTrip card,

Senior SmarTrip cards are sold only in a few locations, with limited service hours, so you might need to buy paper cards for your first trip. Or you may opt for the convenience of getting a SmarTrip at your first trip and do without the discount, especially if you arrive at DCA later than mid-day. In your shoes, with only three days, I would probably skip the senior pass and spend those minutes/hours doing something more enjoyable.
http://www.wmata.com/fares/purchase/where.cfm
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Old Mar 29th, 2014, 08:41 AM
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The SmartTrip card is definitely your best option (with or without the Senior Discount) as it works on buses too.

Its a 5 min walk from the Ar. Cemetery Station to the Cemetery where you can pick up the tram for the tour or continue walking through it. I like taking the tram to see it.
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Old Mar 29th, 2014, 09:48 AM
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The wmata web site also has a great trip planner - try it out!
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Old Mar 29th, 2014, 12:36 PM
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The DC Metro is easy to use. In 3 days you may even venture off the Blue Line. Each line has a name that includes the stop at either end of the line. Determine which way you need to go and follow the signs to that train. Once you are in a station it will seem much easier.

As mentioned, the walk from the Arlington Station to the Cemetery is about 5 min. You can see the entrance when you get up to street level.

The walk back to the Mall from Arlington is easy. As you walk from the cemetery back to the Metro station you can see the back of the Lincoln Memorial. Because you have to wait to cross traffic a few times, I think the walk was about 20 minutes to the front of the Lincoln Memorial. I am talking a leisure pace, no speed walking. I found it to be very nice. There are a few interesting statues back there that I had never seen before.
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Old Mar 29th, 2014, 01:02 PM
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My wife and I spent two weeks in DC a couple years ago, so getting two seven day passes made sense for us.

Having a SmarTrip card of any type is a great time saver so you don't have to stop and buy a ticket for every ride. My brother joined us for a few days from New York City and he had to fiddle with the annoying ticket machines for every ride.

In addition, I bought our cards online and they mailed them to us in Colorado. When we arrived at Reagan Airport we had them in hand, simply walked to the metro station (about 10 minutes as I recall), got on a train, and right to our hotel. It was perfect.
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Old Mar 29th, 2014, 01:40 PM
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Definitely buy your SmarTrip cards on line if you decide to skip the senior version. You have plenty of time before your June travel.
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Old Mar 29th, 2014, 03:53 PM
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SmarTrip card is the way to go. We had paper ones and they would not work. The lady was bitchy when they wouldn't and she had to let us out. We ended up using cabs three times and it was cheap imo. We stayed late one night seeing the monuments and took a cab back to Dupont circle for under ten dollars for the two of us. I now know you need that smartrip card for next visit.
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Old Mar 29th, 2014, 06:00 PM
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Metros all over the world are based on the same principal: Know the name of the last station on the line you wish to travel on. When you enter the Metro Station look for that sign and then follow the signs, no need to worry about north, south etc, just look for the ending station name. Once on the train keep track of how many stops until your stop. Very very easy.
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Old Mar 30th, 2014, 04:08 AM
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We're not arriving by air. We will have spent a few days in New York and we'll train to Washington.

So we arrive late at night (11:30PM) at Union Station.

My concern taking the Metro to the airport isn't really the trip.

When we took a subway to Boston airport there was a station right outside our hotel with an elevator. That was great. At the airport end the station was above ground so no stairs.

Is anybody familiar with the Farragut West metro station? Is it stairs, escalator or elevator?

Well, it appears I was correct in thinking the metro is the way to get around. And for that the SmartTrip card seems best. If I can get a Senior card all the better.

Thanks.

Now I have to group together the various sights of interest with getting there.
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Old Mar 30th, 2014, 05:49 AM
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Arriving late at Union Station, you should probably use a taxi to your hotel. All metro stations have escalators and elevators, but escalators are often stopped for repairs. Stations have multiple escalator entrances, but usually only one elevator so you may have to search for it at a different entrance.

The airport station has a pedestrian bridge direct to the terminal, no stairs.
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Old Mar 30th, 2014, 06:34 AM
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kayd, Thanks.

We have no intention of taking a metro from Union Station to our hotel at 11:30PM. Taxi for sure.

We're staying only a couple of minutes from a metro station so I'll check out the elevator / escalator configuration beforehand.

Thanks again.
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Old Mar 30th, 2014, 06:39 AM
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Why are you arriving so late? There are more than 30 trains a day from the NE into WAS.
Union station is directly over the Metro station.
Farragut West is at 17th & I. http://living-in-washingtondc.com/wm...west-metro.php
Have a good trip on Amtrak.
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Old Mar 30th, 2014, 06:44 AM
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Check ahead for elevator or escalator outages at any Metro station:

http://www.wmata.com/rider_tools/met..._escalator.cfm

If you do add Georgetown to your list of places to see, DC has a simplified bus service called the Circulator which travels around many of the most touristed places. There are two lines which go to Georgetown. Your SmarTrip card works on the Ciculator and there are senior discounts. If you've got a smartphone, there's a great app.

www.dccirculator.com
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Old Mar 30th, 2014, 08:22 AM
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The reason we're arriving so late is that we'll be spending a few days in New York prior to Washington.

In the past we've done the same thing for NYC-Philadelphia and NYC-Boston.

We leave by train after spending our last day in NYC. Train station in NYC is very convenient.

It's not very far from Union Station and I wouldn't want to transfer at night and with suitcases.

We may add either Georgetown or Alexandria depending upon our timing. Which is more interesting?

I imagine our first day we'll spend at various places on the Mall. The second day maybe go to Arlington and continue to Alexandria if we want to. The third day would be back on the Mall to finish up what we haven't done but want to and get to DCA for a 7PM flight.

All this could change based on any planned tours. We've requested White House (I was there almost 20 years ago) but considering what you get for the time spent we'll probably pass on this. The Capitol, Library of Congress, Supreme Court, Holocaust Memorial, National Portrait Gallery, Air & Space Museum are all of interest. Lincoln & Jefferson Memorials as well though they are more outdoor type sights.

I'm not sure if the Capitol tour is given by our representatives staff or not. I've asked but I'll get back to them again.
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