PhillipG

I am making a trip to DC in late May and early June. Staying in Alexandria and taking the metro for transportation into city. I plan on taking the monuments by moonlight (Old Town Trolly) upon arival date (nightime). Going to Arlington and monuments with the tourmobile next two days and including a Capitol tour on Monday 10;50, with visit with congressman before. I understand you can purchase admissions to Bureau of Engraving, Holaucast, etc as to avoid waiting in line for free entry tickets? where and how can this be accomplished? I will also go to Mount Vernon and Monticello. Plan on seeing museums after Capitol tour and when time allows. We will also go to Dupont circle and Embassy drive to Nat'l Cathedrial. Looking for suggestions and information that might be helpful for eating around monuments and museums, or White House, or Dupont circle etc. What is the best price ticket for metro? daily, week? etc?

Shar

check on line for tix to anything. Best to get them in advance to avoid waiting in line or being turned away. You can get a good meal in the basement of the Capitol building or maybe it was the Rayburn building Hummm? Anyway cafeteria style for lunch.

Metro tix - depends on how much you will use it. Saves time to by a multi day use one. Check out Open Table.com for reservations to restaurants in DC. You can pick by neighborhood in any city in the US and beyond and earn points which add up. we've never been disappointed in restaurants thru them. We were in DC a year ago: Circle Bistrol at Washington Circle was very good - modern; Ristorante Tosca on F Street and Central Michel Richard at 1001 Pennsylvania - very hip and young crowd here. Tosca was expensive but good food.

PhillipG

Thanks for the advise. I was able to get tickets for the holaucast through tickets.com but found nothing on Bureau of Engraving or Washington monument! I was looking for place to eat around Dupont circle,or Embassy row, and understand Komis is good but too ritz for me. Using the metro for @5 days including going to Mount Vernon? Do not know about daily vs weekly and or smart card?

bdjtbenson

The Ronald Reagan building has a food court in the basement, a Quizno's and cafeteria outside on the basement level and a restaurant outside in the circle between the buildings. There is another food court at the corner of 13th and D (I think), about two blocks North of the Ronald Reagan building. North of the Ronald Reagan building and East of the White House are various restaurants. Most of the restaurants are good but on the expensive side.

Metro is less expensive and less crowded outside of rush hours but the trains run every five or ten minutes instead of every two or three minutes. I didn't think you could get to Mt. Vernon on the Metro but I've never tried.

vjpblovesitaly

"but found nothing on Bureau of Engraving or Washington monument"

I put this info on the other thread where you asked about it.

"Using the metro for @5 days including going to Mount Vernon? Do not know about daily vs weekly and or smart card?"

Below is a link to info about the Metro passes. There isn't one for both Metro rail and bus - just one or the other. The SmarTrip card costs $5 and is required at some Metro parking lots to pay for parking (weekdays only) and is the only way to get a bus to rail/rail to bus transfer discount. Not needed unless you plan to use the bus a lot.
http://www.wmata.com/fares/purchase/passes.cfm

You may be able to take a Metro bus (not rail) to Mount Vernon, but I am not sure. You can check the trip planner on the www.wmata.com home page or the Mt. Vernon website. www.hopstop.com is also a great source for walking and transit directions and taxi fare estimates. There are boat trips to Mt. Vernon; you may be able to find that info with google.

This is a good restaurant finder:

http://www.washingtonian.com/RestaurantFinder.html

vjpblovesitaly

I just realized this is not in the US forum. You would probably get more responses there.

You should ask to have it moved.

PhillipG

all thanks for the guidance. Still loking for bureau of engraving tickets, will get in line with the tourist if I cannot buy on line? thanks again Phil