We have a 10 day vacation planned - flying in and out of NYC. We want to pop down to DC for 2 days. Don't really want to fly - any suggestions on how to get there? Are there fast commuter trains or something? We haven't been on the East Coast for awhile.

Also any recommendations for things "not to miss" while in DC?

Thanks!

The best way is a high-speed train.

Goo to www.amtrak.com and look at the NYC-WAS schedule. Metroliners and Acela trains are the best bet. Takes about 3 hrs.

The fast Acela trains aren't significantly faster than the regular ones, and cost a LOT more. When you go to the Amtrak site, be sure to look for specials in 2 places: The "savings and promotions" link on their home page, and the "rail sale" link at the top of the first Reservations screen.

Rent a car and drive. It is a super easy drive, I do it several times a year, it takes 4-5 hours down I-95. THis way you can have a car in D>C> if you want ot go into the suburban area ie- Mount Vernon, Annapolis, Baltimore, etc.

I definitely would not recommend driving. Take the train. With only two days in D.C., you will be lucky to see all the monuments and spend a few hours in the museums.

Driving is insanity. Definately take the train. There is also the Delta and USAir Shuttles, which run hourly. Bad part -- you have to go to LaGuardia to get them. Train is cheaper and, ultimately, faster.

Taking the train is SO much easier, convenient and relaxing.
It takes you into Union station in DC- from there you can get buses, tours, "town trolly" for an over all idea of what to go back and see. In fact one of the tour trollies has"off and on" privileges--which is a very easy way to see the sights. If you only plan 2 days in DC , this about all you would have time to do. I've always heard a car in DC is a real drag!!!!
You will like DC -My favorite was Smithsonian (you could spend st least a day there!!),Viet Nam memorial, Lincoln Memorial..Have heard the Holocost Museum is noteable. They also have tours through Lincoln Center. Hope the weather is good for you...
You get a patriotic feeling just looking at all these areas

I have family in the NYC area (I was raised in Stamford, CT) and live in Northern VA (DC suburbia). I would never recommend driving. The drive is boring and will exhaust you. I generally take the regular train. The Acela train is only nice if someone else is paying for it as it is a bundle more than the regular train.

Driving isn't bad at all, and if you only have two days in DC, you might want to have a car to take in all the sights. I had guests in DC for 1 day and was so glad to have my car - we zipped from place to place without any trouble. Although Metro in DC is good, it's not going to get you to Mt. Vernon, National Cathedral, or close to the monuments.
If you drive at night, it can be done in about 3.5 - 4 hours. Watch for cops hanging out in the shadows of the suspension bridge in Delaware.

I just posted on another thread I am looking to travel from DC to NYC. We are a family of five and was wondering about bus, train or hire a car. Again stating the obvious, we drive on the other side of the road and don't know the way, plus we don't know our way around NYC so the car would be parked for the four days we were there while we caught public transport. What do you think bus, train of hire?

Amtrak is the best bet. I don't think that it's worth the extra cost for a Metroliner or Acela Express train. I would go with the standard fare trains which are either classified as unreserved, reserved, or Acela Regional. The trip on the standard train takes about 3 hours. If you are a AAA member, you get a 10% discount.

Why not consider a "Chinatown Bus" ?
$35 each, round trip
http://www.ivymedia.com/newyork/
I've not taken them, but they've had decent reviews in various news articles and travel forums.

If you were to take rail, I agree that the Accela & Metroliners are really not worth the extra expense. With 5 people, it might be worthwhile to rent a car, even if driving is a pain, if you think you could handle the "wrong sided" driving. Travel always requires some compromises, doesn't it.

There's always a chance of running into insane traffic on the NYC-DC drive, and I do mean insane. I've been subject to it several times, and know scores of others who have suffered.

As for you Trish, don't even think about renting a car while staying in NYC, and I'd recommend training down to DC as well.

We visited NYC and then went on to DC last summer with 5 people. Used the subways throughout NYC then took the train to DC (AAA discount). After touring DC via the Metro for 3 days, took the Metro to the airport and rented a car from there to drive to Williamsburg and Virginia Beach. We were talked out of driving from NY to DC by users of this forum. Who wants to drive through New Jersey, Philadelphia, Baltimore, etc. during rush hour (for one of them, at least) surrounded by trucks? It was really worth it to ride the train. Didn't take the express because it was so much more expensive.